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Noonan: Defense Begins at Home ("Take it away, FreeRepublic")
Opinion Journal ^ | March 10, 2005 | Paggy Noonan

Posted on 03/10/2005 3:36:52 AM PST by RobFromGa

Freedom may be on the march, but America is still vulnerable to attack.

Thursday, March 10, 2005 12:01 a.m.

There are two predominant journalistic memes since the Arab spring began. The first, from the left: What if Bush was right? This was most famously and appropriately grappled with on Comedy Central, when Democratic foreign-policy thinker Nancy Soderberg consoled Jon Stewart with the hopefully facetious, but either way revealing, advice to hang on, things can still turn bad with North Korea or Iran. The other, from the middle and the right: As I wrote in this space two years ago, the invasion of Iraq will likely give rise to a surge of democratic feeling that will inspire the entire Mideast. This is known as making it clear to one's fans and foes that you were on the right side of history.

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: noonan; soderberg
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To: RobFromGa

I'm sickened and enraged that people would think that despotism is anyone's natural destiny. This is not a belief that Ronald Reagan held; I recall how he heroically stated that it was in the blood of Eastern Europeans to be free, and how the liberals poured scorn on the notion, suggesting that they were satisfied with the stupor of socialist tyranny. These insidious fools on this thread, similar to Ted Kennedy and the Soviet Appeasement crowd in the 1980's, are suggesting that it is the natural destiny of other parts of the world to rot under despotic rule. They are just as wrong as the liberals were about the Czechs and Hungarians.

Regards, Ivan


141 posted on 03/10/2005 1:40:55 PM PST by MadIvan (One blog to bring them all...and in the Darkness bind them: http://www.theringwraith.com/)
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To: MadIvan

LOL. He's just one of those constant naysayers who join in occasionally to take out their frustration of their miserable lives on innocent freepers.


142 posted on 03/10/2005 1:41:23 PM PST by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: RobFromGa

As far as I'm concerned, Bush-bots can get lost too.


143 posted on 03/10/2005 1:42:47 PM PST by iconoclast (Better to take refuge in the Lord than to put one's trust in princes. (Psalms 118:9).)
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To: iconoclast
As far as I'm concerned, Bush-bots can get lost too.

Ah, the light dawns. You tolerate despotism, because you are a petty little tyrant yourself, who believes that anyone who holds a contrary opinion should be banished.

Charming.

Ivan

144 posted on 03/10/2005 1:44:13 PM PST by MadIvan (One blog to bring them all...and in the Darkness bind them: http://www.theringwraith.com/)
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To: iconoclast

Self-interest is the ultimate fertilizer for democracy. The right to personal property, to free speech, to security in their homes, effects, and papers are all powerful incentives to democratic reform. This is followed soon after by the rule of law, the enforcement of contracts, and the rise of a viable middle class.

As people, we dream. All of us. What I can't wait for is to see what happens to China once the emergence of a durable middle class is complete.

I had Rush on briefly and he commented about Russia, and about how the Soviets tried to parse out freedom gradually. Everyone has seen the result, the empire utterly collapsed. Once an oppressed people come into even incidental contact with freedom, and explosion occurs.

Iraq is the latest example, but others will follow in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and probably Iran. You can't parse out freedom.


145 posted on 03/10/2005 1:45:36 PM PST by RinaseaofDs (The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money.)
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To: iconoclast

You sound just like every tinpot dictator who ever held power. Only most of them had more sense than you seem to have.


146 posted on 03/10/2005 1:46:22 PM PST by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: RinaseaofDs
You can't parse out freedom.

That says it.

Thank you.

147 posted on 03/10/2005 1:49:22 PM PST by iconoclast (Better to take refuge in the Lord than to put one's trust in princes. (Psalms 118:9).)
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To: iconoclast
As far as I'm concerned, Bush-bots can get lost too.

Your concerns have been duly noted. And by the way,


148 posted on 03/10/2005 1:51:11 PM PST by RobFromGa (Bush Needs to Stay Aggressive in Term 2)
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To: RobFromGa

Cute, but it is not a rebuttal.


149 posted on 03/10/2005 1:52:28 PM PST by iconoclast (Better to take refuge in the Lord than to put one's trust in princes. (Psalms 118:9).)
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To: RinaseaofDs

I'll bet you are a very nice lady and I would like you if I knew you.


150 posted on 03/10/2005 1:59:11 PM PST by iconoclast (Better to take refuge in the Lord than to put one's trust in princes. (Psalms 118:9).)
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To: iconoclast

You've been thoroughly rebutted. It's not Rob's or Peach's fault, that you insist on metaphorically running around in circles, yapping like a demented poodle.

Ivan


151 posted on 03/10/2005 1:59:23 PM PST by MadIvan (One blog to bring them all...and in the Darkness bind them: http://www.theringwraith.com/)
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To: RobFromGa

"Man has never devised a weapon he hasn't eventually used."

OMG, she sounds like a liberal Canadian arguing against missile defense and the ultimate "weaponization of space."


152 posted on 03/10/2005 2:02:06 PM PST by proud American in Canada
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To: iconoclast

You might like me if you knew me, but I'd be one of the ugliest women you'd have ever met.

I'm actually a middle-aged married guy.

Hey!

Are you saying I write like a GIRL!!!!

Don't worry about it, actually. I thought Howlin was a guy for the longest time.


153 posted on 03/10/2005 2:03:41 PM PST by RinaseaofDs (The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money.)
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To: RinaseaofDs
LOL. I hope I remember you!

Sorry.

154 posted on 03/10/2005 2:07:21 PM PST by iconoclast (Better to take refuge in the Lord than to put one's trust in princes. (Psalms 118:9).)
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To: MadIvan

Your silly poodle cut is showing


155 posted on 03/10/2005 2:14:07 PM PST by iconoclast (Better to take refuge in the Lord than to put one's trust in princes. (Psalms 118:9).)
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To: iconoclast

And that statement is in aid of what? Cognitive dissonance on your part does not make a compelling reply.

Ivan


156 posted on 03/10/2005 2:17:02 PM PST by MadIvan (One blog to bring them all...and in the Darkness bind them: http://www.theringwraith.com/)
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To: MadIvan
I've long since stopped replying to Peach .... and you're approaching her level.
157 posted on 03/10/2005 2:23:14 PM PST by iconoclast (Better to take refuge in the Lord than to put one's trust in princes. (Psalms 118:9).)
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To: iconoclast

I honestly don't care if you reply or not. Your replies only further bolster the case that you're a petty, spiteful, unintelligent person, who thinks they can dictate who should be allowed to post here.

Ivan


158 posted on 03/10/2005 2:28:10 PM PST by MadIvan (One blog to bring them all...and in the Darkness bind them: http://www.theringwraith.com/)
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To: iconoclast

You mean you've publicly stopped posting to me. It certainly didn't stop you from sending freepmail. Which, I might add, made me think you'd been drinking.


159 posted on 03/10/2005 2:36:42 PM PST by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: Peach

Indeed, he has sent similar missives to me.

Regards, Ivan


160 posted on 03/10/2005 2:37:31 PM PST by MadIvan (One blog to bring them all...and in the Darkness bind them: http://www.theringwraith.com/)
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