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 We Got Lucky on ChristmasPosted on Dec 29, 2009
Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano’s initial assessment of the Christmas Day airliner attack—that “the system worked”—doesn’t quite match the absurdity of “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job.” But only because she quickly took it back. A system that allows a man identified to U.S. officials as a potential threat—by his own concerned father—to board a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit with powerful explosives sewn into his underwear? That lets this man detonate his bomb as the plane prepares to land, igniting a potentially catastrophic fire? That depends on a young, athletic passenger to be seated nearby? That counts on this accidental hero to react quickly enough to thwart the terrorist’s plans? If that’s how the system works, we need a new system. Don’t misunderstand. I’m not blaming the Obama administration for Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s alleged terrorist attack, and it would be reprehensible for anyone to try to use the incident to score political points. The White House is guilty only of defensiveness in not immediately recognizing the obvious: We have a problem. Actually, we have two problems. The first is that the Abdulmutallab incident reveals serious deficiencies in the “system” that Napolitano and others were so quick to defend. At this point, no one can doubt that civilian aviation remains a major target of al-Qaida, affiliated groups and wannabe imitators. Most of us are under the impression that removing our shoes at the airport and limiting ourselves to those tiny, trial-size containers of toothpaste, shaving cream and lotion are enough to ensure a safe flight. For passengers on Northwest Flight 253, this was not the case. Advertisement In this instance, however, the system seems to have malfunctioned well before Abdulmutallab reached Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Abdulmutallab’s father, wealthy Nigerian banker Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, had warned U.S. and Nigerian authorities about his son’s increasing radicalization—information that led U.S. officials to put Abdulmutallab’s name on a watch list, along with more than 500,000 other names, but not to revoke his multiple-entry visa or keep him off a Detroit-bound jetliner. It is an ordeal for anyone from the developing world to obtain a visa to enter the United States. We already turn away multitudes. It will be no small task, but the system needs to be re-engineered to let the right people in and keep the dangerous people out. When Abdulmutallab allegedly set his lap on fire, there were no air marshals on board to handle the situation. I realize it is not possible to provide an armed federal escort for every single flight. But whatever algorithm officials use to determine which flights get marshals evidently needs improvement. The second problem we face is much bigger, and there is no real solution in sight. According to reports of Abdulmutallab’s statements to authorities after his arrest, he claims to have gotten the bomb—and instruction on how and when to use it—from al-Qaida operatives in Yemen. As noted previously in this space, and illustrated by a sobering report Monday in The Washington Post, Yemen features prominently in al-Qaida’s expansion plans. Abdulmutallab’s story suggests that an infrastructure for indoctrination, training and bomb-making is already in place and that this ambitious young branch of al-Qaida is confident enough in its abilities to launch an attack on what the George W. Bush administration infelicitously called the “homeland.” Our enemy apparently sees its future in places such as Yemen—or perhaps Somalia, a failed state for almost two decades, where militant fundamentalist Islam is on the march. The enemy’s leadership is believed to be ensconced in remote areas of Pakistan, beyond the government’s reach. Yet the United States will soon have about 100,000 troops chasing shadows in Afghanistan, where al-Qaida’s presence is now minimal. I understand and appreciate the fear that if the Taliban were to take power again, it could invite al-Qaida back into Afghanistan to set up shop. But I can’t escape the uneasy feeling that we’re fighting, and escalating, the last war—while the enemy fights the next one. Eugene Robinson’s e-mail address is eugenerobinson(at)washpost.com. 
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By mandinka, December 30, 2009 at 11:50 pm Link to this comment
Too bad eugene failed to point out we have given $10’s of billions to cities and states for terrorism prevention and its rotting in warehouses.
Report thisThe US has a right to prevent itself from being attacked from anywhere in the world. If that means preemptive strikes in Yemen or Iran then that’s just fine. Maybe then countries and the terrorists will understand that their actions cause reactions. Enough of this we needs the UN’s permission what utter bloviating!!
Hilary and Janet should submit their resignations so that barak can get someone in his cabinet that isn’t there as a diversity appointment. W would be man enough to come back and give him the advise he sorely needs
By TAO Walker, December 30, 2009 at 11:49 pm Link to this comment
Rob’s “just-us-chickens” allegory is both apt and entertaining. What he leaves out, though, is that there is no shortage whatsoever of allamericanegglayers, so a few or even a few thousands snatched-up by hungry ghosts is well-worth it to keep the rest mutely grateful for the massive already-in-place armed “security” establishment that’s about all there is left of the preternaturally stupid allamericaneconomy.
What’s more, the kinds of commonsensical arrangements Ron recommends never become the open-ended profit-centers demanded by militarist imperialism. Besides, the real “threats” are already inside the fear-ruled CONfinement area called these days “the homeland.” They’re the ones with all the hardware.
HokaHey!
Report thisBy dihey, December 30, 2009 at 9:00 pm Link to this comment
Mr. Robinson should have pointed out that 300,000 ‘whole body scanners’ can be bought and installed all around the world if Mr. Obama would stop sending 30,000 soldiers to Afghanistan and use the 30 billion per year to purchase these machines.
Report thisBy Rob, December 30, 2009 at 6:57 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
As a metaphor for our problems with airport security and the obvious lack of an effective means of deterring terrorist attacks, I would like to mention some of the problems of keeping a backyard flock of chickens. (I have to confess that I’m not particularly well versed in the niceties of airport security, but I can speak with the authority of considerable experience on the subject of chickens.)
If you let your chickens run freely around your backyard, you will discover that it has several attractive qualities—for the chickens it means unlimited access to delicious bugs and fresh air; for you, it’s cheap and easy. As a system for caring for chickens, however, it has a very serious drawback: predators. You may have had no idea that there were coyotes living in your neighborhood, but the coyotes know all about you, and when your chickens are available, they will surely invite themselves in for supper.
There are really only a couple of things you can do about this situation. One is that you can use it as an excuse to buy the new shotgun that your wife always believed was foolish, extravagant and unnecessary. Then you can look forward to constant vigilance and sleepless nights as you wait for your enemies to appear, but sooner or later, you will drop your guard, and… then you will find merely a handful of loose feathers on the ground and a dying squawk lingering in the air where once there was a fat hen. All that energy and a $500 shotgun in a wasted effort to protect $50 worth of chickens. That is the most likely outcome.
Less likely is that you succeed in whacking a meaningful number of coyotes. Even if you were successful beyond your wildest hopes, and you managed to kill all the coyotes (leave one alive, and your chickens are still in danger), it would be a Pyrrhic victory. If you eliminate the coyotes, the raccoons will show up. Eliminate the raccoons, and you end up feeding some stray dogs—there’s always something hungry out there waiting for you to get distracted.
Fortunately, there’s a better way—spend a hundred bucks on a good fence. Then your chickens are safe, day and night, without your constant attention. You don’t get that new shotgun that you have been lusting for, but it’s cheaper, and it works a lot better.
It seems obvious that America has spent so much of its money on a new shotgun and so many of its commitments on shooting predators that not enough is left for a quality fence. Furthermore, the chicken fancier who, with all his heart, has staked his reputation on an expensive shotgun will be loath to admit that something as mundane as a fence will better serve his purposes. Which is a great pity. Despite the abundant, delicious eggs that we chickens give to our keepers in payment for our care, the fence that stands between us and the shadows beyond our sunlit chicken yard is plainly a flimsy affair, rent with gaping holes. And there, lurking unseen in the shadows, are hungry creatures with long, sharp teeth.
Report thisBy Matthew Rogers, December 30, 2009 at 6:11 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Gloria Picchetti, how about rather than EITHER Orwellian full body scanners or
wars of aggression, we mind our own business, and work for justice and
sustainability here in the U.S.? With people no longer angry at us for interfering
in their cultures through occupation and covert actions, and by dropping support
for the murdering land thieves in Israel, we could free up hundreds of billions a
year now spend on the military for single payer health care, research on post
fossil fuel energy sources, and rebuilding our decaying inner cities, leading to a
lower carbon footprint, more productive jobs for our unemployed, paying down
the debt, and less paranoia and fear mongering by both corporate sock puppet
political parties and the MSM which TD writer Eugene Robinson sadly seems to be
a part of.
Well one can dream and float a vision of the future to strive for, right?
Report thisBy Spooky-43, December 30, 2009 at 5:55 pm Link to this comment
“Accuracy By Volume”
Americans have to rely on luck. It is all they have going for them.
They have no will, they have no unifying ideology, and they are broke.
THE PLAN, instigated by Stalin back in the 30’s was masterful, continuing to work even after his death and the breakup of the USSR. It was like an apple tree - plant it and it yields fruit indefinitely.
It continues to work today in the Gramscian theories of ideological psych ops, planted decades ago by Stalinist intellectuals and echoed consistently
by the America-hating far-left, who have stolen the Democratic party from the working man.
If America could have had a transparent government back then, Venona documenets would have proven that McCarthy was right, and the nation could possibly have averted much of this trouble which is coming.
And now, after all these years America is ripe and ready. The question is whether she will be better off under Chinese tyranny or Islamic extremist tyranny. If I were an atheist, I would be rooting for the Chinese.
Report thisBy Gloria Picchetti, December 30, 2009 at 12:13 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Instead of the war with Iraq, a country that had nothing to do with 9/11, why didn’t the Bush administration invest in body scanners & using the National Guard at both coasts & both borders?
Report thisI love the personal privacy objections to the body scanners. What is the alternative? “Please put your shoes & your panties in the bin.”
By jakiner, December 30, 2009 at 11:42 am Link to this comment
Kudos to the guys that make body scanners
Report thisBy MaxShields, December 30, 2009 at 11:26 am Link to this comment
wildflower
Ever heard of “manufactured consent”? May have more to do with that “attitude” or “immaturity” than, well you seem to give credit.
But look however the empire rules over its people, the end is a coming, and we have some choices.
I suspect you aren’t one of those “immature Americans”; so now what?
Report thisBy doublestandards/glasshouses, December 30, 2009 at 3:51 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
The young man’s father contacted the US embassy with
Report thishis concerns about him but the info was never passed
on to the proper authorities. It goes to show that
there really isn’t much defense against terrorism
because there is too much room for human error. 9/11
was a text book case in Murphy’s Law. There must be
limits to airport security overload. If there aren’t
it will get to the point where people will have to
show up a day early or fly without any carry-ons at
all. Life is a dangerous proposition. 90,000 people
per year are afflicted with staff infections in
hospitals, and most of them die. Thousands of people
die every year on our highways. Thousands die in
airplane crashes. Thousands are murdered with hand
guns. Thousands die in fires, floods, hurricanes,
tornadoes, earth quakes…
By wildflower, December 29, 2009 at 8:23 pm Link to this comment
Re doublestandards/glasshouses: “If they don’t care that we don’t have decent health ?care and that tens of thousands die each year for ?lack of it, why . . . do they care if a few of us ?get killed by terrorists? Apparently it is just an ?excuse for keeping the pentagon budget in the ?stratosphere.”
Must admit I’ve been thinking a lot about this myself recently. I can’t remember exactly when I first came to the realization that such cold-hearted inconstancies existed, but I believe it was around the time that Bush/Cheney invaded Iraq. Since then, I’ve noted one blatant inconsistency after another.
With Democrats, the inconstancies seem to vary from one individual to another, but with Republicans it appears to be an unanimous across the board mindset. The only time they become animated and talk about the need for preemptive action is when they are planning another preemptive war. With everything else that matters to the public along with the security of our Nation, it’s always the same:
No preemptive healthcare system to save the lives of our citizens
No preemptive planning to deal with global warming and the future of our planet
No preemptive regulations to protect investors from theft and corruption
No preemptive planning to secure employment for our citizens
No preemptive laws to protect citizens from contaminated air, food and water.
No preemptive regulations to protect consumers from deceptive financial products
No preemptive planning to adequately maintain America’s roads and bridges
Report thisBy gerard, December 29, 2009 at 6:49 pm Link to this comment
How about this: Stop the shooting for half a minute and study what “fundamentalism” is and why people who otherwise appear to be “normal” may go for “fundaentalism”, self-destruction and the destructioi of others whom they regard as “demons.”
This psychic sickness is not only affecting some Muslims. It’s loose in other cultures as well. What is it? Why is it occurring? What are the anti-dotes or cures? Read books like “Three Cups of Tea” which, instead of tanking up on fear and loathing, set about discovering how to effect life-supporting changes that free people from fanaticism by offering something better than war and death.
We haven’t even made a beginning, and it’s been how long—nine years of doing nothng productive —while billions are still being wasted on ferocious lonely campaigns to “kill” them, with the net result of increasing their ranks.
It’s an idea, folks, and you can’t kill ideas. You can only overcome them with better ideas, better behavior, better understanding.
When will we awake from this Bush=created, self-perpetuating nightmare and get smart?
Report thisBy tony_opmoc, December 29, 2009 at 4:59 pm Link to this comment
A few airports in certain parts of the World still have smoking rooms, yet rigorously check all your luggage for cigarette lighters and remove them if found.
But you can of course buy a cigarette lighter in duty free…
Most airports thought - well this is silly, but the sillyness was such that no you can’t buy a cigarette lighter - but you can have as many “safety matches” as you like…
So if you are a smoker, the chances are in over 99% of flights you will be allowed - either a cigarette lighter - or potentially - even more dangerous safety matches…
And also in Duty Free in Most parts of the World, once you have had your bottles of water removed, you can openly buy extremely high alcohol content brandy and vodka…
If you really want to - you can set your pants on fire in an aircraft - producing exactly the same flair effect as this Nigerian Son of a Former Government Minister and CEO of a Bank…
Not only that, if you are blonde, beautiful and completely fly-away in your fairy way of wanting to buy “pretty things” in duty free - where you have to show your boarding card to buy even a bottle of extremely expensive water - and lose your boarding card….
You can get away with me screaming at my wife “You Stupid Cow”...
and so she tries to pass off - at the next level of security - an earlier boarding card…
And they say - No that is the wrong one…
So we sneak back and I say - shut up - and don’t say a word…
We try again and go through together with a huddle - with her hiding behind me. I am a fat bastard - she is really slim…
So we get to the tarmac - and actually get on the aircraft - one of the last ones on…
And he says - where is your boarding card - and our kids are already in their seats….
And I say - the stupid cow has lost it…
He says she can’t have lost it…
I say - it maybe in her bag - or maybe the kids have it…
So he says - well show it to me later…
Otherwise - I would have left her the other side of the World….
Now - we will stay at home
I got robbed of all my money the last time on the way to the airport
Its too much trouble
Blackpool here we come
Tony
Report thisBy Beer Doc, December 29, 2009 at 3:51 pm Link to this comment
A recent article by Robert Fisk pointed out the western folly of assuming that much of the world believes in moving towards democratic reforms. This is certainly true of recent events in Iran, which prompted President Obama to pop off about U.S. support for freedom loving-seeking people around the world. Which is remarkable when you consider that the people of Iran have endured decades of repressive government. First with the U.S. installed Shah, and then the Shia fundamentalist madness they have had to deal with since 1979.
Report thisBut Fisk’s greater point is that in the west, leaders can indulge in democratic fantasy, but elsewhere people already know that power and the force that goes with it, seeks to maintain its supreme position by whatever brutal means necessary.
So the contradictions inherent in Obama’s outrage are very jarring. Assuming the war-on-terror mantle, the President chooses to terrorize people in far away countries, which actually serves as an anti-U.S. recruiting tool. As the late poet Allen Ginsburg said: “They say Saddam has a bomb. so George Bush has got to bomb”... the kind of circular non-thinking that President Obama embraces now. The question is: Does he really believe this shit? Or is he the most cynical mofo to recently come down the pike?
By tony_opmoc, December 29, 2009 at 3:44 pm Link to this comment
Whilst, it is possible that this story has been accurately reported, the reaction to it is totally ridiculous. People simply will not put up with regular examination of their most intimate orifices, nor having the use of such orifices barred for significant periods whilst in flight, nor from being prevented from reading a book.
Any such attempts will result in either the complete destruction of the normal airline industry or extremely messy and smelly aircraft. Perhaps they can put straw on the floor instead?
The entire obsession with aircraft security in response to such terrorist attacks - even if genuine - does absolutely nothing to improve aircraft security. It is a complete illusion. Having a dog sniffing Granny’s bum for plastic explosives will not make the aircraft any safer. A real terrorist who is serious, will be sufficiently intelligent to bypass such outrages. He would for example, apply for a job in baggage security - or become an aircraft cleaner - amd do a good job for months until he had gained the trust of his fellow employees. Such people - and there are many thousands at every major airport, do not go through the same security checks as Granny who just wants to see her family at Christmas or go on holiday.
The real motivation, behind this lunacy appears to intimidate and control people who want to travel in aircraft legitimately. It is showing them - who the boss is - and humiliating them to accept even more draconian controls.
Check out the Power of Nightmares to finally realise who the real terrorists are. Its not idiots who set their own pants on fire.
There is nothing particularly special about aircraft with regards to the threat they pose to human life. Schools, Hospitals, Container Ships, Oil, Gas & Chemical Storage Plants, Water and Food supplies offer far more potential to people who want to do dastardly things.
We have got to take all this crap because of 9/11, yet even the 9/11 commission themselves said that the story that they produced was simply not true. Until we investigate and find out who the real terrorists are, then things will continue to get worse, and ordinary completely honest people will continue to be humiliated for simply wanting to travel.
Tony
Report thisBy Matt Rogers, December 29, 2009 at 3:25 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Montanawildhack is right, this is 100% war mongering pro police state dribble. If I wanted the perspective of the military industrial complex on things I’d tune in to Fox “news.” Only non interference in Muslim cultures and dropping support of the odious Israel will give us true security. Locking down the U.S. like 1984 and chasing the terrorists (who can hide anywhere) around the world is a non starter strategy wise.
And BTW although I am a pro choice, anti clear cutting, pro gay rights lefty I would also add that Pat Buchanan has been opposing U.S. interventionism for years, although I disagree with him vehemently on immigration and the culture war his writings on foreign policy in The American Conservative ( amconmag.com ) are excellently anti empire. As are the writings at the Libertarian oriented antiwar.com Only by the anti authoritarian left uniting with the Libertarian and paleo-con right as a grass roots populist movement can we defeat state centrlist militarist imperialists IMO.
Report thisBy Tex Shelters, December 29, 2009 at 2:47 pm Link to this comment
The idea that body screening will solve our “terrorist” problem is troublesome as others have pointed out. The first thing we can do to reduce terrorism is to stop using and supporting terrorism ourselves in the world.
But my questions are: How is sending more troops into Afghanistan going to stop terrorism? Won’t it just increase the pool of terrorist recruits?
I think you know the answers.
Peace,
Report thisTex Shelters
By DaveZx3, December 29, 2009 at 2:22 pm Link to this comment
America has no idea what it is doing in this so-called War on Terror.
First of all, as I stated in another thread, War on Terror is an oxymoron. Terror is an extremely effective tactic of war, and in that sense, IT IS WAR. So we are fighting a WAR on WAR???
This is the type of double-speak that politically correct and gutless American politicians use so as not to offend anyone. We wouldn’t want to offend the people who are trying to kill us would we? They might not like us anymore.
This enemy knows no borders. They are the first enemy to operate training camps right on American soil. The goal of Islam, according to the Q’uran, is the eradication of anti-Allah ideologies, such as Paganism, Atheism, Christianity, Judaism, etc., or at least tax the hell out of them and bring them into subjection. Though 99% of the Muslim population operate peacefully with little or no proselytizing, the vanguard take up the slack.
The extremist organizations like Al Qaeda are the vanguard. But extremism can pop up anywhere at anytime. Any website, any mosque, any church, any temple, any military unit, any organization can generate an extremist of any sort, who can act unilaterally or join up via the internet with the like-minded, such as Maj Hassan did with his old buddy, when he decided to go extreme.
This is early 21st century warfare, a few steps ahead of the guerilla warfare of the late 20th century. Though it was started ages ago, it will reach its most popular peak in the 21st century.
It has not yet been formally named, but the correct name is “ideological” warfare.
Quit calling it terror, all war is terror. Quit calling it crime. Criminals commit crime for the purpose of getting rich. This enemy we have today fights war over ideologies, not territorial acquisition, not resource acquisition, but ideology. It does not attempt to save its citizens, but will murder them as well for the sake of the ideology. Suicide bombers, IED’s, etc, kill all in the way. This is a war of ideology, nothing else. IDEOLOGICAL WARFARE.
America is helpless against this war. Not understanding how to fight it, not even having the will to fight it, the citizens have grown jaded in their self-indulgent freedoms. They have no idea how hard it is to protect a free society.
America has no coherent ideology to rally around anymore. So many people hate America that Americanism is dead, Capitalism is dead, Christianity is dead, the Constitution is probably dead. Freedom is the only candidate left, but that is a subjective term, and America is so divided, they might not be able to agree what it is. When I say these things are “dead” I mean that they have lost any power to be a rallying cry for America, I don’t mean literally dead. If anything, they are polarizing features.
So, perhaps it is better to pay the “people of the book” tax rather than getting your head lopped off for being a pagan. So, I bought my wife a couple of burquas for Xmas, but she was not amused.
Report thisBy freepressmyass, December 29, 2009 at 1:21 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Montanawildhack,
You’re spot on it.
Since I don’t believe anything the Pentagon or DHS says, I refuse to simply accept this story. I’m not convinced.
Our media is full blown propaganda. This shit is real easy to fabricate and everyone runs with it. Nobody ever questions anything anymore.
They (US military) killed over twenty school girls in Yemen last week. La Bomba needed some cover and this just might be the ticket…
as we edge into Africe to pillage for their corporate paymasters.
Report thisBy letmegetthisstraight, December 29, 2009 at 1:01 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Let me get this straight, so Abdulmutallab packed a condom with powdered medical nitroglycerin and then tried to inject a fluid into the condom underneath a blanket??? So now they won’t let passengers cover their laps with blankets, because you just can’t know what they may be doing under those blankets?? God, you can’t make this drivel up.
Only the stupidest, most ignorant morons could possibly believe this media stunt designed to frighten little American children. Maybe the flying saucer dad thought it up.
But it could have brought down the plane!!! Sure, if you can’t wipe your own ass you might believe that.
Report thisBy thecrow, December 29, 2009 at 12:42 pm Link to this comment
“Our enemy apparently sees its future in places such as Yemen—or perhaps Somalia”
Or perhaps the Niger delta. Yes, Mr. Robinson, “our enemy” sees the world as its oyster.
http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2009/12/28/let-the-right-one-in/
Report thisBy doublestandards/glasshouses, December 29, 2009 at 12:07 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
If they don’t care that we don’t have decent health
Report thiscare and that tens of thousands die each year for
lack of it, why the f**k do they care if a few of us
get killed by terrorists? Apparently it is just an
excuse for keeping the pentagon budget in the
stratosphere. Terrorists would have to blow up more
than 100 planes in the US every year to come close to
the number who die here each year for lack of medical
treatment. Failing to “promote the general welfare”
- I should say ignoring the general welfare - becomes
a form of terrorism under these conditions.
By Go Right Young Man, December 29, 2009 at 11:39 am Link to this comment
Beer Doc,
I will admit my pettiness. I do so much enjoy hearing President Obama sounding like George Bush and Dick Cheney. It completely and resoundingly puts to rest the notion of the mythical evil Neo-Con cabal in the White House so many have gone on and on about for almost a decade. This belief in an evil cartoon character is an truly odd phenomena.
I also smile to myself when considering that it’s President Obama who is the true Neo (new) Conservative in these issues.
Report thisBy Howie Bledsoe, December 29, 2009 at 11:31 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
How in hell is an air marshall going to stop a bomber?
Report thisIf this guy actually knew how to ignite and detonate that bomb, an air marshall wouldnt have had the chance to stop him. Having an armed person in an airplane is about as wise as bombing the sh!t out of Yemen.
By the tshirt doctor, December 29, 2009 at 10:56 am Link to this comment
i agree with montanawildhack on this one. the american bombing of their civilians is a terrorist producing machine. how many countries that we have bombed? iraq, afghanistan, pakistan, somalia, yemen.
of course, that’s what the military media industrial complex wants. for us to be scared to death.
Report thisBy Beer Doc, December 29, 2009 at 10:55 am Link to this comment
The assumed narrative is so ridiculous that you have to wonder whether Mr. Robinson, or President Obama for that matter, actually believe their own drivel. Strange that the 24/7 drone missile strikes are not considered acts of terrorism. President Obama’s belated response to the Christmas day incident sounded exactly like former president Bush.
Report thisThere is nothing like tough talk to get the chicken hawks to salivate.
By dihey, December 29, 2009 at 10:51 am Link to this comment
I almost fell out of my chair while watching MSNBC when Pat Buchanan stated that the war in Afghanistan obviously does not increase our security.
Report thisBy Go Right Young Man, December 29, 2009 at 10:34 am Link to this comment
“I can’t escape the uneasy feeling that we’re fighting, and escalating, the last war—while the enemy fights the next one.”
-
Mr. Robinson,
This war is being fought all over the globe. Yemen and Afghanistan are battlefields in this war. Islamic-fascists, of many names and various flavors, operate in roughly 60 nations.
Unfortunately it’s you are are stuck in the “last war” while the Western world’s enemies continues fighting the current war.
Report this