COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Rick Santorum on Knowing The Enemy

Rick Santorum writing in National Review On-line echoes my complaint about the lack of leadership in America.
A day after the Democrats won both houses of Congress, President Bush accepted the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld. The nomination for Rumsfeld’s replacement as secretary of Defense was Robert Gates, a cathartic election’s first fruits. Last week, Gates was confirmed by the Senate in a bipartisan vote that saw only two senators vote against him: Senator Bunning and myself.

The many failings of the administration in Iraq are well known. Ignored is the larger failing of our country’s leaders: their unwillingness to define, with clarity, honesty, and consistency, the enemy we face and the complex and enormous threat it poses to the lives and freedoms of all Americans.

If America were not at war, I would have deferred to the president’s judgment in his choice for secretary of Defense. Gates is a competent and experienced nominee. But we are at war, and we need exceptional leadership and insight. Gates unfortunately shares the view of the Iraq Study Group that we cannot win the battle in Iraq; at this point, our best option is to withdraw slowly and to negotiate with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Santorum goes on to remind us that Iran has been at war with us since 1979 and is a principal in the Iraqi debacle. Negotiating a truce with them amounts to a historic defeat for us. Santorum says that the the "Iraq Study Group and Secretary Gates see clearly the problems in Iraq and the contributions Iran makes to these problems. They do not think we can win in Iraq because they do not think that we can win in Iran; or, at least, they do not think that we must win in Iran."

Echoing many here at the EB, Santorum writes, "We must confront Iran to win in Iraq, and, more than that, we must confront Iran if we are to defeat Islamic fascism all over the world." He says that Gates' confirmation shows that "our leaders have not understood the peril we are in and are not prepared to win the war that is being waged against us."

Of course, in addition to be outvoted in the Gates confirmation, Mr. Santorum was soundly defeated in his reelection bid for the Senate. As much as I respect Rick Santorum, I hope his take on the country is as wrong as mine was prior to the election when I had more confidence in the will of the people and the understanding of it leaders.

32 comments:

  1. Heh. A lot of the liberals I know are exibiting a new found uneasiness since the election. Now they have to do more than bitch and moan and they know in their bones that they have nothing. They won't admit it, but it's in their faces and body language. Islam is blowing up faster than they ever imagined.

    Just like a lot of folks here were cocksure, and wrong, that Bush would meekly accept the ISG recommendations, it appears many are equally sure he will punt on Iran.

    I doubt it.

    I figure there's two more years before the Bush haters on the right can claim they are justified. I predict Bush will hammer Iran when he feels the time is right.

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  2. Time will tell, but I have heard the siren call of "later" regarding both Syria and Iran, going on three years now.
    Later, that's the Post Modern Deal.

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  3. VDH says this is what is required, in Iraq. Let's see what happens:

    ... If we add another 30,000 or so troops to Iraq, in a final effort to win the war, then we must change (widen) the rules of engagement. Only that way can America ensure that it simply does not create more targets for the insurgents, add a larger logistical trail, and ensure more Iraqi dependency on our soldiers.

    What would that entail?

    Putting Iran and Syria on notice that we will bomb terrorists flocking across their borders.

    Give an ultimatum to militia heads, especially Moqtadar Sadr, to disband or face annihilation from the United States.

    Expand the rules of engagement in all matters dealing with IEDs, with a shoot on sight rule concerning anyone found implanting or aiding such efforts.

    Enlarge the planned Iraqi security forces to near 400,000, and embed far more Americans in those units.

    Recalibrate the ratio of support to combat troops, so that we don’t simply create bigger compounds to facilitate larger troop levels to end up with more stationary and more numerous targets—and ever more enclaves of Americans behind thousands of acres of bermed reserves.

    So spell out the mission, the new rules of engagement, and then, and only then, surge—if need be— more troops.

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  4. Kind of OT to start, but I think the paste below by 'Rat in an earlier thread is the most important perspective to be learned from OIF so far, and confirms my gut feeling all along that some of the exquisite and learned handwringing discussions we had at you know where were a bunch of hogwash.

    Dangerous hogwash at that, since softheaded thinking eventually costs many more lives than the handwringers try to save to begin with.

    Same thing WRT immigration:
    Being "compassionate and enlightened" about the issue ignores that thousands of our fellow citizens die for such "compassion" and the phoney bookkeeping and hidden costs, as well as the increasing tolerance of lawbreaking by all involved from POTUS on down, is an unacceptable price to pay for cheap services and veggies that kill.

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  5. desert rat said...
    Then at the Boston Globe they are writing about all the Iraqi we owe a safe haven to, here in the US, now that all is about to be lost in Iraq.

    But at Investors Business Daily they take a different view, seeing the appointment of Army Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno as the #2 US Soldier in Iraq

    "... But Odierno has one overriding fact in his favor if he chooses a more traditional approach, such as killing as many of the enemy as possible. For all its political appeal back in Washington, soft power isn't working in Iraq. It may be a hit with military analysts, but it hasn't impressed our enemies. And whatever successes the U.S. achieved in Baghdad two years ago, they clearly were temporary. Neither the U.S. nor the Iraqi government has been able to stem the bloodshed or to break the power of the militias.

    The potential cost of such failure goes far beyond Iraq. If the world sees that the U.S. cannot bring some reasonable degree of order to territory occupied by its armed forces, America will no longer be seen as a formidable foe or a reliable friend.

    In the short term, aggressively destroying — not placating — enemies wouldn't be popular in Iraq or anywhere else outside the U.S., and may be hard to sustain politically at home. But it would be far more damaging in the long run to lose by not fighting hard enough.

    The coming months will tell whether the choice of a commander with a different style and reputation will make much of a difference on the ground. We hope it does. The war in Iraq requires not only a surge of troops and firepower, but also a shift in attitude. Security must come first. Nothing else, from the digging of new sewers to the building of democracy, can move forward without it
    .

    VDH said at the begining that the lack of sufficient force would eventually cost.
    How dearly we are now learning, esp the Iraqis.

    You got a link for that, 'Rat?

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  6. Just thought I'd contribute with a good read this morning at VDH: War-making and the Machines of War

    Military revolutions are missed not only because of military sloth, delusional leadership, or a reactionary romance with the past, but because of a failure at the elite levels of society either to perceive real threats posed by real external enemies or to countenance the sacrifices necessary to meet those threats. Notable examples include ancient Athens and Rome, turn-of-the-20th-century Russia, and France in the 1930’s. The principal challenge today is not only to hone our military in the face of constantly evolving challenges, but to convince an affluent, leisured, and often cynical American public that that we should even try to do so.

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  7. re: elite levels of society

    Fraudulent JAG leader and bogus Colonel Murphy served in Iraq and at the White House. Given his 23 year dirty little secret, did he engage in espionage?

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  8. TWAT leadership revisited:

    Among his accomplishments in Iraq, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star, Air Force JAG Colonel Murphy handled the distribution of "large sums of cash" to tribal leaders. Is it possible that a disbarred lawyer, living a lie for 23 years as an Air Force JAG, might have succumbed to the temptation of embezzlement? Never! The JAG works on the honor system, remember?

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  9. How did the fake officer, Colonel Murphy,twice gain clearance to work on the White House staff? Could the life of the President have been at risk? Does it matter?

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  10. More inspiring TWAT leadership on parade:

    Gingrich: Imams should have been arrested

    That has not happened and will never happen. To do so would force the government to claim the Imams are unrepresentative of the Religion of Peace. Since CAIR is on record saying the Imams are representative of Islam, the US government will not contradict its friends the Saudis and the Saudi mouthpiece CAIR.

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  11. Don't be so uptight, Allen!
    Actually, this proves the humanity of Mr. Compassion yet again:

    Since tens of thousands of American Citizens die each year at the hands of the illegals he illegally coddles, he figures he should at least be put at some risk himself by another illegal fraudster.

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  12. "lawbreaking fraudster" would have been more appropriate.

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  13. Now time for some "good conservative" to defend and justify the lawbreaking and needless murder and mayhem of their fellow citizens:

    "People like you that argue for moral leaders that follow the law are responsible for putting Pelosi in power."

    ...sorry, I always thought it was Bush breaking laws abandoning and fracturing the base, but now I see the light.
    Please forgive me!

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  14. Karen Hughes will not be pleased by Newts statement at all:
    Maybe she'll get Tony Snow to scrape and bow for the MSM again.
    He don't mind as long as he's got good makeup, good hair, and maintains his good relations with the "NON PARTISAN" Press.
    Everything's Good!
    ROP is SOP.

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  15. (I haven't been able to force myself to watch the Video at NRO yet of him apologizing to David Gregory)
    The still photo of him makes me squirm.
    Feminized, dumbed down dhimmis.

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  16. Rush brought up something that played against Santorum in PA:
    The areas that voted most strongly against him have some of the oldest voters on average in the nation.
    ...many esp old union vets, concerned mainly with their personal security now and in the immediate future.
    Keep those Soc Sec and Medicare payments coming, we don't need no wild young radical conservative taking us into more wars!

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  17. Santorum '08!
    Too bad the system is rigged:
    Perhaps most here cannot remember back when someone like Rick would have a chance:
    At a REAL Convention, perhaps McCain and Rudy would fight to a draw, and then Rudy would cut a deal with Santorum, becoming his attorney general!
    I can dream:
    Deals DID used to be cut on the Convention Floor prior to the present primary setup.

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  18. "Words define the enemy we confront.
    They help the American people comprehend what motivates the enemy.
    Without clear, accurate words, we cannot fight effectively: our own people become confused and divided, and the fascists are encouraged to believe that we fear them.
    "
    ---
    But when Bush, Hughes, Condi, Snow et al do Orwell proud with their ROP shuck and jive, some blame conservatives and the MSM for demoralizing the populace!

    Wrong place to aim First!

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  19. Can't wait for Trish to see that VDH advice, 'Rat:
    She has steadfastly maintained we don't have the wherewithall to punish Syria.
    I have yet to hear why, if it is done by the USAF and US Naval Bombers.
    (and Navy Cruise Missiles and etc)

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  20. "I predict Bush will hammer Iran when he feels the time is right.
    "
    ---
    The Optimum time was right after OIF reached Baghdad:
    Islamoids were back on their heels, the American People were all ready for a knockout, Lebanon was revolting and Baby was sobbing in his crib.
    Later!

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  21. In Which Words Lose All Meaning

    "Norman Y. Mineta personifies the terms, public servant and patriot.
    "

    -- President George W. Bush today, awarding the Medal of Freedom to his erstwhile Secretary of Transportation.

    Ah, the promise of America, where even a low-wattage lackluster Washington, D.C., careerist can make good. Grateful Americans will always remember Mineta for protecting them from a danger more profoundthan terrorism:

    Josh Treviño | December 15, 2006

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  22. ...but he IS a Multicult, points for that.
    He DID protect the ROP, points for that.
    He IS a Liberal Democrat, double bonus points for that.

    Sing the praises for the Compassionate Master Poker Player!

    ...What does a Compassionate Master Poker Player do, you may ask?

    Lose Some for the Gipper's Party!

    ...and keep on losing some more for the next two years.

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  23. CLASSIC MINETA! (LINKED above)
    August 12, 2002 The Mineta Follies

    CBS aired the 60 Minutes rerun last night featuring Steve Kroft's infuriating interview with Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta. I don't have an exact transcript (and I'm not paying eight bucks to get one), but the interview goes something like this:

    Kroft: Is racial profiling ever okay?

    Mineta: No.

    Kroft: So the fact that all 19 of the September 11 highjackers were of a certain age, a certain religion, a certain complexion, and came from a certain region, none of that should play into how we screen passengers at airports?

    Mineta: Of course not. That would be profiling. All passengers should be screened with scrutiny.

    Kroft: But you can't give all passengers the utmost scrutiny.

    Mineta: No. We can't.

    Kroft: So how do you figure out who's more likely to be a threat?

    Mineta: We can use other criteria.

    Kroft: Like what?

    Mineta: Well, for example, we can look for passengers who pay cash only for tickets. Or passengers who purchase one-way tickets. Or both.

    Kroft: Did any of the September 11 hijackers pay cash for their tickets?

    Mineta: Um....no. They paid with credit cards.

    Kroft: I see. Did any of them purchase one-way tickets?

    Mineta: Um....no. They all bought round-trip tickets.

    The interview gets no less maddening the second time around. Kraft also posited a reducto-ad-absurdum scenario to Mineta....

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  24. Mr. Multicult Himself:
    ---
    In Which Words Lose All Meaning

    "Norman Y. Mineta personifies the terms, public servant and patriot.
    "

    -- President George W. Bush today, awarding the Medal of Freedom to his erstwhile Secretary of Transportation.

    Ah, the promise of America, where even a low-wattage lackluster Washington, D.C., careerist can make good. Grateful Americans will always remember Mineta for protecting them from a danger more profoundthan terrorism:

    Josh Treviño | December 15, 2006

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  25. Sorry! Please Delete!
    Was sposed to go at Tiger's place!

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  26. G. Beck calls Santorum "the American Churchill". He just might be making a comeback!

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  27. should we delete doug's mis-comment or let him suffer in eternal internet purgatory?

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  28. Ms Karen Hughes, Mr Bush's bestest advisor, tells US about US generousity to terrorists
    ... The U.S. is still the largest bilateral donor of food and medicine to the Palestinian people.
    Although we cannot by law or principle give money to the Hamas government because it refuses to renounce terrorism, we have given $234 million this year through non-government organizations. ..."


    We are still the largest contributor to the Palistinian War Machine, the Israeli, too.

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  29. He stepped up to Beta, leaving the rest of us beind, with the trashcans.
    Let him haul his own garbage to the dump. Unless of course he pays the fees.
    He, at least, has spell check now.
    If the Beta trade is trash cans for spell check, I'll stick with the mispelled trash.

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  30. Here is the Investor's Business Daily link, doug, about Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno.
    Attitude Adjustment Required

    The coming months will tell whether the choice of a commander with a different style and reputation will make much of a difference on the ground. We hope it does. The war in Iraq requires not only a surge of troops and firepower, but also a shift in attitude. Security must come first. Nothing else, from the digging of new sewers to the building of democracy, can move forward without it.

    ReplyDelete