Frankenstein's back, with a resounding endorsement of Barack Obama. I refer, of course, to the reemergence in public of former Clinton Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
Albright chastized Bush and defended Obama's statement that he would be happy to talk to Iran and other enemies of the United States. Albright blasted the current approach to the Middle East and made the anodyne point that it is just as important to converse with one's adversaries as it is to converse with one's friends.
The problem, of course, is not with talking with folks like Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. The problem is: who is going to do the talking? Certainly a President McCain has the experience and resolve to sit across the table with the bad guys and not fall for their deceptions or give in to their pressures. With an unseasoned guy like Obama, whose global experience may be confined to an occasional visit to the International House of Pancakes, who knows?
With Albright too it is credibility that becomes an issue. On May 11, 1996 this woman was asked by a television interviewer for "60 Minutes" whether she was troubled by the fact that Clinton-supported sanctions had resulted in the death of 500,000 Iraqi children. "It's a hard choice," she replied, "but we think it's worth it."
Leftists should keep Albright's response in mind when they wail about civilian casualties as a consequence of Bush's war in Iraq. Iraq Body Count keeps track of these casualties, and they are less than one-fifth the number of innocent civilians (mostly children) killed in the aftermath of sanctions. Sanctions had no effect on Saddam or his henchmen, who didn't miss a meal. Rather, they hurt the most vulnerable members of Iraqi society.
These facts remind us not only of the shortcomings of sanctions, which are not likely to work better with Iran than they did with Iraq. They also remind us that bad things in the world must be measured not against utopia but against what came before. Bush's Iraq war has resulted in a steep reduction of Iraqi deaths compared to the 300,000 people Saddam deposited in the mass graves and compared to the even greater number of deaths that Clinton's policies seem to have produced.
Still, I come back to Albright's original dismissal of half a million deaths with the calm affirmation: it's worth it. Can you recall another secretary of state making a remark more shockingly callous than Albright's? How this Frankenstein became the first female secretary of state remains a mystery.
And it is this same person who would presume to lecture us on what we should now be doing with Iran. I don't think we need more advice from Albright. Rather, what we need from her is an apology, followed by an overdue withdrawal from public life.
Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 14)
61.
Hey Clif,
Speaking of That NATION cover:
http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/-/7/alfredwbush.jpg
T.Brough at 7:06PM on Jun 29th 2008
62. Mr. D'Souza,
Your reference to Mrs. Albright as Frankenstein is offensive and inappropriate. As a fellow Christian I challenge you to examine two things:
1. why did you call her that name?
2. are you really a servant of Jesus or a Pharisee?
Dude, Jesus loves this lady. I couldn't disagree with her more and I have my issues with the left, but this kind of arrogance is unacceptable and not worthy of Christ. Stop it please and please; call her and apologize if you have any kind of character and integrity.
Blessed are the poor (those who know their need for God) for they shall inherit the earth - your lack of humility hurts your cause in a profound way. It is exactly what hurts the conservative movement more than any atheist could ever do.
RGW at 7:10PM on Jun 29th 2008
63. Modern Conservatism; sophmoric, vitriolic and wallowing in the DEEP denial of the last days of the Bush debacle. Name-calling? Another new low for DD. Wake up and smell the coffee D-boy. Obama too black for you?? HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Bye Bye to the Right (Wrong) Wing!
Sal at 8:41AM on Jun 30th 2008
64.
RGW
The bible is a chronicle of how God fucked up many times: mankind, Noah, Moses, Satan, Jesus. All you need is the proper religious mind set and God is prescient, omnipotent and omnipresent.
This is why the faithful is slowly leaving the church. Can't see how you and Dinesh are much different. Dinesh puts into words what you don't have the stomach to say RGW.
Jones at 8:26PM on Jun 29th 2008
65. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ELECTION 2008
Is Obama devotee of monkey-god idol?
Hindus present campaign with 2-foot version of good-luck charm candidate reportedly carries
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: June 27, 2008
2:31 pm Eastern
© 2008 WorldNetDaily
Lord Hanuman image
A group of Hindus in India have presented Sen. Barack Obama's campaign with a two-foot Hindu monkey-god idol after hearing the candidate carries a smaller version of the Lord Hanuman good-luck charm with him as he vies for the presidency.
Earlier this week, according to reports in India, Obama representative Carolyn Sauvage-Mar accepted the gold-plated statue, promising to pass it on to the candidate after is it sanctified through ritual Hindu prayers.
"The idol is being presented to Obama as he is reported to be a Lord Hanuman devotee and carries with him a locket of the monkey god along with other good luck charms," reported the Times of India.
An hour-long prayer meeting to sanctify the idol was conducted by Congress party leader Brijmohan Bhama and temple priests.
"Obama has deep faith in Lord Hanuman, and that is why we are presenting an idol of Hanuman to him," said Bhama.
(Story continues below)
Michael at 10:20PM on Jun 29th 2008
66. Accepting the souvenir, Sauvage-Mar, chairwoman of Democrats Abroad-India, said, "Obama has extended his thanks for the support."
The idol will be kept at the temple for 11 days and then sent to the U.S. It will reach Obama by Aug. 24 – a day before the Democratic National Convention opens in Denver.
The idea of sending an idol of Hanuman dawned on Bhama after friends in the U.S. mentioned a "prominent American politician who carried a miniature Hanuman idol in his pocket for luck."
"After hearing that, I decided to gift Mr. Obama a larger, gold-plated version along with the wishes of thousands of his supporters in this country," Bhama told the Hindu newspaper.
Along with the idol, a copy of "Hanuman Chalisa," a compilation of Hindu hymns, will be sent to Obama.
Michael at 10:21PM on Jun 29th 2008
67. RGW,
I agree with your comment.
Even though many atheists on this blog take their liberties at name-calling, etc.
Christians must not stoop down to their level.
We must be able to walk our talk,
speak the truth,
and be kind to others.
I have been catching up on the previous blogs and see where a little b brian learned a valuable lesson.
Hanging around these atheists too long is not healthy for one's soul.
And, when one sees that this behavior adversely affects their own, it's time for some personal inventory taking. And, maybe even walking away.
It's too bad that there aren't more believers contributing to this conversation. All of the negativity from the atheists is mostly a waste of one's time.
And, a serious detraction to things good and fruitful.
Michael at 10:33PM on Jun 29th 2008
68.
Jones,
God gave people free will. He does not force anyone to worship Him.
The dwindling numbers of active worshippers is due to a loss of faith,
in part,
due to the huge sway and pressure the secular culture has on people in making it harder and harder to live out God's commands in this sinful and lustful and narcissistic and pessimistic society.
Remember, Christ asks if, when He returns, will he see any faith left.
And, each one of us will have to give a direct answer to Him on that day.
Pray. And Prepare.
Michael at 10:44PM on Jun 29th 2008
69. Michael,
Was there an actual point to your Obama Hindhu copy and paste post?
Botts at 10:58PM on Jun 29th 2008
70. As to Frankenstein endorsing Obama, I think it's pretty much a shoo-in for Al Franken, but Ben Stein, I don't think so much. I get the impression that anyone who ever went to the bathroom in their lives would be a bit too liberal for him.
Clif Kuplen at 10:59PM on Jun 29th 2008
71.
Hey Botts! How is the groovy life?
T.Brough at 11:41PM on Jun 29th 2008
72. Ah yes, Mr D'Souza clearly displays his superiority here, wow, Frankenstein, good one. This from a guy who always comments about the namecalling claiming to be above that. Well, at least sometimes. Yet again, he's reaching for something to talk about. Here's an idea. How about you talk about the pervasive bigotry of your own country of India. CNN just did a story about your Motherland, it was very informative, explaining your dislike of anyone darker than you. I see this as another attempt to attack the Obama dude but using a surrogate to go after him. Ah, but she is Caucasian, something you subscribe to be, so you go with namecalling. How about you pitching a bitch about, the vice-president saying 'So' when asked about families and Americans who disapprove of the war, you know nearly 70 percent of Americans.
Words from Good Ole Logan
Logan at 11:49PM on Jun 29th 2008
73. Timmybaby,
What's up dude? I'm feeling a little groovy being back.
You owe me a Cheesesteak and Tastycake big guy. Don't forget!
Botts at 12:11AM on Jun 30th 2008
74. Botts, Good to have you back. Hope everything is well with you, and your family.
Jerry Brown at 12:23AM on Jun 30th 2008
75. Botts, Good to have you back. Hope everything is well with you, and your family.
Jerry Brown at 12:24AM on Jun 30th 2008