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."

Friday, June 15, 2007

"When people see a strong horse and a weak horse, by nature, they will like the strong horse"

The strong horse has arrived. It did not come from where bin Laden expected. It is not Arabian but an agile, intelligent and ruthless Persian. Gaza reflects events in Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan. A militant messianic/martyr Islamic cult is taking hold. The take over in Gaza was swift and appears to be complete. What does this mean for Iraq?

At a time when we need skilled and intelligently tough leadership we have something less. Abandon Iraq, as the Israelis abandoned Gaza, and events will quickly sort themselves into another Iranian influenced victory for an Islamic cult. Saddam Hussein understood the threat. He died cursing the Persians, in stunned disbelief that a plow horse with blinders led the Americans.

Our naive mission to graft democracy to Islam must give way to a realistic appraisal and acceptance of an unpleasant reality. We are stuck in the beginning of a hundred year religious war. We were not prepared for it and have yet to begin to adjust to it. We have a choice. We can react to events and be carried along with them or we can step aside and let the inevitable adjustments within Islam take place. We already have one nuclear near-Islamic state in Pakistan. It is one bullet away from who knows what.

Should the US attack Iran's budding nuclear assets, Iran has already set in motion and place the suicide squads necessary to attack US global interests. We attack, we pay. We do not, we pay. Weak diplomacy will never influence the Iranians. A war with Iran could be very costly with unknown consequences. Acquiescence would be worse.

These are the most dangerous times since 1941. We will get no help or cooperation from Russia or China. Their interest is to support a weakening of US power. The Chinese are doing it brilliantly the Russians more clumsily. We on the other hand have a leader who loses his watch accepting accolades from adoring Muslims in a future European-Muslim state of our making. The Albanians may adore Bush but there are few significant allies left that trust him. He has little credibility to inspire, influence or lead, so dissipating has been his governance. The US needs a comprehensive appraisal of foreign policy and a strategy for this new hostile environment. We desperately need leadership that understands this.

56 comments:

  1. "These are the most dangerous times since 1941."

    Oh, horse hockey.

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  2. Horse Pucky it is.
    Party Time:
    Camel Race @ Dubai!
    ---
    We need an Athletic Arabian,
    We got an Albanian Shetland.
    ---
    "At a time when we need skilled and intelligently tough leadership we have something less. "

    There is something to be said for understatement and being diplomatic, but that's Frigging Ridiculous!

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  3. We need some Deep Thinkin:
    Candi '08!

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. It is not a threatening time for the US, with regards Iran.

    Their oil gets to the markets,

    They do not overtly project power, they cannot.

    There is no religious war, get over that very idea, the US rejects the concept, completely.

    The idea that if there were such a war, that it be of hundred year duration, laughable.

    A real war would last less than three hours, more time than that, it ain't no war. Just political theater, another episode to be watched.

    It takes two to tango, the US won't dance.

    Support the Americas,
    Go shopping.

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  6. Learning from precedent, trust could be restored by a Federal Grant of 1 Timex Watch to every US Resident, Documented and Otherwise.
    Undocumented Residents that have been here less than 18 months, with proof in the form of a recently used foodstamp booklet, will receive a Gold Plated Timex.

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  7. If Mr Bush had not been in Albania, he'd still have his watch, Albanians would still have Albania.

    There is an analogy there, too.

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  8. "Just political theater..."

    It IS political theater.

    And the audience is overwhelmingly credulous.

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  9. TAKE 2: Senators Plan to Revive Immigration Bill...
    ---
    Sen. Hutchison [R-TX] admits $966 Billion in Social Security benefits would go to illegal immigrants who received Social Security numbers prior to 2004...

    NorthSouth wrote:

    Immigrant-rights groups?? Don't they mean ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS rights groups???

    Since when do ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS have rights in our country?

    What about bank robbers rights?
    and child molesters rights,
    and wife beaters rights
    and drunk drivers rights?
    ---
    MissouriMule wrote:
    Is extortion an impeachable offense?
    Hail the Commander-in-Thief.

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  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  11. The Supremes decided, long ago, that the rights were extended to persons, not citizens.

    Long ago.

    That's the way it is.

    Confusion about the history and future of the States of America, united in their diversity. That is where the government schools have dropped the ball.

    United American States, oh, about 85 of them. What's not to like. Hawaii integrated well, as have Texas, Arixona, Colorado and New Mexico. Let alone California

    There is nothing sacred about 50

    Open your mind

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  12. The US has grown from 13 States to Fifty, why stop the revolution, now?

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  13. Don't stop the Carnival

    Grow or die.

    We won't annex Iraq any time soon, Mexico, now that is a different kettle of fish.

    Or will the Mexicans win?
    Instead of 31 Mexican States, will we return California, Texas, to them?

    New Mexico, I'd be okay with giving that back, personally, if we have to. To maintain peace and harmony with the neighbors.

    The Israeli way forward.

    We have so much to learn, from Israel. Land for Peace, that's the ticket.

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  14. New Mexico to the Zionists!

    Peace, Prosperity, and Democracy will bloom throughout the ME.

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  15. Missouri, doug, that's what goes to the Zionists.
    Missouri is where Christ will return. Get your revised Bible studies straight.

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  16. "'The fact that President Abbas has fired the Hamas government is a very positive move in our opinion, and makes it easier to deal with and help the moderates,' Miri Eisin, a spokeswoman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said Friday."

    Olmert would negotiate with the bones of Arafat, if they could be had. No stupid humiliation is too great in the interest of his "Plan". Of course, paying-off the bones of Arafat might pose something of a problem.

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  17. Not just Missouri, DR, but Independence, Missouri is where the New Jerusalem land.

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  18. Why can't Omlette pay off Arafat's Widow?

    W could present the check, as her Muzzie Security Team secures his watch.

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  19. God is Diversity and Transgender Equality.
    ---
    A little boy asked his father,

    "Dad, is God a man or a woman?"
    His father said,
    "Well, He's neither and He's both."

    The little boy said,
    "Dad, is God black or white?"
    And his father said, "Well, He's both."

    The little boy said,
    "Dad, is God Michael Jackson?"

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  20. The Old Testament
    The New Testament
    The Koran
    The Book of Mormon

    Even Abrahamic monotheisum grows and morphs, so must the United American States.

    United in our diversity and faith in the one true God. Do not be left behind, blinded by Satans' bigotry.

    Or Mr Bush, he may not be able save your soul.

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  21. How stupid is the Bush Adminstration?
    This stupid:
    In the wake of the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip, the United States said Thursday that the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush will now work to prevent the violence from spilling over to the West Bank. The U.S. therefore aims to accelerate the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to allow Abbas to present some achievements.

    Prime Minister Ehud Olmert also intends to tell Bush that Hamas’ coup d’etat must be contained in the Gaza Strip, and not allowed to occur in the West Bank as well, a government official told Haaretz on Thursday.

    The American administration is also interested in improving living conditions in the West Bank to demonstrate to the Palestinians that they are better off under Fatah than Hamas.

    Washington will urge Israel to reconsider loosening its military grip on the West Bank. Israel will also be requested to unfreeze unfreeze the Palestinian tax funds it has been withholding

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  22. Trust your soul to the Bush Team, doug.
    They're worthy custodians

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  23. That'd be southwest Missouri, Rat.

    Gonna have to widen 76 for the Second Coming.

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  24. Mr Bush has more to learn from the Zionists.
    Knowledge feeds the Soul of the Believer:
    ---
    "Addressing the new status quo in Gaza, Israeli security officials said Israel will provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinian civilian population in the Strip if the humanitarian crisis there intensifies, Israel Radio reported Friday.

    The officials said Hamas must decide whether to accept the aid even though it does not recognize Israel.

    The Hamas spokesman in the Gaza Strip, Fawzi Barhoum, told Haaretz on Thursday that the militant group, which seized power in Gaza after violent clashes with Fatah this week, is interested in maintaining contact with Israel so the country can attend to the needs of the civilian population in Gaza.

    Israel supplies electricity and water to the Gaza Strip, and Israeli officials told Israel Radio that the government is also prepared to send food if Hamas were to agree to receive it. "

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  25. Food for the Starving Crusaders in Waziristan!

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  26. Abbas and Fatah have no luck in finding those launch rockets into Israel, but

    "In the meantime, Palestinian Authority security forces, accompanied by Fatah members, have continued the wave of arrests of Hamas members in the West Bank.

    According to estimates, hundreds of Hamas members have already been detained, in an operation launched in Ramallah on Wednesday, which is expected to go on for a few days, as the list of potential detainees contains some 1,500 names of Hamas activists."

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  27. We can all learn from one another!
    Our Diversity is Our Strength:

    U.S. wants to fast-track peace talks
    In the wake of the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip, the United States said Thursday that the Bush administration will now work to prevent the violence from spilling over to the West Bank. To achieve that, Israel may be urged to make concessions in the West Bank, since the United States aims to accelerate the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to allow Abbas to chalk up some political achievements.

    In addition to asking Israel to free the tax funds, Washington is also expected to urge Israel to reconsider loosening its military grip on the West Bank.

    Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is visiting Washington on Tuesday to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush, intends to tell him that Hamas' coup must be contained in the Gaza Strip and not allowed to spread to the West Bank, a government official told Haaretz on Thursday.

    The American administration is also interested in improving living conditions in the West Bank to demonstrate to the Palestinians that they are better off under Fatah than Hamas.
    ---
    Regarding the Iranian threat, Olmert intends to suggest that Bush move to enforce harsher sanctions against the Islamic Republic, beyond those adopted by the UN Security Council.
    Among others, he will propose that Bush halt investment by American pension funds of in companies who deal with Iran, and will also suggest that Bush and like-minded allies bar Iranians from visiting Western countries.

    - Frank Gafney concurs, but depriving pension funds of their rights and liberties is a Draconian cure worse than the disease, according to the Putz in Chief.

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  28. WMD Class Concessions will bring Peace in our Time!

    Stay the Course!

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  29. "Olmert will also suggest that Bush and like-minded allies bar Iranians from visiting Western countries."
    ---
    This Hateful suggestion does not deserve the respect of a response.

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  30. "Food for the Starving Crusaders in Waziristan!"

    Why not?

    Waziristan matters little in the scheme of things.

    I think I read that at Belmont.

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  31. U.S. to continue training Israel’s enemies

    It wasn’t enough that Hamas captured American-made (and paid for) weapons when they pushed Fatah out of Gaza. The Bush Administration is going to continue to train and equip Fatah, even as effort after effort fails, and the weapons (and sometimes trained soldiers) fall into Hamas’ hands.
    ---
    Isn’t it grand to have an administration that never, ever, EVER admits a mistake?
    Because it’s not like American-trained terrorists don’t turn on Israel or anything.
    Oh.
    Wait.
    Yes,
    they do.

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  32. Newsflash:
    Inflation up sharply, but core inflation remains moderate.
    ---
    Core Inflation excludes items such as Food and Energy, which the subjects can easily replace with Cake and home grown alternative fuels.

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  33. China arming terrorists
    New intelligence reveals China is covertly supplying large quantities of small arms and weapons to insurgents in Iraq and the Taliban militia in Afghanistan, through Iran.
    U.S. government appeals to China to check some of the arms shipments in advance were met with stonewalling by Beijing, which insisted it knew nothing about the shipments and asked for additional intelligence on the transfers. The ploy has been used in the past by China to hide its arms-proliferation activities from the United States, according to U.S. officials with access to the intelligence reports.
    Some arms were sent by aircraft directly from Chinese factories to Afghanistan and included large-caliber sniper rifles, millions of rounds of ammunition, rocket-propelled grenades and components for roadside bombs, as well as other small arms.
    The Washington Times reported June 5 that Chinese-made HN-5 anti-aircraft missiles were being used by the Taliban.

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  34. "I was not going to support a piece of legislation that was not going to work.

    There's not going to be a 1986 for me that I voted for a bill that promised amnesty today and law enforcement in the future, and the amnesty occurs and the law enforcement doesn't!
    "

    -- Sen. Jeff Sessions

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  35. Magnanimous in victory:

    Hamas Offers Amnesty to Fatah Leaders
    By DIAA HADID
    The Associated Press
    Friday, June 15, 2007; 8:39 AM


    GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- On its first day of full rule in Gaza, the Islamic militant Hamas on Friday granted amnesty to Fatah leaders, signaling that it seeks conciliation with the defeated forces of moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

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  36. Maui Mover and Shaker does business w/the Chicoms:
    ---
    Blackstone Chief Executive Stephen Schwarzman Made $400 Million

    NEW YORK (AP) - Private-equity powerhouse Blackstone Group LP said Monday that Chief Executive Stephen Schwarzman made $400 million in 2006 — almost double the combined compensation for the CEOs of The highest paid CEO on Wall Street last year was Goldman's Lloyd Blankfein, who made $54 million.Wall Street's five biggest investment banks.

    Schwarzman's compensation easily eclipsed the CEOs of Wall Street's biggest investment banks: Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co., Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., Bear Stearns Cos., and Morgan Stanley.

    In addition, another 9.7 percent will be controlled by the Chinese government as part of a $3 billion investment announced in May.
    Blackstone's management and underwriters will own the rest of the company.

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  37. Amnesty is for EVERYONE!

    We are the World!

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  38. almost double the combined compensation for the CEOs of Wall Street's five biggest investment banks.

    The highest paid CEO on Wall Street last year was Goldman's Lloyd Blankfein, who made $54 million

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  39. That is the concern of the shareholders and partners in the Blackstone Group LP.

    It is only a matter of curiousity and awe, for others.
    If no laws were broken.
    Do not see any claims that there were, laws broken.

    That money will trickle down, all the way to the gardeners and maids. It's all good.

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  40. Looks like the Chinese are emulating successful US tactics and strategies develped in the 1980s, by RR and his Team.

    To bad the US has abandoned those ideas.

    Chaulk up another one for China.

    They are ahead on the learning curve. Lessons learned from the success of others rather than repeating the same failed experiment, again and again, hoping for a new result.

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  41. None Dare Call it Failure!

    A negative learning curve is a learning curve, none the less!

    Stay the Course!
    Look out below!

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  42. Undocumented US Residents will be able to run for Congress, so Congress may better understand daily life in AmeriMexistan.

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  43. Hard fought ammendments will be stripped out in Committee w/the House, resulting in a cleaner Bill, the better to Repair our broken Immigration System.

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  44. Hugh Hewitt has an interesting photo of Baghdad Bob.

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  45. Mr Reid is correct, while the US had taken more caualties, providing "breathing room" for Mr Maliki, none of the Reconciliation that would signal a "successful" outcome to the "Surge" has taken place.

    The success of the strategy is measured politically, not militarily. While it may succeed, some day, it has failed to succeed, to date.

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  46. Night Of The Lott Long Knives?
    Posted by Hugh Hewitt 9:37 AM

    Geez, Senator Lott is really unhappy with "talk radio" and some of his colleagues:


    The Republican whip, Trent Lott of Mississippi, who supports the bill, said:

    “Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with that problem.”

    At some point, Mr. Lott said, Senate Republican leaders may try to rein in “younger guys who are huffing and puffing against the bill.”

    I think that this is a complaint that the old days were more fun for senators, and that the senators especially don't like the new media's ability to inform, inspire and direct public opinion. The end result of Senator Lott's blasts
    (another one here) is to of course further motivate the base because to the reality of a bad bill and past insults is now added a genuine note of dislike
    --which is not the way to build a party.

    It may be that the Times and the Post cherry picked Lott's comments, but Senators McConnell and Kyl have got to take him aside and explain that the base is our friend, that new media isn't going away and that they don't want it to --unless, of course, the GOP would like to leave all media to the left.

    Sorry Hugh, Kyl don't got it in him.

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  47. Those residents are almost all documented, doug, by the United States, of Mexico.

    It is not that they have no documents. The US just does not utilize those offical papers, yet.

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  48. They Got Immigrants Rights, Too!
    ---
    WASHINGTON — Senate leaders, under intense pressure from immigrant-rights groups, the business sector and the White House, agreed Thursday on a plan to revive an immigration bill sidetracked last week by partisan clashes and conservative opposition.

    Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., accepted a plan that paves the way for the bipartisan legislation to return to the Senate floor as early as next week.

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  49. Cannot stop the Peace Train

    Reconciliation in the Americas

    Open your minds

    See the strengths of our diversity.

    Get with the Program, or lose your soul.

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  50. Mexicans and US citizens inter-marry.

    Do not see why, based on that evidence, we all cannot just get along.

    We must reunite families, shattered by the results of 72 years of socialist economics in the Mexican States.
    We must save the Americas, for the good of our souls.

    Do the Hard Thing, brothers, do the Hard Thing.

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  51. Attention US Citizens:

    You are not permitted to travel to Mexico, enter as a tourist and seek gainful employment there. You must have the correct migratory permits to do so before you go.

    Permits are gained from the Mexican Government and are issued to people who are sponsored by companies in Mexico (or foreign companies with Mexican operations / subsidiaries), or by people with specific skills required in Mexico. You can enter Mexico to work for a foreign company provided that you do not receive any remuneration directly from a Mexican company or subsidiary.

    Permits can also be arranged for investors (i.e. setting up your own company), but you'll need to invest 40,000 times the daily minimum salary* in order to qualify. Casual investors (for example, buying stocks on the Mexican Stock Exchange) can also get resident permits, although as with direct investment, you will need to invest the same amount as above.
    *Multiples liable to change without notice

    These mechanisms are in place to ensure that you will not be: a) taking jobs that Mexican nationals could otherwise have and/or; b) ensure that if you don't have an immediate income, you have the means to support yourself without relying on the Mexican State in any way.

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  52. There are few jobs that native born Americans will not do in the Mexican States, there are though, few jobs at all.

    That is why all those Americans come north, to the lands conquered by the Anglos.
    Their historic homelands.
    Refugeed, twice.

    The inhumanity of the injustice, it is an evil we can address.

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