tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post2458936378921011754..comments2024-01-16T03:42:46.705-05:00Comments on The Downward Spiral: Well, OF COURSE No One in the Presidential Campaign Really Wants to Talk About Foriegn PolicyBill Hickshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17551954408189665078noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-77130139044407816642012-09-14T17:32:59.502-04:002012-09-14T17:32:59.502-04:00Anon - check today's post in which The War Ner...Anon - check today's post in which The War Nerd explains why Obama gets so little credit for his warmongering. It speaks to Obama's rock-hard place position, given that he would never, EVER consider a more peaceful path.Bill Hickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17551954408189665078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-28773531472695971562012-09-14T16:12:20.956-04:002012-09-14T16:12:20.956-04:00"Coulda" - you're right, and also wr..."Coulda" - you're right, and also wrong. As one can miss the forest for the trees (as you haven't), one can also miss that there are individual trees in the forest (as you have). Just because they all have green leaves doesn't mean they're all the same species. The differences, however subtle, are real - and it's just wrong to think otherwise.<br /><br />There would be NO point to the ridiculous levels of campaign funding if there were no differences between candidates. Guys like the Kochs simply wouldn't bother.<br /><br />I'm not excusing Obama and the Democrats. In fact, I intend to vote third party because of Obama's obvious corporatism, poor foreign policy record, poor environmental record, and so on. But another neo-con administration WOULD have devastating effects in our foreign policy, and thinking that Obama is a bloodthirsty hypocrite is right, but it's also assuming there couldn't be far, far worse.<br /><br />It's about who is more likely to pull the trigger in the use of force. To those in power, morality in national service is defined by national interests. How they (and their advisors) personally define national interests determines how and where they use military force. One can determine who is more likely to use force based on political philosophies. <br /><br />For all the disillusionment with Obama and his policies (he was an anti-war activist who extended Afghanistan, regularly drone bombs Pakistan, sanctions covert wars, extended and strengthened national surveillance, bombed Libya, backed out of his promises on Guantanamo, etc. etc.), you have another side claiming he is a weak-kneed anti-American who is constantly placating the 'enemy'. As bad as Obama is, don't be surprised if an empowered group of chicken hawks puts boots on the ground again. <br /><br />I'm simply saying that it's unlikely a Romney administration (especially if he puts neo-cons in his Cabinet) would behave in the exact same ways in foreign policy as another Obama administration.<br /><br />A group of people who believe with their whole hearts that America is best when it flexes its military power WILL use it as often as possible. A nation of people easily led to agree with them via propaganda and false patriotism will go along with them.<br /><br />On TV, I'd suggest nothing of true value or accuracy can be found on any channel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-25750856215074827182012-09-14T10:53:16.744-04:002012-09-14T10:53:16.744-04:00"But D.C. itself isn't a monolith."
..."But D.C. itself isn't a monolith."<br /><br />Coulda fooled me. Please, grasp at straws and split some more hairs desperately trying to find the alleged "differences" between the parties these days. Or just turn on CNN, they do a better job of fooling us.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-86154488794996698252012-09-13T22:00:22.503-04:002012-09-13T22:00:22.503-04:00Kristol isn't a stooge, and it's a mistake...Kristol isn't a stooge, and it's a mistake to think that. He's posing as a media guy now, but he's a think tanker at heart. PNAC was THE playbook for the response to 9/11, we've followed it practically to the letter, and Kristol was a principal in it.<br /><br />Now, both parties are irretrievably compromised to the Military-Industrial Complex. But D.C. itself isn't a monolith. Various factions constantly battle for supremacy, and one side is largely about maintenance of the MIC and one side is about aggressive expansion of the MIC. While it's dangerous to think Obama (and the Democrats) are all smiles and sunshine, it's also dangerous to think there is no difference between the two. One side WILL pull out all the stops to increase U.S. miltarism. The Neo-cons are devoted entirely to this cause.<br /><br />Romney and the Neo-Cons:<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UE5yUWfxqQ<br /><br />Libya is apt, because a way at looking at this is Democrats = Libya, Bosnia, and Sudan and Republicans = Iraq 1 and 2 (Afghanistan being shared between both sides). Are they similar? Absolutely. But which is worse? If one IS worse, is it wise to assume otherwise?<br /><br />Kristol on Syria:<br />http://conservativetimes.org/?p=10588<br /><br />Kristol on Libya:<br />http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/03/13/150322/kristol-war-libya/<br /><br />Kristol on Iran:<br />http://thinkprogress.org/security/2010/09/26/120861/shocker-kristol-preparing-ground-for-war-with-iran/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-48201817365770075532012-09-13T20:58:28.138-04:002012-09-13T20:58:28.138-04:00Yep--that's pretty much the size of it. It al...Yep--that's pretty much the size of it. It all depends on whether you'd rather be stabbed in the front or the back, except that the Republicans are masters at getting the morons to believe it is really the OTHER GUY they are going to stab in the front.Bill Hickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17551954408189665078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-40078550548397646192012-09-13T19:49:38.491-04:002012-09-13T19:49:38.491-04:00I think you can summarize the difference between t...I think you can summarize the difference between the two parties in this way...<br /><br />Democrats tell you that they want to help you. Then they go out, sell you down the river for the benefit of the elites. Then they feel bad about it.<br /><br />Republicans, on the other hand, tell you they are going to sell you down the river for the elites, do sell you down the river for the elites, and, frankly, don't give a rat's ass what you think about it as long as their patrons are happy.<br /><br />So, basically, the republicans are raging sociopaths, but honest about it, while the democrats are hypocritical sell-outs, but it gives them angst.<br />bmersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-33100635217173840932012-09-13T19:08:42.957-04:002012-09-13T19:08:42.957-04:00Actually, Libya WAS another conflict and the one w...Actually, Libya WAS another conflict and the one which resulted in the blockback of the Ambassador's killing. Being a partisan stooge, Kristol has to come up with a reason why there's a difference, even if he has to make one up. That's his job. Bill Hickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17551954408189665078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3862216000300765627.post-44709277139795484992012-09-13T18:44:26.907-04:002012-09-13T18:44:26.907-04:00I largely agree, but Bill Kristol is a leading neo...I largely agree, but Bill Kristol is a leading neo-con (who are always 'ends justify the means' types), one of the founders of Project for a New American Century, and therefore, one of the principal architects of the rapid escalation in U.S. militarism since 2001. That he's supporting Romney over Obama alone should show that there is SOME difference between another Obama administration and a potential Romney administration.<br /><br />Although Obama is President Drone, he also wrapped up Iraq and hasn't started another conflict. I wouldn't count on another GOP administration heavily influenced by the neo-cons to do the same.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com