tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post5748515505672673050..comments2024-03-28T17:12:36.615-05:00Comments on Althouse: "While the stealth war began in the Bush administration, it has expanded under President Obama, who rose to prominence in part for his early opposition to the invasion of Iraq."Ann Althousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01630636239933008807noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-29806819066496382072010-08-15T18:48:10.051-05:002010-08-15T18:48:10.051-05:00Youngblood: I'm not really against secret wars...Youngblood: <i>I'm not really against secret wars. My problem is that the CIA has be historically pretty bad when it comes to actually winning them.</i><br /><br />The trouble with secret wars is that the only ones who don't know what's going on are the people in whose name they they are being conducted--the American people. The people being targeted, on the other hand, know full well there's a war against them.<br /><br />I hate it when the American people are the last to know anything (or that some people argue that it's good for us not to know).Genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10438099877519107411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-90858576752743223832010-08-15T15:40:46.967-05:002010-08-15T15:40:46.967-05:00Obama strikes me as the anti-LBJ. Rather than medd...<i>Obama strikes me as the anti-LBJ. Rather than meddling in every detail of a war, he divorces himself entirely from it.</i><br /><br />He already established himself as the anti-JFK so he can't be both.<br /><br />No BHO is as ruthlessly partisan and sneaky as LBJ.chickelithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10773887469972534979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-78645952371165796832010-08-15T15:39:24.040-05:002010-08-15T15:39:24.040-05:00Macho said,
Never try to outsmart a Sicilian and ...Macho said,<br /><br /><i>Never try to outsmart a Sicilian and never start a ground war in Yemen.</i><br /><br />The actual quote is, <b>"never get involved in a land war in Asia" - but only slightly less well-known is this: "Never go against a Sicilian when death is on the line"!</b><br /><br />From one of the greatest movies EVAR!DaLawGiverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07527161835297956435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-42272486144277256962010-08-15T15:03:27.067-05:002010-08-15T15:03:27.067-05:00Obama strikes me as the anti-LBJ. Rather than medd...Obama strikes me as the anti-LBJ. Rather than meddling in every detail of a war, he divorces himself entirely from it. This wouldn't be a bad thing except for the tendency of the military to fuck things up and get lots of people killed in the process.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04450897654318345683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-87683443796211140882010-08-15T13:07:26.699-05:002010-08-15T13:07:26.699-05:00The funniest bit is that the NYT seems to expect t...The funniest bit is that the NYT seems to expect that Republicans would be trying to interfere with covert action. It's only Democrats who are traitors by nature. Republican politicians and supporters will be cheering these actions on with the vast majority simply arguing that not enough is being done, more attacks, in more countries, with an utterly ruthless approach needs to be taken.<br /><br />The primary complaint of Republicans would be that any staff are talking to an avowed terrorist propaganda arm in an attempt to derail this operation (namely the NYT), and that no one has taken effective action for this treasonous publication despite decades of assistance in crimes against humanity.<br /><br />Good to see Mike Vickers playing a major role in the covert war. He was critical in Afghanistan in the 80s and combines malevolent ruthlessness with deep experience. Surprised that the Kos/jihad wing of the Democratic party hasn't had him removed for being too effective.<br /><br />Also, since when do any American soldiers anywhere get treated according to the Geneva Conventions? The last conflict where that was adhered to with any reliability was WWI.Heyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08333291654356970407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-22179580688875042922010-08-15T13:01:39.814-05:002010-08-15T13:01:39.814-05:00HDHouse,
You do realize that the bombings and port...HDHouse,<br />You do realize that the bombings and port minings is what led the NV to take the peace talks seriously, right?exhelodrvr1https://www.blogger.com/profile/15874052265934108903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-24820045432690190162010-08-15T12:09:45.563-05:002010-08-15T12:09:45.563-05:00Big Mike, do! We'll have some beignets.Big Mike, do! We'll have some beignets.Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16774002797359859550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-35852469248444219992010-08-15T12:08:01.070-05:002010-08-15T12:08:01.070-05:00Y'know, while we have this shadow war thingie ...<i>Y'know, while we have this shadow war thingie going on, how about a Predator drone for that Wikileaks asswipe, Julian Assange?</i><br /><br />Rest easy, we have a STA Team on it.Fenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16734571593963330215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-85325796252165561822010-08-15T11:57:24.848-05:002010-08-15T11:57:24.848-05:00@Beth, I swear, if I ever get back down to Nawleen...@Beth, I swear, if I ever get back down to Nawleens I <i>have</i> to look you up.Big Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15831645119853118904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-31616198662817243452010-08-15T10:46:15.335-05:002010-08-15T10:46:15.335-05:00HDHouse said...
What a nice set of scary comments...HDHouse said...<br /><br />What a nice set of scary comments to read first thing on Sunday morning. Permit me to summarize:<br /><br /><i>1. Obama is damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.</i><br /><br />Just like some guy called Dubya<br /><br /><i>2. We can agree with him or not but some will hate him no matter what.</i><br /><br />It's what the Lefties do best.<br /><br /><i>3. Secret wars are fine but only if you agree with them.</i><br /><br />What did HD have to say when the Gray Lady was leaking everything in sight five years ago?<br /><br /><i>4. The NYTimes is the enemy.</i><br /><br />By George, I think he's got it.<br /><br /><i><b>Beldar said...<br />@ Pollo (8/14/10 10:17 PM): The parallel wouldn't be to LBJ, but to Nixon (who launched secret wars in Cambodia & Laos). Just Google "Kent State massacre."</b><br /><br />Why don't you talk to people who were alive and active back then..there are a few of us you know...and the Nixon Wars were cross border bombings for the most part against a well armed and organized traditional army that fought any number of battles that the commanders could understand. That they didn't get insurgent warfare and we just tried to bomb them into submission with no gain or positive result brought about the discontent - that and Nixon was a criminal and a liar.</i><br /><br />Nixon Wars????<br /><br />There was only one I remember.<br /><br />Beldar is right on the money.<br /><br />Only the bombings were done covertly. The 'incursion', as it was called, was widely reported and the Lefties were outraged.<br /><br />After Tet, it should be noted, Vietnam was a largely conventional war and HD's regurgitated propaganda of "That they didn't get insurgent warfare and we just tried to bomb them into submission with no gain or positive result brought about the discontent - that and Nixon was a criminal and a liar" is the standard Leftist tripe of the day.<br /><br />PS Truth in advertising: I was a senior at Villanova at the time, so I remember it quite well.<br /><br />PPS For an interesting take on what some of the troops thought of Kent State, try the book, "Charlie Rangers", about one of the LRRP companies.edutcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15589958656028023357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-60808387278912413912010-08-15T10:43:48.394-05:002010-08-15T10:43:48.394-05:00it's not unusual for a President whose domesti...<i>it's not unusual for a President whose domestic policies are failing to try to turn the spotlight on foreign successes.</i><br /><br />That was my first thought, Big Mike. After days of "Obama is a big secret Muslim!" this story conveniently changes the news cycle to "Obama is kicking Muslim ass!"Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16774002797359859550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-91764978770927508422010-08-15T10:39:05.949-05:002010-08-15T10:39:05.949-05:00I understand the position that fighting a war with...I understand the position that fighting a war without telling anyone and without Congressional approval seems to be illegal.<br /><br />My response is that a war where all the legal requirements were met (Iraq) was STILL declared illegal by many of the same people who complain about covert operations in Yemen.<br /><br />"Illegal war" is a phrase that has lost any meaning except to identify the accuser as a certain kind of tiresome leftist. To these people, wars can never, ever be legal because there's always someone who objects.<br /><br />That said, the power of the executive to wage secret wars without Congress approving (and maybe they did approve it- secretly) IS something to be worried about. Yemen may not rise top that level. The NYT seems to be in the same league as those who used to rail about "Plan Columbia" (which worked).NotWhoIUsedtoBehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14568355742926021406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-62022582741344291382010-08-15T10:29:54.481-05:002010-08-15T10:29:54.481-05:00Y'all are missing my point about LBJ. Johnson ...Y'all are missing my point about LBJ. Johnson was the one who reversed Kennedy's draw down in forces in Vietnam despite telling the American people that "American boys shouldn't fight Asian boy's wars." Try googling the number of troops sent to Vietnam beginning in 1965. That was stealth war.<br /><br /><br /><br /><i>I was told if I voted for Goldwater we would be at war in six months. I did and we were</i><br /><br />William Manchester <i>The Glory and the Dream</i> p. 1031chickelithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10773887469972534979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-90602752237864936532010-08-15T10:23:11.650-05:002010-08-15T10:23:11.650-05:00Instead of “the hammer,” in the words of John O. B...<i>Instead of “the hammer,” in the words of John O. Brennan, President Obama’s top counterterrorism adviser, America will rely on the “scalpel.”</i><br /><br />Unfortunately on the ground and in the house that experiences the "scalpel" it feels like a "hammer".<br /><br />And the you can bring in a photographer, take some wonderful pictures and then write a story that appeals to the entrenched biases of the "Arab street"<br /><br />Its a messy businessPhil 314https://www.blogger.com/profile/04133300763922742206noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-9055131009437176192010-08-15T10:21:31.669-05:002010-08-15T10:21:31.669-05:00@El Pollo, I second the motion. How about it Profe...@El Pollo, I second the motion. How about it Professor? Shouldn't you be adding an "Obama is like LBJ" to your set of tags?<br /><br />@Balfegor, some of these leaks originate in the Oval Office, or at least happen with the tacit approval of the man who sits behind the Resolute desk. In this case, the al Qaeda members in Yemen and the Yemeni government certainly knows what's going on, so this leak may be political -- it's not unusual for a President whose domestic policies are failing to try to turn the spotlight on foreign successes. But you're right -- the relevant members of the House and Senate are certainly aware of what's going on in Yemen. Any statement to the contrary is merely Kabuki theater.<br /><br />@HD, number 4 is always right.Big Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15831645119853118904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-38346525816598511112010-08-15T10:13:00.404-05:002010-08-15T10:13:00.404-05:00...Nixon was a criminal and a liar.
Amen. I had t...<i>...Nixon was a criminal and a liar.</i><br /><br />Amen. I had the pleasure of protesting against Nixon himself at a Billy Graham Crusade days after the Cambodia bombing in 1971. My father was part of the group of protesters also and was arrested for disturbing a religious service. He was later exonerated from all charges.<br /><br />Nixon didn't just hurt the GOP. He hurt the entire political system by playing the politics of division as well as being a crook and a liar.DADvocatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04621021178600799126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-60727942543511738362010-08-15T10:12:11.880-05:002010-08-15T10:12:11.880-05:00In which we find once again that for Democrats the...In which we find once again that for Democrats there is no principle but power. <br /><br />They say things like 'US out of Iraq' not because <i>they</i> believe the words, but because the masses do. There is no aim but state power, there are no beliefs but state power. All else flows from that.KCFleminghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00124201866124646626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-43453106107002646282010-08-15T09:54:13.500-05:002010-08-15T09:54:13.500-05:00This comes out just as another blogger I read said...This comes out just as <a href="http://hurricaneradio.blogspot.com/2010/08/still-proudly-voting.html" rel="nofollow">another blogger</a> I read said he was still going to vote for Obama because a vote for the GOP was "is a vote for global warfare" among other things. I wonder if a Dem backed global war is OK.DADvocatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04621021178600799126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-7123933467928336662010-08-15T09:35:12.130-05:002010-08-15T09:35:12.130-05:00Amazing how complex this Hitler/Muslim president i...Amazing how complex this Hitler/Muslim president is to continue secret missions to kill our real enemy--Al Qaeda.roesch-voltairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802616989806761662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-449888829256633292010-08-15T09:11:53.276-05:002010-08-15T09:11:53.276-05:00I've got news for the New York Times. Stealth ...I've got news for the New York Times. <i>Stealth war</i> started before Bush.AllenShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08848966772462502893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-62434606969141360172010-08-15T08:53:10.471-05:002010-08-15T08:53:10.471-05:00When Bush does a thing he's a war criminal and...When Bush does a thing he's a war criminal and tyrant. When Obama does the same thing, but more of it (Yemen, drone strikes, Patriot Act...), he's a healer and Peace Prize winner.<br /><br />Liberals are the stupidest, basest people on Earth.Lincolntfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04620264736967842427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-31552249332789539422010-08-15T08:26:51.193-05:002010-08-15T08:26:51.193-05:00edutcher: I do believe The Zero really gets off on...edutcher: <i>I do believe The Zero really gets off on the almost-absolute power being CinC gives him.</i><br /><br />beldar: <i>I have zero confidence in Obama's judgment on such matters, and indeed, I profoundly distrust it: It's almost impossible that anyone as obviously naive as he is about the entire world and America's role in it could exercise sound judgment.</i><br /><br />Thank goodness some of you are still awake. While it may look as if O is doing something right, don't forget everything we know about him. He is not wise enough for this job. Has he done anything so far to make you confident that he knows what he's doing? No. <br /><br />Do we have any reason to think that he has matured during the last couple of years? No.<br /><br />Do we have any reason to think that he's really paying attention to what is going on? No.<br /><br />Don't forget that.prairie windhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13602315347389233974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-39543221975871846112010-08-15T08:11:56.110-05:002010-08-15T08:11:56.110-05:00This exposure of Obama as a commander in a war aga...This exposure of Obama as a commander in a war against Al Quaeda by the NYT does portend a Democrat/Clinton rising from within the soon to be decimated Democrat political class. At this rate of weakening, the Jeb Bushites will soon make their play. Hold on to your hats, Tea Partiers. The number of serious writers in the media using you as a pawn in their game to define other candidates as superior to everything Palin is about to suddenly increase. Also, good job Obama.traditionalguyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05706120413005530014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-8634217110048525572010-08-15T08:02:43.282-05:002010-08-15T08:02:43.282-05:00Seven Machos wrote:
Every day that we do not suffe...Seven Machos wrote:<br />Every day that we do not suffer an attack against our interests at home or abroad and every scumbag terrorist douche we kill is now a credit to the Obama administration.<br /><br />I do not like President Obama politically, but we let's never complain when the man does something we approve of.<br /><br><br />I think in fact Obama does need to be criticized, even if he ultimately ends up doing what we want to do in the War On Terror. If his actions cause the far left to have fits, all the better (though in truth I think many of them are only outraged if the actions are done by a conservative, so are not in fact arguing from a moral position). However, he and the democrats have relentlessy demagogued Bush at every turn, trying to undermine our wars, particularly in Iraq, and trying to deligitimize our armed forces and the occasional need for the use of force to deal with issues. And they should never be allowed to get away with it. Their villainy should be thrown in their face again and again.<br />That being said, IF, and its a big IF, OBama does actually continue with the war on terror, expands operations and doesn't leave theaters of operations in defeat he'll probably find that his enemies on the right end up being his biggest supporters on this one issue.jr565https://www.blogger.com/profile/07630491937904835553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-72358878408324453862010-08-15T07:56:14.952-05:002010-08-15T07:56:14.952-05:00Every day that we do not suffer an attack against ...<i>Every day that we do not suffer an attack against our interests at home or abroad and every scumbag terrorist douche we kill is now a credit to the Obama administration.<br /><br />I do not like President Obama politically, but we let's never complain when the man does something we approve of.</i><br /><br />The only trouble with this thinking is that people then think it's the president to blame when the terrorists hit us. And the will hit us again. It's not realistic to expect that we won't get hit. <br /><br />As much as I think Bush was not intelligent enough to be President I don't blame him for 9/11. I don't think there was anything anyone could do to prevent that.sakredkowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15652250985982301492noreply@blogger.com