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 6 of 15)
76. Godless Heathen Brian
Did you notice he call the fundamentalist ignorant, while he called the atheist stupid?
Jerry Brown at 1:01PM on Jul 16th 2008
77. we won, we fucking won the iraq war. weather you like that or not, thats a fact...
mike at 12:43PM on Jul 16th 2008
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Well, it's definitely a fact that people that can't spell "whether" and mis-spell it "weather" like say precipitation, those people definitely THINK that we've won the Iraq war. Because GWB tells them so, and he has been blessed by god with the ability to speak to anybody with an IQ under sixty-five and make them do his bidding and like it.
Godless Heathen Brian at 1:03PM on Jul 16th 2008
78. 73. Jerry Brown,
We each have control of our own responses, regardless of the tone of anyone. Respect comes from rising above pettiness, not following in step with it.
Tabais at 1:02PM on Jul 16th 2008
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Ah, blow it out your a$$....
Just kidding. :-)
Godless Heathen Brian at 1:05PM on Jul 16th 2008
79. Well said DD. I might add for all the people that want us out of the middle east and claim it's all about oil that they are probable right. We import 70% of the oil we use in this country due in part because we have been prevented from drilling our own oil. Liberals; you want us out of the middle east then quit standing in the way of our own production. Then all the arabs can kill each other for all I care.
Don Stagnaro at 1:06PM on Jul 16th 2008
80. Tabais
I agree with you, however in almost cases the speaker sets the tone , and the majority of what follows will be in the same tone. There are many postings that rise far above anything that DD states, but for the most part they will follow his lead. Suggest if you want another type of discourse you go elsewhere unless you are patient. DD gets his jollies off harassing the atheist. Most of the well thought out comments will be by the atheist. Meanwhile......
Jerry Brown at 1:10PM on Jul 16th 2008
81. 72. Godless Heathen Brian
Did you notice he call the fundamentalist ignorant, while he called the atheist stupid?
Jerry Brown at 1:01PM on Jul 16th 2008
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Well, I did now...
I respect someone a lot more who's stupid for life rather than ignorant for life. Stupid people can't help it. Ignorance is voluntary.
Oh, and a lot of fundies are both, but none of them are neither.
Godless Heathen Brian at 1:11PM on Jul 16th 2008
82. Tabais:
Your post pointing out that pejorative and ad hominem arguments actually detract from any messages or ideas the posters may hope to impart is right on the money and has been noted by various of us who follow this blog in the past. Moreover, I, for one, cannot understand this behavior from someone who purports to be a Christian, since it is obvious even to me (neither a Christan nor a "believer") that this is not behavior that would be approved by Jesus if he were here with us to comment on it. Unfortunately, many of the frequent posters here do not so much care about getting their ideas across or opening an interesting or sometimes instructive discussion as in venting their disdain for or unhappiness with other posters. (although, I must admit when this vitriol is aimed at DD, I can almost understand it.)
Harvey at 1:13PM on Jul 16th 2008
83. Then all the arabs can kill each other for all I care.
Don Stagnaro at 1:06PM on Jul 16th 2008
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You go, christian!!! You tell 'em! Yeah! Kill em all and let Allah sort em out! Yee-Hah! Fuckin towelheads...
Hey, I just wanted to see what it's like to actually post this evil ignorant hypochrist crap.
I feel soiled. When did you start worshipping Satan and calling him Jesus?
Godless Heathen Brian at 1:14PM on Jul 16th 2008
84. No, Dinesh, it's not that we missed the irony or sattire - we just believe you may be stupid enough to actually write that kind of garbage seriously.
Jason at 12:14PM on Jul 20th 2008
85. Hey mike
Here is some news about how we are winning the war.
"Islamic militants take over a military outpost in eastern Afghanistan after U.S. and Afghan troops pull out of the area. The withdrawal comes in the wake of a deadly weekend attack at the post that left nine American soldiers dead, and it underscores the growing strength of insurgents almost eight years after the ouster of the Taliban."
Mike, I dont blame Bush for doing it. I blame the american public for standing idly by while it happened. One thing about politics is that leaders will do as much as the public will let them.
CaptainCack at 2:05PM on Jul 16th 2008
86. We import 70% of the oil we use in this country due in part because we have been prevented from drilling our own oil.
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Here is an economics lesson for you Don. How do you make money off of something? Sell it for the highest profit. Where will domestic oil sell highest? Overseas. Now, If we sell our oil overseas, how will we get oil? Imports.
You did it Don!!!Give him a gold star. Common sense would tell you that an oilman president only supports domestic oil production so that they can sell it overseas for more money than they can get here. What the US needs is more refineries to convert oil into gasoline for automobiles. There hasnt been a new refinery built in the US for over 30 years.
CaptainCack at 2:13PM on Jul 16th 2008
87. 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.
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I took this from gonesh's original post.
Here's something I heard Richard Clarke say a couple of days ago, and what is being reflected more and more, even in corporate media.
Obama is constructively SETTING the mcbush military strategy! And he hasn't even won the office yet!
He has been months ahead on every move they are making now, not only on deployment of troops to Afghanistan, on Obama's statement that if he had actionable intelligence on whereabouts of al qaeda and bin Laden in Pakistan, he'd go after them, but in who to negotiate with. Even the Iraqi government has come around and is in need of a timetable for withdrawal. Mcbush is still a little waffly on that regardless of what bush promised.
For someone with no military experience, Obama has somehow compensated since the mcbush complex has now flipflopped into complete alignment with Obama's position on military strategy since the debates.
Couple this with mcbush's bad call for troops on the ground in Bosnia, it's evident that Obama operates at a substantially higher pay grade to paraphrase the general officers.
That's to say nothing of mcsame's horrible voting record on soldiers' benefits, including funding for combat armor.
It's pretty common knowlege now what his women's rights voting record is, but look at this:
The Huffington Post has published an absolutely despicable joke mcbush told an audience a couple of decades ago, basically that a woman was assaulted, brutalized, raped repeatedly and left for dead by a gorilla and she wanted it again.
Couple that with the mcbush towering steroid rages and his disrespect for even cindy when he's out of it, calling her a c united nations t and you have a choice that has to do with talent and ability, not thirty years bumbling around in middle management and getting more and more frustrated with personal incapacity. I don't want that finger on any more triggers, thanks.
Clif Kuplen at 2:15PM on Jul 16th 2008
88. We import 70% of the oil we use in this country due in part because we have been prevented from drilling our own oil. Liberals; you want us out of the middle east then quit standing in the way of our own production. Then all the arabs can kill each other for all I care.
Don Stagnaro at 1:06PM on Jul 16th 2008
There was a however brief when we all came together. For this fleeting second of clairty we all saw it. Our addiction to oil was killing us. It was killing the enviroment. It was killing our economy. Our young men and women were dying over it. Something had to done we all saw it, conservative, liberal, it didn't matter. This was that rare time when something to could get done we could throw this monkey off our backs.
Then someone whose fortune depended on our addiction blamed it all on the liberals and the moment was gone. Can you hear the chimp giggling? He's right behind you and it looks like he's going to stay.
tmo at 2:20PM on Jul 16th 2008
89. Before i add me comment,allow me to say that I felt something fishy about Dinesh's last post.Reading it somehow reminded me of a preening cat.Either Dinesh had allowed praise to get to his head,or it was all a big joke.Anyways,now we know,and it was really funny.
oN TO today's topic
I think that Iraq was unnecessary,and Afghanistan is necessary.That is my final word on that.However,there is some burning issues,and some facts
1.Iraq did harbour America killers.E.G
Abdul Nidal,etc.
2.Hatred for America in the Muslim world has been there for a long time before 9/11.I grew up in a majority muslim part of my country,and i remember seeing a protest against America,years before 9/11.So those who say America is hated a lot since 9/11 are being economical with the truth
3.There are problems in the middle east.High unemploymemt,poor health numbers etc.These need attention
4.No matter how nice you Americans are,there are still a lot of greviances against America,that are older than 9/11.
Let us be honest.There has been a lot of Anti-americanisim in the world,and much of this predates George.w.Bush.And a lot of this Anti-America propaganda is a means of distracting people from who there real enemies are.
To all americans on this blog.Don't give up on yourselves.Yeah,America may be in a mess,but despite that,there are a lot of messier countries than America...in Asia,Africa,even in Europe.
mad african christian at 3:08PM on Jul 16th 2008
90. CC,
"I blame the american public for standing idly by while it happened."
I recall plenty of protest. I guess it only counts as "standing idly by" until people start militia movements.
Mokele Mbembe at 2:30PM on Jul 16th 2008