Letters to the Editor
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Is Chaos the Plan?
Glenn,
Day after day, you put your finger on the pulse of what is happening to our nation in these fateful times. I don't know how you do it except to think you must've tapped into the heart of the problem. I hope your readership and influence grows day by day, and we can correct course as a nation. Thank you.
I want to ask you to consider reporting on the possibility that this adminstartion's Middle East policy may be to create chaos. I know it is far fetched but I can't rule it out for the following (off-the-top-of-the-head) reasons:
1- The people responsible for this ME policy are not stupid. Maybe the knew about- and wanted this quagmire, from days of "stuff happens" to the works of "coalition authority", to today. When I see the video of VP Cheney's interview in 1994, saying occupying Iraq will lead to a quagmire, I ask: why would someone who knows the perils of such an adventure still go ahead with it? He predicted, correctly, everything that has happened back in 1994. It is hard to imagine he un-learned it all by 2003.(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BEsZMvrq-I)
2- How could chaos in the ME benefit the US and allies? Chaotic, destabilized societies may produce more terrorists, but they will no longer have the ability to mobilize or produce WMD's. WMD's are the existential threat to our country, not terrorism. Proponents may argue that the rift between us and the Muslim ME is so large, and our interests there so critical, that we can not afford to see any centralized, stable government in ME. Chaos is the next best thing to wiping them off the face of the earth, AKA genocide, which is not politically or logistically possible. Chaos will make the whole middle East impotent, like the West Bank.
3- A winnable war with Iran is not logistically possible at this time. Why would anyone consider starting a war with Iran so close to the end of a lame duck adminstration? Maybe because it is possible to bomb Iran into chaos from the air and burn so many bridges that reconciliation becomes near impossible for generations.
4- Oil: it is possible to not only extract oil from these lands for our own use in the midst of chaos, but we could control the world economy by controlling oil flow (again, in the minds of proponents).
5- Nobody can stop the US military anywhere. It is an awsome force- about 100 times stronger than the next potential rival. I doubt anyone could stop the US, at least not militarily.
6- The wisdom of such a strategy may be suspect to people like us, but, there may be delusional, meglomaniacs in positions to put this wheel in motion. As you know, insanity and brilliance are just a hair apart. There are Dr. Strangelove's out there.
7- Posterity is something they talk about alot: "history will judge us well in time". As if the parts of the strategy they share with us, and the disasters we are witnessing, are not the whole story.
So, what are the chances chaos in the Middle East may be the policy? Would you care to comment on this at all?
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Glenn disagree and agree
“The only military assets consumed by Iraq are the Army and Marines. Our naval forces and air force are relatively free. Air attacks, naval blockades and aircraft carriers can do plenty of damage.”
Air Force resources are stretched more than the general public realizes. Military forces and resources move by air a lot because it is far faster than by sea. Air Force and Marine fighters off carriers are providing air-to-ground and close air support in both Iraq and Afghanistan. It takes a lot of resources in the region and Europe to keep operations going. Keeping carrier groups in the Persian Gulf also takes considerable manpower and resources. Where I agree, these forces are in place to attack Iran if ordered.
Due to the realities and results in Iraq, I would believe that there would be a sizable active duty uprising for anything but surgical strikes against nuclear facilities and I think there would be sizable reluctance to even do that because of the likelihood of a much larger conflict. Of course, with the zanies in our government, anything is possible.
A while back, I pointed out that Chris Mathews on Hardball was strongly against any attack on Iran from the moment of the Presidents State of the Union Address and junior’s comments on Iran. Either you or some other blogger should try to get on his show. Even though many appear to pretty much despise his show, it would provide a degree of visibility that your and other “liberal” views have earned and our nation vitally needs.
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I am censoring my self!
Retired? No-Retire-Military-Patriot, because my grandpa... who we kids affectionately called Bebop, would salute and drink a high-ball with you!
What you wrote @ 12:48, in the last GG post, seemed to come forth from a beautiful, yet, pained good heart. It 'hit' my inner-seat of inner emotion, and I said, Amen! All along... I scrolled and said, Wow, a Yow-a-loo--ya! Data's a Beautiful. That was a testimony!
I got scratch-notes written down from a busy day. I was listening to normal citizens, reading the Wa/Po etc., and I need to refrain...and NO say today? But Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow...is only a day away? I hope.
I will go head out to green and sandier pastures manana...gads...RMP, what NCO club do you loiter at? Free goat milk with bitter wormwood herb on me! Goats love grey leaf wormwood.
I wish I could tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help me Nature-God...but I am cooking swiss chard, onions, tomatoes, and a delicate balance of Various Item herbs to help me demythologize, enjoy, be satiated, be happy, and to understand the unforgivable creepies...Right? I need sleep, and y'all too. calm.
Gads, I sure wish I could say what is on my mind, today! The insect cicadas 'bugs' rub the legs like crazy...a shoo-coo-loco sound?
I need to masticate swiss chard.
I need to know. What's a romantic?