Mark Steyn: It's not really about Saddam

National Post (Canada) ^ | 02/14/03 | Mark Steyn

[Pokey78]

[goldstategop]

Mark Steyn bump! Let's tell the French to go where they can jolly bugger off.

[dennisw]

btttttttttttttttttttttttt

[Ichneumon]

As always, it looks as if Steyn has nailed it.

[fporretto]

If only all political pundits had Mark Steyn's clarity of vision and dizzying fluency! How can it be that this invaluable voice hasn't yet been syndicated all over America?

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit The Palace Of Reason:
http://palaceofreason.com

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Pokey78]

I don't know, but thank the Lord that Al Gore invented the internet so we all can read Steyn's columns. ;-D

[edwin hubble]

Steyn's analysis of French motives (EU yes, NATO no) and of Blair's vulnerability is powerful.

Chirac's trick is to keep Labor in and replace Blair.
If the Tory's come in he'll be worse off.

[ex-Texan]

A loud standing ovation out here in Oregon !!! ... Bravo Mark Steyn ! .... Bravo !

Mr. Steyn really gets it!

[G L Tirebiter]

As always, M.S. is a great read with analysis that's not found elsewhere. He doesn't simply rework and parrot the convential wisdom.

I think he's spot on regards Chirac and Blair. Blair has major exposure from the far left in Labour and they'd like nothing better than to push him off the train.

That's why I believe we (US) will make an effort at securing some sort of additional (18th) resolution regards Iraq over the next couple of weeks. It's to give Blair domestic cover.

Question is: How firm (or squishy) will Chirac be? Will he use the veto to scupper Tony and the U.N.?

[chilepepper]

IMHO this is one of Steyn's most serious pieces, and most informative. Hat off to him...

[MeekOneGOP]

French PM: "It's Great to Be Collaborating with Germany Again!"

[William McKinley]

I cannot believe I am defending Blair, but he has been stalwart throughout this whole ordeal, when it would have been remarkably easy for him personally to simply play politics.

I think he is wrong on many issues, but I give him credit for having his eyes open to the threats facing the world and the courage to act in a manner which will cause him political harm but just may save his nation's future.

[MeekOneGOP]

...thank the Lord that Al Gore invented the internet so we all can read Steyn's columns. ;-D

LOL !

Check out Al Gore's REVIEW of Cast Away.

[G L Tirebiter]

I agree with you about Blair. He always reminded me of Clinton without the libido. Lady Thatcher he ain't.

That said - he's played an invaluable role in marshalling the non-Axis of Weasel Euros to our side.

And I beleive he'll stick with us even if it emperils his position at the head of his party.

[Core_Conservative]

Mark,

This was an awesome display of mental ability. My hat is off to you for this amazing linkage. I have never thought that it could be this intricate, however, you have cleared my brain to accept such intrigue. Thank you for this eye opening article.

[I still care]

Oh, come on. I know I'm showing my ignorance here, but does Belgium REALLY have a leader called Manekin Pis?

[Renfield]

I am just as incensed by subsidized heating oil, Amtrack, and other boondoggles as I am by agricultural subsidies. I don't approve of any of them. And as for the hard-working farm families of the Klamath Basin, I feel sorry for them and wish them well. I work with hard-working farm families out here on the other side of the continent. My point is that the government induced their ancestors to settle this land by making a promise to them that it cannot fulfil. The climatic history of the interior west is capricious. Rainfall regimes for Western basins during the Holocene (last 13,000 years or so) have oscillated between "Xeric" (Mediterranean-like, with some rain during the winter) or "Ustic" (enough rainfall for small-grain or grass agriculture, but with dry spells during the growing season), on the one hand, and "Aridic" (desert) on the other. These aridic spells can last for 50 years or more, which dries up the whole watershed. It is quite possible that the current 3-year drought which has hit the interior west might last for a couple of generations. At some point, an extended drought will make watershed-irrigated agriculture in the West impossible, and many people will be displaced.

[tictoc]

Fantastic!

In unrelated news, a FreeRepublic member named MadIvan was seen dashing into the Channel at Dover. Crawling through icy seas, he appears to be headed toward Calais at a record-setting pace.

Mr. Ivan was said to be holding a SAS standard issue combat knife clamped between his teeth. A taxidermists' manual and a tourist guide to the presidential Elysée Palace in Paris were reported missing from his local library branch.