Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Pawlenty Doctrine (Michael Ledeen)
Pajamas Media/FasterPlease/M.Ledeen ^ | June 29, 2011 | Michael Ledeen

Posted on 06/30/2011 8:57:10 AM PDT by nuconvert

I was amazed when I read the Pawlenty speech on the Middle East. I hadn’t expected that a former Middle Western governor, from a blue state, would have had the passion and vision to deliver one of the most impressive analyses and tough-minded policy ideas within memory. And I love the title, “No Retreat from Freedom’s Rise.”

Here are the key graphs:

We have a clear interest in seeing an end to Assad’s murderous regime. By sticking to Bashar al Assad so long, the Obama Administration has not only frustrated Syrians who are fighting for freedom—it has demonstrated strategic blindness. The governments of Iran and Syria are enemies of the United States. They are not reformers and never will be. They support each other. To weaken or replace one, is to weaken or replace the other.

The fall of the Assad mafia in Damascus would weaken Hamas, which is headquartered there. It would weaken Hezbollah, which gets its arms from Iran, through Syria. And it would weaken the Iranian regime itself.

To take advantage of this moment, we should press every diplomatic and economic channel to bring the Assad reign of terror to an end. We need more forceful sanctions to persuade Syria’s Sunni business elite that Assad is too expensive to keep backing. We need to work with Turkey and the Arab nations and the Europeans, to further isolate the regime. And we need to encourage opponents of the regime by making our own position very clear, right now: Bashar al-Assad must go.

When he does, the mullahs of Iran will find themselves isolated and vulnerable. Syria is Iran’s only Arab ally. If we peel that away, I believe it will hasten the fall of the mullahs. And that is the ultimate goal we must pursue. It’s the singular opportunity offered to the world by the brave men and women of the Arab Spring.

Who else in American public life is calling for regime change in Syria and Iran, and recognizes that bringing down the Tehran regime is “the ultimate goal we must pursue?”

He’s right, and it’s encouraging that at least someone is saying it. Perhaps some of the other candidates will see fit to start talking seriously about national security above and beyond the debt, unemployment, and so on. The country is at risk on both fronts, foreign and domestic, and our future success and survival depend on our winning on both fronts.

Meanwhile, at least Governor Pawlenty laid it out, while the administration dithers and retreats. It seems that Supreme Leader Khamenei warned Obama in a letter not to meddle in Syria to the detriment of the Assad regime. Actually he needn’t have worried. That sort of thing would cut into the golfing schedule.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: iran; ledeen; middleeast; pawlenty; syria

1 posted on 06/30/2011 8:57:12 AM PDT by nuconvert
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: nuconvert
From the same Michael Ledeen who thought we should leave Saddam alone in Iraq.

Funny how he is gung ho for new wars but opposes the wars we have.

2 posted on 06/30/2011 9:01:08 AM PDT by MNJohnnie (Giving politicians more tax money is like giving addicts free drugs to cure their addiction)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MNJohnnie

“From the same Michael Ledeen who thought we should leave Saddam alone in Iraq. “

Would you give a link for that?


3 posted on 06/30/2011 9:07:46 AM PDT by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

Why do I get the feeling TPaw’s tough talk was predicated on those he was talking against not being in the same room with him?


4 posted on 06/30/2011 9:15:44 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

Many are still asking why Obambi rushed into Libya to take out Mohammar Ghaddafi, but steers clear of the biggest devil in the Middle East, Bashar al Assad of Syria. Something smells fishy.


5 posted on 06/30/2011 9:29:02 AM PDT by no dems (When I learn that a person, regardless of who they are, is a Democrat, I lose respect for them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

Will oil pay for our Syria action too? or do we add it to our China credit card?


6 posted on 06/30/2011 9:29:12 AM PDT by ex-snook ("Above all things, truth beareth away the victory")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 9YearLurker
Why do I get the feeling TPaw’s tough talk was predicated on those he was talking against not being in the same room with him?
Could not have said it better. Boy, did he ever lose credibility in that Debate when he folded like a cheap suit.
7 posted on 06/30/2011 9:30:12 AM PDT by no dems (When I learn that a person, regardless of who they are, is a Democrat, I lose respect for them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: nuconvert

Such a cynical bunch ... as usual.

No one has been more consistent on the Middle East than Ledeen. No one has been more steadfast or focused.

As for Pawlenty, what is the point of criticising? He has set out the best possible position, and so far as I can tell no one here is disputing that.

It is precisely this sort of development that should give rise to optimism.


8 posted on 06/30/2011 9:53:28 AM PDT by drellberg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: drellberg
As for Pawlenty, what is the point of criticising? He has set out the best possible position, and so far as I can tell no one here is disputing that.

Well, it must be noted that posters ensure their RINO insinuations are made everywhere they go. It's perfunctory.


Built with SUSE Studio

If you can't appreciate the pure beauty of the violin after hearing this, something's wrong with your ears.

Or you can get raw with these strings. Either way, the violin is sweet yet lethal.

Do it!

9 posted on 06/30/2011 10:16:06 AM PDT by rdb3 (The mouth is the exhaust pipe of the heart.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: rdb3

——If you can’t appreciate the pure beauty of the violin after hearing this, something’s wrong with your ears.-——

And then there is this, the best of the best on the violin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCBdiutb-50


10 posted on 06/30/2011 10:29:33 AM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. N.C. D.E. +12 ....( History is a process, not an event ))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: bert
Yeah! Bluegrass is great.

Wonderful strings.


Built with SUSE Studio

If you can't appreciate the pure beauty of the violin after hearing this, something's wrong with your ears.

Or you can get raw with these strings. Either way, the violin is sweet yet lethal.

Do it!

11 posted on 06/30/2011 4:14:31 PM PDT by rdb3 (The mouth is the exhaust pipe of the heart.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson