Peggy Noonan: The Phony War

Opinion Journal ^ | 11/09/2001 | Peggy Noonan

[Pokey78]

Like Britain in 1939, we're at war but not yet in it.

That was an interesting speech President Bush gave last night in Georgia. Its subject was homeland security, and in terms of content, style and tone it seemed to be, essentially, nothing new. And yet by the end and after reading it, I thought: He's telling us a great deal here.

[Marysecretary]

WOW! Thanks, Miss Print. That was awesome, as they say. And so true. People have such a mistaken view of Christianity as being against women. Not at all. Women are set free from those kinds of bondages thanks to Jesus Christ.

[Revolting cat!]

Noonan is a propagandist

Define 'propagandist' for us all.

[JoeSchem]

Starting to feel like all those American Indians, who upon looking at the advancing hordes of Englishmen, Scotsmen, Irishmen, and Germans in the northeast, the Frenchmen and Spaniards in the south, the Russians in the northwest, and asked eachother "I thought the chief said that Christianity was a religion of peace?"

The difference is that Christianity teaches things like, "Thou shalt not kill," and "Turn the other cheek," and "Love your neighbor as yourself" -- and asking who your neighbor is gets you a parable about the Good Samaritan.

In contrast, Islam preaches jihad.

It's unfortunate that people who call themselves Christian do not follow the words of Jesus. It's unfortunate that people who call themselves Muslim do follow the words of Mohammed.

The world would be a better place if Christians learned to be more sincere and Muslims learned to be more hypocritical.

[Libertarian_4_eva]

They have a religion Islam. Most of the people in the middle east support them. American muslams are moderates of course. They do not support him but think we should not attack him because he is a muslem. No religion my white butt.

[John O]

The new war has given shape, form and historical purpose to his presidency. My sense is that he walked into office knowing huge history was coming but not knowing when, what, where. Now he knows. I can quite imagine him thinking, This is the reason I'm here.

Built in legacy. History will remember President Bush as the defender of freedom forever.

[and the pile of dog droppings between the bushes says "It should have been me! I was the one who was supposed to go down in history, (a little lower baby, ooh that's good) Why didn't I get this chance. I would've been a great war leader. WAAAAAAAAA WAAAAAAA WAAAAAA. (sorry baby, didn't mean to disturb you, keep doing whatever it is your doing)"

I thank GOD that He gave us a real president for this time!.

God Save America (Please)

[RonDog]

Peggy Noonan:
Let me tell you why I have a hunch that Mr. Bush sees it all, in his head, as ultimately a matter of timing and not mere targets.

On the morning of Sept. 11, when he was in Florida with his top staff unveiling an education initiative at a local public school, the second World Trade Center tower was hit. This was exactly the moment at which all the most sophisticated people understood, and said,
"This is terrorism. This is no accident. This is a terrorist incident. It's Arab terrorists."

That was the smart and obvious thing to think.

Mr. Bush finished his remarks at the school, went to a side room where they had set up a television, watched what was happening, and said four words:
"We are at war."

He jumped ahead of the obvious and went straight to the not-so-obvious.
I found it interesting that his heart-head-and-spirit apprehended immediately the fix we were in. (And let me tell you, presidents are not quick to say sentences like "We are at war.")

This article needs a MUCH wider audience. Please spread the word.
Peggy Noonan has an INCREDIBLE grasp of the present, and a disturbingly REALISTIC proscription for the future.

Perhaps Hugh will read some of this article on today's show.

NEW TIME for the Hugh Hewitt radio show:
3pm to 6pm WEST coast time
6pm to 9pm EAST coast time.

Just click on the LISTEN LIVE link from KRLA 870-AM in Los Angeles

If you listen to Hugh Hewitt, or read his commentaries,
this PING list is for YOU!
Please post your comments, and BUMP!

(If you want OFF - or ON - my "Hugh Hewitt PING list" - please let me know.)

[RonDog]

Where we are right now is 1939, and what we're in right now is the Phony War. That was the placid time that followed Britain's declaration of war against Germany, after Germany invaded Poland. Everyone knew that what would soon be called World War II had begun, and yet things were relatively quiet. John Bull found his daily life undisturbed and actually quite pleasant in the way that walking out of a funeral on a pretty summer day makes you see the buds on a tree more brilliantly and receive them more gratefully. That was the autumn of '39; it was followed by 1940, and the German invasion of Paris, and the Blitz.

Extraordinary writing! Such perception. (And she is almost certainly correct.)

Posting a reply to Hugh Hewitt indexes this thread for the "Hugh Hewitt bump_list."

Clicking on the "Hugh Hewitt bump_list" is sort of like doing a "Find in Forum" for Hugh. Since he is NOT a registered FReeper, we created this imaginary profile for him, courtesy of John Robinson's wonderful new software.

Although he cannot respond here - that's why he has a RADIO SHOW! - ANYONE can post a reply To: Hugh Hewitt on ANY thread that you think will be of interest to Hugh and/or his listeners, and it will show up whenever any of us click on http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/involved?group=81. Kewl, eh?

[TLBSHOW]

This is incredible

[Republic of Texas]

Although many will disagree with your comment, for many reasons, most of which I concur with, as a fan of the zinger, that was good.

[agave]

"Ours is a great story, and we must tell it."

Compare and contrast this line from President George Bush with Clinton's "we are paying the price" speech. This tells everyone with half a brain all they need to know.

[backhoe]

You know, she makes good points, and I think we'd all benefit by dusting off the old books ( or visiting our libraries ) and re-reading the events that led up to WWII. As well as the War itself.

There is much to be learned, and a lot that has kind of slipped away from our memories, from those dark years.

[Landru]

"Mr. Bush finished his remarks at the school, went to a side room where they had set up a television, watched what was happening, and said four words: 'We are at war.'"

Simply another in a long line of refreshing reminders the right guy is in the job when one learns the thoughts flashing through his mind at a time like [that], are a mirror-image of average Americans like me & my neighbor's from coast to coast.

God forbid WHAT that other idiot or the idiot's idiot would've done at that time & worse yet, afterwards.
Whatever it'd have been, I can guarentee the nation's psyche couldn't have stood it.

[oust the louse]

She is a lovely lady.Very easy to watch....kind of looks like an older Murial Hemingway(yowza) w/the high cheekbones.

[Petronski]

Peggy Noonan just makes me swoon, intellectually and in 'other' ways. My favorite part is this:

Mr. Bush finished his remarks at the school, went to a side room where they had set up a television, watched what was happening, and said four words: "We are at war."

I remember my first words to my father, as we sat and watched the second plane hit the tower, live on Fox News:

It's war, dad. We're at war.

I felt a little odd saying those words, feeling perhaps I was exaggerating the situation, but when the towers fell (and I had not anticipated they would fall), I knew I had been no alarmist.

It is war, and my hope is that the Paul Wolfowitz school in the Pentagon will ultimately win out. To win this, nations will be ended, states will fall, and ultimately one civilization will emerge victorious--it must be ours.

[browardchad]

If "propagandist" means one who believes in a cause, and therefore promotes that cause, then that word is no insult. We are facing a long and difficult time, after this lull -- words that can inspire us will be sorely needed, and Noonan has that gift.

If "taken with a grain of salt" means we should be skeptical of her words, I think you underestimate the intelligence of Freepers; no one person has the answers, but in a sea of disinformation and anti-Americanism, we appreciate those who unequivocally stand up for America.

[d14truth]

Thank you both, Peggy and Pokey.

[Mudboy Slim]

"I have a hunch that Mr. Bush sees it all, in his head, as ultimately a matter of timing and not mere targets."

IMHO, Ms. Noonan is wise beyond her years...MUD

[JulieRNR21]

Thanks for the ping to Peggy.....what a gifted writer (and her Irish genes help)!

BTW as the second tower fell, I said the very same words, "We are at WAR" to a travel agent I had called who asked why I was cancelling a trip I had just booked the night before.

[BreitbartSentMe]

If Cheney leaves early as rumored... How about Condi?

[colorado tanker]

Peggy Noonan . . . . simply the best.

What a contrast in leadership. President Bush sees the videotape of the plane plunging into the WTC and immediately grasps, "we are at war." President Clinton saw the Cole attacked and nearly sunk, and sent some policemen to Yemen. President Clinton sees the WTC and blames slavery. Thank God President Bush is at the helm today.