Letters to the Editor
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armchair freud
I'll bet they all skipped PE because they didn't want to shower with other men.
If, and only if, we're going to play armchair Frued (I kinda hate Freud) then I'd like to play, too:
I bet they also secretly want to watch Jenna Haze do it with Mr. Marcus.
Sorry for the porn reference. We were talking about it at Orcinus, so I've got it on the brain.
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maybe I should add
So you don't have to go wading through smut to understand my allusion and joke, here's some background info:
Jenna Haze is about 4 ft 11, 95 pounds.
Mr. Marcus is about 6ft something, black, and ... well, you know the rest.
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dcutler
Bluffing is not a good idea. You do not threaten such things, if you do not intend to follow through or you risk looking REALLY weak. If your bluff is called, you are like the boy who cried wolf.
In addition, is there no way that gasoline could not come in overland or through pipelines to Iran? Just asking.
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"YOU are very good."...
He opined and submitted.
Classic..Gingrich as your (neo)classical wimpy-sexual-person-wannabe speaks that way...
"....every foreign policy issue with themes of dominance, submission and humiliation as the centerpiece..
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Saber Rattling
"...in about 30 days, everybody in your country will be walking."
Save for the 15 hostages. What makes these people so willing to see others die?
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Phallic Insecurity
Our best hope is to find a way to make such appeals to assuaging mascuine anxiety less satisfying.
http://vernonlee.blogspot.com/2007/04/speaking-softly-and-carrying-small.html
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D Butler
The idea is Newt says this is what he would SAY to the Iranians, not necessarily what he would do.
I can assure you that is NOT what he is advocating. Nobody would recommend a policy of issuing threats accompanied by demands, and then not following through if the demands are not met.
And I would absolutely expect the Iranians NOT to comply with those demands if they were accmopanised by such threats. Nothing would be more damaging to the U.S. than if we did a naval blockade and took out their gas refineries in response to something like this. That is completely insane.
Also, Blair said expressly he did NOT do that - so unless you think he's outright lying, and I don't, that is not what got these sailors released.
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We've heard why not, Newt...
Also, Blair said expressly he did NOT do that - so unless you think he's outright lying, and I don't, that is not what got these sailors released.
-- GlennGreenwald
Then what did?
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Glenn
Great article. I find myself coming to your section more and more on Salon.
I think the attitude of "gotta prove i'm #1" that the neocons maintain for every perceived provocation, manufactured or otherwise, stems from a deeper issue. For centuries the West has diminished the Islamic and specifically Persian/Iranian influence on Western thought and culture. I watched a recent Persian Empire special on The History Channel , and I was stunned that one of the interspersed 'facts' in the show stated: "Discovered in 1931, Persepolis is one of the last archaeological excavations that dates back to the ancient world."
That 'fact' can only be taken to mean no human mind had known of the ruins of Persepolis, as if locals had no mind. it has a terribly demeaning quality to it, which i think is in total opposition to what being an American is all about.
One of the great thing about America, and it is one of the great things about portions of the history of Iran, is that it represents a coming together, a form of cooperation to ensure everyone's liberty and humanity. You always express the sentiment just right about these animals that have usurped the USA for their own twisted version of reality, Glenn. I'll be checking in on what you have to say more and more.
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Be careful what you think about them wishing for
but what if they really got their wish? What if they really got a super-warrior who always resorted to cruise missiles and so forth whenever there was any sort of conflict of interest to be found?
Desert Son
Froomkin is reporting that The New York Sun is starting a draft Cheney in '08 movement.
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the wusses become the bullies...
Yeah, these guys are just like the classic high-school bully.
But, what do you think they were in High School? I'm guessing they're the guys who barely got out of gym class alive... I'm sure there are a few exceptions, but Newt and Grover, and all the rest of them act like a bunch of wusses who now get to act like bullies.
It's about as pathetic as it could be. Too bad they have to take out their neurotic problems on the entire planet... we'd all be better off if they'd just go see a good shrink for awhile.
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Update
Beside the fact that those at the NRO are certifiably insane, how could the outcome of the hostage issue be considered anything other than a success?
He got the soldiers released, unharmed, within a relatively quick amount of time!
NRO's and Newt's proposed actions would do nothing but ensure that those soldiers were killed. But, it just goes to show, they don't care about anything but bloodshed, toughness and threats, even if it is clear that the exact opposite is exactly what was successful here. And, they're looking for justifications of that attitude.
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Why Engage in Dialogue
When dialogue humanizes the enemy?
If you don't display the enemies face, then the ENEMY can always be the ENEMY. You need not negotiate with a faceless, nameless, adversary. Until now, that worked with GWOT because the enemy was every face, and every name (even Americans). But now, when we're toe to toe with a nation. A real nation, a nation that has considerable influence, to engage in dialogue is to humanize them. And that, Republicans can never do. To them, you're only human if you worship Christ and sing God Bless America every time you pass a flag.
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Scooter
Then what did?
Iran's knowledge that the whole world is watching, and that by behaving civilly, even in the face of ongoing American agression, they stand to win over support from the rest of the world. By adhering to basic norms recognized by civilized people everywhere, Iran gains credibility on the world stage, while America loses further support as it continues to play the part of Evil Empire. Because guys like you run our foreign policy right now, and behave like frightened little cowards who need to continually show the world how tough and Large you all are, the world sees how truly small America has become under Bush's watch.
Your mystification at Iran's motives is exactly what I would expect from you. I'm sure Bush is scratching his head right along with you over this starnge turn of events.