Ahh, that's too bad. Hagel is a first rate dope.
- "I have to say, Madam Secretary, that I think this speech given last night by this president represents the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam,"
Posted on 01/14/2007 5:10:47 AM PST by Alas Babylon!
No, trust but verify. Any international agreement that depends on trust is deeply flawed.
I've been studying terorism for 30 years and "long term funding" has NOTHING to do with it. Just the fact that there has been so much terrorism to STUDY for the past 30 years should tell you that they have been at war with US for far more decades than most of us (excluding Israel of course) have been with them. The West only recently joined a war that's been going on non-stop for a hundred years so far.
This is NOT about politics. Anybody who can only think of prosecuting a war from a political angle knows nothing about military tactics. War is ABOUT military tactics. How many politicians have joined the military since 9/11/01 and went to risk their lives to save our freedom?
None.
The reason is that even politicians know deep in their hearts that war is is a military operation.
Owens was doing well until he decided to broaden his base and wanted to create a legacy for himself that was not in line with conservative values. He still has a lot of power state wide but I doubt he would have the same amount of support for any future aspirations.
Does anyone have the source?
Since the President spoke last Wednesday, there has been something wrong with my computer. Looking for bad news on Iraq has not bee fruitful and today in the Washington Post there is mention that Al-Sadr is keeping a low profile, his irregulars have taken off their black uniforms and the guns are out of sight.
I am anxious about Sadr. Machiavelli 500 years ago had the answer for this problem--"crush you enemy totally." I think this problem is the same problem Bush I and Scowcroft had with Saddam in Gulf War I--they let the bastard go and he came back to bite them.
Machiavelli: "A viper crushed beneath your foot but left alive, will rear up and bite you with a double dose of venom...For it must be noted, that men must be caressed or else annihilated; they will revenge themselves for small injuries, but cannot do so for great ones; the injury therefore that we do to a man must be such that we need not fear his vengeance." Niccolo' Machiavelli, 1469-1527.
Unless we have bribed him with money, power or fame, he is bound to return to "bite" us or whoever remains in our place. Caress him perhaps but our stay is temporary. The best alternative would be his leaving to Iran or elsewhere with a consequent loss of respect and power.
Of more importance is whether the State of Iraq exists or will exist. Using Jorge Ortega y Gasset again from The Revolt Of The Masses the challenge is clear.
"...The state is always, whatever be its form--primitive, ancient, medieval, modern--an invitation by one group of men to other human groups to carry out some enterprise in common...Since it is a plan of common enterprise, its reality is purely dynamic; something to be done, the community in action. On this view everyone forms a part of the state, is a political subject who gives his support to the enterprise; race,blood, geographical position, social class [religion too]--all these take secondary place..."
Ortega y Gasset points out the state is not a function of the past or even a common people or boundaries. A state is a state when it has a common purpose all can participate in. This is what is hard to pin down in Iraq. Everyone, I mean everyone [Bathists you bet also] needs to belong to a greater purpose. The Ottomans, Brits and Bathists may have played a part in developing Iraq but only a common purpose will permit it to function and survive. That is the big, big challenge for the Iraqis and a challenge we must help where we can regardless of our personal political preferences.
Ahh, that's too bad. Hagel is a first rate dope.
McCain is saying the same thing on Face the Nation right now.
Message easily sent to every wobbly member of Congress: Your statements are destructive of US troop morale and give aid and comfort to the enemy.
ah...correction noted.
The verify part is especially hard in the case of these enemies...because where do we post our "embassy", and who is in charge for us to hold into account??
Just as there will be no peace treaty signed...like the useless one after the first Gulf War...the enemy is so dispersed worldwide..and so unstable.
I think we have a long way to go...and lots of new thinking to be done.
The fact that our own country cannot even agree on the ROE and the status of the captured enemy...and even what to CALL them....tells us the the whole country can NOT even pretend this is a war like any other that has been fought.
Once Washington and the American people FINALLY get that in their minds, MAYBE we can looks for solutions...but until then we are spinning our wheels.
I look forward to watching the VP's interview later on FNC
That is very evident...
at the end of MTP...Fat Tim asked Dodd, he said he was running...he even asked Lieberman if he was going to run again..and Joe said NO...
but, Timmah did NOT even mention a possible POTUS campaign to Chuck Hagel...I guess he got the word...LOL
"
The fact that our own country cannot even agree on the ROE and the status of the captured enemy...and even what to CALL them....tells us the the whole country can NOT even pretend this is a war like any other that has been fought."
Exactly....sad but true...since when do the people choose the ROE?.....running a war on public opinion is a doomed war...American is fat, dumb and happy and our chances of winning the WOT is becoming less and less likely....
I'm confused.
####
We all are, until we throw away that ancient concept of relying on a person's word. It is obvious that democrats can flipflop as much as Kerry and feel no shame at all.
Perhaps, our approach to anything a(n elected) dem says should be "why should I listen to you? You do not remember from one day to the next what you have already said."
(Of course, one of the 8th grade boys had to say he did not have a wife)!!!
My 15 yo grandson has planned to be a Marine most of his life. He told me the other day that if a dim was elected pres, he would not enlist.
" Senator Hagel is a blathering idiot."
Hagel is the nuttiest thing to come out of Nebraska since Lawrence Phillips.
I thought Cindy Sheehan was a surprise guest on MTP, until I realized that it was Chick Hagel.
Hagel never mentions Al Queda or foreign terrorists in Iraq.
He acts as if Iraq is just a simple Sunni/ Shia squabble that could be fixed in a jiff, if only someone would implement a political plan.
Naturally, Chick doesn't elaborate on the magic political plan,but, he does want to negotiate with Iran and Syria , because Jim Baker told him to.
Kyl and Leiberman were stand up and focused on Al Queda in Iraq and how important Iraq is to the GWOT.
Hagel was this close to crowning Abizaid and Casey as the Democrat's new Zinni and Shalikashvili-the go to Generals when Democrats want to trash President Bush.
Kyly called Hagel on his moronic political platitudes for Iraq at the end of the segment. Bravo for Kyl.
Hillary will be the next President of this country unless she decides to get a full-time job with Pepperidge Farm.
Brit Hume still avoided smacking Juan.
Another huge difference between the US and UK systems of government is that we are a collection of individual states with individual constitutions and governments. Republicans elected anywhere in New England states for example are much more liberal than Republicans elected in the South or middle America.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.