Pat Buchanan: U.S. Pays the High Price of Empire

Los Angeles Times ^ | 09/18/2001 | Patrick J. Buchanan

[Pokey78]

As the twin towers of the World Trade Center came down in flames, taking 5,000 Americans with them, an unserious era in U.S. history came to an end. "All is changed, changed utterly," wrote poet W.B. Yeats. President Bush has now received full authority to wage war against all who abetted the slaughter. It must be done. Our American family cannot permit the mass murder of our brothers and sisters to go unpunished. But as the president directs the moral outrage of his wounded nation, he will need the wisdom of Solomon.

[eskimo]

This reminds me of the time I initiated a conversation with the 3-year-old grandson of a friend.

His deficient vocabulary and immature thought processes soon had me wondering why I had made the effort to communicate.

[ultimate]

Truth bump. Thank you

The goal of this thread should be for us to make anyone who read Pat's article to feel as if agreeing with him makes one a luddite or a Jane Fonda turn-coat. We must discredit the message that Pat brings and ensure that all talk about US foreign policy be reduced to simplistic rants against Arabs who want to take away "American freedoms" so to speak. The internet makes such a problem for the capital-intensive work of influence peddlers. We must muddy the message of Pat. Pat said things in his books which go against the idea of a new war order. Do not allow questions to be ask if they result in undesired answers. Call the "public" elections commission! Get the hook and yank that kook off the stage fast. The mighty train of public opinion could fall off the track and start asking the wrong questions. What is the frequency, Kenneth? 117 Posted on 09/18/2001 08:37:26 PDT by Old Hickory

[CWOJackson]

"His deficient vocabulary and immature thought processes soon had me wondering why I had made the effort to communicate."

"Tempted though some may be to glean talking points from the tragedy, this is no time for sermonizing about failed intelligence or soured imperialism. This is a season for a heartsick nation to mourn our fallen and commend our heroes. Details will surface soon enough, but they won't fill empty chairs at dinner tables. Buildings can be reconstructed; broken families cannot." - Pat Buchanan, Sept 12, 2001

"In the presidential campaign of 2000, we failed to make foreign policy the issue. But what I said then retains relevance: "How can all our meddling not fail to spark some horrible retribution ...." - Pat Buchanan, Sept 18, 2001

Yep, makes you wonder what kind of thought process was going through Pat's head. One day he's saying don't use this incident for grandstanding, a couple days later he's using it for grandstanding. But I won't go as far as you and call that immature. I think he started out great then surrendered to the perpetual politician within.

But if you want to call him immature go ahead...and here I always thought you were just a blind follower.

[ultimate]

Bump for the truth: #130 Posted on 09/18/2001 08:49:21 PDT by jeremiah

[eskimo]

Perhaps it was for reasons as noble as wanting to assist the tyke in his quest for maturity.

[CWOJackson]

Who, the three year old or Pat?

[eskimo]

Or, perhaps it was for the entertainment value it afforded.

[mo]

The fundamental issue has been that as we do business in the Mideast, the dollars we send them do not trickle down. The leaders project the existence of such wealth disparity as our fault, thereby defusing themselves of the risk and responsibility. They offer token tribute to the local toughs who then "invest" in in Judeo-American terrorism as the relief valve for domestic discord. If we intervene to wipe out the terrorist, we are seen, and IMHO, are siding with the leadership who will perpetuate such oppression. Better we withdraw all business relationships with such countries until we are invited back. BTW there is NO WAY we can fight and win a ground war in Afghanistan. Both China and Russia dearly want us there in that capacity-that committment would be a ring in our nose for the next decade.

[CWOJackson]

Good. I was affraid that you were going to say something like Pat is above his own advice.

[AndyJackson]

Your sarcasm is even thicker than mine. I guess it runs in the family!

[CWOJackson]

Great cartoon...and so accurate.

[ladyinred]

I am amazed and rather surprised at some of Pat's comments here. How could he conclude we have no vital interest in those places after what happened one week ago today?

[Aerial]

LOL!

[eskimo]

I guess it didn't matter what the reason was. The little guy is now a very mature 7 years of age and hardly ever repeats himself, ad nauseam, anymore.

[TheQuestion]

Theory One espoused by the neocons and assorted other bomb them all types is that Osama bin Laden and other Islamic Fundamentalists hate Americian culture in general. In fact, they hate it so much they are willing to die to eradicate it from the face of the earth.

Theory Two espoused here by Pat Buchanan and elsewhere by libertarians and paleos is that Islamic Fundamentalism's hatred for the U.S. is linked to American intervention in Islamic homelands. Specific incidents of military aggression by the U.S. against Islamic peoples and by a decidedly pro-Israel tilt in our foreign policy are the cause and the goal is to get the U.S. out of Islamic territory.

That's it exactly. Too bad few people get it.

[ottersnot]

Yeah, like Yasser "Cease Fire" Arafat deserves any more than he's gotten. We have arguably held back the Israeli's quite a few times from inflicting a lot more collateral damage then they have. Meanwhile Israeli's die in pizza shops to dime store martyrs. Some freepin diplomat that Yassar. His crocodile tears really moved me the other day.

[Jethro Tull]

America has as much chance of bombing Islamic world wide terrorism into oblivion as you Pubbies have in retaining the House in '02.

Global geo-political intervention is an invitation to future terrorist attacks here in America.

It's time you buy some spam and get a few gas masks and,,,oh yeah,,,welcome to the front lines of the New World Order....

[sheik yerbouty]

Maybe Pat should just grease up and bed over! Then he can thank the jihadists.