Posted on 12/09/2006 8:17:07 AM PST by etradervic
The widely touted Iraqi Study Group has been revealed to be a disappointing hodgepodge of suggestions which, in part or as a whole, do not constitute a coherent strategy or serve to promote American long-term interests. In a case of life imitating art, waiting for Godot was much more meaningful than the arrival.
When the ISG “recommendations” that have been tried or have currently been implemented are removed, we are left with several mediocre ideas that are overwhelmed by the preponderance of a few that are patently absurd. The myopic suggestion of conjoining stability in Iraq to Israeli “land for peace” is so foolish that I feel ashamed that there is even a need to respond to such a notion. The obvious illogic of associating Iraqi stabilization, which we would like to assure in the short-term, with a peace process that history measures in decades is ludicrous and irresponsible. At worst, this is an abandonment of Israel and a circuitous way of blaming the innocent, the Jews, for having the audacity to exist.
The desire to form a regional “Support Group” with Iran and Syria with the aim of procuring their aid in the advancement of peace and stability is sophomoric in its formulation and intellectually dishonest. Does this inanity really require any further treatment?
One of the items on the ISG grocery list that falls in the “been there, done that” category is that the regional (and world) threat posed by Iranian nuclear weapons should be addressed via the UN Security Council. The key word is SHOULD. However, China and Russia have confirmed that they will not arrest Iranian nuclear adventurism with the imposition of sanctions or military ultimatum. Both of these nations are content with a tumultuous Middle-East and with the American expenditure of lives and capital.
President Bush has indirectly addressed the ISG report by reiterating the position that our objective is “victory.” All Americans, with the exception of the Democrat left-wing, desire victory. The question that remains in the minds of Americans is how? What is our strategy? We have defeated the enemy, toppled the Baathists, promoted Democracy... Now, how do we leave Iraq as a stable nation capable of self-defense from threats within and without? Is our strategy to wait for the Iraqi Government to develop sufficient strength while destabilization is promoted by an unchecked Iran and Syria? Is it not our responsibility, at a minimum, to defend our troops from the machinations of these terrorist states while they are bravely serving abroad?
The failure of the ISG is a testament to the untenable concept of leadership by committee and in a way is an affirmation of the pre-eminence of our representative Government. We elect those who serve and lead based upon our own viewpoints. Coalitions composed of disparate points of view are incapable of affording effective leadership that is resolute in its objective. In President Bush, we have an articulated, unequivocal mission – victory. The vacuum, that caused so much false hope to be gratuitously bestowed upon the promulgation of the disappointing ISG report, concerns the path that will secure our victory. In this regard, there exists an excess of polite deference to antagonistic perspectives within the pretentious Washington coterie and a dearth of clarity that Americans deserve.
The ISG = OJ jury of the 2000's
Written by Dr. Jack Wheeler [author of the Reagan Doctrine]
Thursday, 07 December 2006
One hundred and forty years ago, British philosopher John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) wrote:
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth a war, is much worse... A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. (Dissertations and Discussions 1867 Vol.1 p. 26.)
A perfect description of the Democrat Party leadership and the editors of the New York Times today. Which is why they are hyping the Iraq Study Group Report to the moon.
They hope to use the hype to force President Bush to surrender in Iraq. They will not succeed.
Yesterday (12/06), I and a small group of conservatives met with a top White House aide (whose comments were not for attribution so I can't name him). In so many words, he told us that President Bush's response to the Iraq Study Group Report and the media hysteria around it is: "Thank you for sharing."
"Thank you for sharing."
I ordered the book (Mill's not Baker's).
Don't get sucked in by this. "Stability" is a fetish of career State Department weenies who give a sh*t less for the interests of the US. These wisenheimers identify with the country or region they specialize in--and begin to work for those interests instead of the US's interests. James Baker is a classic "stability" freak--who cares who wins, as long as the world goes on without disrupting my cushy deal?..."Diamond Jim"...you bet.
The only time we can realistically make progress is during periods of INstability--that is when we can shape and change the facts on the ground, usually with direct application or imminent threat of military force. Presdient Bush started out acting as if he understood this elementary reality, but somewhere a couple years ago he got misled, and a great opportunity was lost.
"It's hilarious the way buffoons are running out and buying this "study group's" pamphlet when it can be downloaded free off the internet."
Consider paying for it a tax on stupidity, then.
Consider following their recommendations as if they are gospel as a tax on political gullibility. To consider them worth anything more than a 2 cent input of conventional wisdom is to elevate kibbutzing above professionalism.
Iraq Surrender Group - PING.
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