Dystopia today
posted at 12:08 pm on November 27, 2006 by Bryan
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Ain’t life just grand. The top minds in our political class meet, hash and haw over the war in Iraq, and conclude that making nice with Iran and Syria is a viable way out. When you’ve switched from talking about winning wars to talking about managing them, what are you saying? Our political betters don’t want to answer that question. Here’s an interesting possible response to the ISG, but it’s a fantasy. The Bush administration just has no fight left in it. And the whole world can see that.
The whole world can also see that exiting Iraq under current conditions won’t end the war. The violence will go on, and our retreat will firm up convictions that Islam and democracy are incompatible (which may be true). That will force us to re-think our entire approach to the war, if there are any serious minds left in power to do that kind of thinking. But worse than that it will weaken all of our allies in the region. Redeploying from Iraq to, say, Kuwait, will just put those allies in the Islamist crosshairs. And when the terrorists start stirring up an insurgency in Kuwait, do we “redeploy” from there too or do we hang on and fight it out? What’s the value of being a US ally in the Middle East after we have bugged out of Iraq? I’d say, not very high. And that thinking won’t stay in the Middle East. Every single ally we currently have will wonder whether we have the staying power to defend them if they need us. Every single enemy of ours and our allies will wonder the same thing.
Did you know, by the way, that the Iraq war has now gone on longer than World War II? Why the AP and the Boston Globe think this is newsworthy is not obvious, but here’s something to chew on. The Pacific theater of World War II would have gone on a heck of a lot longer if Truman hadn’t made a fateful decision to end it quickly by dropping atomic weapons on two Japanese cities. Just sayin’. Half-measures and all that.
The AP’s scribe could have chosen to report that even though the Iraq war has gone on longer than World War II, we’ve suffered far fewer casualties in Iraq than we suffered in several single battles in World War II. We lost entire battles in World War II, but have yet to lose a battle in Iraq. We have chosen not to finish a couple of battles, notably and regrettably with Moqtada al-Sadr, but we haven’t actually been defeated in any battle in Iraq. But that’s not the angle the AP’s reporter chose to go with. He had those facts available, but left them out.
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Senator Edward M. Kennedy has been exposed yet again as a Soviet agent. More documents from the Soviet archive figure in this story, adding weight to what we’ve already reported here. According to these documents, Kennedy had a bagman, his chief aide Larry Horowitz, who traveled frequently to the USSR to relay messages from Kennedy, to coordinate strategy and even to relay the contents of US ambassadorial instructions and messages. Kennedy’s man in Moscow constantly acted against Presidents Reagan and Carter, but curiously not against Bush 41–whom Kennedy apparently saw as an ally. (It’s Bush 41’s men who are running the Iraq group these days, by the way). By any reasonable definition, Kennedy routinely gave aid and comfort to the supreme US enemy of the time. And by any reasonable understanding of the way the world works these days, Kennedy will pay exactly zero price for his actions.
But read the whole article. It’s a fascinating look at a man whose ego and self-esteem made him believe that he was and is above petty nuisances like honor, duty, country and the law. His brothers would have been appalled at the alliances Teddy forged with Moscow.
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British doctors get in trouble for understanding human anatomy, and for refusing the accomodate the insane.
This link and the two above show us where the left in the West would take us. Or will try to take us, now that the Democrats are in power.
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Jordan’s King Abdullah sees three civil wars erupting in the Middle East in the next few months. These wars are currently stirring in Iraq, where Shias battle Sunnis; in Lebanon, where Hezbollah is trying to overthrow the fragile democratic government; and in Israel, where Orwellian cease-fires remain in force even while rockets slam into Israeli homes.
There are two common elements in all three of these wars: Iran and Islam. Iran is exporting its Islamic revolution to Iraq and Lebanon, and using its proxies to attack Israel from Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. As for Islam, the Baker group mentioned at the top of this post has apparently chosen to ignore its role in the conflicts. And Iran, the Baker group apparently wants to consult to get peace in Iraq.
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Exit question: Was the murder of ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko a Putin hit-job or a Chechen WMD deal gone bad — in a London sushi joint? Which is the more disturbing possibility?
It wouldn’t be the first time the KGB has killed off dangerous critics. It also wouldn’t be the first time Chechens have used radiological weapons.
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I like this part best of all from the artical.
Esthier on November 27, 2006 at 12:16 PM
Dystopia is right. If my wife gets pregnant, she’s having the abortion, no ifs, ands or buts about it. I will not permit another helpless child to be born into this cesspool.
mikeomatic on November 27, 2006 at 12:24 PM
It’s a grim milestone.
BTW, we’ve been bogged down in Korean quagmire since 1950. When do we plan our exit strategery there?
JammieWearingFool on November 27, 2006 at 12:39 PM
“Dystopia is right. If my wife gets pregnant, she’s having the abortion, no ifs, ands or buts about it. I will not permit another helpless child to be born into this cesspool.” -mikeomatic on November 27, 2006 at 12:24 PM
I survived abortion and that’s a horrible thing to say; kill your own child versus taking the chance that good will actually beat out evil. You’re sick.
Cary on November 27, 2006 at 1:13 PM
Cary: Am I sick or is the world even sicker? What f__king chance for happiness will a child EVER have in this brave new world?
Me, I’m adopted. I almost was an abortion myself. And waking up every day, going from unreal nightmare to real nightmare, has me wishing I had been aborted.
mikeomatic on November 27, 2006 at 1:16 PM
This is no world for human beings to live in.
mikeomatic on November 27, 2006 at 1:18 PM
But yet we have lost in Iraq anyway?? This is amazing to me. The left has hijacked our country once again; however, this time, we are dealing with a much deadlier enemy - one that not only wants to beat us on their turf, but that also wants to kill us at home.
This last weekend, I met a man who was born in the Iraqi Kurdish region. He lives in the U.S. now, and is an American citizen. In fact, he is a proud member of the U.S. military today. He serves as a translator. He has spent time in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and will be going back.
He still has family back in Iraq today. All he could do was express how grateful he is for what the U.S. did when it removed Saddam’s regime. More specifically, he kept expressing how thankful he was that President Bush took action. The U.S saved his family and his country of origin. However, he is angry and frustrated at how the left and the MSM have politicized the Iraq war.
He is frustrated with how they focus on all the negative incidents (which are for the most part isolated), and never report or mention the positive ones (which are significantly more frequent).
He stated that everyone he encountered in Iraq is grateful for the U.S.’ involvement (and continued presence) in Iraq. They realize the sacrifice our military has made, and continues to make for them. They are scared, though. They too read the news and watch television. They see what the left and MSM are saying and reporting. They don’t want to fall back into that black hole they were living in before.
Rick on November 27, 2006 at 1:21 PM
“Highjacking” implies taking something that doesn’t belong to you. So now the left/dems/libs have less of a claim on their own country that you do? You might want to take a look at the election results from a couple weeks ago. It was in all the papers.
honora on November 27, 2006 at 1:42 PM
nothing like a bad stomach virus to look at the world in a negative light
Defector01 on November 27, 2006 at 1:47 PM
Wow. Anyone else want a Polonium spritzer with their hemlock?
spmat on November 27, 2006 at 1:50 PM
Yet another reason to carpet-bombing Tehran and Damascus. The incendiary type, please.
Ropera on November 27, 2006 at 1:58 PM
Stop your whining.
JasonG on November 27, 2006 at 2:00 PM
What do you expect from the MSM on Iraq? Talking to Iran is just a public show.
Ouabam on November 27, 2006 at 2:02 PM
Main Entry: hi·jack
Variant(s): also high·jack /’hI-”jak/
Function: transitive verb
Yeah, I think what happened “a couple of weeks ago” metaphorically fits into the “hijacking” (or as you like to put it “highjacking”) definition. What have we “lost” honora?? Our will? Our determination? If we have lost anything, it’s all due to the continuing efforts of the left and MSM. They keep telling the average person that doesn’t have time to actually educate themselves on all of this, that we have lost - that we need to get out now - that everybody there hates us and wants us out, and so on and so on. Apparently, not all of this news and information is reliable and true.
By the way, sorry about the Steelers - that Super Bowl sure does seem like such a long time ago.
Rick on November 27, 2006 at 2:08 PM
Do you think I can pick up one of these masks at the Dearborne Mega Hel-Mart?
seejanemom on November 27, 2006 at 2:20 PM
Bravo!!! Of course it’s the fault of the left and the MSM. Because if it’s not, well then, that opens a really unpleasant can of worms, doesn’t it? Tell me again about how conservatives are the only ones who understand the virtue of taking responsibility for one’s own actions, that just never gets old.
What we have lost is our ability to deal with the dangers of the world as a serious and disciplined nation. We allowed these fools to take us into a no-win situation (I know what!! Let’s bring democracy to the mid-East, that will solve everything!! We can use my Dad’s barn and my grandma can make the costumes. If it helps, it gives me no joy to say “I told you so”.
Have you ever read “The March of Folly” by Barbara Tuckman (Tuchman?) You should. We are living it.
Don’t waste your sympathy on me and my Steelers; I have gone into my philosophical phase: last year was found money, so we are still way ahead of the game, from the fan’s perspective.
honora on November 27, 2006 at 2:23 PM
I’m not quite sure where you are going with that. Are you suggesting that maybe conservatives should be saying that the whole thing was a mistake? Or that mistakes have been made? Either way, when the MSM and liberals are constantly hammering on the negative, somebody has to mention the fact that good things are happening. Further, you are missing the point (please go back to my previous post).
That’s interesting, given that the left and MSM never really recognized any such dangers - or are you acknowledging that there are dangers outside of the Republican party? And by the way, I still haven’t heard a word from anybody on the left as to how we “deal with the dangers of the world.” Please don’t say the UN, please.
Hmmm, “disciplined” and “liberal” - aren’t those two mutually exclusive?
If that’s what you need to tell yourself to feel better, honora, by all means. I’ve been there.
Rick on November 27, 2006 at 2:46 PM
.
You know, it really is true: Mussolini did make the trains run on time….
honora on November 27, 2006 at 2:51 PM
Now you’re just being an ass. Pick up the NYT and read it thoroughly; then come back and tell me how there is no mention of any danger in the world.
honora on November 27, 2006 at 2:53 PM
And you say I’m being an “ass”???
As for reading the NYT - once again, who do they blame for most, if not all of the danger in the world?? Seriously, I can’t believe you threw that out…I mean, the NYT?? After all, they don’t have an agenda.
Rick on November 27, 2006 at 3:00 PM
When you remove almost all the rules, you lose. Plain and simple. We went to war and didn’t fight correctly so we lose! We ignored the uber Left for over fifty years and now we may have lost.
Talk with who? How do you “talk” with anyone who’s sole reason for being is to destroy you, your children, your country, your religions and your culture? In particular, how do you “talk” with someone who believes that lying is an acceptable method of negotiation? An enemy that will wait until they are strong enough and we are weak enough to kill us all? Or negotiate with anyone who is a sociopath?
Anyone who believes that this entire “Islamofascism” is “new” is out of their minds. They have been planning and plotting for over 70 years. Arafat was proof of that, as is Asad, Hezbollah, Mulism Brotherhood, Al Qaeda, et. al! We have not studied history and we are now in the process of repeating it, again!
sharinlite on November 27, 2006 at 3:05 PM
All our enemies endorse the Dhimmis, most Dhimmis think all the worlds turmoil is because of Bush. Did Beslan happen because Russians were in Iraq? Madrid must have happened because Spain was fighting terrorist in Iraq too. Dhimmis want isolationism, leave terrorists alone they wont hurt us. Therefore I believe Dems ally themselves with terror, by not wanting to fight.
infidel on November 27, 2006 at 3:36 PM
I can only assume you didn’t pick up on the Mussolini reference. Sigh.
Pay attention: you stated that the MSM doesn’t recognize any danger (to us) in the world. Now you (again) change what you said, this time to add, oh but who do they blame. I guess you ascribe to the belief that it’s hard to hit a moving target.
honora on November 27, 2006 at 4:00 PM
Remember “we will bury you?” We continued to talk with the Russians. This nonsense that we face an enemy more (fill in the blank) dangerous, evil yada, yada, yada, is simply an admission of our own weakness and the sad state of what passes for leadership in this country.
honora on November 27, 2006 at 4:03 PM
We did have a hotline with the USSR eventually, but MAD saved us. MAD does not work with suicidal terrorists.
infidel on November 27, 2006 at 4:11 PM
There are those who respect life and those who don’t. Another coincidence with the left and terror?
infidel on November 27, 2006 at 4:13 PM
Oh no. It’s in our manifesto. Duh.
honora on November 27, 2006 at 4:22 PM
ot i know, but it just occurred to me how much pelosi actually resembles steve bell’s charicatures of donald rumsfeld.
jummy on November 27, 2006 at 4:59 PM
Honora, we didn’t beat the Russians, the Russians beat themselves because they spent every penny on their attempt to take over. Reagan just used $$ vs $$. No hotline on earth will save us.
“This nonsense that we face an enemy more (fill in the blank) dangerous, evil yada, yada, yada, is simply an admission of our own weakness and the sad state of what passes for leadership in this country.”
Here you are absolutely correct: Liberal polices of the past sixty years! Remember, conservatives only held “power” for 12 years with the liberals obstructing all the way. It’s no skin off my nose, it won’t happen here in my lifetime, but the grandchildren going through a PC educational environment will definitely take the hit you and I will miss.
sharinlite on November 27, 2006 at 5:23 PM
The difference between the USSR vs US and Islam vs the civilized world is that both sides wanted to survive;
The majority of Soviet people are pretty much the same as the majority of Americans when you boil it all down. Hence we had a basis for negitiations.
The islamists however are completely different; They don’t particularly want to live and prosper. Their lives are meaningless to them; Your death has greater value to them than their life.
Expecting negotiations to succeed in the long term with the current crop of islamists in Iran and Syria makes as much sense as expecting Ripley to successfully negotiate with the Aliens.
LegendHasIt on November 27, 2006 at 6:03 PM
Wow! I think my computer just logged into the daily KOS…Interesting but totally bent thread here.
serenity on November 27, 2006 at 7:00 PM
Munich has just become the new paris (ala vietnam)
chow on November 27, 2006 at 7:49 PM
Ladies and gentlemen, don’t despair yet - 2007 is close enough; the Clintons will come along and say “move over Bushie Nr. 2 and let us show you how it’s done”.
Then there will be peace on Earth, prosperity for all, we won’t call it “democratizing the Middle East”; we’ll just call it “tolerant acceptance of all cultures”. BDS will slowly be forgotten on the heep of history and all will be well. The MSM will be bored silly, lest Mr. Clinton throws them a
cigarbone now and then. What Kos and the HuffPo will write about I can’t imagine. Neither what Keith Olberkind will say…Anti-Americanism will be a thing of the past too and we’ll all sing kumbaya and love each other.
What to do between now and then?
Entelechy on November 28, 2006 at 12:16 AM
That is the most gobsmackingly ignorant thing I’ve read in quite awhile. It may not be intentionally meant to be so, but that attitude is ultimately suicidal. You libs just will not see facts as they are.
Frustrating.
techno_barbarian on November 28, 2006 at 12:41 AM
Buy more ammo.
Heh.
techno_barbarian on November 28, 2006 at 12:43 AM
Lessee, NYT, Reuters, AP, Stringers, Fauxtography, etc.
See a pattern here?
Natrium on November 28, 2006 at 8:26 AM
I find it most interesting that Honora implicitly admits that the Left, the MSM and the Democrats are tied at the hip.
Natrium on November 28, 2006 at 8:30 AM
No thanks, I have plenty of toilet paper.
JackM on November 28, 2006 at 1:09 PM