As far as I'm concerned, the people at CBS News are traitors. First, Dan Rather sits down with Saddam in February 2003 and now this. To what purpose? Are they trying to drum up sympathy for this man? Do they hate the Bush administration that much?

[deleted, violation of comment policy]

The drivel from Ahmadinejad is nothing more than "brain candy" to feed liberals. They lap up his words and those of terrorists like a sweet tasting aphrodisiac.

Ahmadinejad keeps the liberals in his pocket and feeds them with what they want to hear, while he works on his nuclear weapons an missiles to destroy cities and kill millions! Liberals talk, talk, talk while Iran works on nuclear terrorism.

And what do the liberals offer in exchange? They continue their anti-American, anti-Israel propaganda. They condemn the victims in Israel and justify the actions of the Hezbollah terrorists while portraying terrorists as victims of America and Israel. Liberals hinder the efforts to stop terrorists and extremists around the world -- for which we will eventually pay a heavy price!

AAR

Mark,

"Did We Seek an Interview With Hitler During WWII?"
--Actually, yeah, we did. From 1939-1940 American journalist, Lothrop Stoddard was allowed wide-ranging latitude to interview the people involved, and account the first years of WWII, including access to Hitler. It was chronicled in the book "Into the Darkness".
"he's not rational; but CBS is treating him as if he is."
--LOL, so you're saying we shouldn't have interviewed Ross Perot either.
"What this really is, of course, is the MSM's attempt to make the enemy seem reasonable and approachable"
-- We don't/haven't had direct contact with these people for nearly 30 years, how exactly do we know the slightest about the political and social climate in Iran? As the world leader, shouldn't we be talking to anyone we can; Good, Bad, or Switzerland? what does it cost us? What is the problem with attempting to get in the mind of heads of state?
I think I understand the frustration on your side though, it does get more difficult to pull the public by the nose, head-first into another stupid war when they have the feeling that the people who will suffer the most are humans, and not just some nebulous, "THEM".

I know what would solve our problems! A state sponsored and controlled media outlet run by the conservative republicans. No other media would be allowed! YES! This would surely put an end to these rating grabbing anti-american interviews and coverage.

grosseMann,

Get used to the nails on the chalkboard! The more the better!!!

You want to hear about preaching hate... look left! Listen to, read, and watch all the vile anti-Bush, anti-American hatred the looney left preaches and spreads around the world.

We and Israel are fighting terrorists and our enemies and the nutty left and their liberal media justify and condone the acts of Hezbollah, Iran, North Korea, and the rest of those whose goal is to kill us. Liberals condone and encourage the illegal release of our secret efforts to stop our enemies.

Liberals are destroying our culture, our morals, our values, and everything that has made America a great nation. If liberals and liberalism isn't stopped, they will ultimately destroy America and relegate the U.S. to a third rate nation!

Hate for the action of liberals and liberalism? YES! Until more and more Americans learn the real threat from Liberalism, it won't be stopped. The more people who hate what Liberalism stands for and what it is doing to America, the more voters we have to stop it. The more people who hate the liberal agenda, the more and harder they will work to educate others to the real danger to America -- Liberalism!

Yes... the more hatred for Liberalism the better!!!

AAR

hey AAR - i'm already having to pay a price for chimpy disastrous escapade into iraq. ihave to fly back from heathrow to jfk this weekend and bc of your support of lunatics like chimpy, i now have to get to the airport four frigin hours before my flight all because this whole world feels LESS SAFE as a result. you keep trying to blame eveything on the liberals but the ENTIRE BLAME RESTS SQUARELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED KING GEORGE THE LUNATIC.

Thanks Guys!
ps - polls now show a majority of americans support trust democrats over republicans with regard to national security.

At a minimum, Amadinejad will have to renounce his previous statements that outline his desire for world domination, his goal to destroy the US, and his goal to destroy Israel. Unfortunately Americans have a huge blind spot when it comes to understanding the nature of this enemy.

If we wish to get in the mind of Amadinejad, here at www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110008768 would be a good place to start. Also we can have a frank discussion on the nature of Islam. If CBS will do a follow up on these things, then I would say that we have fair and balanced reporting.

I think we have been talking to them. We have spent a great deal of time discussing their nuclear program with them. Given the nature of the situation, diplomacy with them is probably going to be fruitless, however, diplomacy with their major supporters of Russia and China may have a chance to work. If we get them to withdraw support from Iran, they become far easier to neutralize.

In winning a war, one must first understand themsleves. We are not the world leader. To think this is hubris. The world does not even view the US as such. Oil shieks wield far more powerful economic weapons than the US does. World leaders understand this and act accordingly. There are three great powers. These are virtually equal. These are Russia, China, and the USA. These three all have strengths and weaknesses over the other.

Many of the progressives who post here are no doubt accomplished diplomats. I would suggest directing the diplomatic effort at Russia and China. In other words, by pass the proxy and go straight to the top. You also need to understand that the enemy may try to do what they have done in the past. This is to use the diplomatic process to stall for time, get concessions that strengthen them, and then go to war when they are ready either directly or through proxies.

Bloviator

The proper blame would be to place this on the terrorists. They are the ones who are trying to control the world. The crime of Bush and Blair is to try and get in their way.

There is plenty of blame to go around in the execution. In the US, there is a spirit of appeasement that inhabits both major political parties. This desire to appease is prevalant in Western Europe as well. Its understandable. The combination of oil interests and the threat of terrorist attacks are enough to make anyone nervous. We can deal with this now or we can wait until they are stronger.

We should be able to get the security situation under control, if we will commit more troops to Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the GWOT. This would be a good place to start. We also should firmly support Israel. We are not going to have peace by tossing Israel under the bus. Doing what is right, as opposed to taking the easy way out, will generally be much more difficult. The Bush administration will need to do a better job of explaining the stakes.

Should the Democrats gain control of both houses of Congress in the elections, if they will direct the diplomatic efforts at Russia and China they may work. I would like to see the Bush administration do more of this.

Sorry about all of the posts. There was one thing I neglected to include in the previous posts. Amadinejad makes reference to Bush's low approval ratings. This is not a concern because I like Bush or Republicans. Frankly I think the president's lack of willingness to commit theproper troop levels to Iraq, to secure the borders, or to level with the American people about the nature of the threat are a failure in his duty as President and may well be impeachable offenses. The problem with his low approval nubmers is if Amadinejad and other enemies see him as a weak leader it makes a diplomatic solution much less likely.

This is a good thing. Leftist newsmen interviewing middle eastern madmen is a positive sign. The last time it happened was with Dan Rather and Saddam Hussein and look what happened to them - Hussein's facing execution for crimes against the Iraqi people and Rather lost his job for making up fake news. I tell you this is a good thing! Heh.

The problem with his low approval numbers is if Amadinejad and other enemies see him as a weak leader it makes a diplomatic solution much less likely.

BP, I've tried to picture how a Gore or Kerry administration might have done all this better -- I just can't. Can you? Now a BP administration -- well, that's a different story, heh.

Oh, and BP, we are waaaaaaay past the point where a diplomatic solution is likely.

Does anyone else here notice how similar AAR's rants about all-thing-liberal sound so familiar to Hitler's rants about Jews? Everything from our economic ruin to social upheaval is somehow the dastardly liberals' doing...let's try a little test, and replace "Liberal" with "Jew", and see how it works, shall we:

"You want to hear about preaching hate... look Jewish! Listen to, read, and watch all the vile anti-Bush, anti-American hatred the looney Jews preaches and spreads around the world."

"Jews are destroying our culture, our morals, our values, and everything that has made America a great nation. If Jews and Judaism isn't stopped, they will ultimately destroy America and relegate the U.S. to a third rate nation!"

"Hate for the action of Jews and Judaism? YES! Until more and more Americans learn the real threat from Judaism, it won't be stopped. The more people who hate what Judaism stands for and what it is doing to America, the more voters we have to stop it. The more people who hate the Jewish agenda, the more and harder they will work to educate others to the real danger to America -- Judaism!

Yes... the more hatred for Judaism the better!!!"

--Hmm, pretty telling as to whom is preaching hate around here.

bloviator,

I'm sure everyone feels really badly for your delay and inconvenience! At least it is only a delay, and the terrorists were stopped -- this time!!!

Perhaps if you and you leftie friends could support the war against our enemies and terrorists: stop encouraging terrorists... stop your anti-American and anti-Israel propaganda... stop blaming America and Israel for all of the world's problems... stop painting President Bush as Hitler and Americas as torturers equivalent to Saddam Hussein... stop your Senators from equating our prisons as Russian gulags... stop defending Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah as the victims of American and Israeli aggression... stop hindering our efforts to fight terrorists and our enemies around the world... and stop condoning and encouraging those who illegally release secret information about our efforts to stop the terrorists who are "inconveniencing" you today!

AAR

I really have to wonder about some of the anti-Bush, anti-American, anti-Israel, pro-Hezbollah, and pro-terrorist comments posted here and on other blogs. Who are those doing the posting and what are their real motives? Anyone can post comments from anywhere in the world and we would not know the difference!

They could be anyone... Many do not appear to owe their allegiance to America! I'm sure some really are American citizens.

AAR

TEO,

You sure do seem to know a lot about Hitler -- just like most of the other liberal commenters. You and the lefties bring him up all the time in your posts. I think he is one of YOUR heroes!

It sounds like you and Mel Gibson might have something in common!

Why are you so anti-Jewish?

AAR

AAR,

Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black, Mr. 'We need more hate for people'?

AAR

I am always impressed by how much we think alike.

"Jews are destroying our culture, our morals, our values, and everything that has made America a great nation. If Jews and Judaism isn't stopped, they will ultimately destroy America and relegate the U.S. to a third rate nation!"

That is a bold statement to make in the PC world, and I applaud your courage in standing up to the Hebronazi MSM this way.

"Anyone can post comments from anywhere in the world and we would not know the difference!"

Don't think for a moment the importance of Blogs for Bush is lost on Osama bin Laden and his ilk. I have little doubt every al-Queda laptop has an RSS feed for B4B, looking to create havoc by posting as liberals like TEO and Barney. This is why we are so important...we are DIRECTLY fighting al Queda!

"preaching hate"

Preach on, brother. Keep doing the Lord's good work. You and I are like two peas in a pod, AAR!

It's for the children.

TEO,

Did I say hatred for the people?

I said: "Hate for the action of liberals and liberalism? ... hate what Liberalism stands for and what it is doing to America ... hate the liberal agenda... the more hatred for Liberalism the better!!!"

AAR

AAR,

Ohhhh, I see, you hate everything about Liberals, but you don't hate-hate liberals...I see the difference.

hey AAR - i'm already having to pay a price for chimpy disastrous escapade into iraq. ihave to fly back from heathrow to jfk this weekend and bc of your support of lunatics like chimpy, i now have to get to the airport four frigin hours before my flight all because this whole world feels LESS SAFE as a result. you keep trying to blame eveything on the liberals but the ENTIRE BLAME RESTS SQUARELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED KING GEORGE THE LUNATIC.

Thanks Guys!
ps - polls now show a majority of americans support trust democrats over republicans with regard to national security.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
LMAO. That is all I can do to the above absurd post. And well, a big eye roll too @@

B.Poster, I was with you until you got to this part: "Many of the progressives who post here are no doubt accomplished diplomats."

But I"m guessing that was a snark.

Anyway, I think a good question (not just to you, but to everyone) is this: If Ahmadinejad didn't engage in such fiery rhetoric would that make Iran less dangerous? Similarly, does the fact that he does make Iran more dangerous? I wonder. I think much of what he says is not primarily intended for the American media, it's primarily intended for the "Arab street". In other words, it is intended to inflame passions in the rest of the Arab and Muslim worlds in order to garner popular support for Iran. That might help to a certain extent, but in the end it is only talk. What really matters is action. And I have to say that what we've accomplished in Iraq doesn't help much in that regard. Many here point out that most of the strife in Iraq (about 85%) takes place in four provinces -- the ones where the Sunnis are concentrated. The predominantly Shiite and Kurdish areas are more or less peaceful. And that is considered a good thing. Then again, all of Iran is rather peaceful as well (internally, I mean). So at the very least peacefulness does not necessarily imply there is no danger. Don't get duped.

More about that in a minute.

The argument directed against Iran is they have a fire-breathing knucklehead for a president. But that president was popularly elected. Or was he? President Bush has indicated that his quest for democracy in the Middle East is predicated on the proposition that "democracies don't attack each other". Therefore, if Iran is a democracy we can't attack them because, well, that would compromise Bush's entire rationale. And actually, since Lebanon was a democracy, Israel shouldn't have attacked Lebanon either. In that case, though, the argument could be made that Israel isn't really attacking Lebanon per se, but Hezbollah. They have made that distinction very clear. So how do we rationalize any talk of attacking Iran? It seems to me the rationale is this: Iran is not really a democracy because the presidential candidates had to be approved by the guys that actually run the place -- the mullahs. Thus, Ahmadinejad is not a legitimate representative of his people, right? So why do we listen to him? It seems to me that at the very least we should direct our concern at the guys that are pulling his strings. Don't let Ahmadinejad snow you.

Now back to Iraq. As everyone knows, the dominant cultural faction in Iraq is the Shia, which constitute about 60-65% of the population (not all of them Arab). The predominant Shia political parties are the Dawa party and the SCIRI (Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq). The Iraqi provisional prime minister, al-Jaafari, is the leader of the Dawa party, and the current prime minister, al-Maliki is his first deputy. The Dawa party has existed since the 1970's, has always had strong ties to Iran, and was instrumental in helping Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini sieze control there. They also engineered the bombings of the American and French embassies in Kuwait back in 1983, and are best buddies with Hezbollah. But they're not the radicals. The radicals are the SCIRI, now headed by Muqtada al-Sadr. The SCIRI arose in 1982 as an offshoot of the Dawa party, after the Dawa leadership was decimated and/or exiled following a failed assassination attempt against Saddam. They were fairly small until Saddam was removed, then rose to prominence quickly. They are now the largest party in Iraq, and the ones that engineered the pro-Hezbollah rally in Baghdad that attracted hundreds of thousands.

And these guys are the ones that are supposed to be our principle allies in Iraq. Mark suggested that "the enemy" are the ones that "cuts off the heads of people with dull knives." I have no doubt about that. What I doubt is that it's only "the enemy" who could be thusly accused. Considering everything, one wonders what "victory" in Iraq is likely to mean. The "regime change" argument is seriously weakened if all it succeeds in accomplishing is to substitute one nightmare for another. Basically, everything is predicated upon the possibility that the leopards we allowed to rise to power in Iraq are capable of changing their spots.

Seen in that light, what are we really planning to achieve in Iran?

I'm sure this post makes the situation sound hopeless. Perhaps it is, but only perhaps. I think B.Poster has some very good ideas, and I applaud him for the courage to think (and especially speak) outside the accepted GOP box. And though his ideas and mine don't completely mesh, I think he is right in identifying the real key to getting hold of the situation in the Middle East is to look further east and north -- to China and Russia. But there is more to it than that, I think. At the risk of running on, I don't think we can ignore the risk Pakistan represents. One well-placed bullet there and all kinds of hell could break loose. But I suppose that's the subject of another post.

Deleted - Questioning Comment Policy

TEO,
You beat me to the punch concerning interviews with Hitler (and Sawdust Ceasar too).
It's so typical of this site to throw up something that is ridiculously false, then backpeddle (squid-like) behind a cloud of spewed hatred when they are called on it.
Good post

[deleted, violating comment policy, banned]

I guess the only thing to add is that we are not at war with Iran (despite the fervent dreams of some who post here), so there is no reason the western press should be restricted in access to him at all.
These guys make it obvious that they favor censorship and government control of the media -- that's just another (of many) reasons they can't be allowed to remain in power.

I think what AAR is saying is hate the sin not the sinner.

Don't think for a moment the importance of Blogs for Bush is lost on Osama bin Laden and his ilk. I have little doubt every al-Queda laptop has an RSS feed for B4B, looking to create havoc by posting as liberals like TEO and Barney. This is why we are so important...we are DIRECTLY fighting al Queda!

Posted by: Conservative to the Core at August 10, 2006 01:06 PM

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!
LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!LMAOROTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PAH-LEEZE. How arrogant can you conservatives get? Is there a limit?

TEO (in absentia),

And here I thought I was being politically correct -- in a liberal sort of way. Liberals are always saying they don't hate or dislike "the person", they just disagree with their ideas. Now you are saying that if a person says they hate or dislike the idea then they really do hate the person. O.k., I got it!

Now let's see how that works. You say you hate religion... so that means you really do hate Christians. You say you hate the conservative and Republican views... so that means you really do hate Conservatives. You say you hate and despise all that America stands for... so that means you really do hate America. You say you hate President Bush and Vice President Cheney... so that means... Oh, wait, you clearly said you really do hate them personally -- nothing implied there!

And what do you think people and terrorists all over the world believe and think when they hear the left wing liberal Democrats incessant 24/7 hate campaign? The vile hatred liberals have spewed non-stop for almost 6 years? What do you think people around the world believe when they hear the liberal Democrats say President Bush is Hitler, Satan, and a terrorist? What do you think they believe when liberal Democrats say Americans and the American military engage in the same kind of torture as Saddam Hussein? What do you think they believe when they hear the liberals blame all of the world's problems on America and Israel?

Think back to all the hatred we have heard from liberal Democrats about President Bush and America, and all of the things they have blamed America for since they lost the 2000 election. Billions of people and tens of thousands of terrorists and potential terrorists around the world have heard the same thing. They hate America and Americans... based on all of the lies and false propaganda you lefties have spread around the world and continue to do. Each day, the hatred for America spread by the left causes even more hatred for America, and encourages more terrorism in response to that hatred.

All Americans are paying for the liberal's anti-Bush, anti-American propaganda and hate campaign. America will be paying a very heavy price for it for many years to come. We just don't know yet what that price will be!

AAR

*According to the DrudgeReport.com:*

WALLACE GONE WILD: Says Iranian president a 'reasonable' man on Sean Hannity's ABC radio program... Points out Ahmadinejad not anti-Jewish... just anti-Zionist state. Says many Jews in Iranian Parliament, in great positions in Iranian life... Believes Ahmadinejad sincere in his hope for peaceful coexistence between Iran and West... Troubled by comparisons of leader to Hitler... Proclaims 'discussion' was sincere and not for propaganda purposes... Developing...

AAR,

Something is going wrong!!

raker13 poses as a conservative!! and I wish he were, but, I think he is lying!!

Please give your thoughts, It would embarrass me to know that I fell for a lie!!

Jeremiah

P.S. Thank Goodness we got rid of TEO!!
It would be nice to keep him gone!!

Deleted - Complaints about comment policy

Jeremiah,

Raker13 doesn't post too often, but searching back through prior posts, you will find that raker13 is not a conservative. Most of raker13's posts were relatively mild compared to some lefties, but I'm sure there are many others I have not seen. I'm not sure which posts you are referring to, but if it's one of the two I checked, I believe raker13 is being facetious -- as in some prior posts.

Don't worry. Any embarrassment is only temporary and toughens the skin! Just laugh and move on to the next task.

I would bet that TEO will be back.

AAR

Leftorium,

That's liberal... not progressive, but you do bring up a good point.

We must continually remind all Americans that Liberals are undergoing an identity crisis and are now calling themselves "progressive" in hopes of hiding their true "liberal" identity from the voters. That's why I often write "liberal [progressive] Democrat." We want the voters to know -- well before election time -- that Democrats are Liberals even though they try to hide under another label.

Everyone needs to get the word out to their friends and relatives.

Progressive = Democrat = Liberal!

AAR

AAR,

Thanks for re-confirming my suspicions about him I knew he could'nt be a conservative!!

After he made the post, I thought this is so strange, first one minute he's calling me a zealot and on the next he says how grateful he is for the president!!
And in the post he was such a hypocrite when he said, he felt the need to "flip" the democrats off. And the only thing he was doing was out to make the conservatives look bad!
Man this raker13 guy he must have some really bad brain damage to be that hypocritical!

You can find where he tries to humiliate me at the thread above this one "fighting the terrorists at baghdad"!

I admit I fell for it, But No-More!!
because he made me look like an idiot!!
A lesson I learned Very Well!!

And TEO, I hope he does get banned, because he has one bad attitude, and a terrible foul mouth to go with it!! There are a very few respectable dems here, but the ones like, TEO, Leftorium, raker13, Axis, grosseman, and CO etc,etc. They are a bad witness only seeking to brainwash, they are filled with so much hatred it is un-real!! depravity like I have never seen before!!

Let's just continue to pray for them!!
Because they are in need of it!!

Thanks!!

Jeremiah

"I'm sure more progressives will be banned as the days click down"

Good!! That's what we need!, Atleast we don't have to wade through all the kimchee!!

"to your inevidiable defeat in November. Until that time enjoy what little time in the sun you have left."

I'm sorry fellow, but the American people are smarter than that!!
Maybe you would like to join us!!
Surely you don't want to be left out!!

Or........ you can enjoy a happy defeat!!
The choice is yours?!

Jeremiah

Retired Spook

For all of the errors this administration has made, I must agree with. I can't imagine a Gore or Kerry administration doing any better. In fact, I think it would have been far worse. I strongly suspected back in late 2002 that Iraq's allies were running interference in the UN for them and that the inspections process was nothing more than a front for the interests of Iraq's allies. In other words, it was giant charade. I suspect the UN would have declared Saddam clean and Saddam would have said how sorry he was and how mean the "hyperpower" was to him. Of course he only apologizes in English. The UN declares sanctions can now be lifted. Al Gore agrees. Right after sanctions are lifted Saddam gets back on with WMD programs and is even more emboldened to support the terrorists he was previously supporting against the US.

Now Al Gore or John Kerry would be so proud of themslves that they decide to tackle the Israeli/Arab issue. Before going further I should state that, as an evangelical Christian, my judgement based upon my interpratation of the biblical scriptures influences my thought processes on the Israeli/Arab conflict. Even if my religous beliefs were different, I would still be a staunch Israel supporter but I might not be as passionate about it. Now for what either of these men would likely do. They would sign one of those "peace in our time" treaties with Islamci Extremists. The intention of signing this treaty would be to sell Israel down the river in exchange for peace. This is similar to what Neeville Chamberlin tried to do with Hitler to try and avoid WWII except he sold Czechoslovakia down the river. A Czech official said it best after Neeville's action, "friends we have been basely betrayed."

After Gore or Kerry were done sacrificing Israel they would likely sell Tawain down the river. This will give us peace in our time with China.

Having written all of this I do not "know" for certain this would have happened. I just know based upon the past actions of so called progressives this is likely what would have happened. As you can see, as frustrated as I sometimes get with this administration, this is why I could not vote for Gore or Kerry for POTUS. The likely end results of these decisions that I believe these men would have made are simply to horrible to fully comprehend. I held my nose and voted for Bush/cheney. Unless a viable thir party arises, I will probably have to hold my nose and vote (R) again.

Even the Bush administration compromised Israel's security with the "road map to peace" and by allowing Hamas into the political process during the Palestinian elections. In fairness to Bush here, Israel consented to this horrific idea of the road map. Its kind of hard to go against the will of an ally.

A final note on poor Neville, how could he have known? He didn't have history to teach him. It is easy to throw proverbial stones at someone in hindsight. We have an enemy who is eerily similar to Nazi Germany and this enemy has formed some type of alliance with the communists of Russia and China. Appeasement did not work with Nazi Germany and it is unlikely to work now. Also, throwing an ally under the proverbial bus for peace and safety for oneself is not only unethical, it won't work.

"A BP administration thats different heh?" Much of what we learned is through hindsight. Hindsight and history are great teacher, if we learn the lessons they teach us. There are two things I would have done immediately on 9/12/01. I would have substantially increased the size and equipment capabilities of the army. As far back as about 1998, an Army General warned that the size of the Army may not be big enough to meet future requirements. (I wish I still had the article. I remember the approximate year becasue I was attending college at the time.) A cousin of mine who is a career Air Force man said essentially the same thing back in about 2000. His words to me, roughly paraphrased, were "I'm in the Air Force, not really my department, we're in good shape but yes the Army could find itself stretched thin, if it had to fight a pro tracted conflict." Its probably the best trained and best led force on earth. It jsut doesn't seem to be big enough. I think this would have been an easy sell to the American people on 9/12/01.

The next thing I would have done is to secure the borders and to try something other than what we are currently doing to keep of those coming into the country. This is a tougher sell but with the mind set in late 2001 I think it could have been done. With the current political climate probably the only way to get secure borders and a better immigration policy will be if another terrorist attack happens. No reasonable person wants that.

I agree with you that we are way past diplomacy with Iran, however, there is a chance that it might work with Russia or China. In suggesting diplomacy, I was thinking of one of those policies based on "hope." We hope Amadinejad is rational even though his statements should tell us other wise and we hope he realizes his goals are unachievable. Bush's popularity numbers may lead the Iranian leadership to believe that the US is vunerable which will embolden them more. In other words, when the media speaks with glee about Bush's poll numbers this only helps the enemy. The same analysis would hold if Johnk Kerry were president and it was the Republicans speaking with glee. Personally I don't give a hoot about GW's poll numbers except in how it affects the ability to win the GWOT. A president who is percieved as weak, whether he has an (R) or a (D) by his name is unhelpful. A free press is of the utmost importance, however, both Republicans and Democrats need to excersize the utmost care in what they say publically. Their words can and will be used against the US by a ruthless enemy who has a very keen understanding of our media.

Retired Spook: A reply to your posts was submitted but type key messed up and it was submitted outside of type key.

Rico

The remark about progressives being good diplomats was not meant to be a snark. i try not to engage in snarky comments. I just did not clarify. What I meant by this term was not necessarily the dictionary definition. I meant "one who is skilled in the art of negotiatiing." In the US and the Western World we get what we want through negotiations. We negotiate for jobs, promotions, cars, business contracts, dates, spouses, and many other things. When we can't settle something with negotiations we go to a court where it gets arbitrated. Maybe every one is not happy about the court result but they abide by it. The art of negotiations is especially important in the business arena. Every thing is for sale, for a price. We may not like it, but this is how it is and it will remain so until the end of time. Some people have become quite good at this and, as such, assume the rest of the world works off of the same principle. They assume because they are among the elites, in our society, they should be able to do the same thing with other cultures. The problem is with Islamic Extremists and Communists they only want those who oppose them dead or enslaved. Very respectfully, diplomacy as Westerners practice it in their daily lives is unlikely to work with this enemy. The comment of "accomplished diplomat" was actually supposed to be a compliment. It did not come out the way I intened!!

I take the rhetoric of the Iranian leader literally. I may not be nuanced enough to understand these things. Actually I think it gives us a wonderful opportunity. Islamic Extremists are not nearly as subtle as Communists. I think the media needs to cover this rhetoric, as well as the increasingly hostile rhetoric coming from the Russian leadership, in more detail. I think it best to take them literally until we have good reason to think they don't say what they mean and mean what they say.

Iraq could very well become greater Iran. I'm not duped by this. Unfortunately by commiting to few troops and prematurely transfering soverignty we gave up much of our influence. During the Iran/Iraq war the Shia did not join with Iran. Hopefully the majority of the Iraqi people will like their own soverigntry to much to allow themselves to become Iran's puppet. That said the Iranian backed militias are a problem that will have to be dealt with. They threten the legitimate government, as well as the coalition. Also, infiltration by Iran into the Iraqi government is a problem. When we pushed for Democracy we made a mistake by allowing Islamic Extremists and Iranian proxies to enter the political process. Such groups have no business in a democracy.

The Iraqi constitution does pledge that the new Iraq will not support international terrorism. Hopefully they will live by that constitution. If they do, this may work out. The best we can probably do right now, is to keep training the Iraqi military and the police forces and pray they can assume control of their country and the new Iraq will not become an Iranian proxy.

Yes, I know these policies are based largely on hope. If we could get more troops to Iraq, we could probably get security under control and we would have a better chance of getting an ally out of this.

The other option on the table is "redploy." This cedes the country to the Iranians. This would be an unmitigated disaster.

I think you are right about Amadinejad. Direct our policy at the people who are pulling the strings. I think it best to assume he is not a "knucklehead." I would use the term "crazy like a fox", "evil genius," or "mad genius." Generally he is assumed to be a rational actor. Our leaders seem to have a huge blind spot concerning Islamic Extremists. It may just be possible that the Russians and the Chinese have the same blind spot. There certainly is some indication he may be crazy.

It seems to me that it is not in an oil hungry China's interest to have "greater Iran" whose leaders think they are ready to rule the world. Perhaps this could be an opening for diplomacy.

You are right if we replace the baathists of Hussein with greater Iran it will have been a complete failure. With that said I think, if we or our allies can get security under control, this would be of great benefit. Diplomacy is best directed to Russia and China. Get them to stop supporting these people and I think Islamic Extremism becomes fairly easy to neutralize.

"That's liberal... not progressive, but you do bring up a good point."

Posted by: AAR at August 10, 2006 07:15 PM

Liberals ARE progressive, Progressives ARE liberal, always have been and always will be. The Democratic Party is the real party of progress and change.

Conservatives ARE regressive. They look to the past and wish to take society in that direction. All they offer these days is "Stay the course" in other words "status quo”. That's why I will always refer to conservatives as REGRESSIVES.

I'm proud to be a LIBERAL /PROGRESSIVE. We are history's ultimate winners.

As for the term Liberal, that doesn’t faze anyone anymore. You're not hurting any Democrat by using that term or any progressive blogger for that matter. These aren't the salad days of the conservative media when just calling someone a liberal was enough. You better take a hard look around and see that the times when people would proudly proclaim themselves as Conservatives are coming to an end. Republican politicians are not so ready to pronounce their party affiliation in their ad campaigns anymore. The days are coming back when calling somone a "conservative" held a negative conotation towards them. If I were you I'd be a little less worried about labeling Democrats and progressive bloggers in some pathetic attempt at negativity and little more concerned with trying rectifying my party's ideas and public image.

"I'm sorry fellow, but the American people are smarter than that!!
Maybe you would like to join us!!
Surely you don't want to be left out!!

Or........ you can enjoy a happy defeat!!
The choice is yours?!

Jeremiah"

Posted by: Jeremiah at August 10, 2006 07:53 PM

What makes you think the American people are going to choose the Republicans again in this election. Voter discontent with conservatives is worse than it's ever been. 60% disagree with the Iraq war and say it was a mistake. A majority of Americans in poll after poll say they would prefer Democrats back in charge. Democrats even lead in the polls on who's better on national security. George Bush's approval rating is at 30 something % and not getting any better. Forget about Progressives not liking this man ,the country in general isn't to fond of him either. If you think that the voters don't connect Republicans in the Senate and Congress with Bush then you're kidding yourself. How can even answer that question? They rubber stamped all of his policies with only one veto to his name. Blind faith isn't going to save that republican majority. In truth though it's been too late to save it for at least a couple of years.

"I'm sorry fellow, but the American people are smarter than that!!
Maybe you would like to join us!!
Surely you don't want to be left out!!

Or........ you can enjoy a happy defeat!!
The choice is yours?!

Jeremiah"

Posted by: Jeremiah at August 10, 2006 07:53 PM

What makes you think the American people are going to choose the Republicans again in this election. Voter discontent with conservatives is worse than it's ever been. 60% disagree with the Iraq war and say it was a mistake. A majority of Americans in poll after poll say they would prefer Democrats back in charge. Democrats even lead in the polls on who's better on national security. George Bush's approval rating is at 30 something % and not getting any better. Forget about Progressives not liking this man ,the country in general isn't to fond of him either. If you think that the voters don't connect Republicans in the Senate and Congress with Bush then you're kidding yourself. How can even answer that question? They rubber stamped all of his policies with only one veto to his name. Blind faith isn't going to save that republican majority. In truth though it's been too late to save it for at least a couple of years.

Leftorium,

You know why I KNOW the conservatives are going to win?

One word: FAITH!!

Because I know the American people just simply are'nt going to allow a democrat to take office!!

It's too risky!!

Just think about it?, If it had not been for George Bush and his policy on war and all the secret intelligence working to help prevent all these disasters from happening, then today would have been a national crisis to America!! That's fact!! If a democrat would have been in office today there would have been no such thing as a war on terror, we would have no protection from our enemies!! NONE!!

Because liberal democrats only care about NUMBER ONE!! themselves!! and half of all these other countries would still be enslaved to the hands of terrorist dictators!!

and polls? polls mean little to nothing to me!!
And if the nation was governing on polls to govern whether we stay in Iraq or not, then it would be the same story as above!!

But Thank God Almighty we have a President who Cares!!

A poll is rubbish to him to be thrown in the waste can!! and the same for me!!

Do this? Bout November! bring your polls back, and let's just see how they stack up against the will of the American people!!

I'm sure you'll find the stats to be quite on par with the republican candidate!!
Because Americans now seen the light after sept, 11.

Jeremiah

Leftorium,

You know why I KNOW the conservatives are going to win?

One word: FAITH!!

Because I know the American people just simply are'nt going to allow a democrat to take office!!

It's too risky!!

Just think about it?, If it had not been for George Bush and his policy on war and all the secret intelligence working to help prevent all these disasters from happening, then today would have been a national crisis to America!! That's fact!! If a democrat would have been in office today there would have been no such thing as a war on terror, we would have no protection from our enemies!! NONE!!

Because liberal democrats only care about NUMBER ONE!! themselves!! and half of all these other countries would still be enslaved to the hands of terrorist dictators!!

and polls? polls mean little to nothing to me!!
And if the nation was governing on polls to govern whether we stay in Iraq or not, then it would be the same story as above!!

But Thank God Almighty we have a President who Cares!!

A poll is rubbish to him to be thrown in the waste can!! and the same for me!!

Do this? Bout November! bring your polls back, and let's just see how they stack up against the will of the American people!!

I'm sure you'll find the stats to be quite on par with the republican candidate!!
Because Americans now seen the light after sept, 11.

Jeremiah

Leftorium,

Contrary to what you may believe, most Americans DO know what and who liberals are, and we want to make sure everyone knows under which rock they are hiding under at the moment.

Liberals [progressives] are continually reinventing themselves based on what their latest poll or focus group thinks Americans believe. Now they are trying to figure out a lying way to convince Americans the have found morals and religion, which they never will.

You call them progressives... I call them worse than useless. Liberals [progressives] destroy everything they are involved in. They are a bunch of weak willed, weak minded nutty elitists who think their agenda should be forced on everyone else. Liberals [progressives] are destroying America.

Liberals are the real threat to America, even more so than terrorists. Most people recognize the destruction and damage caused by terrorists. Liberals, on the other hand, create their insidious damage much more subtly -- destroying American from within. Liberals [progressives] support and encourage our enemies and terrorists while destroying America's values, morals, work ethics, competitiveness, and the strengths that built America.

You liberals [progressives] strive to weaken American and relegate us to a third rate has been like your idol France!

Yes, conservatives had better wake up, get themselves united, and start working much more aggressively to stop Liberals [Progressives] and Liberalism. Liberals [Progressives] and liberalism have already done far too much damage to America already.

Perhaps a loss this November is what Republicans and Conservatives need to wake them up and get on with tossing the liberal agenda in the sewer of history where it belongs!

AAR

AAR / Jeremiah-

I've never heard a longer string of irrational hatred thrown at a movement or group than in your last posts. There's nothing to refute in them because your views are just so out there. I do however love to see you two going on a tirade though because it shows everyone how unhinged your movement has become.

AAR at least you see that conservatives are lossing their control over this government. I hope you see that it's their actions that have brought them to this end.
Jeremiah all I can say is I hope you dont pull a Jim Jones on election night in November. Wake up and see that you've been following a false prophet.

Leftorium,

Actually, I was holding back. We need many more who are fed up and have had it with the anti-American Liberals, Progressives, and Liberalism. We need more patriotic Americans to start working to convince even more to join the fight against the anti-American lefties.

Why are liberals so opposed to programs to find terrorists? Why are liberals so opposed to finding out where the money from terrorists and anti-American groups are going in America? What do liberals fear from finding out who's calling whom and who's paying whom? Who are the liberal [progressives] protecting? Are liberals afraid Americans will find out where some of that money is going and who is supporting terrorists and other anti-American propaganda?

It is easier to identify and arrest terrorists in England and Pakistan than in the U.S. One news cast stated that if the latest plot to blow up commercial airliners had occurred in the U.S., our "laws" would have protected the terrorists more than the American citizens, and we would not have discovered the plot until the planes were blown from the sky! In England, police can take action against suspected terrorists. They don't need "probable cause." Let another terrorist attack happen here and maybe the American people will be fed up with liberals stopping, blocking, and revealing our efforts to stop terrorists. At some point, the American people are going to get fed up with liberals defending criminals rather than their victims!

There are already terrorists groups in the U.S. It's time we start "suspecting" some of those who are spreading the anti-American, pro-terrorist propaganda!

AAR

"Who are the liberal [progressives] protecting?"

Glad you asked.
It's progressives who are the true protectors of this country. We are protecting the Constitution, the very foundation of our democracy. Conservatives on the other hand, while believing they're doing good, are in fact doing tremendious harm to this nation. You twist and contort our Constitution to suit your aims and when there is an outright prohibition against your wishes, you just ignore it or stomp all over it. I see the Constitution as a road map for success in this war, but you see it as an impediment.
Your argument is very basic and irrational. You assert that in order to protect this country we must change, put away, or destroy everything that has made us a great nation. All those freedoms and rights that other nations look to as model to strive for, you and those in your camp want to destroy them. For what? To save us? What you're saying is we must destroy America in order to save it.
We can fight the war against terrorists effectively, successfully and protect the freedoms for which we have fought. They are not mutually exclusive as you would have it.
You've done more harm to this nation than any terrorist could do. You've wasted our treasury, lied to the American people, broken or ignored our laws, botched your jobs time and again, damaged our political standing in the eyes of the world, and weakened our military, and that's just the beginning. I don't think anyone needs me to go into all of the examples of conservative incompetence and scandels any more because we have all seen it first hand. Bush is a weak leader. He preaches a message of weakness all while trying to look strong. Case in point Iraq:

"as they stand up we'll stand down" GWB

Sounds commanding huh. In fact it's a message of weakness. In effect what he's saying is we are at the mercy of the iraqi military and fueding political sectarian groups. When they finish fighting for control and killing one another then we'll be told to leave. Our presence isn't preventing a civil war we're just presiding over one. What's the incentive the iraqis to take over when they have the big strong american military there to protect them and take the heat?
Whats Bush's answer to this?

"Stay the course"

Another pseudo-strenght message of weakness. When all is going according to plan you "stay the course". When your plan is routed you begin to alter your course to adjust to the new dynamic. As the military saying goes, " The first casualty of war is the war plan" Bush hasn't altered at all ,he's "stayed the course" and that course is a regional sectarian civil war.

Americans have finally seen what damage conservatism has brought to this nation. How do I know that? How does a President go from a 90% approval rating to a 32% approval in 4 years. Because he's doing a great job? The public, like the progressive movement long before them, has had it with you. They no longer trust your stewardship of this nation and I for one say to them we're glad you finally see what we've been saying all along.

AAR
Trying to connect the terrorist with the left is just pathetic. You really have run out of ideas.

Leftroium,

Liberals [progressives] are the protectors of nothing more than their idiotic anti-American liberal agenda! Liberals [progressives] support, encourage, and enable terrorists and our enemies. Liberals [progressives] are destroying America's value, culture, religion, competitiveness, and everything that made American strong. The next thing Liberals will work at weakening and destroying is our military -- they need the money to keep people on welfare in hopes they can get more votes from them!

America is fighting two fronts for our survival: one against the terrorists and the other against liberalism which condones and encourages terrorism and is subtly destroying American from within while encouraging those who will destroy us from without!

Liberals are worse than week. Their incessant 24/7 anti-Bush, anti-American, pro-terrorist rhetoric and propaganda to people all around the world have severely harmed America. Liberal Democrats have done all they can to harm America's image and influence. Liberals want to weaken America.... it is part of their plan to weaken the U.S. to the same level as their liberal friends around the world.

It's rapidly getting to the point that some of this "free speech" and "academic freedom" liberals so cherish to spread their anti-Americanism needs to be re-looked. Let another major terrorist attack happen and maybe it will be -- as well as looking at where some of these anti-American, anti-Israeli, leftist organizations are getting their funding!

AAR

AAR-

Thank you for proving my point.

Leftorium,

You're very welcome!

Liberals protecting the Constitution? That's the biggest joke of all! Liberals and their activist liberal judges are the ones who are destroying the Constitution and are the major cause of the divisiveness in America today! Because of your liberal judges, America essentially has no Constitutional guarantees. The Constitution doesn't mean the same today as it did yesterday or as some liberal judge will decide in the future. No! Liberals are the ones who do not believe in the Constitution!!!

AAR

AAR-
In the event of another terrorist attack you've openly advocated repealing the First Amendment.
You have no more credibilty.
You proved my point.

Leftorium,

Strange things happen in times of war when we are trying to protect America and trying to save American lives. A couple of quotes from the Internet...

"On September 24, 1862, Lincoln issued a proclamation unprecedented in American history. He suspended the writ of liberty everywhere in the United States. The suspension applied to Confederate spies or to those who aided the rebel cause, interfered with military enlistments, resisted the draft, or were 'guilty of any disloyal practice.' This last offense allowed the military to arrest newspaper editors and speakers critical of the Union war effort. Lincoln further ordered that persons arrested under his proclamation were subject to martial law, which meant they would be tried and punished by military courts."

"... when copperhead democrats began criticizing Lincoln's violation of the Constitution, Lincoln suspended habeas corpus throughout the nation and had many copperhead democrats arrested under military authority because he felt that the State Courts in the north west would not convict war protesters such as the copperheads. He proclaimed that all persons who discouraged enlistments or engaged in disloyal practices would come under Martial Law."

We are engaged in a war -- one that can ultimately kill untold numbers of American citizens -- and liberal Democrats continue to support and encourage our enemies. Liberal Democrats are damaging the image of the U.S. around the world, releasing our defense secrets to our enemies, and hurting American security and our ability to protect America and American citizens.

Given the right set of circumstances and enough loss of American lives that can be attributed to the liberal Democrat's hate campaign, who knows what the American people may support -- no, demand!

Abuse it... you lose it... and liberals have been abusing the press and free speech.

AAR

AAR-
"Strange things happen in times of war when we are trying to protect America and trying to save American lives."

Strange things?
You mean like a president going from a 90% approval rating to a low low low 33% approval rating in the middle of that war? Check it out, just today, he's now again on the downhill side his 3rd? Or is it his 4th "Bush bounce"?

Now on we go, Lincoln’s suspension of habeas corpus was his worst decision and as stated in your example you admit it was a violation of the Constitution.

"copperhead democrats began criticizing Lincoln's violation of the Constitution"

Now on to some more rationality, this isn't 1862, Bush is no Lincoln, and the country isn't in open revolt against itself. That is unless you view your impending loss at the polls as a revolt. You may believe so but it's not. Your little dreams of an America run solely by conservatives and their apologists isn't going to be. Lieberman was just your canary in the political coalmine, and his fate will soon become the fate of many conservatists in the congress and senate. If I were you, I'd worry a little more about the track record of your party rather than seeing it's misfortunes as the result of a nefarious campaign run by a secret cabal of progressives. You've been in power for 12 years and in total power for 6 years and all that negativity and misfortune that has befallen you recently is of your own making. No one did it to you but you. You’re supposed to be the party of personal responsibility; it's time you start taking some. If your critics point out your failings that's not treason that's just fact. You want cheerleaders? Go play football.

Well, Leftorium...

Your activist liberal judges violate and rewrite the Constitution all the time so that should not be a problem to liberals [progressives]!

Libbies haven't figured it out yet, but a president is limited by the Constitution to two terms. Maybe you'd better let your left wing fliers in on the secret that President Bush isn't running in 2008!

RE: "You’re supposed to be the party of personal responsibility; it's time you start taking some."

I take it as my personal responsibility to do all I can to help liberals get on the next flight to France or wherever else they want to go as long as they just go... and take their idiotic social engineering agenda and their anti-religious, anti-Christian, anti-family, anti-Constitution, anti-American, anti-military, pro-terrorist, pro-illegal immigration, pro-voter fraud, pro-U.N. goals and objectives with them!!!

AAR

"I take it as my personal responsibility to do all I can to help liberals get on the next flight to France or wherever else they want to go as long as they just go." AAR

Well we do appreciate all your'e doing to put us in the congress and eventually the Whitehouse with your stupid actions. Please keep up the horrible work.