Charles Krauthammer: Past the Apogee: America Under Pressure

Foreign Policy Research Institute ^ | November 14, 2006 / December 18, 2006 | Charles Krauthammer

[Tolik]

Charles Krauthammer at his best!

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[johnny7]

“It remains the only plausible answer--changing the culture of that area, no matter how slow and how difficult the process.”

Distilled to its essence...

[tubebender]

Bump...

[sageb1]

"As the Bush Doctrine has come under attack, there are those in America who have welcomed its apparent setbacks and defeats as a vindication of their criticism of the policy. But the problem is that that kind of vindication leaves America in a position where there are no good alternatives. The reason that there is general despair now is because if it proves to be true that the Bush Doctrine has proclaimed an idea of democratizing the Arab/Islamic world that is unattainable and undoable, then there are no remaining answers to how to counter ultimately the threat of Islamic radicalism."

Which will grow here.

[EnochPowellWasRight]

"Distilled to its essence..."

The problem is that we AREN'T trying to change the culture in the Middle East.

(cough)Islam(cough)

There are other plausible answers. We didn't try to change German and Japanese culture until AFTER we had defeated them.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

NEVER FORGET


Praise GOD that...
President BUSH has promised...


Freedom's Return to:

Communist Vietnam
Communist North Korea
Communist Cuba


..as well aa..


Freedom's Arrival to:

All the Countries of the Middle East


...as America's own best self-protection against future terrorist attacks here at home.




Signed:.."ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer
Veteran-1st Major Battles for Freedom of the Vietnam War 1965-66

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_set1.htm

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm


NEVER FORGET

.

[Lurker]

“It remains the only plausible answer--changing the culture of that area, no matter how slow and how difficult the process.”

It isn't the only plausible answer. What it is is a politically correct anwer.

It's also the wrong answer.

L

[johnny7]

The PROBLEM is we're NOT attacking... we're HOLDING. Holding onto something that hasn't been defeated. IMO, the Iraqi's had to chose too soon... and unfortunately, they chose a weak leader. As soon as Maliki took office... he should have ordered a clean-sweep of all dissident factions. When they needed an Alawi... they voted for a Maliki.

[EnochPowellWasRight]

"The PROBLEM is we're NOT attacking... we're HOLDING. Holding onto something that hasn't been defeated."

Yes, we are. Remember what Patton said about holding territory.

[EnochPowellWasRight]

Here, here.

[NonValueAdded]

Indeed! Thanks for the ping.

[johnny7]

When you 'grab a tiger by the tail'... your objective better be not to just hang on.

[EnochPowellWasRight]

"When you 'grab a tiger by the tail'... your objective better be not to just hang on."

Apparently, victory in Iraq isn't the goal. Just an "acceptable level of stability".

[Senator Goldwater]

“It remains the only plausible answer--changing the culture of that area, no matter how slow and how difficult the process.”

Distilled to its essence...

---

As only the good doctor can do.

I've met him several times at Washington Nationals games at RFK. Sometimes I think he's the only sensible man left in this town.

[livius]

An excellent article, thanks for posting. However, after several years of trying to change their culture, I think we're not being realistic about it. Our biggest mistake was allowing them to enshrine Islam in their constitution, because Islam is incompatible not only with democracy, but with a legal system based on natural law (and its concordant rights), as ours is.

I think Bush and all of us were doing and thinking the right and honorable thing, but I think that Bush - and almost all of us - knew a lot less about Islam in those days.

I no longer think we can change their culture, nor do I think we should engage in alliances with one or another faction of it. We have to offer them what we have. If they don't want it, that's okay - as long as they keep their hands up and don't attack us. Otherwise, I think we should completely wipe them out, because that's the only way we will survive.

[Lurker]

First off you should thank Tolik. I was merely commenting on the article.

It is an excellent analysis of the situation.

However in my opinion Mr. Krauthammer has reached an incorrect conclusion and said as much.

We have to offer them what we have.

They don't seem to want it.

. If they don't want it, that's okay - as long as they keep their hands up and don't attack us.

Their belief system precludes that, apparently.

Otherwise, I think we should completely wipe them out, because that's the only way we will survive.

I concur. The Brits didn't try to 'reason' or 'negotiate' with the Thugee cult in India during the Raj. They simply wiped it out. They did so because it was a death cult which required its members to kill those who didn't believe as they did.

islam is very similar in that regard.

Therefore in my opinion it should be dealt in exactly the same manner.

L

[johnny7]

He's a sober and sane voice in a city full of babble.

[capitalist229]

We must be the facilitators of a new Iran/Iraq war the outcome of which will re-stabilize the region as Saddam did in the 80s. Saudi Arabia did not interfere then, and they won't now

There is no other answer. These people must decide their own destiny.

BUMP

[sine_nomine]

Sharia lives in both countries we conquered. It is like winning Europe and handing it over to the Soviets.

Sharia is growing in America, too.