My laughter still hasn't subsided from the last post. I told my research assistant, who happens to be an atheist, that many of his fellow non-believers were too dumb to recognize even the most blatant irony and satire. He refused to believe it, until he saw it with his own eyes. He's a believer now, at least in the fact that there are plenty of atheists who are as clueless as the most ignorant fundamentalist.
Now that I've established that beyond a reasonable doubt, it's time to move on to the latest political news. In his latest speech, Obama confidently declared that America's war in Iraq is a "distraction" from our involvement in Afghanistan.
Leave aside the problem that Obama's Iraq views and policy all seem formulated prior to actually finding out what is going on in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama is scheduled to go to Iraq later this month on a "fact finding mission." He will also visit Afghanistan for the first time. Couldn't Obama's wisdom on Iraq and Afghanistan have waited for what he might find when he's over there?
Liberal Democrats like Obama keep saying Iraq is the "distraction" when, from the point of view of the Islamic radicals, Iraq is absolutely crucial. Al Qaeda has publicly stressed that Iraq is the global center of the war on terror, the staging ground for the beginning of World War III.
Why is Iraq so important to Bin Laden? Because since 1979 the radical Muslims have controlled only one major Muslim country, and that is Iran. They are desperate to get their hands on a second one. They have already said that if they get Iraq, they will focus next on Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
For America, Iraq is crucial for a reason regularly stressed by real estate agents: Location, location, location. Here are the names of Iraq's neighbors: Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia. Is there any doubt how important it is to have a pro-American Muslim government (or even better, a pro-American Muslim democracy) in that neighborhood?
By contrast, it is Afghanistan that is quite frankly a "distraction." Afghanistan was chosen as the launching pad for the 9/11 attacks because the Taliban government provided rent-free accommodations there for the Al Qaeda training camps. It was essential for the U.S. to get rid of the Taliban, and I'm glad the international community is keeping an eye on the place to prevent a return of those fanatics. Even so, anyone who thinks Afghanistan is strategically more important than Iraq needs his head examined.
If Obama's dismissal of Iraq seems like the unserious speculation of a novice, McCain has shown the prudent judgment of a real statesman. When almost everyone was against the surge, McCain pushed it. It wasn't that Bush talked McCain into supporting the surge. The truth is actually the opposite: McCain sold it to Bush.
It is the surge that seems to have changed the facts on the ground, and that is a testament to McCain's political bravery and strategic far-sightedness. Let's hope Obama finds out what is really going on before he issues more pearls of unwisdom.
Reader Comments ( Page 15 of 15)
211. Oneblood, are you a fundamentalist christian?
If you are, or even if you aren't, I made a comment earlier and I wish to apologize for it.
I tend to make this mistake over and over again. I need to "get it."
I've insulted your intelligence. With no reason, as it turns out. I thought I had a reason. Because I said "fundamentalists" but I was meaning "hypochrists" in the sense of the christians that say that they've been reborn into christ and then proceed to act exactly opposite to the way that christ would have acted. I used the wrong word, in a big way. I do not hate christians, although I obviously do not think that they're correct in their belief in an anthropomorphic male deity and his half-human son. However my main "gripe" is not with that. It's with the hypocrisy. The calling themselves christians and acting like fascists thing. The 'telling yourself and others that you are a good christian while your actions prove that you're not' thing. That's why I coined the word "hypochrist," out of disgust for the behavior.
From your subsequent posts, I see that you are not one of them, and are basically on my side here, in not agreeing with their ways. Christ's message was largely positive and beautiful, one of love and acceptance, and that's all I ask of those that call themselves after him. Even if I don't necessarily believe in him as the son of god and even have my doubts as to whether he ever even really existed as an historic figure, the WORDS are what count here to me. The message. I approve of it, immensely.
And I think that you get that message and try to live by it, and are here telling others that they should consider doing so also.
I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said "fundamentalist" nor any specific group or denomination. I should have perhaps said "hypochrists" or "hypocritical christians." I need to not fall prey to the hatred that poisons minds on both sides. It's so easy to fall into that.
Godless Heathen Brian at 11:18PM on Jul 17th 2008
212. Although in my weak defense, the original comment was in response to Dinesh talking about the most ignorant fundamentalist or something like that, and the more ignorant ones are hypochrists all, are they not? It takes ignorance to say and think that you're following christ's path when you act nothing like him.
I'm still sorry.
Godless Heathen Brian at 11:29PM on Jul 17th 2008
213. So let's stay in Iraq, teach al-Qaeda a lesson, and start the Middle East towards democracy.
Funny, there already is a democracy in the middle east.
The name of the democracy? Iran.
In fact we have installed the same exact system in Iraq. If as I've heard Iran is great threat how erxactly does installing the same system run by the same religous sect strengthen our securtity?
Of course, just like in Iraq, unelected mullahs can void anything the people vote for if it doesn't adhere to there interpretaion of the Koran.
On another note does anyone else notice that when establishing democracies we never put one in like the one we have here? Isn't ours good enough?
tmo at 11:29PM on Jul 17th 2008
214. The people who are trying to save lives are actually getting more innocent people killed. When you protest a war in front of your enemy, you empower them to do more harm.
Really? Do you really think these guys are watching a lot of American T.V. It seems to me this excuse has been used to shut up dissenters for years. Maybe your right, free speech is destrying our freedom. That pesky freedom of religion should probably go too. It's possible that people may vote for the wrong guy, we should dump that also.
RUN for your lives it's... Jon Stewart
All you are is bullshit. You're a lying liberal atheist loser that can't open its hate hole without lying. Listen to this dirty traitor and how he spews his lie like a goddamn Jihadi. With friends like this scum sucking Lefty ... who needs Al Qeada?
Thomas J Gassett at 2:44PM on Jul 17th 2008
Jesus loves you, Thomas. But that's probably about it. No wonder you cling to so hard to your favorite myths.
tmo at 11:43PM on Jul 17th 2008
215. Mr. D’Souza,
Iraq has and is most definitely a distraction. Maybe your "reasearch assistant" should go on a little 'fact finding mission' himself, because prior to this mess we have in Iraq, there was no Al Qaeda presence in Iraq. It was only after our irresponsible President and his cronies poorly planned and executed there war in Iraq, that Al Qaeda found their way into a destabilized Iraq. Therefore, it could be easily said that our President and his greedy cronies helped Bin Laden and Al Qaeda with their interest in Iraq. There was no reason to topple the evil tyrant known as Saddam Hussein, as it is not our normal military strategy to go into foreign countries unprovoked. It has already been well documented and investigated that Bush and his cronies pushed for war with a country based on doctored intelligence to fit their personal needs, and they have gotten away with it. It is well known that Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with the 9-11 attacks, yet our President waged war full force in Iraq, while military efforts in Afghanistan were poorly funded and pushed.
Maybe instead of worrying about whether or not being an atheist equates to being somehow "dumb", you should put a little more effort into researching why Bush and his cronies pushed harder for efforts in Iraq, when Afghanistan seemed to hold a place for Bin Laden, the man who pushed for the 9-11 attacks, and why Bush and his cronies chose to turn their back on the fact that many of those involved in the 9-11 attacks were from Saudi Arabia.
So again in case you didn't get the first time, Al Qaeda presence in Iraq was only realized after our President created a war in a country that had nothing to do with 9-11. He destabilized a whole region, making it porous enough for Al Qaeda to seep in. So, one can gleen from this that if Bush didn't make up intelligence to start an unfounded war in Iraq, Al Qaeda wouldn't be there attempting to realize their interest in the region.
Also, Iraq spent most of the 90's under sanctions, and 'no-fly' zone monitoring. It was known that any WMD they had then were destroyed, yet our President helped invent WMDs where there weren't any. Why not blog on the real story, which is why haven't the American people, the Senate, and the Congress been more demanding of holding this President and his administration accountable for falsely pushing their war; because last I knew, it is illegal for a President to start a war for personal gain and misuse our military the way he has gotten away with.
Jan at 1:23AM on Jul 18th 2008
216.
Next?
How I became soo good looking.
Why the ladies think I'm the best.
Why Jesus is on my side.
I can't be conceited, that's a fault and I have none.
Why I win every debate ( even when I don't).
How I'm better than you.
Why god hates atheists.
I just can't wait !
mac at 1:41AM on Jul 18th 2008
217. ANOTHER POSSIBLE dd SIGHTING:
Renzo
Other most likely dd aliases (really, he's not that good at it):
Rev 3:16
Tsar Nicholas II
Kumar
America's Most Gangsta at 7:36AM on Jul 18th 2008
218. 160. This just in:
Not reported on Fox News:
Conservative modest fictional author dinesh d'souza was not found today in a hotel room with enough cocaine to kill a team of horses; and several underage boys; and a team of horses.
He was not arrested at the scene, nor will he be held in lieu of one million dollars bond.
Americas Most Gangsta
xxxxx
You forgot to mention that he wasn't found there with Rush Limbaugh and Karl Rove, both of whom weren't wearing hot pink matching bra and panty ensembles.
Tim Martin at 11:12AM on Jul 18th 2008
219. Yuck.
Ryan Anderson at 11:37AM on Jul 18th 2008
220. You forgot to mention that he wasn't found there with Rush Limbaugh and Karl Rove, both of whom weren't wearing hot pink matching bra and panty ensembles.
Tim Martin at 11:12AM on Jul 18th 2008
xxx
hmmmm, not at all very uninteresting! Were loofahs not involved? falafel?
Clif Kuplen at 3:05PM on Jul 18th 2008
221. Well at least DD has a way of get all the bloggers hitting his posts. The others don't seem to even get a topic off the ground.
Man_in_Wilderness at 4:21PM on Jul 18th 2008
222. He wants a riot, so he incites one.
Godless Heathen Brian at 9:48PM on Jul 18th 2008
223. hmmmm, not at all very uninteresting! Were loofahs not involved? falafel?
Clif Kuplen at 3:05PM on Jul 18th 2008
xxx
They would have been, had Double D's Ex boyfriend Mann Coulter been there, which he wasn't.
Tim at 11:12PM on Jul 18th 2008
224. They would have been, had Double D's Ex boyfriend Mann Coulter been there, which he wasn't.
ahh, little orphan Manny.
Rumor has it (s)he's the love child of morticia addams and cousin It. Whaddya think?
Clif Kuplen at 4:36PM on Jul 21st 2008
225. All you are is bullshit. You're a lying liberal atheist loser that can't open its hate hole without lying. Listen to this dirty traitor and how he spews his lie like a goddamn Jihadi. With friends like this scum sucking Lefty ... who needs Al Qeada?
Thomas J Gassett at 2:44PM on Jul 17th 2008
THIS IS THE GASSETT i know and love - why did you leave me? Where did you go, come back and insult me just a little more, I promise I'll be bad, very, very bad.
TJ at 11:25AM on Aug 20th 2008