Riding the Back of the Tiger [Victor Davis Hanson on Obama not understanding What Causes Wars...]

pajamasmedia.com ^ | November 25th, 2009 | Victor Davis Hanson

[genghis]

same old queestion
are the leftists stupid or evil?
(most days i think both)
vdh is a saint and a hero ( as well as a scholar).

[GonzoGOP]

If it chose to, even the Turkish army could overrun the western half of Europe, even if it didn’t dare treat in the much more self reliant eastern Europe.

Nukes nothing I'm thinking about those German Leopard II's. Not as many of them as would be necessary to stop a full on Soviet Push, but against the Turks more than sufficient to blunt their spearhead.

Give the mullahs credit they have learned something. It took repeated lessons in 1967, 1973, 1991 and 2003 but they have learned that when an Islamic army goes head to head with a modern western army the Islamic army goes away. Islam is now winning through infiltration and cultural perversion. Rather than fight western armies (which they can't) they will just make the west not worth fighting for, then pick up Europe at democracies going out of business sale.

[RoadTest]

Pandering and appeasement encourage miscalculation.

[RoadTest]

“I think this is the heart of the problem with the Left. They actually DO think that human nature has changed, or can be made to change.”

The emphasis is on society and environment with the Lefties - they think if you change the water the goldfish will change. Poor analogy on my part, but they don’t know anything about human nature or history. Their Communist masters do, but they’re not telling - yet.

[RoadTest]

“He hates this country with a deep, seething, burning rage, kindled at adolescence by Frank Davis, stoked over two decades at the pulpit at Jeremiah Wright. “

That pegs today’s White House precisely.

[Tolik]

Added to the VDH ping list. Thanks

[Tolik]

“Political leaders of countries cause wars for various reasons of greed...”

Yes, but it’s only a part of the calculation to start or not to start a war. Another part is: can they win? Nobody starts a war when they think they can’t win. Their calculation may be wrong, but they start the war thinking it’s right.

This is the point Hanson was making. Our shift to a position of weakness leaves many areas unprotected that previously were perceived being under American shield. Now, they may be perceived up for grubs. That calculation might ultimately be proven wrong, but at this point somebody might think that forces are balanced in their favor.

Osama bin Laden openly wrote about those calculations calling America a “weak horse” and himself a “strong horse”. All our actions in that region of the world after 9/11 may be characterized as a powerful response to that idea. No, WE are the strong horse, don’t mess with US, don’t provide safe haven, or else. That powerful stance was the reason why Qaddafi suddenly decided to come clean and surrendered his nuclear program. Now, we are back to 9/10 mentality or worse. Qaddafi must be kicking himself for not waiting a few years - he would not have to give up his Aces to Obama.

[Tolik]

"Pandering and appeasement encourage miscalculation."

Yes, Every time