Afghanistan: Obama’s Setup and Payoff
by Robert J. AvrechSkillfully written screenplays are frequently structured around a series of setups and payoffs.
The most rudimentary example is, of course, the pistol in the desk drawer: revealed in Act I, and then in Act II, the gun is used to kill someone.
For an intensive workshop in cinematic setups and payoffs you should screen the Back to the Future series, where setup and payoff are elevated to an entirely new level.
It’s kind of fascinating, watching Obama construct the setup for his Afghanistan policy. He follows a familiar dramatic structure:
1. Anguished self-reflection, all quite public in order to display nobility of character.
2. Striking out at supporting players—Generals Petraeus and McChrystal—for their disloyal behavior.
3. Floating ideas through the court jester, Joe Biden, regarding an alternate—i.e. losing—policy in Afghanistan. The fool is allowed to speak the truth in order to maintain plausible deniability, but actually designed to prepare the great unwashed for a series of radical policy shifts.
It’s all very Will Shakespeare.
But of course this is all a set-up for Obama to do nothing for as long as possible, which is, by the way, doing quite a bit. Inaction on the part of America and her allies benefits the Muslim terrorists by giving them time to recruit, raise funds, regroup, train, and conquer more real estate.
Obama’s next move will be to deploy a few extra troops to Afghanistan, just enough to claim that he’s in the fight, but not enough to shatter his liberal base.
However, as the body count rises and the tactical and strategic situation in Afghanistan deteriorates, Obama will, in slow motion, bring the troops home, thereby surrendering to radical Islam. And, according to the Democrats, rescuing us from a Vietnam like quagmire.
The blowback will be massive.
1. The Islamists will—rightly—declare victory over the Crusader infidels.
2. Radical Islam will point to a failure of Western resolve in the face of imperial Islam. The propaganda value of this claim cannot be overstated.
3. The Taliban will swallow the entire country and a reign of Islamic terror will spread like the Black Plague.
4. Rapidly, Afghanistan will devolve into a terrorist and drug cartel state, sending out death squads to Europe, North Africa and America.
5. Emboldened, the Taliban will set their sights on neighboring Pakistan, a failed nuclear state ripe for picking. India will be compelled to act or face a nuclear Taliban—dirty suitcase bombs will proliferate—and their non-state Islamist allies, including Iranian proxies. Hamas and Hizbullah.
6. America’s allies will view Obama’s America as an unreliable ally and draw away from America’s orbit.
7. Obama’s fetish for sitting down, in community organizer mode, and yapping away with totalitarian regimes signals massive naivete and weakness. Hence, the Taliban, Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela will stomp all over this administration like a rug. The number one rule of geo-politics is: weakness invites aggression.
Ladies and gentlemen, fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Copyright © Robert J. Avrech
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108 Comments
I wonder how many American bodies on American soil it'll take for the leftists in our country to realize that this policy of appeasement Obama is so fond of will spell our doom. 10,000? 100,000?? Will a million bodies piled up on Main Street USA be the wake up call they need?
Everyone with a brain could see this coming. Obama is in waaaaaay over his head on pretty much every level of leading this country. He's good at sitting with Letterman on late night TV, but as far a being a president? Thumbs down…..
Thanks for showing our belly to the enemy….
Progressivism delenda est.
It already is a bumpy ride.
I happen to believe History repeats endlessly. Had we elected McCain, we might have forestalled history a little longer, but sooner or later a Democrat would have been elected and history would have picked up its steady march toward the future, stomping on the present to get there.
Particular western nations have dominated various centuries since the 16th century, and at the beginning of the new century, a new dominant nation arises. Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, England all had their centuries in the sun. America's century was the twentieth. We're now in the 21st.
In the past the same things happen when a country began to wane in power. One of them is that capital moves offshore. Who can look at our economy and not agree that's what happened in June of 08 when Obama wrested the nomination from HRC and those of us who pay attention knew whoever won the Dem. nomination would win the election? I'm sure those who could move their capital knew the same thing and they're gone? Where? China, probably, maybe India or Russia. One of those three will be the dominant nation of the 21st century.
After health care reform derails, the fascists will lose control of the narrative, and the Republicans can safely go on the offense. He can't make it Vietnam if he can't control the narrative.
This is all very true…but I sadly suspect that to some extent, our Dear Leader wants a weakened, prostate America on the world stage.
In other words, the Dear Leader's coming surrender in the War on Terror–oops, I mean "Overseas Contingency Operation"–is based not entirely on ignorance. Instead, His radical up-bringing welcomes the idea of the US being humiliated, as He believes the US was, prior to His election, a malign and evil nation, and a little defeat is just what the Messiah ordered as part of His role as President of the World.
Yes, the Dear Leader's contempt for the US is wrong-headed, naive, and ignorant, but in His mind the withdrawal from Afghanistan and subsequent disaster will make perfect sense. It is just bringing ACORN tactics to the geo-political stage, with the Taliban asserting their right, in the Dear Leader's mind, to what is rightfully theirs. The Dear Leader is someone who assumes all everyone wants is an "equitable" share of the pie, including Bin Laden.
This is all very true…but I sadly suspect that to some extent, our Dear Leader wants a weakened, prostate America on the world stage.
In other words, the Dear Leader's coming surrender in the War on Terror–oops, I mean "Overseas Contingency Operation"–is based not entirely on ignorance. Instead, His radical up-bringing welcomes the idea of the US being humiliated, as He believes the US was, prior to His election, a malign and evil nation, and a little defeat and debasement for the "Evil Empire" of the US is just what the Messiah ordered as part of His role as President of the World.
Yes, the Dear Leader's contempt for the US is wrong-headed, naive, and ignorant, but in His mind the withdrawal from Afghanistan and subsequent disaster will make perfect sense. It is just bringing ACORN tactics to the geo-political stage, with the Taliban asserting their right, in the Dear Leader's mind, to what is rightfully theirs. The Dear Leader is someone who assumes all everyone wants is an "equitable" share of the pie, including Bin Laden.
Obama's inexperience has put him in an untenable position, on one hand he has stated the Afghanistan is a war of necessity, on the other hand he has his code pink, anti-war base. What's a rookie to do?
Obama's inexperience has put him in an untenable position, on one hand he has stated that Afghanistan is a war of necessity, on the other hand he has his code pink, anti-war base. What's a rookie to do?
Check out this guy's books. They are Science Fiction, a bit over the top, but interesting in how he expands on current trends. Wonder how he would expand here?
http://www.tomkratman.com/
Really enjoyed the postscript on "Caliphate".
I´ve been wondering how much you can cuss on BigHollywood. I think I´ll try it out by saying ¨I hope to fuck you´re wrong¨!
but he forgot the obama ending statement, it was bush's fault!
i believe obama will never take responsibility for his own actions, higher unemployment, bush, iran nuking israel, bush, china dropping the dollar, bush, look they just did it on the olympics.
"We're advising all our clients to put everything they have into canned food and shotguns." ~ Smart Gremlin, Gremlins II
The leftists will just refer to the victims as "little Eichmanns" and say that they deserved to die for supporting American imperialism. Maybe that will make decent people all over America rise up and punch those Leftists lights out, put them on a plane to Abu Dhabi and revoke their passports (if they have one).
Obambi is a dreamer, never actually ran anything in his life other than for office, dreaming to be 'important' oneday. Now that he has made it, with the help of over-grown children (leftists), he's not sure what to do.
One thing he didn't dream back then, was that his big 'ego' is nothing compared to the despots' egos around the world. These despots and their followers have been in power since 'forever' by supressing or getting rid of all oppositions. What make this dreamer thinks they will step aside for a boy still wet behind his big ears. Fanatic Islam has existed way before this dreamer was born. Keep dreaming Obambi!
As the article stated, "nothing", and for as long as possible.
Follow the money…
Firearms, Ammunition See Explosive Sales Growth
By William Spain
SEPTEMBER 21, 2009
While a remarkable surge that began late last year is starting to ease, Americans' demand for firearms and ammunition – driven largely by economic concerns and the fear of new regulations – remains brisk as double-digit sales increases continue to fill the financial coffers of gun and ammo makers alike.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090921-7038...
F-bombs seem to get through the censor-bots for some reason.
There is only one reason to fight a war. That is to WIN. Obama said he does not know what a win in Afghanistan looks like. Till he figures this out he will just vote Present. mmm…mmm…mmm
Losing a war, a weaked economy, rising unemployment, trillion dollar deficits, massive federal spending waste…
Just WHEN does Obama and Co. OWN THIS MESS? HMMM? when?
Losing a war through his own personal weakness, an economy he has made WORSE, rising unemployment, trillion dollar deficits, massive federal spending waste…
Just WHEN does Obama and Co. OWN THIS MESS? HMMM? when?
It must be difficult to extend a war with people you have empathy with.
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I don't think that Obama will surrender in Afghanistan. Not that I don't think he wants to, but I don't think he wants that on his record. Of course, the fringe left would say that he did the right thing, but most of America would see it for exactly what it is. Nixon was not remembered for ending the Vietnam war, even without Watergate. No, Obama will play his middle of the road game. He'll endanger every soldier there with a don't win and don't lose policy in an attempt to keep everyone somewhat happy. He'll leave that major decision to the next president with guts to come along.
Leftists shill for the deaths of Americans daily–mostly to "save the planet", but there's also the Bill Ayers types who don't mind killing off millions who disagree with the system they'd like to implement. Why would they care about 10 thousand dead American civilians? They think we're the enemy.
It's not a question of when, but what. They will never own anything bad, only the good, whatever that may be.
You think our situation is dire now? Imagine reading about the Dred Scott decision in your newspaper. Then imagine walking the fields of Gettysberg where you wouldn't have to touch the ground walking over dead Americans.
Or try 1940 America, when Hitler stomped his jack boots over Europe and here in America there were lots of people who thought fascists were just dandy. (And the Eugenics movement was enjoying quite a bit of popularity as well.)
Obama is nothing but a weak and egotistic poser, who was elected by good Americans who wanted to close out our civil rights era with a moderate, well spoken African American President. We'll not only survive the nightmare that is Obama, we'll end up thriving, creating new industries and new technologies, and always giving the oppressed of the world hope for a better life.
We're America. We're not going anywhere.
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I really wish I could argue that you are wrong as the consequences you describe are so terrible; alas, I cannot.
I don't understand all the unmerited optimism of this article. A "bumpy ride" implies that we will somehow survive the experience. For many of our countrymen, I am afraid that will not be the case.
Obama is setting up our military for a slaughter around the world … next step will be America's humiliating military defeat. At the same time Obama is destroying the private sector. And whittling away our freedoms in the U.S.
To quote the esteemed Maureen Muncy:
"If you lay down and make noises like a rug, people WILL walk on you."
Hank I don't think they care. I honestly think the people who are in power, on the left think they can escape. Their followers are mere pawns and battle fodder as are the rest of us. Obama just doesn't CARE! He is incompetant.
sorry to report this but Afghanistan is a goner…
No matter what spin you hear from this bunch the decision has been made to cut the Afghans loose. Perhaps a payoff to the Rooskies, now that we've ceded eastern europe to them. This way they can build, and control, the natural gas pipeline all the lefties thinks already exists (it doesn't) and further their aims on the Caspian sea and ultimately, the Persian Gulf.
The real irony here is that in a few years the dysfunctional former Soviet Union will be FAR richer and more poweful than we. Obama and his advisors want it that way.
The Afghan people are just pawns, nothing more. This is about who has the pipeline access- and control of the lucrative opium trade. Al Qaeda is a Pakistani invention and that is where they find refuge. So, we can commit troops there for 20 years or so and stabilize/westernize the country.
Unfortunately for the Afghans that ain't gonna happen…
CHina is a good bet, if they drop the dollar, we are screwed. The consequences of giving China so much of our debt is that they could crush us without even trying. Thank you DC for destroying this country with your inept leadership and lack of morals.
Nothing apparently.
Thats just what the Romans thought.
The world has always been on a razors edge, there have always been wars that people predicted were world killers, but now that technology has progressed as far as it has with nukes you can put in a backpack and widespread arms proliferation to the dregs of the third world, an event of some magnitude, I am not saying the end of the world, will happen soon, and it will be "a bumpy ride" to say the least.
And the dead media will comply with the propaganda statements. Nothing will be shown that shall tarnish the One.
End game, the core intelligence of this country will be shown. And if it is a ignorant as the left sees it, we will die a quick death from the left. But if they are proven wrong, the left will be dead. Question is, has the giant really been awakened, or is there a larger number that still just can't comprehend what they see?
How I wish you were wrong.
I feel sick.
Please. Our borders are open now. If there was a vast, skilled terror network out to destroy America IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED BY NOW. Blow a few electrical substations, poison some municipal water supplies and shoot up some malls and schools during Christmas season and this country would be in lockdown mode.
Terror is the elite's means to achieve political control through political right. Climate change is the elite's means to achieve economic control through the political left.
Good Lord, people. Wake up.
Incompetant is an insult to the incompetant people of the world. Obama is so unqualified it's not even funny.
I don't see casualty numbers anywhere near that high.
It's no secret why Afghanistan is called the grave yard of empires. And it ain't because they're some kind of super hero fighters. It's just a huge country of pretty much nothing.
The reason no one has conquered Afghanistan is because it's not economically worth the effort to rule. The US could level the entire country with one button push from Washington. But we're not going to do it, because Americans don't fight that way anymore.
To knock out the entire taliban and al qeada, would cost a fortune, and Obama has other ideas for that pot of gold. He wants to use it to fund his social state.
But there is nothing other than will preventing America from cleaning that mess up.
You hope (no…the real thing) the sacrifices (no…the real ones) we Americans will endure over the next several months will initiate the change (no…the real deal) come election day.
Being an American soldier in the battlefield is something so few of us will ever know. Being an American soldier when a Commander In Chief is more dangerous than the ones shooting at them is something all of us should NEVER EVER forget or forgive.
If POTUS has a goal and that goal is to GET OUT then you sure as hell better just get out now. Unless getting rid of some political opposition a long the way is an unintended consequence that is perhaps less unintended.
Is America just a freakin' game to these people?
China is just as indebted to America as America is to China. Without us buying their factory outputs, their economy would crumble virtually over night. Plus, how much of their surplus funds are American debt? They'd be crazy to do anything to lower it's value.
I remember back in the 70's, every one said America was finished because of Japanese automakers. In the 80's America was finished because of Chinese steel. In the 90's it was Japanese computers. It never ends, the MSM just loves the narrative that America is finished.
News of America's death have been greatly exaggerated.
Not surrender, but I do see the possibility of a drastic reduction in troops, down to a hand full of major bases, then do as much fighting remotely with drones, and other new technology still on the drawing board.
Of course that means the fighting will never end, which will drive more recruits to the taliban, and we already know where that leads.
"This is all very true…but I sadly suspect that to some extent, our Dear Leader wants a weakened, prostate America on the world stage."
Yes Rambler, that is exactly Obama's plan.
Letting the economy rot will acccomplish the same agenda here: America brought low.
You have a good point. The majority of Americans still believe in the principles upon which this country was founded, though for many years we were too complacent and allowed the politicians to follow policies that were in the long term detrimental to the nations welfare. It will be a long road back because there is a sizeable number of Americans who do hate this country or see nothing wrong with variations of socialism. It is unfortunate that many must suffer so that those in the future will have a better life, but then again that is what the American dream was about: each generation works hard and leaves a better legacy to their children. We just need to get back to that spirit as a nation.
Stop buying all my 5.56!
Mr. Obam has no experience in foreign policy and this has been compounded by:
1) A Chomsyite belief that all Amerrican foreign policy up to January/2009 has been exploitive of other
nations and morally wrong.
2) A refusal to understand that nations, regardless of their fluffly-bunny rhetoric, ALWAYS act in their own
self-interest.
3) A dislike and mistrust of the military based in part on a half-baked college radicalism but more
likely based on the fact that the military represent a concept, mission and "life-style" that he neither
understands nor accepts.
Underneath it all we must recognize that Mr. Obama is simply a pacifist. However, the President is a pacifist "by default." This means that he would never positively champion a pacifist agenda ("We will unilaterally destroy all our nuclear weapons") but he will also never make any decisions that cause him to have to take up an "unpacifist" position. It is a posture born of indecision and moral laziness and explains the policy of unfocused drift that now substitutes for foreign policy.
Isn't Ayers quoted as saying 25 million people in this country might need to be killed? I do not think the Left will ever wake up and see that Obama is leading this country to its doom. He is a bit like the Pied Piper and the Left are the rats stumbling along behind him.
Keep your powder dry, and your guns locked and loaded. You're going to be needing them.
Don't just try to wing-it either…………….aim for the large body mass.
People who believe that Obama is "meerly" incompetent are deluding themselves. Obama and his crew are quite competent, and they know exactly what they are doing. They want to engineer an American collapse similar to the Soviet collapse of 1989-91. When they have accomplished this, America will cease to be the only superpower, it's government and military neutered, it's people divided in hatred and suspicion, possibly it's borders re-drawn to create several smaller nations. That is their dream. And don't delude yourself that Obama cares about his damn approval rating. As we speak, he is campaigning for his next office, "president of the world," so he can lead humanity into a glorious Marxist future.
All of this is not carved in stone. There is STILL time to minimize the damage and throw the bastards out in 2010, leaving Dear Leader with a solid Republican majority in Congress. That's POSSIBLE, but I fear unlikely, because too many conservatives have become disillusioned. Tea Parties? Many of the Tea Party protesters will stay home on election day, claiming "The lessor of two evils is still evil!"
Obama could care less about US soldiers in body bags. He's been trained for years by Ayers, Reverend Wright, Professor Gates and the rest of his mentors that this is a good thing. Besides, most soldiers vote Republican, so every dead GI is one less vote for the other guy. I have little faith that Obama is on "our side" at all. "Naivete" in his dealings with our enemies is wishful thinking, they both have the same goal for the US. I'd like to know who the 50% are that think this guy is doing a good job, are they paying attention?
Nope, you need ammo for a shotgun and I hear that is already in short supply. I'm thinking it might be a good idea to learn how to use our bodies as a weapon. Thank God, Chuck Norris is on our side.
Children able to play outside without fear. People eating three times a day. Schools open and kids learning how to take care of their families and not about how to destroy one another. Fresh sweet water for everyone. Gardens growing and happy people living and enjoying life. That is what a win looks like. Are the good times really over for good for Afghanistan? For America? I pray we can turn it around but in my darkest hour I am not so sure. But then I remember that God is not going to let us destroy everything. He will take charge when the time is right. I can almost hear the approaching hoofbeats. Can you?
Yes! America is just a game. You have only to think about how "issues" which no Democrat ever gave a tinker's damn about suddenly become urgently burning crises as soon as they think there's some political advantage to be had. And I think that's why they're so feckless about the war in Afghanistan and Iraq (one war, two fronts) — to them it's just a game, with no consequences if America loses.
No more dangerous weapon than Chuck Norris!
Jesus someone ought to throw a net over field marshal Biden.
Considering who the shaping influences in his life before the spotlight (Ayres, Wright et al), I am beginning to harbor suspicions that, in Obama's eyes, WE are the real enemy. He is willing to make nice with totalitarian creeps like Admadinejad, Putin, Kim Jong Il, Noriega, Ortega and Castro in order to buy time in order to confront and destroy our free market system, and the personal freedoms that system entails.
Rush Limbaugh has been proven right for saying back in January, "I hope he fails." Thanks in no small part to the role played by Big Hollywood and Big Government, he will fail.
What's a rookie to do? Hold some fake meetings that the MSM will swallow hook, line and sinker, dutifully reporting how intensely Obama is addressing the situation, while actually working on it's own plans to socialize the nation.
You've never gone up against my wife's tuna noodle casserole.
"We just need to get back to that spirit as a nation."
Finally, something to give Obama credit for!
Yes.
Nice thoughts, Bonnie, and I hope you're right. Sadly, however, I tend to agree more with "NBG's" analysis. We may survive Obama's presidency, but I don't see the national will or character that we used to have, that sustained us through the two great conflicts you cited in your post. We've been decayed and weakened since those times and are not the nation we once aspired to be.
I read something similar on a statue at Gettysburg Battle field National Park.
"We put our trust in God, but we kept our powder dry."
Another comment of mine to the "site administrator" for no freaking reason whatsoever. This is at 2:55 central time. I'm watching to see how long it takes this one to come back.
Andrew, if you happen by and read this: for the love of all that's holy and good, change your service provider.
I'll see that tuna casserole and raise with my wife's chili.
I think you're close, but off the mark just a bit. If the US were to crumble like the USSR, there would be nothing left to rule. And these guys want power.
I predict two ultimate goals. First, remember the left used to cry that Reagan cut taxes in order to strangle big government, and force it to retract to a smaller, limited entity. This is the exact opposite, grow government and the debt so fast and so large, the issues of tax cuts and limited government will be off the table for ever, essentially regulating the GOP to permanent minority status by talking their biggest weapons away from them.
Second, have as many Americans as possible believe they must rely on government for their very survival. IF a generation grows up watching their parents suckle on the government teat, it will become second nature. Just like Hitler said (no, I'm not comparing the President to Hitler, but its an appropriate quote), what does it matter if you don't join us? You will be gone. Your children are already in our camp. Soon, they will know no other community.
I think you're close, but off the mark just a bit. If the US were to crumble like the USSR, there would be nothing left to rule. And these guys want power.
I predict two ultimate goals. First, remember the left used to cry that Reagan cut taxes in order to strangle big government, and force it to retract to a smaller, limited entity? This is the exact opposite, grow government and the debt so fast and so large, the issues of tax cuts and limited government will be off the table for ever, essentially regulating the GOP to permanent minority status by talking their biggest weapons away from them.
Second, have as many Americans as possible believe they must rely on government for their very survival. If a generation grows up watching their parents suckle on the government teat, it will become second nature. Just like Hitler said (no, I'm not comparing the President to Hitler, but its an appropriate quote), what does it matter if you don't join us? You will be gone. Your children are already in our camp. Soon, they will know no other community.
"If there was a vast, skilled terror network out to destroy America IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED BY NOW."
I think that assertion contains truth, but your conclusion is incorrect. The terror network is not, perhaps, "vast" or "skilled", but it does exist. Retaliation on our home soil is therefore inevitable.
It's interesting to me that, although you dismiss the myth of the "vast, skilled terror network" you buy into the myth of the "vast right-wing conspiracy". Most politicians aren't any smarter or better organized than your average Al Queda terrorist.
My wife's chili is actually pretty good, so you win that round. But the stuff that shows up in the tuna is just mind boggling. The word "casserole" is not French for what ever the hell is in the fridge that hasn't yet started growing fuzz.
I think you give Obama way too much credit.
The Chinese translation of that same thing being Chop Sooie
Isn't that the truth…
Going to Biden for military strategy would be sort of like coming to me for my best gay pickup lines.
They're modern liberals, and no, they aren't paying attention.
I think most normal people give modern liberals way too much credit for intelligence. These people aren't that smart, trust me, I'm surrounded by them, and have been my whole life except for a a few years in college. (Yes that's right, I learned about conservatism and republicans IN college. That's the difference between a liberal arts degree and an electrical engineering degree – there's not a lot of room or time for politics in calculus class).
It basically can be broken down to this: there are two virtual lists for modern liberals. One virtual list is "cool people" and the other is "uncool people." If you're on the cool list what ever you say or do is fine to a modern liberal. If you are on the uncool list, then you can do no right, and everything about you sucks. It really is that simple. Its no more complicated than a middle school clique.
How could anyone defend a piece of excrement like Polanski? Easy. He's on the cool list. Why has Sarah Palin and her family been excoriated? Easy, she's on the uncool list.
A more complicated question is who's on the cool list, and who says who's on the cool list, and how they got there. That's where Hollywood, the MSM, and people like the NY Times comes in. They tell modern liberals, in their own way, who's cool and who's not. There's your media bias.
This is also why its pointless to debate logic, facts and reason, because they have absolutely nothing to do with who's on the cool list.
Republicans are going to have to understand this before they can deal with modern liberals, because its a waste of time trying to be rational with them. It's not going to work. Trust me.
Yep Al Queda, started 20 years ago in Afghanistan by a Billionaire nut case named Osama bin Laden, a Saudi via Yemen is a Pakistani invention. You are rather wrong in that. Al Queda was the brigade of Arab nutballs who showed up to fight the Soviets back in the 1980's funded by Bin Laden. They did not take money or weapons from the US. Masood's Northern Alliance did. The Taliban is a Pakistani invention, from Mosques and Islamic Schools funded again by the Saudi's. You want to argue about whom we are fighting, ask the King of Saudi Arabia.
there is some debate on that; yes the Taliban is an ISI creation no doubt. However, links between AlQaeda and the Taliban are strong and the Pakistani influence is without doubt.
Anyone who thinks the Pashtun region is impenetrable and Bin Laden cannot be found is kidding themselves- he is being sheltered by the Pakis…
Robert,
Nicely done. I spoke about you and your son just this morning.
Larry Elder
I agree with you–the MSM cannot wait to run the headline that America is Finished, completely missing the irony of the fact that they will no longer be viable entities to run that mythical headline. In this day and age of global commerce, will any nation really ever emerge as dominant again? The geopolitics involved make me wonder if that model ended with the 20th century.
NBG, you´re right. I don´t think we´re any better or worse than we were 50-100-500 years ago – we just have better horses now. Throw into the mix 6+ billion people and a whole lot of em are way beyond our imagining of evil. Every time I open Drudge in the morning, I wince a little as the page opens. I do despair. Can´t help it. Fight? We must!
I'm with you, Bonnie. I always take comfort in remembering the incredibles obstacles this nation's has overcome in its relatively brief history. The United States isn't going anywhere, and I do believe we'll come through this time having learned some hard lessons, and we'll emerge stronger and more resolved than ever.
Old Tom, your one-liners absolutely crack me up–keep 'em coming!
True, we hold some of their debt, but to the magnitude that they hold ours? I am not sure. It's the idea we give a country that, lets face it, is our polar opposite that much power over our local economy is just silly. I know in a global economy, things like this are a regular occurrence, but it is just one more piece of our sovereignty we have given away.
I think I understood what you meant, I just can't understand why any one thinks Afghanistan is this black hole that no nation, no matter how powerful can conquer. It's not. It's a 10 century, tribal society, that hasn't been conquerd because it's not worth anyone's time or money. Invaders don't stay because they're driven out, they leave because its not worth the trouble. The reason the USSR left was because it practically drove them bankrupt.
We can station 200,000 soldiers over there and never lose a soldier to an enemy bullet, if we choose. We're that good, and they are that bad. Fortified forts they can't penetrate.
Economics is what's driving this. And I agree, unfortunately, to the President and his minions, the lives of American soldiers over there are a cell on a spread sheet.
Yes. And I believe he was quite serious about it too. To modern liberals, sacrifices are necessary, by every one except them.
I'm not sure I would say civilization has finally reached the age of the supremacy of the individual over the state, but I do believe that's where society is headed.
But with out a doubt, the impending demise of the MSM and the rise of the new alternative media are definitely good signs.
My own personal opinion is the internet is an unstoppable force that will bend society to its will, rather than the other way around. Never before in human history have so many people had so much access to so much information. This will take centuries to play out, but I get the feeling its a good thing.
Years ago when I used to blog, I did one on my list of top 10 Americans. Number 10 was the guys who invented the internet. They changed the rules of civilization.
My point was, China is not going to just decide one day, that's it, they're done playing with America. I think they need us for the foreseeable future than we need them. America could survive with out chia pets and bobble head dolls, but China can't without our markets.
China is an extremely unstable society, laid on top of an extremely stable society. I've seen it on the precipice several times over the years. Tienanmen Square was only the most visible.
Here's something a lot of people don't know, and the only reason I do is because I read Thomas Sowell's book on economics. The trade deficit measures only tangible commodities. It doesn't take into account services, which is what America thrives on these days. We export tons of business services to China. They use the internet to access servers and services in the US, and they pay through the nose for it. My job is to make sure the only people who access some of those services are authentic, to use the computer term.
My point was, China is not going to just decide one day, that's it, they're done playing with America. I think they need us for the foreseeable future than more we need them. America could survive with out chia pets and bobble head dolls, but China can't without our markets.
China is an extremely unstable society, laid on top of an extremely stable society. I've seen it on the precipice several times over the years. Tienanmen Square was only the most visible.
Here's something a lot of people don't know, and the only reason I do is because I read Thomas Sowell's book on economics. The trade deficit measures only tangible commodities. It doesn't take into account services, which is what America thrives on these days. We export tons of business services to China. They use the internet to access servers and services in the US, and they pay through the nose for it. My job is to make sure the only people who access some of those services are authentic, to use the computer term.
I think they're going through major java code upgrades. I deal with it at work daily. Not the coding, but the response time. Every one blames the firewalls.
Larry:
Thanks so much. You are never far from our thoughts. Let's do lunch soon. There's a kosher Sushi restaurant in my neighborhood that is totally yummy. I'll contact you.
Setup and payoff is right. But your conclusion is wrong. Obama will give the 40,000 troops and maybe one-up McChrystal to 50,000. But he'll get the Russians, Brits, and Pakistani's to chip in. Do you think McChrystal would leak something that would end up making Obama look bad? Not likely.
If it were me I'd send in those bombers along with Israel's take out the Iranian Nuclear facilities and warn them if I see on more Freaking weapon made in Iran in Afghanistan I'd start blowing up Tehran and chasing down Ahmedenajad personally with cruise missiles till he's dead.
But then I have a pair of stones, Obama a naieve anti American idiot.
"Law Enforcement:" is Osama's enabler.
Good article except for the "dirty suitcase bombs" scenario. These only exist in Hollywood.
for 20 odd yrs does,t matter who held office we have 554 criminals running this country, the real waste was carter a man whom shoulld take his human rights and just go away then came 12yrs no not perfect but at least pride and can do attitude in are country ,then came clinton whom i,m sure some will remember that ole ross perot said one day we,ll see what a traitor this man really is ,and now were seing and feelig it ,then came W whats to say at 1st good intentions but horriable advisor and some reall bad chioces ,and now the finally obama good talker but what ole billy boy clinton didn,t finish well barack will with the help of hillary and bill, looat all the money payed o bill and hill from the buddies in the peoples republic ,between all the poltical and corparate criminals we like rome are now held hostage by the barbrains at the gate ..time to vote them all out and take your money out of the stockmarket its ok o hate your goverment but love your country
I think you misunderstood. I was talking about how when Afghanistan falls to the taliban and AQ, they will undoubtedly attack us here in America again.
I was wondering what the number of dead Americans on main street is that would wake up lefties to the fact that Islamic-nutbags want us dead.
People know there's a reckoning coming. They don't know how it will start, but start it will.
Bonnie, I would like to believe that, but the fact is that we are America because we are a nation of laws centered around the Constitution, and unfortunately the Constitution is pretty much just faded pieces of paper in The National Archives; it has no relevance to reality in our government. In addition, Americans are SOFT. They will not rise up and fight, at least the majority will not. The majority will roll over and rationalize socialism as good as it descends upon them like a heavy fog. I just don't see how we're coming back from this. In my view, The Republic is already gone.
The Republican Party is trying to cater to right, left, and center and will water down its own base so much that it will not be able to take over control of anything. The Republican Party stands for nothing much at all and has no plan to do so in the near future, certainly not with Mr. Steele as chairman.
Barry…it's time for facta, non verba.
(actions not words)
I don't agree. I think BHO has a tenative deal worked out with Iran. I like science fiction also.
With those “surprise 4k troops” withdrawn a few days ago. It leads me to think that the military has already been sold out. Think about it. Right before talks with Iran, we withdraw 4k troops. Could it be a gesture to Iran ? I think so. If we draw down troops now, they will hold off their “terrorists attacks” all over. Which is happening. Also, they will let in inspectors. We draw down some more, they allow more to be known. Just enough, to keep the status quo, while allowing Obama to strut in front of the world media, while selling out our military. You think Obama's backing down on inserting 40k troops is in the interest of a new strategy ? Well, I think that strategy has been worked out with Iran, not Gen Mc Crystal. Obama is all about looking good and apearing to be very smart.
I saw on the news yesterday that we have lost more soldiers this year than in all years previous combined. Why has the media stopped giving the daily tallies of dead soldiers? Not that I want to see that again, but I'm so burned up that this MSM won't stop coddling this man.
Here's something…my original post just showed up at the bottom of this thread. Note my indiscriminate use of the word "an@lysis".
You can write words here that I wouldn't even use in private conversations with Portuguese merchant mariners, but if you say "an@lysis" or "an@logy" you wind up in the dead letter office.
You can write "butt" and "ass", but not "an@l". How did that even get put into a language filter in the first place?
Hank_Scorpio
The (un)Americans in temporary charge on the government, think they will somehow be exempt from the attacks on our soil. They may or may not be in the direct objects of 'Islamic- nutbags' but if there is another attack on US soil, I can guarantee ' they' will not survive.
They suffer under a misunderstanding of the sleeping giant.
DontTreadOnMe
Don't be to hard on the little guy, he just thinks he is playing a game of 'Risk' and the results don't really matter.
If I had to take a guess, I'd say the "@" is flagged because it could be a spam email address.
Bad guess. The "@" goes right through. If you use any of those hot button inflammatory words without the "@" they route to sysadmin.
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