Comments on: And the war just keeps getting worse http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:49:22 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Across the Aisle » Policy Disagreements among our Friends and Enemies http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/comment-page-1/#comment-557 Across the Aisle » Policy Disagreements among our Friends and Enemies Fri, 04 Aug 2006 21:44:23 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/#comment-557 [...] The more important argument, though, is the political one, the case that internal debate about the best course of action in fact helps the enemy. This view pervades much more than just these comments about why Israel hasn’t defeated Hezbollah decisively. It also explains why supporters of the administration’s policy in Iraq call well-intentioned people looking for alternative ways to seek America’s goals unpatriotic (this New York Times editorial inveighs against this practice). And it at the same time provides their own explanation for why their grand plans for positive transformation in the Middle East have not come to fruition: doubters in the U.S. undermined our success; we cannot conclude from the situation in the Middle East today that their vision was wrong, only that it was not properly carried out. Convenient. A useful dodge from the more likely explanation that the vision itself over-reached and that we were always unlikely to be able to “cause stability” in Iraq, no matter how unified the American effort and no matter how free a hand was given to the American military. This argument about when debate is appropriate and when it is not turns up in unexpected places, too. On this blog, Seth Green and David Isenberg both criticized Senators Boxer and Schumer for walking out on the Iraqi Prime Minister’s speech to Congress because of al-Maliki’s pro-Hezbollah remarks. Neither of my fellow bloggers agrees with al-Maliki’s support for Hezbollah, but they also felt that Americans should not criticize him for his position, since he is just expressing the will of the people of Iraq — an expression of democracy. And American Senators, they argue, should not debate the democratically ratified decisions of foreign governments’ policy-makers. That position strikes me as wrong for two reasons. [...] [...] The more important argument, though, is the political one, the case that internal debate about the best course of action in fact helps the enemy. This view pervades much more than just these comments about why Israel hasn’t defeated Hezbollah decisively. It also explains why supporters of the administration’s policy in Iraq call well-intentioned people looking for alternative ways to seek America’s goals unpatriotic (this New York Times editorial inveighs against this practice). And it at the same time provides their own explanation for why their grand plans for positive transformation in the Middle East have not come to fruition: doubters in the U.S. undermined our success; we cannot conclude from the situation in the Middle East today that their vision was wrong, only that it was not properly carried out. Convenient. A useful dodge from the more likely explanation that the vision itself over-reached and that we were always unlikely to be able to “cause stability” in Iraq, no matter how unified the American effort and no matter how free a hand was given to the American military. This argument about when debate is appropriate and when it is not turns up in unexpected places, too. On this blog, Seth Green and David Isenberg both criticized Senators Boxer and Schumer for walking out on the Iraqi Prime Minister’s speech to Congress because of al-Maliki’s pro-Hezbollah remarks. Neither of my fellow bloggers agrees with al-Maliki’s support for Hezbollah, but they also felt that Americans should not criticize him for his position, since he is just expressing the will of the people of Iraq — an expression of democracy. And American Senators, they argue, should not debate the democratically ratified decisions of foreign governments’ policy-makers. That position strikes me as wrong for two reasons. [...]

]]> By: johnz http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/comment-page-1/#comment-516 johnz Thu, 27 Jul 2006 20:37:21 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/#comment-516 The Israelis are the new Nazis. Just as the League of Nations dallied and argued but couldn't get a consensus to stop Hitler's war machine in 1939, the E.U is repeating the same behavior with these new Nazis. Israel is the only country to have ever been created by a U.N. Charter. As the saying goes, "What was given, can be taken away." Israel countless crimes against humanity and terrorist attacks upon civilians and U.N. Observers have gone way beyond the pale. Israel needs to be dealt with exactly as Germany was dealt with after WWI. The Zionists must forefit their country. They have more than shown that they consider themselves above international law and are unfit to rule anything. Israel and the Zionists must be cut out like the cancer they are. The Israelis are the new Nazis. Just as the League of Nations dallied and argued but couldn’t get a consensus to stop Hitler’s war machine in 1939, the E.U is repeating the same behavior with these new Nazis. Israel is the only country to have ever been created by a U.N. Charter. As the saying goes, “What was given, can be taken away.” Israel countless crimes against humanity and terrorist attacks upon civilians and U.N. Observers have gone way beyond the pale. Israel needs to be dealt with exactly as Germany was dealt with after WWI. The Zionists must forefit their country. They have more than shown that they consider themselves above international law and are unfit to rule anything. Israel and the Zionists must be cut out like the cancer they are.

]]> By: John Lepire http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/comment-page-1/#comment-515 John Lepire Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:57:46 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/#comment-515 Having now followed this tit-for-tat war over the past two months (assuming that it all started with the June 9th indiscriminate Israeli howitzer shelling of a Gaza public beach that killed 9 members of a Palestinian family), could it possibly be that the real motivation behind Israel's attack on Lebanon is its booming tourist economy? Historically, Palestinans, Hezbollah followers and Israeli military have been routinely captured, held and repatriated over the past 20+ years essentially without a second thought. This time, Israel decided to eliminate all Lebanese competition to their #1 national industry. If nothing else, food for thought? Having now followed this tit-for-tat war over the past two months (assuming that it all started with the June 9th indiscriminate Israeli howitzer shelling of a Gaza public beach that killed 9 members of a Palestinian family), could it possibly be that the real motivation behind Israel’s attack on Lebanon is its booming tourist economy?

Historically, Palestinans, Hezbollah followers and Israeli military have been routinely captured, held and repatriated over the past 20+ years essentially without a second thought. This time, Israel decided to eliminate all Lebanese competition to their #1 national industry.

If nothing else, food for thought?

]]> By: Sing Song http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/comment-page-1/#comment-514 Sing Song Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:47:16 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/#comment-514 It's a mad world when one zealot can declare a war and the entire government rubber stamps it. I can not see how a government that impoverishes it's people to benefit a few with no oversight or accountability can survive for long. The political displays of rancor and debate have become so transparent that they are no longer be capeable of hiding the truth, that a privalege few run the country for thier own private benefit, and put on poor political theater toward this end. The islamic republics are closer to communism and marxism then capitalism. The grand displays of the weaknesses in capitalist systems will only further erode support for them and foster a new life into socialist and communist proponents throughout the world. Can you say commrade? It’s a mad world when one zealot can declare a war and the entire government rubber stamps it. I can not see how a government that impoverishes it’s people to benefit a few with no oversight or accountability can survive for long. The political displays of rancor and debate have become so transparent that they are no longer be capeable of hiding the truth, that a privalege few run the country for thier own private benefit, and put on poor political theater toward this end.
The islamic republics are closer to communism and marxism then capitalism. The grand displays of the weaknesses in capitalist systems will only further erode support for them and foster a new life into socialist and communist proponents throughout the world.
Can you say commrade?

]]> By: david a dowding http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/comment-page-1/#comment-513 david a dowding Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:33:50 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/#comment-513 The myopic Bush and his band of neo-con virgins are pushing this country and the World to the abyss. I'm hopeful this country will throw Bush and his presidency into the abyss and move away from the edge .I fear the Genie is out of the bottle and our children will be hiding from the dogs of war asking how we could have been so foolish. The myopic Bush and his band of neo-con virgins are pushing this country and the
World to the abyss. I’m hopeful this country will throw Bush and his presidency into the
abyss and move away from the edge .I fear the Genie is out of the bottle and our children
will be hiding from the dogs of war asking how we could have been so foolish.

]]> By: kws http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/comment-page-1/#comment-512 kws Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:33:21 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/#comment-512 If the UN doesn't want their observation bases shelled, maybe they should keep Hezbollah away from them instead of letting the UN observers to be used as human shields. If the UN doesn’t want their observation bases shelled, maybe they should keep Hezbollah away from them instead of letting the UN observers to be used as human shields.

]]> By: Bass-o-matic http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/comment-page-1/#comment-511 Bass-o-matic Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:26:04 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/#comment-511 Haven't you guys heard -- Lance Bass came out of the closet. And not one politician voiced an opinion on the subject. Geez. What's this world coming too? Haven’t you guys heard — Lance Bass came out of the closet. And not one politician voiced an opinion on the subject. Geez. What’s this world coming too?

]]> By: TheBigDeep http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/comment-page-1/#comment-510 TheBigDeep Thu, 27 Jul 2006 16:36:57 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/2006/07/27/and-the-war-just-keeps-getting-worse/#comment-510 Way to go! Keep it Up! Yaaay! Way to go! Keep it Up! Yaaay!

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