Hagel vs. too-big-to-fail Defense Department ... Mark Steyn

Steyn Online ^ | 12 Jan 2013 | Mark Steyn

[Rummyfan]

If you had buttonholed me in the Senate men's room circa 2003 and told me that a decade hence Joe Biden would be America's vice president, John Kerry Secretary of State, and Chuck Hagel Secretary of Defense, I'd have laughed and waited for the punch line: The Leahy administration? President Lautenberg? Celebrate lack of diversity! But even in the republic's descent into a Blowhardocracy staffed by a Zombie House of Lords, there are distinctions to be drawn. Sen. Kerry having been reliably wrong on every foreign policy issue of the past 40 years, it would seem likely that at this stage in his life he will be content merely to be in office, jetting hither and yon boring the pants off whichever presidents and prime ministers are foolish enough to grant him an audience. Beyond the photo-ops, the world will drift on toward the post-American era: Beijing will carry on gobbling up resources around the planet, Tsar Putin will flex his moobs across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the Arab Spring "democracies" will see impressive growth in the critical clitoridectomy sector of the economy, Iran will go nuclear, and John Kerry will go to black-tie banquets in Europe.

[Tax-chick]

Good article.

[smoothsailing]

Sen. Kerry having been reliably wrong on every foreign policy issue of the past 40 years, it would seem likely that at this stage in his life he will be content merely to be in office, jetting hither and yon boring the pants off whichever presidents and prime ministers are foolish enough to grant him an audience.

"Hey Sailor!"

[Gritty]

In the Hindu Kush, we're taking 12 years to lose to goatherds with fertilizer. Something is wrong with this picture. Indeed, something is badly wrong with the American way of war.

Yes it is. The reason is, we have changed radically how we wage it.

Starting with the Korean War, we no longer seek to win wars. Instead, we seek to "manage" them to a compromise political conclusion.

[JLS]

Mark Steyn ping.

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[JLS]

Mark Steyn ping.

Freepmail me, if you want on or off the Mark Steyn ping list.

[JLS]

Mark Steyn ping.

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[originalbuckeye]

The officers and the enlisted EXPECT TO WIN WARS!!! They need leaders who have the same goal!

[ModelBreaker]

I’m starting to think the least worst result here is to drastically reduce the military. It will be used against the American people in the next 50 years.

The notion that we can continue to be a significant player on the world scene is laughable with the clowns running the show. The more power we have, the more damage they do.

America has to solve the dispute about its future before we venture abroad again. A large military makes that difficult and assures that the current Ruling Class will remain in power.

[dead]

If we're serious about reducing our military footprint and turning inward, Obama picked the wrong Republican.

He should have picked Pat Buchanan.

[NonValueAdded]

Caught a glimpse of Jean Francois in the owner's suite at the Patriots game. Surprisingly, SeeBS did not show him again in all the subsequent camera flips to show Robert Kraft's reaction to each score. Is "live shot" going with the low profile approach?

Hey, hey; Ho, ho
Kerry: sign the one-eight-oh

[jessduntno]

DO YOU KNOW WHO HE IS?????

[Osage Orange]

In the Hindu Kush, we're taking 12 years to lose to goatherds with fertilizer.

Beyond the photo-ops, the world will drift on toward the post-American era: Beijing will carry on gobbling up resources around the planet, Tsar Putin will flex his moobs across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the Arab Spring "democracies" will see impressive growth in the critical clitoridectomy sector of the economy, Iran will go nuclear, and John Kerry will go to black-tie banquets in Europe.

Classic Steyn.....