One picture. A thousand words.

Now, wonder what words were spoken?

“Thank you for blowing the hell out of my town so all I have, all my possessions, are in this little plastic shopping bag?”

or,

“You stupid duraks, why are you doing this to us?”

or,

“All hail, the conquering hereoes!” [No, doesn't seem to evoke that, not from the body language, it doesn't.]

http://s50.radikal.ru/i130/0808/c3/2d20e8ce29bf.jpg

I trust President George W. Bush to do the right thing…. but his time is limited.

Seven Percent Solution on August 15, 2008 at 12:20 AM

Unfortunately I don’t trust him to do the right thing. I mean he looked into Putin’s eyes and saw a “friend”. Bush is a “compassionate” conservative. while fine domestically, in foreign affairs (and warfighting) not so much.

You want peace… defeat your enemies (or be so strong they won’t dare cross you). No matter what Alphie says, this has proved true through centuries of existence…

Allah, does it ever occur to you that defactos like this make you Obama’s accessory? For once I’d like to see you add at least a disclaimer to your predictions.

leftnomore on August 15, 2008 at 9:38 PM

Allapundit an Obama accessory?

And I’m the one to set all this gossip quite to rest
I’ve told you all before
Allahpundit is trying to keep this place from going into mental arrest
But no, you say Allahpundit’s an Obama supported in disguise
Rumour has it he’s a New Yorker
That he’s a reckless lawyer but still rather wise
When actually Allahpundit is George the Third
Indeed! And I’m the Queen of Spain!

Yes, power is taken when it is not opposed, which is why there is a set of necessary steps leading to the actual Finding and a set of step required before implementation of that Finding.

If we do not oppose the power before us…revanchist Russia…the power we have will indeed be taken.

The leaders in both Houses and, at times, depending on the sensitivity of the Finding, the leaders/ranking members of the appropriate defense or intel committees alone, must sign off.

Further, at times the involvement of the USSC becomes one of the necessary signatories.

There are times, as we have seen with FISA and a few other matters over the years, that public discourse in open forum and Congressional debate running weeks or months on end on matters of national security actually diminishes our ability to protect and defend the Nation, and offers an enemy or potential enemy a clear idea of our plans and intentions.

Plans and intentions…the crown jewel of intelligence collection.

coldwarrior on August 15, 2008 at 10:26 PM

wow, so under this apparently anyone the Admin declares an enemy can have their assets seized without any other due process???

Sounds a bit fishy to me… but then again… power is taken when it is not opposed….

Romeo13 on August 15, 2008 at 3:50 PM –

Those actions involved US accounts held by US entities registered under US or various state laws, the so-called Islamic Charities. Similar efforts were undertaken regarding Irish Republican Army “charities” [Noraid, in particular] here in the US, and as far as my research finds, there was no Congressional action required. There was Executive branch action taken, in May 1981, the DOJ won a federal court case forcing Noraid to register the Provisional Irish Republican Army as its “foreign principal”, under the Foreign Agents Registration Act 1938. This is far larger than going after Islamist “charities or IRA fund-raising.

Use the laws we have on the books to their greatest extent before trying to get Congress to pass new, most often redundant, legislation.

…so whether Obama and Congress choose to follow through…

There’s our Allah, once again putting Big O in the White House. Always nice to have this kind of encouragement. Allah, does it ever occur to you that defactos like this make you Obama’s accessory? For once I’d like to see you add at least a disclaimer to your predictions.

The Finding could serve to get the mechanisms sharpened and up to running speed.

I agree, Congress would have to get involved. (I was involved in something close to this, no where near the potential magnitude, over a decade ago.) In most circumstances, briefing the leaders of both Houses (both parties), and the appropriate leaders and ranking members of the select Committees having cognizance, suffices to cover the Constitutional bases.

But, this is indeed “war.” And Congress, despite the ongoing threat, is pretty much still on vacation. Time. Our weakness.

I have this vision of the French National Assembly debating and arguing how to respond to the German May 1940 invasion right up until the Germans took Paris in June 1940. Debating the fine points of parliamentary procedure, with a healthy dose of surrender mentality, while the enemy moved at will across France.

The current Trading With the Enemy Act sets precedent, though right now, I beleive, only Cuba is currently subject to its provisions. In addition, there is the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, on the books, under Title 50, USC, that allows the President to identify any unusual extraordinary threat that originates outside the United States and to confiscate property and prohibit transactions in response.

Seems we are facing an unusual extraordinary threat, and it does originate outside the United States.

coldwarrior on August 15, 2008 at 2:12 PM

Pretty sure that would take more than a DCI finding… more an act of Congress, like we did on the Terrorist funding at the begining of the WOT… Constitution is still in place, and you can’t seize property without due process.

Its one of the reasons they had to find that Iran’s Qud’s forces was a terrorist organization in order to play with their funds.

If I remember, it was the same with Iraq, had to have Congress get involved in order to freeze their funds…

I don’t see Palomino Pelosi being willing to even bring this up for a vote… let alone pass… unless Bush was willing to offer somthing in return, which would be equally bad for the country (like backing off on drilling).

How anyone can be for the overall reduction in incomes of Americans, working class citizens, to promote and fund illegals fund is beyond me.

coldwarrior on August 15, 2008 at 1:52 PM

Follow the money.

U.S. to Russia: How does a missile defense system in Poland sound?

A modest system
— just 10 missiles in all — and the Poles appear to get more from it
than we do, but the message is clear. Flag this story, because the left
will surely be……

Was discussing this at Detroit Metro airport earlier this morning with a couple international businessmen who were waiting for a flight while I was waiting for my kid’s flight. Putin and his inner circle have been following the MSM very very closely. Another weakness in the Putin column. Inadvertently the MSM has given Putin the understanding that we are all about consumerism, hip-hop and rap, Paris and Britney, and our political processes are completely shut down because of our rampant partisanship. Putin actually gets intel reports basded on the US MSM.

You know, I know, most of the HA readership knows, that the MSM is so far from reality it is no longer funny.

Putin seems to have gauged his decision in part on the belief that America is too fractured, too stupidly tied to the latest Britney escapade, or Edward’s scandal, to want to pay attention to what Putin can do or intends to do to Georgia or any other country…thus he “can” act with impunity.

Unintentional maskirovka on America’s part brought to Putin by the MSM.

There is law and the mechanisms in place such that any funds that pass through US banks or US electronic transfer systems can (and have been) seized by the Treasury when the “owners” of those funds are known to be or are reasonably suspected to be enemy nations or persons or concerns that support enemies of the United States. A consultation at the GS-God level with Treasury and Justice and a Presidential Finding can readily initiate this sort of action.

Global banks, given the current value of the dollar…gold is below $800 and looking to go lower)…any legitmate global bank would want to preserve its ability to utilize American banks and global transfer mechanisms without fear of having funds, funds they are responsiuble to their stockholders for, being vacuumed up electronically. Our strength is that nearly all global banks routinely, each and every minute, send funds by means that must, because of technology, pass through US systems. Putin’s weakness is that he depends on that free flow of funds. Play to Russia’s weaknesses.

coldwarrior on August 15, 2008 at 1:52 PM

Yep, we think a lot alike, about a lot of subjects… I just don’t see the political will (yet) to make the changes needed we really need, nor any politician out there who is making much sense.

This election is once again about choosing the lesser idiot… and there is NOT a viable conservative candidate…
and even more worrisome, we are not being given ANY real choice on a couple of major issues (cap and trade, immigration)… they are not even being talked about during the election cycle by ANYONE, because both candidates aggree on them… heck, even Tancredo is pretty quiet lately.

Problem is that other countries read our press as well… Putin has a VERY good idea what these policies will lead to, and thus, seized this opportunity to reassert Russian dominance in the area.

Its more a question now of just what are our realistic options…

How anyone can be for the overall reduction in incomes of Americans, working class citizens, to promote and fund illegals fund is beyond me. Just seems so utterly stupid.

legal immigration> Sure. That’s pretty much how my family got here. Illegal? They relinquish their “right” to be here the moment they become illegals. Why reward them? Why even consider rewarding them?

Global Warming Cap and trade system…must go! It is not based on anything but conjecture and speculation. It makes no sense.

As for our debt? Large, too large. But look at our assets, in terms of GNP, and infrastructure and flexible economy? When I was a bit younger a guy could have gotten elected IF he promised only a 5% unemployment rate.

Energy policy…now a matter of national defense in the most vibrant and clear terms. Would be much much better IF we had a firm hand on stopping the $700 billion sent overseas annually to pay for our crass consumerism and disregard for our resources. Rather have that money used to knock down our debt, provide real jobs and employment here, at home, and actually really stimulate our economy.

Our debt is high, but a lot less as a percentage of what we are really worth than most countries across the globe. As a lifelong Republican (well, I did have my liberal youth and college days…) I am pretty p.o.’d about how the GOP has rolled over too many times when it comes to fiscal restraint and accountability in spending our money.

Dramatic moves? Should have been in the works already…long before the present Georgian thingie smudged our screens. But we have to go to war with what we have, not with what we wished we had.

I understand, Romeo13, where you are coming from {damn, that sounded so 70’s…] and I understand your concern as well as your intent. We are certainly not polar opposites on this issue, that’s for sure. Our’s is a difference in applied methodology. Keep sharpshooting me. Please. I don’t have a handle on just about anything, really. Of all the comments I have encocuntered your’s seem to be the most thought provoking. Guess you can tell by the length of my responses.

The “why?” we know and understand. The “how?” is that tough nut to crack.

Any option short of unleashing a real shooting war with the Russians is what I seek, heck, pray for. Too many want to rush to the revved-up armor, or cut in the afterburners and fly off to “get them commies.” These voices scare me because they might be listened to by those in the decision-making food chain. I fear they might agree. At the same time I fear they might be cowed into indecision if they think that dropping ordnance or popping a nuke is the only option we have.

As for “juice.” IF we act like we really understand the underlying problems and are not just engaged in management by crisis…I believe that others may willingly, some reluctantly, follow our lead.

To the rest of HA…I apologize for the inordinate amount of bandwidth I seem to gobble up. Just haven’t learned how to be pithy.

coldwarrior on August 15, 2008 at 11:46 AM

Problem is that I don’t think the World’s banks are under the West’s control any longer.

We’ve globalized banking to the point where Russia could use SE Asia, or China, or Middle Eastern Banks to do business… and as they are the worlds Second Largest oil exporter (with more coming online almost daily), they have a tangible asset to sell.

Could our “Leaders” make the correct moves to disrupt their economy? Sure… but we’d have to get our own house in order first.

We’ve managed to devalue the dollar significantly over the past 7 years… by 40% according to some… and that does not count inflation. We’ve had a continuing Trade deficit, and balance of trade problem (ie, we’re exporting wealth). Our government continues to go further in debt, while our politicians continue to make further pie in the sky promises to voters to get elected.

Both current Presidential candidates are for a Global Warming Cap and trade system which will drive energy prices even higher, and create another drag on the American economy… and with Dems in control of both houses of Congress, it will happen…

Both Candidates are for legalizing and giving citizenship to 20-30 million illegals (low estimate IMO), which because they are low wage earners, take more resources from the tax base than they will give to it… especialy in Social Security mandates… which are currently not even figured into the current debt figures… so, even more debt, or raised taxes which will hinder growth…

Other countries see these rather stupid Politicly driven economic situations, and see them for what they are… stupidity… I don’t think the rest of the world will bet on America being the strong horse UNLESS our Leaders can make some pretty dramatic moves very soon.

So, I don’t think America has the juice worldwide to enforce an economic/banking war on Russia… We don’t have the power, and we don’t have enough friends left…

Putin says, “Make me”.

Condi says “You are going to damage your relationship….”

Putin says, “Make me”.

Condi says, “We are not going to abandon Georgia”.

Putin says, “Make me”.

Poland says, “I want it in writing”.

Putin says, “Your next.”

Text from the 2012 State Department Manual chapter regarding Negotiation: Point and Counter Point – How to Bluff based on American Superpower Status and Respect.

(Just don’t use Google’s blog engine. Wordpress for the win!)

coldwarrior on August 15, 2008 at 11:46 AM

Very nice coldwarrior. And Alaskan admirer of your posts.

Yes, the USSR bankrupted itself in the final years of the Cold War.

The major reason for the bankruptcy of the USSR had much to do with the Soviet system itself, state planning, and a huge segment of the Soviet industrial base being dependent on the national treasury to provide necessary capital for improvement, innovation and infrastructure. The Soviet system could not respond to “market demands” (the need to provide both guns and butter) since there was no methodology within the Soviet system to actually account for earnings, and losses, or costs of capital, labor, and resources. It became rigid under Stalin, based on false presumptions of Lenin, and became heavily ossified under Breshnev. The kleptocracy of the Soviet leadership did nothing to enable the economy to grow. For them, real growth did not matter. What mattered was the provision of perks to the leadership, billions of dollars a year, perks to the apparatchiki and nomenclatura…further billions of dollars per year, and the provision of spectacular achivements…the biggest rockets, a multi-billion dollar rat hole that was their space program, a huge conscript land army it could not afford, building the biggest bombers, the biggest artillery pieces, and so on down the line, irrespective of their actual utility, irrespective of their efficacy as part of a national defense program…and additional hundreds of billions of dollars per year…wasted.

When the time came, when the West, moreso, the United States, set before the Soviets innovations in lethal weapons and highly accurate systems, and the means to employ them, and a growing vibrant economy, the USSR, because of the kleptocracy and the ossification of its system over decades of rigid state control, the Soviet economy could not react to “market forces” and turn on a dime to respond to these innovations in technology and weaponry and production capability of the West, and could not provide basic consumable needs for the population, and the Soviet economy ground to a halt, bringing in Gorbachev, whose goal was to reform communism, and make the Soviet economy more responsive to “market forces.” But, Gorbachev, by his own admisison, could not improve the Soviet economy wihtout destroying the system on which it was based.

Gorbachev failure opened the way for Russians, within Russia, to see that Communism was going to be totally ineffectual in improving the Russian economy (providing both guns and butter) at the cost of the Communist Party losing its position of leadership within the USSR and losing once and for all the confidence of the Soviet peoples.

Yes, the USSR went bankrupt, trying to provide for its own and provide for a defense against the West.

But, in no way does this indicate that the United States, the West, whose economies are market driven, responsive to “market demands” and more flexible in application of capital, labor and resources than the Soviets could ever hope to be and Putin’s Russia can only dream to be.

No comparison, none at all to “they bankrupted themselves, just as we are doing now.”

Look at the price of Gold this morning. The price of oil. Look at the sectors of the Western stockmarkets, the source of capital for our economies, our innovations. Usually in the face of a global crisis of the magnitude we are facing today, one would see sharp peaks and dips…but the general trends have been, even after the Georgian invasion, steady and toward a strong dollar across the world and a stronger economy here at home.

Is confronting Putin’s regime going to be costly? Yes.

Will not confronting Putin be much more costly across the board? Yes.

The Putinisti are depending on American fear and Western fear to force them to capitulate, and the Russians have indicated clearly they are willing to use fear and intimidation to cow the West should they join up with America over this trifle called Georgia. But fear don’t buy eggs. We know this. The Putinisti apparently do not.

Save for oil…we have all the resources to confront Putin…economically across the board…and not permanently harm our economy in the long run.

We must end our dependence on foreign oil, easy targets of Russia. We must end our dependence on foreign oil (outside of Canada and Mexico) immediately.

Sending Russia a message that we are willing to do without over the short run in order to run Putin’s Russia into the ground over the long run…drill here, drill now…expand and unfetter alternative energy development and production, here at home, and within Europe…is something that if we start, today, if we announce it, today, and remove legislative roadblocks in the way (Nancy, are you listening?) Putin and his minions will see Russia, just as the old Soviet Union, cannot withstand the onslaught to their economy.

It is about money. Putin needs it. Show Putin that his money flow and the means to obtain more are in our hands. Putin’s noose around the neck of the West is broken.