tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post5500472634644473328..comments2024-03-28T06:28:37.721-05:00Comments on Althouse: "If you are a literal type of person who doesn’t recognize hyperbole or humor, I can see how this situation looks scary."Ann Althousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01630636239933008807noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-89239501689889298432018-01-04T11:56:35.159-06:002018-01-04T11:56:35.159-06:00First, I'm not sure that Adams can confidently...First, I'm not sure that Adams can confidently say whether Kim Jong-un understands hyperbole or irony.<br /><br />Second, I'm still waiting for the Trump that Adams sees to show himself. His explanation for all Trump's actions and words have been; it's a clever ruse to rile up snowflakes, or set the stage for some future deal. It's been 3 years now, where's the payoff? Adams will be waiting another three years for Trump to spring his crafty trap.bridgecrosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10997720600019428999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-11260762118165151212018-01-04T09:24:53.923-06:002018-01-04T09:24:53.923-06:00Adam's is a smart guy that does not know his l...Adam's is a smart guy that does not know his limits. Kansas Scouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15744438882831933314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-1305332945488920452018-01-04T07:50:52.211-06:002018-01-04T07:50:52.211-06:00@Big Mike:
You have some sort of proof of this ag...<b>@Big Mike:</b><br /><br /><i>You have some sort of proof of this against-the-conventional-wisdom assertion, perhaps?</i><br /><br />Hezbollah is confined to Lebanon, a country of six million people. It has no air force, and its military wing is focused almost exclusively on Israel. I would recommend <a href="http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/hezbollah-is-not-a-threat-to-america/" rel="nofollow">Hezbollah is Not a Threat to America</a> by Sharmine Narwani in <i>The American Conservative</i>.<br /><br /><b>@Birkel:</b><br /><br /><i>But who has time for Smug?</i><br /><br />You sure seem to.J. Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09118902560282089997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-45417263005563642018-01-04T03:39:21.029-06:002018-01-04T03:39:21.029-06:00"i can only imagine what the usual suspects o...<i>"i can only imagine what the usual suspects on Althouse would say if Obama had said it. The unanimous reaction would be that he is mentally unstable and unfit to serve. "</i><br /><br />Isn't the same true of almost any Trump tweet?<br /><br />It's crazy enough when Trump says this stuff, and Trump is famous for his crazy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-38395948210601420952018-01-03T23:00:06.367-06:002018-01-03T23:00:06.367-06:00The Army of God (Hez b'Allah) does not bother ...The Army of God (Hez b'Allah) does not bother Smug.<br /><br />Those other people of some indeterminate religious stripe do.<br /><br />Smug is also coy, at need.Birkelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14205292523499913507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-45474809499197103022018-01-03T21:52:12.729-06:002018-01-03T21:52:12.729-06:00Hezbollah is a very minor power in the region
You...<i>Hezbollah is a very minor power in the region</i><br /><br />You have some sort of proof of this against-the-conventional-wisdom assertion, perhaps?Big Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15831645119853118904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-62702114964580135212018-01-03T21:38:09.152-06:002018-01-03T21:38:09.152-06:00I negotiate for a living. So does (did) Trump. S...I negotiate for a living. So does (did) Trump. So does Kim Jong Un and his late father Kim Jong Il. <br /><br />One of the strategies at the negotiating table is "the crazy guy" and the Kim Jongs have been playing that strategy for years. <br /><br />Long before the Norks developed nuclear weapons, the Kim Jongs screamed that they would unleash a (conventional) missile barrage against South Korea if not left alone. When Clinton and Dubya unsuccessfully tried to deal with the Korean crisis that was the threat. And ultimately the West bowed to those threats - allowing the Norks time to develop nukes.<br /><br />The Kim Jongs have in other words successfully played the crazy guy strategy for decades, like a guy pointing a pistol at an innocent hostage and screaming, "I'll pull the trigger, I will!" While everyone keeps telling them not to pull the trigger on their pistol, they use the time to build a rifle.<br /><br />Now along comes Trump, who knows how to negotiate (unlike Clinton, Dubya and especially unlike Obama). Trump decides to change the dynamic by playing the crazy guy himself. "You have a rifle? I have a machine gun. Let's see who's more crazy."<br /><br />The result? Kim Jong Un calls South Korea on the emergency line and starts talking about appearing at the Olympics. Let's watch and see... but often the best response at the negotiating table to the Crazy Guy strategy is: "I'll Show You Crazy!"Lucienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07179764534248144368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-74178052605696977502018-01-03T20:36:14.064-06:002018-01-03T20:36:14.064-06:00Smug: "...Israeli occupation..."
Smug h...Smug: "...Israeli occupation..."<br /><br />Smug has opinions that some people are worse than other people based on a factor that can be ascertained if one tries. But who has time for Smug?Birkelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14205292523499913507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-69967658988296320612018-01-03T18:55:55.814-06:002018-01-03T18:55:55.814-06:00What are the signs of a "serious risk of coll...What are the signs of a "serious risk of collapse?"<br /><br /><br />The things the CIA ignored and Ronnie told them to look at with the Soviets.<br /><br />Then the pushing commences.<br /><br />Do the SorKs have the money?<br /><br />We can feed them but the psychological disaster is immense. Seeing Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338495289040972548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-67187574572283958982018-01-03T18:49:54.982-06:002018-01-03T18:49:54.982-06:00the usual suspects on Althouse would say if Obama ...the usual suspects on Althouse would say if Obama had said it. The unanimous reaction would be that he is mentally unsta<br /><br /><br />That he finally had a set of balls and we don't bow to anyone like he did as president.<br /><br />But he never would have because that's not him. He led from behind.Seeing Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338495289040972548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-22130878179544822462018-01-03T18:38:52.852-06:002018-01-03T18:38:52.852-06:00@Achilles:
If you haven't noticed the hardlin...<b>@Achilles:</b><br /><br /><i>If you haven't noticed the hardliners in Saudi Arabia are being purged and the current regime is openly talking about modernizing Islam. </i><br /><br />No, the regime is not "openly talking about modernizing Islam." It is attempting to modernize its economy away from oil and is attempting to come to terms with its financial difficulties. But the Saudi regime has been trying to do this unsuccessfully. Those being "purged" are not "hardliners" but various factions mostly among various Saudi princelings in the Crown Prince's efforts to consolidate his power and access to the throne upon his aging father's death. <br /><br /><i>Iran is supporting and funding directly Hezbollah, Syria, the Houthi's, and several other destabilizing groups in the ME. </i><br /><br />Hezbollah is a very minor power in the region that's power is almost totally centered in Lebanon and its primary obsession is the Israeli occupation. Syria did not destabilize the Middle East until outside forces began funding, arming, and supporting various radical salafi jihadist groups to wage war against the Assad regime. Iranian support for the Houthis is legible, and again the Houthis are concentrated almost entirely in Yemen and are marginal actors on the international stage. The fruitless destructive Saudi war against Yemen is a prime example of Saudi Arabia being infinitely more destabilizing for the region. Not to mention, as part of Saudi Arabis' war against Yemen, it has made common cause with and has provided support to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which is also waging a war in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has also supported various radical Islamic groups in Iraq, the Balkans, and Central Asia, not to mention being the primary funder and force for spreading Wahabbism in the Muslim world. And on top of Saudi Arabia's destructive influence abroad, it is an absolute monarchy that practices extrajudicial murders and police state practices. The average Muslim woman is much better off in Iran than she is in Saudi Arabia.<br /><br /><b>@Michael K:</b><br /><br /><i>I have quit responding to Farmer but I will say the the Saudis, a few of whom funded terrorism against us, have not been sending troops and shaped charge weapons against us in Iraq.</i><br /><br />A large part of the foreign Iraqi insurgency were in fact Saudis. They also provided support for Sunni forces in Iraq that did attack and kill American soldiers. J. Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09118902560282089997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-50104589392413176762018-01-03T18:11:50.839-06:002018-01-03T18:11:50.839-06:00I have quit responding to Farmer but I will say th...I have quit responding to Farmer but I will say the the Saudis, a few of whom funded terrorism against us, have not been sending troops and shaped charge weapons against us in Iraq.Michael Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18127450762129879267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-54348551778905394222018-01-03T17:19:36.650-06:002018-01-03T17:19:36.650-06:00J. Farmer said...
How is the Islamic Republic qua...J. Farmer said...<br /><br /><b>How is the Islamic Republic quantitatively or qualitatively worse than, say, the Saudis?</b><br /><br />If you haven't noticed the hardliners in Saudi Arabia are being purged and the current regime is openly talking about modernizing Islam. It is allied with Israel for all intents and purposes and is pushing for regional stability. <br /><br />Iran is supporting and funding directly Hezbollah, Syria, the Houthi's, and several other destabilizing groups in the ME. Saudi Arabia has pulled their support of the Palestinians and ISIS. <br /><br />As of recently Saudi Arabia is infinitely better. <br /><br />Achilleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04109507896997459818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-66244796074715984352018-01-03T16:30:18.578-06:002018-01-03T16:30:18.578-06:00Bannon’s speaking now, as a matter of fact he’s sp...<i>Bannon’s speaking now, as a matter of fact he’s spilling his guts!</i><br /><br />And it's just a big yawn. I'm sure his publisher demanded the inside dirt to really boost sales.<br /><br />There is nothing new here.Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01422170816604378287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-80388662613290803272018-01-03T15:47:25.803-06:002018-01-03T15:47:25.803-06:00Jew hater.Jew hater.Jon Ericsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05548597217632737704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-31977977335807541922018-01-03T14:45:06.946-06:002018-01-03T14:45:06.946-06:00Smug has opinions.Smug has opinions.Birkelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14205292523499913507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-91539832766971211842018-01-03T14:11:50.876-06:002018-01-03T14:11:50.876-06:00@Achilles:
Citation please. The movement lasted n...<b>@Achilles:</b><br /><br /><i>Citation please. The movement lasted nearly a month and ended with thousands of people imprisoned and tortured. Just as today it occurred in many cities.</i><br /><br />Where do you think the "green" came from? It was the color for Mir-Hossein Mousavi's presidential campaign, which he lost to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. That many of Mousavi's followers believed that the election was a fraud was the genesis of the Green Movement, whose main demand was for the removal of Ahmadinejad and the installation of Mousavi as President of Iran. Mousavi is a reformist politician, but he still ultimately supports the Islamic Republic.<br /><br /><i>Not sure why you support the Mullahs so enthusiastically.</i><br /><br />First, even if I did "support the Mullahs so enthusiastically," it would make no difference to whether anything I wrote was right or wrong, correct or incorrect, logical or illogical. Second, it is an obviously absurd charge. Third, I challenge you to quote a single thing I have ever written that could be construed as "support" for the Mullahs, enthusiastic or otherwise.<br /><br /><i>It would be nearly impossible for the following regime to be any worse.</i><br /><br />How is the Islamic Republic quantitatively or qualitatively worse than, say, the Saudis?J. Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09118902560282089997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-5613406139510006902018-01-03T14:05:02.968-06:002018-01-03T14:05:02.968-06:00According to Steve Uhr, the islamists are killing ...According to Steve Uhr, the islamists are killing their own people who want greater freedom but its obama that is hardest hit.<br /><br />Thanks for that hit take Steve.Dragohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04079148433908004715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-63295048130353066942018-01-03T13:43:02.039-06:002018-01-03T13:43:02.039-06:00J. Farmer said...
So what? The Green Revolution w...J. Farmer said...<br /><br /><b>So what? The Green Revolution was surrounding the support of a particular presidential candidate. It was not a widespread mass movement for overthrowing the regime.</b><br /><br />Citation please. The movement lasted nearly a month and ended with thousands of people imprisoned and tortured. Just as today it occurred in many cities. <br /><br />Not sure why you support the Mullahs so enthusiastically. Anything that came after them would be better for the world. It would be nearly impossible for the following regime to be any worse.Achilleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04109507896997459818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-23520587334921231422018-01-03T13:39:32.286-06:002018-01-03T13:39:32.286-06:00Except for Obamacare Except for Obamacare Lem the artificially intelligent https://www.blogger.com/profile/03569712564034666751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-61458016429270906022018-01-03T13:38:28.670-06:002018-01-03T13:38:28.670-06:00Scott’s predictions have been very good, so far.Scott’s predictions have been very good, so far.Lem the artificially intelligent https://www.blogger.com/profile/03569712564034666751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-15159330293113109312018-01-03T13:31:29.039-06:002018-01-03T13:31:29.039-06:00What are the signs of a "serious risk of coll...<i>What are the signs of a "serious risk of collapse?...This is wholly up to China. North Korea collapses tomorrow if China pulls the plug. China keeps the oil flowing and the food on the shelves.</i><br /><br />We conditioned NK to threaten nuclear every time they were in need. It hasn't worked this time and I suspect they are starving. We've had the trickle of evidence of skeleton fishermen and guards ricking their lives to run across the border. Given how the MSM media and government leakers are busy trying to get Trump they're too busy to inquire about additional intelligence the United States may have on the current state of affairs in NK but I'd hypothesize US officials might know more than is being reported.rehajmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554135440560051175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-67913243719933019592018-01-03T13:22:35.085-06:002018-01-03T13:22:35.085-06:00@Michael K:
For one thing, Farmer, your source is...<b>@Michael K:</b><br /><br /><i>For one thing, Farmer, your source is 12 years old and that probably predates a lot of the corruption that has affected religiosity.</i><br /><br />What corruption began within the last 12 years that did not exist previously? Also, you do not have any evidence of an affect on "religiosity." The only metric you have cited is a decline in Friday congregation attendance. And there is plenty of evidence that there has not been any significant decline in religiosity among Iranians. <br /><br /><i>Remember the Green Revolution was three years after that publication date,</i><br /><br />So what? The Green Revolution was surrounding the support of a particular presidential candidate. It was not a widespread mass movement for overthrowing the regime.<br /><br />J. Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09118902560282089997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-46856098797468815112018-01-03T13:16:23.824-06:002018-01-03T13:16:23.824-06:00@William:
The kind of psycho who becomes absolute...<b>@William:</b><br /><br /><i>The kind of psycho who becomes absolute dictator of a third world country is not the kind of person who recognizes the limits of power.</i><br /><br />I do not think that is very accurate. Qadaffi is a prime example. Deterrence works. <br /><br /><i>There's a downside for China in sharing a border with a nuclear armed psycho.</i><br /><br />China has more to worry about a nuclear North Korea than we do for sure.J. Farmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09118902560282089997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-80131648266887922532018-01-03T13:15:11.382-06:002018-01-03T13:15:11.382-06:00For one thing, Farmer, your source is 12 years old...For one thing, Farmer, your source is 12 years old and that probably predates a lot of the corruption that has affected religiosity.<br /><br />Remember the Green Revolution was three years after that publication date,Michael Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18127450762129879267noreply@blogger.com