Posted on 08/02/2007 4:20:03 PM PDT by Bladerunnuh
Republican presidential candidate Gov. Mitt Romney has cited the social welfare network of the Lebanese Hezbollah terror group as a role model the U.S. should copy to help promote "goodness" and "freedom" around the world.
Sections of Hezbollah's social welfare network, including schools and camps, are routinely used by the terror group to indoctrinate students in anti-Israel propaganda, instruct in military tactics and promote Shiite Islamic beliefs, including the waging of a final, apocalyptic world battle against "evil."
The former Massachusetts governor this weekend was asked during a campaign stop in Iowa whether he would renew President Bush's $50 million campaign to combat AIDS in Africa.
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
This headline is really misleading. Typical WND garbage.
Like the Trillion we will wind up spending in Iraq when it’s all said and done?
So WTF does that have to do with anything?
Who would have thought it?
If this article is any indication, they truly do!
They could have easily pointed out how Mitt stepped in it and been right on the mark. Instead, they have to distort what he said so as to push their own agenda.
Mitt ain’t in my top 3 but he’ll get my vote if it means a dem is denied the WH.
disclaimer: I did not read the whole article or the thread
You might want to listen to someone who knows far more about Hezbollah in southern Lebanon that either you or I. Just follow the link, or better yet, send it on to Mitt.
You look to whoever has been succesful at it. And if it's your enemy, so what? Since when is learning from your enemies a bad thing?
In the Middle East, Hezbollah has been very successful at it, so it's perfectly reasonable to try to learn from their success.
Same thing in WW2. The Nazis had very effective tank tactics. What are you going to do, tell Patton and Montgomery they can't adopt some of those tactics because the Nazis used them?
The stupidity of your reasoning is nothing short of breathtaking.
It was done in jest, but ya know...
“Face it, Mitt stepped in it big time.”
Still shaking my head here. I’ve haven’t been on his threads, but this one caught my attention after the cspan source. My thoughts were...what the xxxx was he thinking??? I’m not one of his supporters, but I actually felt a little bad for him, damn.
Yes, and rightfully so, because they've built up a huge base of support with infrastructure and other essential government services to the Shiite South. I don't think any other group in the Mid East has had that kind of success in building popular support.
Sure, Hezbollah are our enemies. So what? Since when do we not try to learn from our enemies?
And, is it really that conservative to spread big government programs all over the world? With your tax money?
That's a debatable point, I'll admit, but certainly not beyond the pale on a conservative site. People on this thread are sounding as if he's endorsing Hezbollah, which he's clearly not.
And a trillion not well spent.
Thanks!
In remarks caught on camera by C-SPAN, Romney stated, “Did you notice in Lebanon what Hezbollah did? Lebanon became a democracy some time ago, and while their government was getting under way, Hezbollah went into southern Lebanon and provided health clinics to some of the people there, and schools.
“And they (Hezbollah) built their support there by having done so. That kind of diplomacy is something that would help America become stronger around the world and help people understand that our interest is an interest towards modernity and goodness and freedom for all people in the world. And so, I want to see America carry out that kind of health diplomacy.”
That's what's being billed to me as a Republican? Okay, he wants to build support by carrying on "health diplomacy." But the world would not be impressed; it would become entitlement diplomacy, and America would be villified.
*sigh* You know, there's a point where Reagan's 11th becomes moot because of the re-defining of "Republican." Were the Republicans he was talking about as Liberal-lite in the 80s as a guy who would utter such empty crap as above? He does the same placating crap when dealing with the environmentalist movement, and be assured, that is a very dangerous third column, built on the cheap fraud of Man-made climate change, that is socialist in motivation. It is anti-Republican in every way, and it needs to be challenged, not placated. Not to mention that it would win the hearts and loyalty of a hell of a lot of people who are sick of leftist environmentalism, Republican and Democrat.
No offense in particular to Romney; Giuliani's main strength is that he gives the impression he'd stand up to murdering terrorist Muslims -- something pretty important -- but other than that, he's just another low-sodium Democrat with an "R" stamped on his forehead.
I can't believe all we got so far is Romney and Giuliani. That's sad. McCain's out (*whew*) and Gingrich buys into man-caused Global Warming. Geez.
Would you mind if I shared a couple of thoughts? Not wanting to debate...thought I’d see if you were even interested in a different perspective.
I don't think so. I don't see any mention of Christians and Jews in his statement. Did you?
I don't see why is it relevent. His point isn't that Hezbollah are good people, or that they helped Christians and Jews. The purpose of his statement isn't to praise Hezbollah.
His point is that Hezbollah built up their support by delivering basic services to an impoverished population of Shiite Moslems that was lacking them. That's a fact, even if Hezbollah are a bunch of bloothristy murderers.
His point is that if bloodthirsty murderers can build popular support with charity, we can too.
What's wrong with that?
His point was simply that Hezbollah built up their popular support by providing basic services to an impoversihed Middle Eastern population, and that we could gain support for our cause by doing something similar.
Please tell me precisely what you find objectionable about that idea.
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