Saturday, October 18, 2003

Used To Be Worth Reading. I am referring to Andrew Sullivan, of course.  He's basically retreated from the debate, and pretty much just relies on the "well, you're just a damn liberal" defense: From NPR's Morning Edition. The following is the intro. Can anyone - anyone - deny that this is straight from the left-liberal playbook, under the guise of objectivity: Bob Edwards: This is Morning Edition from NPR news. I’m Bob Edwards. Increasingly it seems the Bush Administration’s foreign policy is running into trouble. The post-war picture in Iraq and Afghanistan is highly unstable. The road map to peace in the Middle East is in tatters. There’s growing unease over the possibility that North Korea and Iran are pursuing nuclear weapons. Friends of the United States are not supportive. Overall, the policies of the United States are still very unpopular around the world. The Bush Doctrine, a preference for unilateral military action and a disdain for multinational diplomacy, is under scrutiny more than ever. NPR’s Mike Shuster reports. Cripes.  Why don't we look at them, one by one?  I am not sure I can defend myself against a charge of being under a "guise of objectivity", otherwise... Running into trouble: A reasonable person can say this is true. Post-War Iraq: Unstable -- yes.  This is a natural result of a war and a pissed-off population. Post-War Afghanistan: Does anyone in the Administration still give a crap about Afghanistan?  Not based on troop deployments or public opinion, they don't.  Bad situation getting worse.  Road Map to Peace: In tatters; You Betcha.  Or is there some miracle going on over there that nobody knows about? Unease over Nukes: Can you seriously say that nukes in the hands of North Korea (vicious dictatorship) or Iran (nasty theocracy) are not worriesome? Friends of the US are not supportive: Sure, France, Germany, etc. etc. are supportive...in the eyes of GOP spokesmen. Unpopular policies: Just read the media around the world.  Or, better still, try talking to them to find out how they feel, which is something a certain percentage of the population in this country couldn't be bothered to do. Preference for unilateral military action: The war in Iraq is exactly that.  Not to mention the war in Afghanistan.  In other words, the statements are factually correct, and arguable only in their degree.  What Andrew is really upset about is the very first sentence: The words "running into trouble".  I guess he doesn't think the media should be able to draw mean conclusions like that...those words trigger his accusations.  What follows them, fact, fiction, or opinion, doesn't matter to him.  Remember it whenever you read that kind of crap. 11:19:33 PM     | comment [] | trackback []

My Mendacity. I wrote: "It is demeaning to the memories of millions who died in the Great Wars to compare those wars' effect on history, lives, and civilization to Bush's private little war of political change.".  RDB wrote: "Probably the most clear example of the mendacity of Bush's opponents that I have seen to date. To encapsulate so much ignorance in so few words is the work of a savant. My compliments." Dear RDB: Call me a liar?  You are a dick.  Plain and simple.  "Bush's Private Little War of Political Change": Bush: He is the guy in charge, in case you hadn't noticed. Private: The publicly stated reasons for the war (WMD, terrorism) are not the real ones. Little: There's little in the way of combat, death, or anything much else.  Except dollars, of course.  Please see any text on World War I or II, if you'd like to see an example of a large war. War: We attacked them with military force.  We occupy the country. Political: There was no immininent threat from Iraq, and no military threat.  Terrorism is a social crime, not a military threat. Change: The regime change in Iraq is an attempt to change the region for the better.  The merits of this approach are quite debatable, even as the goals are admirable. Feel free to expand your post to something beyond "you are a liar, Ross".  Pick a word, any word, and disagree.  Otherwise, crawl back into your hole.  Close the lid (tightly, like a bug jar). 10:44:53 PM     | comment [] | trackback []