Posted on 07/14/2006 4:38:33 AM PDT by Tolik
Let me know if you want in or out.
Links: FR Index of his articles: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=victordavishanson
His website: http://victorhanson.com/ NRO archive: http://www.nationalreview.com/hanson/hanson-archive.asp
Good article.
bttt for a good article, thanks for posting it...
VDH BUMP!
There was political consensus, grudgingly given perhaps, but consensus about taking out Iraq in 2003. NOW the Democrat Establishment is the active allies of the Rouge nations. With the willing collaborators certain RINO Republican Senators, the Democrat Leadership has made it pretty obvious they will back NOTHING Bush trys to do EVEN if the opposition jeopardizes US National Security.
That lack of political consensus severely limits what a President can, and cannot do. I know this doesn't register with most Americans since their understanding of Politics comes from watching have a Hollywood blockbusters and TV shows but a President is not god. A President cannot just do what ever he wants when he wants because he wants to.
So President Bush is reduced to "Consensus" Diplomatic efforts due to the treason of the Democrat party and the gutlessness of certain Republican Senators.
Good summary:
What progress we have made since 9/11 — thousands of terrorists killed, al Qaeda scattered, Europe galvanized about Islamism and sobered about the consequences of its cheap U.S. rhetoric, Iran’s nuclear antics revealed, democracy birthed in the Middle East, Palestinian radicals exposed for their fraud, the United Nations under overdue scrutiny, America much better defended at home — all that came as a result of an often unilateralist posture that risked global alienation by challenging the easy appeasement of the rest of the world. Nothing there to apologize for or change — but much accomplished to be proud of.
******
Reporter on F&F this morning says that sentiment in Lebanon is with the Israelis, realizing that clearing out the Hezbollah from southern Lebanon has to be done.
If the Democrats would have supported Bush in Iraq, this war would have been over, and Iraq would have bben pacified. Instead the Democrats have offered support to the terrorists/insurgents!!!
Amen....AMEN!!! The traitorous Democrats and liberal RINO'S have helped the terrorists/insurgents.
'gutlessness of certain Republican Senators.'
I heard on Fox that, while the Senate voted FOR the fence, they voted AGAINST funding it. We need a LOT of new Senators.
The eventual consequences, of course, are still to be experienced and dealt with.
I love this man's brain. :) Thanks!
This exact sentiment is responsible for probably 80% of the anti-Iraq polls we see.
If it was Gore instead of Bush and he did ALL the things that Bush did (yes, I know, but for the sake of argument, lets pretend) - there would be NO opposition to the war in Iraq besides from the "realpolitik" adherents and neo-isolationists on the right who would be quickly marginalized by the right itself. (Clinton's Balkan war is a prime example, and that war has MUCH less justification than any of the Bush's).
Hate Bush and everything he does is a bitter partisan politicking that blinds the left at the expense of the country's interests. They even ignore all the liberal reasons that alone justify the liberalization of the Middle East. They do an enormous damage to the county and the whole world with their "friendly" fire and leaving the real enemies alone.
Thanks for posting.........Great Article.
I think we have to realize our own domestic failures in not implementing more policies to reduce our dependence on foreign petroleum.
IMO, Congress and the President could have and should have shown more leadership in this matter.
Actually it seems that conservatives and radical environmentalists might be able to make common cause on this matter, albeit for different reasons.
Regardless, the country ought to be able to come together and find ways of significantly reducing our dependence on foreign oil, quickly and radically. If we have the will, we can find a way.
You nailed it.
It's truly amazing to me that increasing domestic production hasn't been on the front burner since September 12, 2001.
I'm not so sure that making common cause with radical environmentalists would be possible, given their rice bowls and irrationality.
The time is long overdue to go on the offensive against them.
To me as well. Actually, it's been fairly obvious since at least 1973 that depending on foreign sources is a national security risk.
I think we also have to do more to encourage development of alternatives as well, however.
I'm not so sure that making common cause with radical environmentalists would be possible, given their rice bowls and irrationality.
They have been calling for less use of petroleum and greater use of alternatives, mostly because of global warming. They also oppose "blood for oil".
The reasoning may differ, but all sides should approve of finding alternatives and radically reducing our dependence on foreign oil.
What we need to see is more leadership and initiative at a national level.
The time is long overdue to go on the offensive against them.
The time is definitely overdue for a real initiative towards energy independence, rather than the current lip service.
Reporter on F&F this morning says that sentiment in Lebanon is with the Israelis, realizing that clearing out the Hezbollah from southern Lebanon has to be done.
Nuggets from Lebanese Bloggers
http://www.bigpharaoh.com/2006/07/14/nuggets-from-lebanese-bloggers/
Topics: Uncategorized
Below are comments I read posted by Lebanese bloggers.
Ramzi is asking Hizbollah's Nasrallah whether he is happy now:
You care not for this country nor it's citizens.
You are blind to the borders and the fate of this nation.
And you thrust me into the unknown and ask me to follow you?!
Wake up and smell the burning runways…
Doha comments on the speech by Israel's ambassador to the UN:
Today I heard one of the most historical addresses by the Israeli UN ambassador on Lebanon.
Just quickly: he quoted Marwan Hamadeh, Elias Atallah and another unnamed Minister saying yesterday that Lebanon has been taken hostage by regional forces (Iran and Syria) and by terror (form Hizbullah).
He looked the Lebanese UN representative in the eye and said: I would like to make an appeal to Lebanon's representative. You know deep down that if you could, you would add your brave voice to the voices of your brave compatriots in Lebanon. You could be sitting next to me now to negotiate a solution. If we succeed, it will be beneficial for all of us. Lebanon has an opportunity to be a free, prosperous democratic Lebanon.
The Lebanese representative claimed what the government statements have been saying: that the government did not know, is not responsible and does not endorse the attacks by Hizbullah on northern Israel. But also said that Israel is brutally attacking civilians and infrastructure in Lebanon and that the attacks do not equate in magnitude to what they claim they want to do, which is target Hizbullah's military base.
By the way, the Israeli ambassador said that Hizbullah is launching its rockets from civilian houses with children and women acting as hosts of such rockets.
This is truely a brutal way of operating by Hizbullah. I hate violence and death. Enough is enough; the Lebanese government needs to take a stand. My country is wounded.
Abu Kais saying Nasrallah has sacrificed the entire country for his lone cause:
Lebanon is being destroyed, I repeat, Lebanon is being destroyed.
Nasrallah has proven that he is no match for Israel. He will go down in history as the man who invited destruction to Lebanon, along with Yasser Arafat, thanks to the generous support of his allies, Syria and Iran, who, for allies, have so far done nothing to defend their holy partner.
At least two pundits this morning on LBC agreed that Israel has successfully changed the rules of the game, hinting that Nasrallah was wrong for thinking his rockets could establish a defensive “balance of terror.” In essence, Nasrallah has sacrificed the entire country for his lone cause, and for the eyes of Bashar and Ahmadinejad.
Jamal is angry at Israel:
So Olmert woke me up at 3 am, made my mom freak out, made my sister weep uncontrollably, made me take a cold shower with no water pressure this morning, and he expects me to support his effort to eradicate Hezbollah.
But let's talk about Peace.
I've noticed a high number of Israelis on Lebanese blogs these days claiming they want peace. They say we deserve what we are getting for supporting a violent group like Hezbollah.
Show me an Israeli politician with a fair peace plan, someone who's not a racist oppressive pig, and I'll be first in line to shake his hand.
Mustapha posts a letter his friend received from an Israeli friend:
Dear (name of Lebanese guy)
How are you?
I am writing to you because of what happened last night in Beirut. I feel very sorry for that and I really hope none of your relatives or friends were close to the airport or are located in the area where the problems happened. I know it is very delicate to talk about this, but since we are friends and ex-flatmates, I can’t but be concerned.
I won’t try to justify the attacks, but you probably know that Lebanon is not innocent from the problems in Israel.
I just want to tell you this: Whatever happened in the world, wars, terrorists attacks, etc, I will never consider you as my enemy, because we are friends and nothing is stronger than friendship and love. It is our strength not to be intimidated by these acts (acts that we can't understand because we aren’t informed properly) and continue being friends and talk about it.
Only the youth can change the world, so we need to continue raising our hands to defend our feelings and continue crying when innocent people are dying, whatever their religion, race or nationality. A human being is a human being.
I hope you understand my feelings.
In the name of my nation and religion, I am sorry for the innocent who died last night and for the ones who will die in the next days, months, years and centuries. Hope you feel the same when innocent Israelis die. Never forget, that all together, WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.
Peace, Salaam, Shalom,
Your brother,
(Name of Israeli Guy)
He also thinks Israel should go after Syria instead of Lebanon:
Many Lebanese are very surprised why Israel is leaving Syria alone. In fact, one of the most commonly held conspiracy theories in Lebanon is this one: Israel and Syria had this worked out together in a perverse deal to hurt Lebanon.
Nobody knows why, but unless Israel goes to the source, more people will believe in this particular conspiracy.
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