Mark Steyn: U.S. Must Prove Its Staying Power (Iraq Test Of US Seriousness Alert Mark Steyn Classic)

Chicago Sun Times ^ | November 12, 2006 | Mark Steyn

[hinckley buzzard]

Rumsfeld is too proud to get grillings from the likes of Waxman.

Heh. I don't think he's proud exactly, I see him as rather humble. But he doesn't suffer fools gladly, and he has to know he is ten times the man any 'rat congresscritter (like Leaky Leahy or Henry Nostrilitis) will ever be.

[beyond the sea]

W doesn't have the faking ability like the Cigar King does. If he doesn't believe in it, he can't sell it.

Very, very, very true.......... I'm working seven days a week so I will try to say this to you quickly.

I think G.W. has a mental/speaking problem that have had often in my life, a life of sixty years. He has a speech problem ........... that will perhaps likely (and I say hopefully) be illuminated after his Presidency is completed.

I feel for him when this happens to him because I know it personally. There really is not a correct name for it, but I'd like to tell you more about it later. The work here at The Nursery calls.

Appreciation to you and please be well.

[91B]

Tester is absolutely NOT a hawk. The Weekly Standard did a profile on him a few weeks ago and he said that war is "only a last resort" for him. Lieberman is solid and-if we can prevent any Pubbies from going soft-we can still muster a pro-war majority, but it is going to be more dificult.

[outofstyle]

After this I will stop. Let me explain. I stand by my statement that the President did not do ENOUGH to convince the electorate. If that is interpreted to mean that I blame him, then I have been inarticulate. I don't know if anyone , incuding Reagan, could have done enough given the situation.

[beyond the sea]

I hear you.

[dforest]

We all need to read Steyn. He just says it all. Says it for us so eloquently.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

The taproot of this issue is PC. PC is the taproot of many vines: multiculturalism, white guilt, tolerance, giving up national defense, socialism.

In regard to Steyn's point, we need to face and argue down PC wherever we see it, at the parties we go to, at work, with our neighbors. Every time the Left makes a passive-agressive statement like: "The wealthy should not have as much as they do," or "America is the real terrorist," or "We need to learn to understand them and how to make them like us," we need to counter quickly and politely with comebacks such as: "Let's first take your excess wealth," and "Did you lose anyone on 9/11, have you forgotten about that attack? Do you want your wife/daughter/mother to have to wear a burqa?" and "To hell with understanding people who will kill me if I don't live by their dictates."

By trying to get along, we have allowed the passive-aggressive beast to consume a good portion of our freedom, our resolve, and true national security, which we have exchanged for a temporary feeling of peace while our enemy grows and repositions itself.

[Alissa]

Regarding Rumsfeld, I thought he looked humiliated. Whatever you can say about him, he's steadfast and NOT a quitter.

Also, Finnigan2 is wrong, he will still have to face these lynch mob committees even as a retiree. The only silver lining to this is that he'll be able to rip them apart in the hearings. He so much smarter and he has nothing to lose.

[AZLiberty]

... "Good Morning Pyongyang" and the Khartoum Network ...

Heh-heh.

[beyond the sea]

OK...... I hear you well.

We'll see.

God bless America. And let's see if he/she/God does bless America ................ and if he/she/God does, then the old media will evaporate and DIE.

[beyond the sea]

I agree with every word of your post, except one. Surely the "late" in your tagline should be "early"?

I hear you .............. and you are right!

It's five o'clock somewhere!

[hinckley buzzard]

Right. Les Aspin my favorite clintonoid appointment. Had made a reputation in the Senate for years as anti-military spending, so he becomes Sec of Defense and lo! he refuses to equip the troops. Yeah the MSM covered that story real well.

[beyond the sea]

Perhaps Rumsfeld had had more than enough. Spending the next two years being held hostage before various demonrat controlled committees ws not what he signed on for.

I agree. Mr. Rumsfeld can read the tea leaves.

I hope he can find peace soon. I love the man!

[beyond the sea]

"It says that we are a country of adolescents who demand instant gratification. Don't want to work hard for results but want everything handed to them on a silver platter. Be assured my heart is VERY troubled."

Totally agree....

[Timeout]

I regularly correspond with a bigtime blogger. What I wrote him Friday is amazingly in line with Stein's column:

Republicans understandably tout the lack of a major attack on America in the past 5 years. A good thing, of course. But are we missing the forest for the trees? It occurs to me the enemy has learned the "sleeping giant" lesson of Pearl and 9/11. America is not Madrid. Hit her and she hits back---hard. Radical Islamist leaders appear to have decided that indirect attacks can achieve victory without invoking an American military response.

Bombs in Baghdad, ubiquitous on TV, are proving them right. Americans---who would have roared at another 9/11---looked at Baghdad and said, "At least it's not here. Can't we rest now?". The bombers will now move on to other Muslim countries, spreading the mayhem, while Americans throw their hands further in the air. With weakened American resolve, Arab leaders will have to accommodate the fanatics.

Then the same tactic will be used to enfeeble other allies. Sydney, London, Moscow, Seoul and others will be hit with ruthless attacks, ever more likely to involve chemical or nuclear weapons. Latin America will be radicalized. The "coalition of the willing" will slowly abandon us (and Israel). Every action we take in the war on terror will be seen as stirring up the hornet nest, not only abroad but by many here at home. It may take years, perhaps decades. But this is a very patient enemy. Eventually---when we are fully isolated---they will attack us at home. By then, where will we retaliate once the whole world is against us?

It is foolish and dangerous to allow American's to think all's fine as long as the explosions happen "over there". Bragging that we haven't been hit is shortsighted and may actually strengthen the enemy's hand. Someone very smart needs to devise a message that will make our countrymen understand the Big Picture, the long-term peril. Perhaps Giulliani could carry it off? It certainly needs to be part of the consideration as Republicans set their course for the future.

[OldFriend]

BTTT

[swampmonster]

They won't get the blame, but thanks for the optimism. Nixon and Ford got the blame for cutting and running in Vietnam (during the years we were not supposed to pay attention to the congress).

Anyway I always say when America's enemies bring the fight here (other than some sort of terrorist act, real war) the left and the political elites will flee America while wetting their pants.

[James Ewell Brown Stuart]

We can disagree about it. It's okay. Just: If the electorate can't be convinced, then you can't blame a person for not being able to convince.

[James Ewell Brown Stuart]

Well, looks can be deceiving.

[Gritty]