Despite Right Flight, Alternative Reality Syndrom (ARS) is alive and well,, deeply embedded in the inhabitants of the radical conservative polity of Sound Politics, Seattle right wing blog.The following is an example based on on a thread I have had there with Cliff. Over at Sound Politics Without revieweing the total thread, here are a few key points that "Cliff" makes:The issue was my suggestion that there was middle path between Bush;s fiasco and precipitous withdrawal. In a few words, I suggested we needed to rebuild alliances of the interested (no oun on Bush;s misues of the word alliance was intended.
Anyhow, go there if you want to see the whole bizarre thing but just a few excerpts:
The thread included my comment on Ike's decision to extricate the US from the Korean War, I guess I did not understand because Cliff tells me that Eisenhower won the Korean War.
Bush has a strategic goal, the creation of a "a stable, friendly Iraq that isn't a hotbed for terrorists" He says it all the time."
Apparently, based on the above Cliff thinks Iraq used to be hotbed for terrorists? He goes on to say, "Anyhow, we are well on our way to (the goal of a friendly Iraq", and I don't think it will be too long till Iraq resembles, say a young South Korea or perhaps Turkey. Both good allies of ours."
Of course, the Chinese, he says, would not care WHO was at war in Iran or Iraq because the Chinese are immoral. "China has every interest in seeing us fail and seeing the Middle East be given completely over to groups that are not sympathetic to our interests. They would be more then glad to have Iran as a best pal, and thus, an Iraq under Iran's direct influence. It is precisely because they want oil that they want us to fail." Sure! And China is going to sell Mattell toys made with all that oil to Iranians? Oh yeh, and when Iran and Saudi lunch their surrogate war in Iraq, China is going to get its oil from Russia??????? Them dumb Chinese!Of course China is also the evil devil,
Saudi Arabia can not help because he thinks el Qaeda and the Saudi Royals are the same folks and apparently both are friendly to the Iranians.
"Jordan is doing just fine on it's own" Jordan, according to Cliff, is a very peaceful place, the Palestinians have left and there is no tension between the Hashemite rules and the Palestinian people. He is also unware of the role Jordan plays today as an external entity where things can get done because it hyas a functioning government.
Then of curse Cliff is blissfully unaware of the issues on the Turkish/Kurd/Iranan borders. I suggsted we needd to help the Kurds and play a role in stabilizing their relations with Turkey. Cliff's note: "So if you want to save Kurdistan, save the rest of Iraq. Otherwise, it's doing just fine."
And the coda:
"If I didn't think Bush was committed to victory in the WOT, (yes, for all you deniers, that includes Iraq), I'd throw him under the bus so fast it would make your head swim."
I wonder why noone has tried thorazine as a treatment for ARS? The drug works well on paranoid schizophrenia.
2 comments:
For now, just in case thee is anyone not bored with both Cliff and SJm here is my stand:
People on both sides should read the Genera;'s testimony. Petraeus described as TACTICAL priorities: keeping the peace; building on success in Kurdistan, and keeping Iran out. What the General did not say and refused to answer questions about was the nature of the strategic objective.
I doubt Gen Petraeus has gotten a strategic answer from Bush. Indeed, if Cliff is right about Bush's goals, then most of the world is correct. Bush still believes Iraq can emerge as pro-US democracy. If this is Bush's belief, the US' CIC has no meaningful strategy. Iraq is simply nothing like Korea and will not become a new S. Korea in any rational time.
At the same time, there is a foolish polarization going on with the Republicans at least claiming to support Bush. and some Dems advocating a magical withdrawal. This reminds me of the days when Nixon supported Joe NcCarthy,
The right is correct on one thing here. The public does not want to lose. What the GOP needs is the older version of McCain. A candidate who tells the truth about what can be achieved
and what that will cost us.
I recommend that moderates of both parties read the O Hanlon Pollack report. It suggest much of what may be possible, or at least what we should be discussing.
A good way to state this here is in terms that are very much opposed to the stand of MoveOn:
Baghdad. al Rasheed's city makes no sense today. Because of our efforts, the once capital of all Islam, is becoming a Shia enclave in the middle of Sunni Iraq. Between its awkward location, awesome history, and the lack of any sentiment in Ir5aq for a central government, one is tempted to abandon Baghdad BUT that is hard to do because it is now a but a very populous enclave.
I do not know if here is any answer but it does seem that we should at least de-emphasize the role of the central government.
This is where a true regional solution is interesting.
Indian Ocean. This waterway controls a huge part of world oil. Both Iran and India have ambitions to create an Indian Ocean navy. Cliff is right that Iran and China would like us out BUT they also need to fear our ability to shut down the flow of oil. In the short term that threat can be made quietly in trade for Chinese support in bringing peace. In the long term we should support the Indians.
Jordan Jordan is the key to Israel=Palestine=Jordan+Shia Iraq ... four parts of a very interdependent political problem.
The neocons wanted the invasion in part so that Iraq could no longer act as a big brother, threatening the Hashemite and Israel. Oddly, this is the one good thing that has come from Bush;s war .. the Palestinians are now essentially on their own. But, an independent Palestine is not viable financially. So .. strategically we should support Jordan's economic development.
It appears that some sort of peace, Afghani style, can be achieved by a tribal structure. Supposedly there is OIL in Anbar as well. The trick here is how to get the de Baathized tribes to assemble a government. Jordan is already laying some role as a kind of Iraq in exile place where Iraquis can do business, Iraq also has a very good army that might serve with local Sunni to establish an Arab peacekeeping force. This would almost certainly be supported by the Saudis.
If Jordan has the financial meand to support development, their military might serve as the nidus of a peacekeeping effort in Anbar that does no depend on US soldiers. The Saudis will gladly support this.
Our strategy should focus on building up Jordan
Kurdish Iraq Every source I read agrees that the Kurds, beginn9ing form Clinton's supprt for a no fly czone, have developed a true nationalidentity and what looks like a viable state. Maybe even Clff's Korea.
The issue here is that Both Iran and Turkey are afraid of this place. We need to be there to guarantee the Turkish that the Kurds will develop peacefully. It would be interesting to consider creating a base in the area thta might be shared with Kurds and Turks. Someone needs to think out the policy of free Kurdistan vs. Iran.
Only US forces can act as neutral forces to help Kurds and Turls feel safe from each other
Shiahland. Cliff's points here are the same as my own, I think. The issue here is keeping Iran out. The best way to do this is t support the traditonal anti-Farci feelings of the Shia. This may not be as hard as it seems. The Arabs do npt want to be ruled by Iran. Our #1 use of troops should be to keep Iranian support out. Getting the Shiah of some form of local government is harder.
I have not heard any great answers but the goals should be to keep Iran out.
Bottom line: Supporting Mr. Bush is unpatriotic because of exactly the reasons Cliff states
President Eisenhower had been reared as a Jehovah's Witness:
http://jwbookstore.bravehost.com/books/eisenhower.html
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