A blogger from The Dis Brimstone Daily (Clark Clifford), wrote a post in response to a Washington Post article about the President's policy in Iraq, and also featured a list of questions I wrote as part of the post entitled "They Voted Against Victory" back in June, in response to the house vote on Resolution 861. The questions I wrote were directed at Democrats who ascribe to the party's cut and run strategy in Iraq and elsewhere. The blogger at Dis Brimstone provided answers to those questions based on his own world view.
I'm going to list the questions from my previous post along with his answers and rebut each one for the sake of clarity.
Question:
How they [the Democratic party] plan to protect American citizens around the World when the Islamo-fascists, emboldened by our defeat in Iraq, take the initiative and step up their efforts?
Clifford's answer:
With the same robust application of the CIA and FBI as is being done today.
My response:
The robust application of the CIA and FBI is currently being made possible by the USA Patriot Act. Neither agency was nearly robust enough prior to 9/11. Moreover, the effort to strike down the Patriot Act has been lead by the Democratic Party. One of the country's top ranking Democrats was even publicly quoted as saying "We killed the Patriot Act" during a Democrat-lead effort to filibuster a proposal to extend it.
Questions:
How they plan to protect American families when the terrorists in Iraq follow our troops home? How they plan to deal with a depressed economy that will surely follow a defeat in Iraq?
Clifford's answer:
I highly doubt if the democrats will disband ICE or open the US border to waves of undocumented immigrants that is unless they float to Florida from Cuba.
My Response:
I would agree with your assessment. However, what worries me is that both political parties, especially the democrats, view new immigrants (legal or illegal) as a future, or in some cases a current, voting block.
Having our soldiers engaging Jihadist's in their own neighborhood in the middle east and elsewhere instead of chasing them through the streets of New York City or Detroit seems to make strategic sense.
Question:
If the going gets tougher in Afghanistan, and by all indications it will, how quickly will they withdraw troops from that country?
Clifford's answer:
Afghanistan is only the city of kabul the rest is literally a vast amalgamation of territory held by warlords. The nation looks more like Somalia than Iraq.
My Response:
This has to be one of the most short-sighted explanations I've ever heard with regards to Afghanistan. The fact is, there are many populated cities with strategic military importance in Afghanistan. Ahmed Shah Massoud (a.k.a the Lion of Panjshir), the leader of the Afghan rebel fighters who played a significant role in driving the Soviets from Afghanistan in the 1980's, was able to do so from bases in cities and towns north of Kabul.
The other major problem the U.S. and it's allies will soon face is a major counter-attack by the Taliban and al-Qaeda allied fighters. These groups have largely retreated to neighboring Pakistan where they have been rearming and recruiting for the past several years.
Question:
How they plan to defend the country against a nuclear armed Iran once the Iranians realize America doesn't keep its promises?
Clifford's answer:
Simple, it cannot. And that is due to a stubborn willfulness on the part of the current administration. If America would talk to Iran directly through back channels much of this could be resolved. The current administration is perfectly happy not having dialogue with Iran or Syria for its own reasons.
My Response:
The current administration is probably communicating with Iran through various diplomatic channels. You and I may never know the extent to which these two countries communicate. However, the threat from Iran is very real. Ordinary people there are terrified of their leaders and very fearful that they may actually follow through on their threats to "wipe Israel off the map". So far, the democrats have criticized the current administration for not "talking" to Iranian leaders. But they have yet to reveal a real plan and their own track record in dealing with countries like Iran and North Korea simply stinks.
Question:
How they plan to deal with a re-armed Libya and the extremist takeover of the government in Pakistan?
Clifford's answer:
While Libya as long a Qadaffi is in power [sic] is little threat a fundamentalist Pakistan is a greater nightmare than a nuclear Iran. Fortunately, India is sitting right there as quite the deterrent.
My Response:
I would agree with this statement. A radicalized Pakistani government is a real threat. But to simply suggest that India would deter that threat is naïve at best. You can't rely on another nation to protect your own national security. India has an extremely large Muslim population so they have many other interests to balance.
Question:
How they’ll sleep at night knowing that Iraqi civilians are being slaughtered by anti–government Sunni Arabs in retaliation for cooperating with the coalition, as had happened to the Shia after the first Gulf war?
Clifford's answer:
I know this blogger wished he had never put this on his site. Because this is exactly what is happening on Bush's watch with control of Congress in the hands of the GOP. That question is better directed at Rumsfeld, Cheney, Rove, Rice, and the POTUS.
My Response:
Clifford is correct, I was premature in writing that the Sunni Arabs would retaliate against the Shia as had happened after the first Gulf war. It would actually be the Shia that engages in mass-retaliation if U.S. troops left too soon. As for whether Bush et al are to blame? I disagree. The Iraqi's are not a bunch of simple-minded children. They will decide if and when, and to what extent they engage in violence against one another.
Posted on:
August 25, 2006 , by
newyank • Trackback
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Below is a snippet taken from Senator Bill Frist's email campaign to collect signatures for a petition to confirm John Bolton as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations:
We need John Bolton's leadership at the United Nations. Unfortunately, his recess appointment expires in January of next year… so we must act now to confirm him permanently. I'm dedicated to giving Ambassador Bolton the up-or-down vote that he was denied by Democrat obstruction.
If you think his nomination deserves a fair up-or-down vote and if you agree with his mission of cleaning up the U.N., then I urge you to join me in supporting John Bolton's confirmation as our Ambassador to the United Nations by signing this digital petition.
» Sign the Petition «
Posted on:
August 25, 2006 , by
newyank • Trackback
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This is another follow up post to "Today is the Era of Thoughts, Dialogue, and Cultural Exchanges".
Via Bloomberg:
Iranian military forces handed back control of an oil rig seized yesterday in the Persian Gulf to its Romanian owners, a company official said.
"We have contact with the rig and the Iranians have now gone," said Radu Petrescu, spokesman for Grup Servicii Petroliere (GSP), the Romanian owners of the platform, named Orizont, in a phone interview from Bucharest today.
The Romanian company was in the process of removing the rig from Iranian waters because of a contractual dispute with its client Oriental Oil Kish when it was fired on and boarded yesterday, the spokesman said.
Complete article: Iran Hands Gulf Rig Back to Driller Amid Contract Dispute
Posted on:
August 24, 2006 , by
newyank • Trackback
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Amid growing concerns about human rights violations in Iran, a very interesting insight from IranPressNews surfaces. It would seem that a number of Iranian citizens are upset by the fact that their own government chose to supply financial aid to Hezbollah terrorists rather than provide aid where it is badly needed in Iran.
Via IranPressNews:
Iranians Upset at Government's Financial Aid to Hezbollah in Lebanon
London, Asharq Al-Awsat- The Iranian government's pledge of 500 million dollars to Hezbollah has angered many Iranians who say they are still awaiting money to help rebuild their homes that were damaged by wars and natural disasters, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The anger is particularly fierce in the Khuzestan district, which sustained severe damage during the Iran-Iraq war, and in Bam, which was hit hard by an earthquake three years ago.
Hezbollah is reportedly handing out wads of cash to residents of southern Lebanon to help rebuild their homes. The money is thought to originate from Tehran, but Iran is downplaying allegations that it has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Lebanon.
Spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Hamid Reza Asefi, said on Sunday that Iran was examining ways to help Lebanon, but added that “nothing has been decided yet.”
“Informed sources” told Asharq Al-Awsat that spontaneous demonstrations were staged in Bam and in Khuzestan on Friday as protesters shouted slogans critical of Hezbollah and the government. They were demanding their homes be rebuilt instead of the government intervening in Lebanese affairs.
Full story: Iranians Upset at Government's Financial Aid to Hezbollah in Lebanon
Posted on:
August 24, 2006 , by
newyank • Trackback
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This according to Reuters:
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. authorities have arrested a New York man for broadcasting Hizbollah television station al-Manar, which has been designated a terrorist entity by the U.S. Treasury Department, prosecutors said on Thursday.
Javed Iqbal, 42, was arrested on Wednesday because his Brooklyn-based company HDTV Ltd. was providing New York-area customers with the Hizbollah-operated channel, federal prosecutors said in a statement.
Full story: New Yorker arrested for broadcasting Hizbollah TV
Posted on:
August 24, 2006 , by
newyank • Trackback
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This is a follow up to my post, "Today is the Era of Thoughts, Dialogue, and Cultural Exchanges", on August 22nd, regarding the Iranian attack on a Romanian oil rig owned and operated by Grup Servicii Petroliere in the Persian Gulf.
GSP's Oil Rig in the Persian Gulf
From Gulfnews.com:
Abu Dhabi: Romania's Grup Servicii Petroliere yesterday said its offshore drilling rig in Iran came under military attack and all communication lines with its crew have been cut.
GSP president Gabriel Comanescu has accused Iran of violating all international norms and said Romania would leave no stone unturned to recover the rig.
"The rig, Orizont, is now under the control of Iran's military troops that arrived in a military ship and opened fire. The radio operation room is controlled by the military troops," he told Gulf News.
Comanescu said GSP has lodged an official complaint at the Romanian Embassy in Iran against the use of military force.
The Orizont has been moored near Kish island since October 2005.
"We are unaware of any injuries or deaths because we have lost contact with our crew," he said. "The Romanian President's office is now involved and is talking to Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and we are doing our best to ensure the safety of our rig and the workers held hostage."
Some 25 Romanian and 10 Indian workers are on board the 13,000-tonne Orizont rig. "We have informed the Oil Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, Foreign Relations Committee, and Energy Committee of Iranian Parliament that failure to intervene will lead to serious dent on the reputation of Iran," Comanescu added.
The Charge d'Affairs at the Iranian Embassy in Abu Dhabi said they were aware of the Romanian rig controversy and are awaiting information. "This problem is not related to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but we have asked the ministry for information on this."
GSP had two rigs operating near the Iranian coast. It was in Iranian courts earlier this year over a contract dispute involving another oil rig, Fortuna.
Full story: Romania's GSP vows to recover oil rig from Iran
Posted on:
August 24, 2006 , by
newyank • Trackback
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1 Comment • .
John Hawkins of Human Events Online writes a very good article, entitled "Putting Iraq Into Its Proper Perspective", that does just that—puts the Iraq war into perspective. A view that many of our leaders seemingly fail to see. The media too, fails miserably to broadcast events in Iraq in the proper context. John's article is definitely worth the read.
Posted on:
August 23, 2006 , by
newyank • Trackback
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Domestic Politics, International, Iraqi Freedom . •
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With congressional and senatorial elections looming, and being a resident of New York state, I thought I'd take a few minutes to post a couple of links to lists of "pork-barrel" earmark spending projects covertly paid for using my tax dollars and a rather large portion of the hard-earned money every other NYS resident makes:
Posted on:
August 23, 2006 , by
newyank • Trackback
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