Posted on 07/23/2013 1:45:40 AM PDT by TexGrill
As the philosopher George Santayana once said, “Those who don’t learn from history are condemned to repeat it.” Hopefully, in this case, Lindsey Graham, the Republican senator from South Carolina, doesn’t have the political clout or backing to reprise Jimmy Carter’s grand blunder in 1980.
Graham last week suggested the U.S. should boycott the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn’t hand over leaker Edward Snowden. “I love the Olympics, but I hate what the Russian government is doing throughout the world,” Graham said. “If they give asylum to a person who I believe has committed treason, that’s taking it to a new level.”
Graham said a lot of stupid things, even comparing the situation to the Berlin Olympics of 1936, but he should have likened it to 1980. That’s when Carter sabotaged athletes at two Olympics — the one in Moscow, then the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics boycotted by the Soviets — with a wrong-headed policy proven even dumber by history.
Back then, the U.S. was protesting the 1979 Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, which would last about 10 years. Like all matters in that part of the world, it was an extremely complex situation. Basically, the Soviets were backing a secular dictatorship and the Americans backed the Mujahideen rebel factions. When the Soviets finally left in 1989, as we demanded, chaos reigned and by 1994 the Taliban was more or less in control. That allowed Al Qaeda to operate freely inside that country.
In other words, the Olympic boycott accomplished nothing, and our policies in those years were arguably self-destructive.
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
I’m tired of these damn olympics every 4 years, enough already.
I believe Lindsey tried out for the Olympic leap-frog team but was disqualified when he failed to complete his leap.
Gay Olympiad..... what a queer idea...
4th Amendment protects Americans from unreasonable searches and seizures.
Where were the warrants for the millions of searches of email and phone calls that took place and are currently taking place?
Military personnel (and I know Snowden wasn’t military) take an oath to the Constitution - not the President, not the country - THE CONSTITUTION.
Military tribunals have held a solider has no duty to follow an unlawful command from a superior officer.
Unlike Wikileaks, specific information or communications weren’t leaked by Snowden. He leaked the existence of a huge ‘extra Constitutional’ framework.
How is that treason?
Where’s the NY TIMES that stood up for the Pentagon Papers release? Didn’t Obama teach that in law school? Free press. Free speech.
A rare (and only time) props to those on the left (Huffington Post, of all places) who have stood with those on the right on this issue.
Shame on those that put ‘security’ (always the excuse) above our God-given rights to freedom.
I’d live with 100 burning towers, collapsing buildings, and bombings before I’d live with the loss of our Constitution.
Those who say ‘security’ really mean we have to destroy out democracy in order to save it.
Well done! Snowden’s a hero.
Better, yes?
Lindsey Graham's (fill in the blank) idea is stupid.
See?
“Olympics? What olympics?”........(Who REALLY cares)
I thought they quit doing that stuff a long time ago.. (sarc)
Got me on that one. :)
Two words: Jimmy Carter.
STUPID ideas originate from STUPID people.
You made me smile! Maybe Lindgay and Johnny McCain can team up. Seriously, does anybody besides the TV networks and the athletes’ agents give a rat’s ass about the Olympics any more?
Fixed the title.
EXCELLENT POST
Yeah, Lindsey, and what did you do that resulted in him being in Russia? Look in the mirror before you start spouting off.
I don’t think anyone knows what Obama taught in law school. That information has been classified by The Party.
Asking Russia to “hand back” Snowdon is a mistake. What happens to the Russian spies, agents, military, etc who DEFECT to the West. Do we give them back for their EXECUTION.
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