The hollow superpower

Washington Times ^ | June 8, 2009 | Mark Steyn

[La Lydia]

....Overseas, the coolest president in history was giving a speech. Or, as the official press release headlined it on the State Department Web site, "President Obama Speaks To The Muslim World From Cairo."

Let's pause right there: It's interesting how easily the words "the Muslim world" roll off the tongues of liberal secular progressives who would choke on any equivalent reference to "the Christian world."...

There is an Organization of the Islamic Conference, which already is the largest single voting bloc at the United Nations and is still adding new members. Imagine if someone proposed an Organization of the Christian Conference that would hold summits attended by prime ministers and presidents and vote as a bloc in transnational bodies. But, of course, there is no "Christian world": Europe is largely post-Christian, and, as Mr. Obama bizarrely asserted...America is "one of the largest Muslim countries in the world." Perhaps we're eligible for membership in the OIC...

...You don't have to murder a guy if he pre-emptively surrenders. You don't even have to hate him if you're too busy despising him. The savvier Muslim potentates have no desire to be sitting in a smelly cave in the Hindu Kush sharing a latrine with a dozen half-witted goatherds while plotting how to blow up the Empire State Building. Nevertheless, they share key goals with the cave dwellers - including the wish to expand the boundaries of "the Muslim world" and (as in the anti-blasphemy push at the United Nations) to place Islam, globally, beyond criticism. The non-terrorist advance of Islam is a significant challenge to Western notions of liberty and pluralism.

Once Mr. Obama moved on...the subtext - the absence of American will - became explicit. He used the cover of multilateralism and moral equivalence to communicate, consistently, American weakness...

[La Lydia]

The points he makes about Obama forbidding Israel to grow, while encouraging the "Islamic world" in it campaign of expansion, are frightening to say the least.

[Dick Bachert]

Also fascinating how easily the phrase “HOLY koran” rolls off Zero’s forked tongue while I don’t believe I’ve ever heard him utter “HOLY Bible.”

So much for the MYTH that he’s a Christian.

Or has an actual functioning brain.

[Don Corleone]

to place Islam, globally, beyond criticism.

They certainly are 'beyond criticism' as bar as Bambi is concerned. No pres..ent in his/herstory has trashed his country like this. It is Treason!

[Don Corleone]

bar=far

[Centurion2000]

bump

[IrishCatholic]

Can't stand listening to Steyn speak, can't wait to read what he writes.
Isn't it odd? He is probably the greatest living essayist. What a disconnect between his thoughts on paper and his annoying voice.

[EyeGuy]

“Overseas, the coolest president in history...”

####

Hey, he’s only half cool. He has an uncool white half that drinks warm milk and wears slippers, goes to bed early, talks in a nasal monotone, obeys the law, can’t dance and has a small penis.

The self-hating whites who back in the 60’s and 70’s ascribed all things black, as “cool”, need to recognize Zero’s unhip white half.

[kabar]

Let's pause right there: It's interesting how easily the words "the Muslim world" roll off the tongues of liberal secular progressives who would choke on any equivalent reference to "the Christian world." When such hyperalert policemen of the perimeter between church and state endorse the former but not the latter, they're implicitly acknowledging that Islam is not merely a faith, but a political project, too.

Brilliant observation by Steyn. Obama has given recognition that there is something called the Muslim world, which is really the position of Islamic extremists and not a statement of fact. The reality is that Islam is not a monolith and its practice varies from state to state and among factions. Obama is helping to unite the "Muslim world" under the direction of militant extremists.

The real battle is not between Islam and the US, but between Islam and modernity. Obama seems to forget that not only has the US been the target of Islamic terrorism, but so has the West, India, and many Muslim countries.

[kabar]

I don't find his voice annoying at all. De gustibus non est disputandum

[La Lydia]

Yes, the “cool” thing is very interesting. Obama campaigned on being “cool.” Carter tried his hardest to be cool. Clinton went out of his way to be cool. All the media consider themselves way “cool,” and appreciate any politician who will pander to the “cool.” Ditto college students, who practice “cool” as a religion. I think one of the reasons Bush Derangement Syndrome spread like anthrax is that Bush never attempted to be cool, could have cared less, and did not pander to the cool. He and Cheney, who were too preoccupied with KEEPING US SAFE to even think about being cool, were decent human beings and serious adults with adult preoccupations and responsibilities. “Cool” is an indulgence only entertainers can afford, those responsible for governing our country can’t and should not. I am a Mac user and was appalled to learn that, as such, my college-age and adolescent family think I am “cool” because of my laptop choice. I am using this as an opportunity to teach them that appearances can be deceptive.

[Dick Bachert]

Thanks for the bump.

Be safe.