The Vision Thing: Convincing Americans to stick with a crazy Middle East.

National Review Online ^ | October 17, 2003 | Victor Davis Hanson

[Let's Roll]

Double standard, blame America for everything while we pay the bill and shoulder the burden. VDH nails it again.

[MEG33]

bttt

[AngrySpud]

" we ... shoulder the burden."

You see this at every level of human endeavor. A relative few are willing to pick up the load and make things happen.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Awesome post. Thank you.

And a year from now, after Iraq gets used to consensual government, the present frenzied critics of our efforts will be proven as embarrassingly wrong as they were once humiliated in their prognoses of defeat in the recent three-week war. We know that, and in addition can only appreciate the amazing accomplishments in Afghanistan and Iraq during our horrific two-year odyssey since 9/11. But also, like cliffs on the shore, we are battered daily by the surf of negativism from the major newspapers, television networks, and opposition politicians, whose pounding slowly erodes the public's once resolute defiance.

So in the meantime, we need spokesmen who can explain the stakes involved in this present war, the almost unbelievable successes achieved in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the nonexistence of alternatives to our present courageous course. You see, we are human after all, and we are becoming increasingly worn out by those abroad who take so much and give back so little.

VDH rallying the homefront.

 Thanks, Tonkin!

If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[blackie]

Powerful indictment of the "world (sic) community"!

[Tailgunner Joe]

bttt

[IoCaster]

Excellent column. Thanks for posting it.

BTT

[NutCrackerBoy]

Americans are great souled, and so will rise to the occasion — but only if they are told that their sacrifices transcend the here and now, and will bring freedom for millions in the Middle East and security for themselves at home.-Victor Davis Hanson

Freedom for Middle Easterners, security for the rest of us.

I have a theory that rationalistic analysis breaks things down into value-free predicates, and is blind to inseparable virtues. This kind of thinking cannot comprehend the identity of sacrificing for someone else's freedom and enhancing security for your own self-interest. It has to be one or the other, and the liberals "know" for damn sure we are not doing this for altruistic reasons. Therefore the reasons for the war must be greed or desire for political power, etc.

So they feel justified in opposing it despite the fact that it might improve the lives of a down-trodden people.

[Billthedrill]

This may be the best thing I've ever read out of Hanson. Absolutely spot-on. I am speechless, truly, I can't think of a word to add except bump this sucker to the top.

[nutmeg]

read later bump

[billbears]

The central task of this present administration must be to convince Americans to shoulder these thankless tasks that are so critical for both world peace and our own national security, especially when the immediate costs so often cloud the more abstract and long-term benefits

Like 'spreading democracy' and establishing 'American leadership' eh? Look guys, it's another 'win one for FDR' pep speech for the masses from the NRO

[Let's Roll]

It isn't just that we usually agree with VDH, we often learn something thanks to his ability to relate historical events to our own times and perhaps best of all, his writing is so elegant - such a treat to read.

[Mr. Silverback]

So in the meantime, we need spokesmen who can explain the stakes involved in this present war, the almost unbelievable successes achieved in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the nonexistence of alternatives to our present courageous course.

Sir, Mr. Silverback reporting as ordered for homefront duty!

[Mr. Silverback]

You probably get this a lot, but...

I noticed you signed up on FR in 2000. How'd you pick your later-to-be-oh-so-appropriate screen name?

[Fledermaus]

This may be the best thing I've ever read out of Hanson. Absolutely spot-on. I am speechless, truly, I can't think of a word to add except bump this sucker to the top.

I'm starting to think every new article written by VDH is the best.

[Mr. Silverback]

Look guys, it's another 'win one for FDR' pep speech for the masses from the NRO

Yes, and that whole neutrality thing in the 30s worked out so very well, didn't it?

If we are to take the "Afghanistan's done, it's Miller Time" course advocated by many on this forum, we will do so only by deciding that it is perfectly OK for enemy nations to provide terrorists the same services Afghanistan provided to Al-Qaida (until they murder a few thousand of us, in which case we'll get ticked off and go bomb them) and only by deciding that Israel doesn't deserve our support, but instead should stand alone while Palestinians blow up her children and incidentally Americans.

[PhilDragoo]

Historic change: dangerous enemy becomes democratic ally.

It's a no-brainer--which should make it accessible for the no-brainer presstitutes.

[Mr. Silverback]

I'm starting to think every new article written by VDH is the best.

That's how i felt while reading An Autumn of War. I still chuckle when I remember some of the stuff in the (not the actual titles) "What if the Doolittle Raid was covered like the War on Terror" and "My responses to the idiotic questions I get when I'm speaking at colleges and on talk radio." essays. The essay from that book on Sherman's march and "bottled piety" and the one that relates the fighting in Afghanistan (and, incidentally, Truman's A-Bomb decision) to the horrific casualties on Iwo Jima are just outstanding.

[bjcintennessee]

ping for later read.