The American Spectator : They'll Put Afghanistan Back on the Front Page

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They'll Put Afghanistan Back on the Front Page

By Jed Babbin on 10.18.10 @ 6:08AM

Two congressional candidates are uniquely suited to lead a Republican reassessment of the Obama-led war.

Hope and change haven't taken root in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since Barack Obama took charge of the war, he has done nothing more than time-limit President Bush's nation-building strategy.

Republicans have, in misplaced loyalty to Bush, failed to analyze and criticize Obama's Nation-Building 2.0. They have gone along with Obama's strategy despite the increasingly obvious problems with it. But come January, two men who may be elected this year are uniquely suited to lead a Republican reassessment of the war and how Obama is handling it.

In Iraq, as the New York Times reported yesterday, the "Anbar Awakening" fighters who were the foundation stones of the temporary success of the counterinsurgency in the Sunni Triangle, are now reverting to the insurgency. The report quotes Awakening commander Bakr Karkhi saying that two dozen of his men have rejoined the insurgency in the last few weeks. It also quotes the Iraqi security forces commander in Diyala, Lt. Gen. Tariq al-Assawi saying, "The Awakening is not helping the police. They are not telling us if Al Qaeda is in the area. They are not warning us about car bombs that go off in places they are responsible for securing. A lot of them are definitely helping the insurgents."

Iraq, predictably, is disassembling itself in direct proportion to the reduction in American involvement.

And the nation-building effort in Afghanistan is not doing even that well. Iranian and Pakistani support for Taliban and al-Qaeda forces, and the deep-seated corruption of the Karzai government have -- despite American attacks that have killed many of the terrorist leaders -- prevented the strategy from working there. Reported peace talks between the Karzai government and the Taliban are, as they had to do, foundering.

After Obama's December 2009 announcement of his "surge" of troops into Afghanistan, he ordered a review of the Afghanistan strategy to be completed this December. That review would have enabled General Petraeus and the other military leaders to recommend, and get the president's approval, for changes to the strategy to ensure its success. But in a September 30 letter to congressional leaders, Obama wrote, "We are continuing to implement the policy as described in December and do not believe further adjustments are required at this time." By so doing, he has mooted the December review. There will be no change in strategy and no change in Obama's plan to begin withdrawing American forces from Afghanistan in July 2011.

Whatever the results of the December review -- and regardless of Obama's steadfast refusal to change the schedule for beginning the withdrawal -- Republicans must find their voice on the war. Whether or not they gain control of either house of Congress, they are duty-bound to publicly dissect Obama's strategy and recommend how it can be repaired. Two Republican candidates who may be elected in two weeks -- Army Lt. Col. Allen West and Marine Lt. Ilario Pantano -- by their experiences in the war should lead that public reexamination of the war.

Allen West -- running in Florida's 22nd district -- is a 20-year Army veteran who saw the counterinsurgency first-hand in Iraq. West, a civil-military affairs officer at the time, was accused of abusing a prisoner. The incident occurred when an Iraqi policeman, arrested for conspiring with the terrorists, refused to give information on a planned attack on West. Intervening in the interrogation, West held the man down and discharged his pistol into a sand-filled barrel next to where the man stood. As a result, the man divulged information that saved American lives. West immediately went to his commander's tent, woke him up, and told him what he had done. The political correctness police went after him, and he retired from the Army.

After retiring, West signed on as a civilian advisor and served there for nearly two years. He's running against doctrinaire liberal Ron Klein (ACLU rating 90%, ACU rating 4%).

West is an intellectual who understands the war as few others do. (Full disclosure: Allen is a friend whom I admire comprehensively. He's presidential material.)

Ilario Pantano is a warrior. He served in the Gulf War in 1991 and -- after 9/11 -- returned to active duty. He was leading his platoon against insurgents in the Sunni Triangle when they came under fire and he shot two men. Pantano -- accused by a disgruntled sergeant who he had demoted -- faced charges of killing the two Iraqis without justification and was exonerated. He later wrote the book Warlord about his experiences. He is tough, well-spoken, and has the intensity of intelligence we so often see in Marines.

Pantano is running in North Carolina's 7th district (which hasn't had a Republican congressman in more than a century) against incumbent Mike McIntyre (ADA 85%, ACU 32%).

There are two factors that make West and Pantano ideal to lead Republicans in a public examination of the war in January. First, they have seen the enemy first-hand and understand him as no one who lacks that experience can. Second, they both have had to fight both within and against the culture of counterinsurgency that places pressures on our troops that they, as warriors, should not have to bear.

The latter is what makes these men rise above the rest. There are other military veterans, some with service in Iraq and Afghanistan, who are in Congress or running for the first time this year. But none of them have faced the grim truths that West and Pantano have had to overcome.

President Obama has worked hard to take the war off the national agenda. And he has succeeded. A New York Times/CBS News poll released last month said that only 3% of Americans thought that the war was among the top issues facing government. Another poll released just a few days ago, this one by CNN, said that support for the war is down to an all-time low of 37%.

The December review of Afghanistan strategy will come and go, and the Obama-friendly media won't notice its passing. America deserves more, and better. If Allen West and Ilario Pantano are elected, the House Republican leaders should appoint them to lead an independent review of the strategy Obama is pursuing. It is, the president say, supposed to destroy the Taliban's momentum and ensure that they and al-Qaeda cannot again turn Afghanistan into a terrorist haven after we leave. It will not do that. America needs to understand how the Bush-cum-Obama nation-building strategy has failed and how we need to reorient ourselves to defeat a threat that has already inflicted on us the 9/11 attacks and the more than 1,200 soldiers' deaths in Afghanistan. Allen West and Ilario Pantano can deliver that understanding like no one else can. Here's hoping they get the chance.

About the Author

Jed Babbin served as a Deputy Undersecretary of Defense under George H.W. Bush. He is the author of several bestselling books including Inside the Asylum and In the Words of Our Enemies.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (45) | Leave a comment

Ret. Marine| 10.18.10 @ 6:58AM

Mr. West bring one thing to the table that his opponents dislike and have a bad taste for, that it the truth. We are in a fight for the Western Nations against an enemy who's name is ISLAM. They have told us much and still the leaders are afraid to criticize them for it insisting we are not at war with Islam, the hell we are not. He gets it. I have watched various u-tube interviews with Mr. West at the helm and he is a non-bull-shaler, tells it like it actually is and is not afraid to call a spade a spade. If only one % of these congress critters and the senile bunch at the top understood this thinking we would have had obamas Bin Ly'n arse in the choke hold by now.
Obamas Bin Lyn' does not understand the dynamic of any war, let alone one who he is aligned to as an ideology. When a person writes a book with such statements as "if things get tough with ISLAM, I'll side with them" it should at the least be a clue as his leanings, it is not of our interest as a Nation but that of the islamist ideology. Bear in mind this is in direct conflict with the war effort because even though the western punks calling themselves our leaders are afraid to proclaim who the enemy is, they are giving the same enemy a pass on their ambitions, goals and assisting, in some cases their efforts, think Babs and code pinko just for one. Then we have a speaker of the house who openly goes to a sponsor of the main terrorist financial arm, Syria, an Iranian surrogate, even after the President at the time, Bush, warned and no one in the administration even suggest the obvious violation of the Logan act, and what are We the People to think of this epic failure and treason at the highest levels of the Federal Gov.
These two fine soldiers will be welcomed assets to our fight in this war, their take no prisoners attitude brings hope to this old devil Dog's attitude. They will be in my prayers, welcomed to my pocket book and in my duties as an American warrior turned civilian in their effort to bring about some sanity to the policies and the direction in the prosecution of this war with ISLAM.

Margie| 10.18.10 @ 12:40PM

Amen, Ret. Marine. I stand proudly with you.

pdxnancy| 10.18.10 @ 10:22PM

re: Margie's comment to Ret. Marine: Amen, Ret. Marine. My sentiments exactly, and what I said when I finished reading your post. Then I saw Margie is a kindred spirit.

It is very refreshing to read a response from someone who can see so clearly what we as a nation are facing, and to articulate it so well.

I don't exactly remember when Political Correctness came to be the law of our land, but it seems like we have been asleep for more than forty years. I cannot imagine how the American people could continue electing the same people to public office, over and over again, that we could come to this place of such entrenched corruption.

But, I feel that we are awake NOW!

Thanks for your posts.

Colin Foy| 10.18.10 @ 10:47PM

When Kieth Olbermann of PMSNBC names you "Worst person in the world" twice, inside of a month, well you know Mr. West must be doing something right! Contributed to his campagne way back in March and cannot wait to see him in D.C. Allen West is the real deal!
God Bless You Ret. Marine!

Kjames| 10.18.10 @ 11:09PM

West was a Field Artillery Battalion Commander, not a civil affairs officer when the incident in Iraq happened.

trianglewhip| 10.21.10 @ 1:30AM

One big reason I liked West is that when he took his 9mm on that Iraqi. I war you have to be ruthless, and sometimes cruel.. His statement on Islam is soo correct! Islam is a HATE RELIGION! Bar none ! But what's worse is an Islamic apologists. The Koran justifies 99% of the atrocities committed in the name of Islam. You need to educate in your local schools on this. Don't wait for the government to do anything.
Start here
http://www.thereligionofpeace......olence.htm
And it get's better there..

trianglewhip| 10.21.10 @ 1:46AM

http://www.thereligionofpeace......olence.htm
Churches, schools, temples, synagogues, and homes. If you are not teaching these things, right away shame on you, unless you don't mind getting 50 lashes for drinking a beer, and going with burkahs in the summer..

trianglewhip| 10.21.10 @ 1:49AM

1 more time don't expect the government to do anything.
http://www.thereligionofpeace......olence.htm
Churches, schools, temples, synagogues, and homes. If you are not teaching these things, right away shame on you, unless you don't mind getting 50 lashes for drinking a beer, and going with burkahs in the summer..
Good night

James Lemoine| 10.18.10 @ 7:03AM

If we just stopped fighting these stupid wars we would be far better off. We fight them as Israel's unpaid mercenary. It is just plain dumb.

Melvin| 10.18.10 @ 7:45AM

Just are the Palestinians, Syrians, Hezbollah, and Hamas are the paid mercenaries of Iran. It is odd how your side always seems to fail to note that part.

JimH| 10.18.10 @ 8:05AM

Its not as if we were just minding our own business. We deposed a popular democraticly elected leaded in Iran and imposed the Shah. We'd do much better to mind our own business and fiercly retaliate to any unprovoked attacks. Our government has not shown itself to be competant at empire or playing the Great Game.

i got your "WE" right here| 10.18.10 @ 8:24AM

WE? yeah maybe america installed the shah, who never attacked us, but YOU, YOU america hating traitors installed THE AYATOLLA. YOU gave birth to this islamic revolution. YOU ignored their demonization of america as THE GREAT SATAN. because YOU agreed with it.

now we are in the midst of WW3 and it is on YOUR heads. YOU better pray to god that islam never sets off a nuke here because WE will hang idiots like YOU from every street pole.

canuckistani| 10.18.10 @ 1:53PM

Hangings from every streetpole is an Iranian tactic....are you now their brothers?
The deposing of the Iranian president was about one thing: stopping the nationalization of oil companies.
The war in Afghanistan is about one thing: Turkmen gas bypassing Iran.
The war in Iraq was about one thing: ending german and french oil deals with Hussein.
And similarly, the attempted coup in Venezuela was about one thing: stopping the nationalization of the oil companies.
Once we realize our government is actively defending our capacity to produce and fulfill our resource needs, we can have a sane conversation.

Before you get your stars and bars up in a knot, I AGREE with this policy, it's just our complete ineptitude when dealing with blowback that bothers me, and I truly believe if the public is told at what lengths we go to keep the oil and gas flowing, we will have a shift in the debate.

Account for our useful idiot friends:The Shah was a militarist Muslim dictator, Karzai is Pashtun and a double-dealer, Hussein was a militarist Muslim dictator, Turkmenbasi was a militarist muslim dictator, Musharref was a militarist muslim dictator. There are no "values" in play here, just pure strategic benefits to the US.

Mike W| 10.18.10 @ 4:39PM

Anybody that thinks it was a bad idea to overthrow a Democratically elected president in Iran is an "america hating traitor" that put the Ayatollah in power. We are also going to be hung from street poles.

Good job in advancing civil discussion and advancing conservative thought.

trianglewhip| 10.21.10 @ 1:34AM

True Melvin; Did you also knew that mercs. are NOT protect by the Geneva Conventions Art 1-46-48.. Terrorist are spies and mercs.

Trinity31| 10.18.10 @ 7:53AM

At least this take saves you the trouble of actually having to think . . .

Hank Rearden| 10.18.10 @ 7:10AM

It is thrilling to watch Col. West speak. I first saw him in the February YouTube where he talks about the war radical Islam is making on us. As Jed Babbin says, West is that unusual figure, an intellectual man of action. I think he is doing very well in the campaign, and I hope he wins the Congressional seat. He will make waves in Washington. Illario Pantano is out of the same mold - an intellectual man of action. Both of them are really unusual candidates who are running as conviction conservatives to change the system, not to go along to get along.

Ken (Old Texican)| 10.18.10 @ 7:56AM

Retired Marine,

I am sure I do not know how to proceed in Afghanistan, but I agree with you. Colonel West could position himself to speak to the issue as a Congressman without the limitations of the uniform.
Also, as you pointed out, Islam, (Submission), is a mortal threat to our country. Not only the guns and bombs, but also the insiduous intimidation of the west as we see with Gilders(sp?) in the Netherlands.

By the way, Marine. I have added a link to chapter one of my new novel, "Texas Said No" on the web page.
Scroll down just a bit and see the link on the left.
www.texassaidno.com
If that doesn't curl people's hair, they just haven't gotten the memo yet.

chris haynes| 10.18.10 @ 8:12AM

Just get out. Straigtening up the world is all we ever do, why dont we straighten up the mess that's inside?

I mean, here we spend 250 billion on a Navy with no mission.

And over there, what are we there for? To teach the moslems how to do abortions, so they can kill 25% of their children too?

JeffW| 10.18.10 @ 12:00PM

"I mean, here we spend 250 billion on a Navy with no mission."

Congratulations, I do believe that is one of the most stupid comments I have ever read on this site. Google "Sea Superiority" and look at how that affects our defense. You also might want to wrap your little mind around how "Protecting sea lanes" benifits us.

I will make it easy for you.
"Control of the seas means security. Control of the seas means peace. Control of the seas can mean victory. The United States must control the sea if it is to protect our security."
—John F. Kennedy

Louis Jenkins| 10.18.10 @ 8:21AM

Isalm is "a-comin" and the government seems to be asleep at the wheel. Okay, we can afford to lose Afganhistan and Irag, but can we afford to lose the USA? Or have we lost it already? I believe we cannot, and will not, let this nation bow its head in utter ruination. West and Pantano have my approval. They've been there and carry the scars to prove it. USA first, and all the others, well, ....we cannot let this nation be intimidated by Islam.

canuckistani| 10.18.10 @ 2:05PM

Islam has been "a-comin" since we started buying their oil. We can learn a whole bunch from the British experience - far better colonialists than we could ever be - that shows us limited aspirations are the way to go.
Islamic women are having twice as many babies as real americans, so within about 30 years, we will be de-wasped to the point that mormons and even jews could be viable presidential material. At the same time, hispanic, gay and even muslim contenders would be possible, if well-financed and cleaned up.
If you believe in "USA first", get your women and daughters to start pushing them out at a faster rate than the insurgent species, otherwise, your massa at the home will be one of "them".

GW| 10.19.10 @ 12:06AM

Or restrict immigration of Muslims majority countries.

joesixpack31| 10.20.10 @ 3:41PM

@canuckistani| says: "At the same time, hispanic, gay and even muslim contenders would be possible (prez candidates)". Are you kidding pal. We already have an islamo-jihadist marxist homo psychopath in the Whitehouse.

hardcard| 10.18.10 @ 9:16AM

the trolls are out in force. people actually believe these commie/progs. a navy that does nothing ?

chris| 10.18.10 @ 9:55AM

obama and the democrats were not serious when they said we should be in afghanistan instead of iran. they said this only to oppose bush. they were "serious" only about the politcs of opposing bush. now they are stuck with the war, but unfortunately our young soldiers are dying. meanwhile the media has forgottent the war because to discuss and report on it will damage obama before the elections in november. after the nov elections i expect the media to criticize the war more agressively.

RacerJim| 10.18.10 @ 11:18AM

Ditto everything you said, chris. To prove your point about the media bias for Obama, during Bush's presidency I don't recall the Washington Post ever runing an above the fold frontpage story (with a large photo) of one/more of our troops in Iraq or Afghanistan providing medical aid to an injured child like it did yesterday with:
"THE FRONT LINES
OF SAVING LIVES"
(2 column wide photo)

canuckistani| 10.18.10 @ 2:17PM

You lie.
The whole Iraq invasion was publicized with MSM imbeds. These were only possible with MSM acquiescing to DOD conditions. Not very lefty.
The MSM decamped when it became apparent they were duped, like the rest of us.

We know now the pretext to war was a fraud, we entered, devastated and turned upside down a country of over 30M. Lowest estimates peg US inflicted casualties on civilians at 100,000, and you wanted to see more medics above the fold?

I agreed with the need to overturn Hussein, based on Junior's evidence, and I also know we must take responsibility for our mistakes. BECAUSE AREN'T WE BETTER THAN THEM?

chris| 10.18.10 @ 2:33PM

junior's evidence was the same evidence as that of bill/hillary, al gore, johnkerrey, and the rest during the 1990's. this is too serious a subject to play political games such as "junior's evidence." everyone agreed on the evidence. you can disagree on what to do, but not on the evidence. it is easy to blame bush or clinton. they both relied on the evidence supplied by the military and intelligence agencies.

Kishego| 10.18.10 @ 3:19PM

BS nucki, all we got during W's term from the criminal media was daily body counts. Those reports have all but disappeared.

Mark Shepler- Jupiter FL| 10.18.10 @ 10:48AM

I live in FL's district 22 and will have the privilege of voting for Lt. Col. West in Nov. Right now he has a slight edge over the standard Boca Raton liberal Dem occupying the seat, Ron Klein. It's going to be a tight race right up to the wire given the demos of the district. The district begins in central Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale area) and runs up the coast some 75 miles terminating in my neck of the woods, Jupiter (north Palm Beach Co.). It stays mostly along a very narrow corridor up the coast, not even extending to I-95 which is no more than a 5-10 miles from the beach, and reaches significantly inland in only a few places. Where it does, Parkland and Boca Raton to the south are liberal , Parkland mostly so and Boca Raton staunchly. They were part of the late night surge of FL Dem votes in the 2000 election that contributed to all the ruckus. To the north it reaches in along Palm Beach Gardens, just south of me, and then inward again to encompass Jupiter which I would make odds are both predominately conservative. I know Jupiter is. Most of the coastal stretch is a mixed bag but includes east Ft. Lauderdale, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth and Riviera Beach, liberal bastions all that give it a slight liberal edge. It was created after the '90 census for E. Clay Shaw, a more or less conventional Republican for whom I once sponsored a fundraiser who would have trouble in today's Tea Party environment. Tellingly, he lost to Klein in '06 because he was too liberal for the conservatives of the district but not liberal enough for the liberals who had the upper hand in turnout. RINOs everywhere take note, if you still need any lessons on the subject. That Klein is in danger from such a staunch, unapologetic Conservative in this district is significant.

There are encouraging signs in favor of West. A few days ago three billboards appeared along I-95 in the West Palm Beach area linking Klein to Pelosi and budget busting spending. The first shows Klein as a puppet on a string to Pelosi and yells out that he voted with Pelosi 98% of the time with a bill of particulars in the form of bullet points. The second states flatly "We Are Broke!" and lists the budget busting items Klein helped pass. They do not mention West but simply call for Klein's ouster. They definitely have the down home look and feel of third-party, grassroots origin not the least because they actually mention policy. That alone rules out any establishment party's doing and their lack of professional polish will only help in this astounding electoral season. Can we say Tea Party?, who's support West does have, is no doubt behind them.

If you haven't seen or heard West you can find his speeches on YouTube and linked from his site. The best are on YouTube because they are third party recordings of him at different venues. His is the most Reaganesque rhetoric I've heard in long while with the exception of Marco Rubio. He is highly intelligent, educated and has obviously thought the issues through a real sense of history as evidenced by his bracing reply in a debate forum expounding on the "root causes" of muslim terrorism. No PC nonsense from this guy as he details the 1400 years of islamic aggression after all the other lunkheads begged off answering. I think the best part of the clip is the other candidates applauding his answer but more so his courage even as their own failed. And like Marco Rubio, he articulates very clearly and movingly what sets America apart and why we must defend those virtues. He is the all too rare contemporary candidate who sees the arc of America's exceptionalism and greatness over the course of history and seems prepared to do what's necessary. I haven't been this excited to pull the lever for a candidate since Reagan.

OLDRAY| 10.18.10 @ 11:03AM

Both the Bush and Obama administrations fail to call it's name .The enemy we are wat war with (ie. who wars on us) is ISLAM. Could anything in world history be clearer. It has absolutely nothing to do with Palestine..The Islamic States have held their Palestinian residents in camps for over 60 years, refused them citizenship,etc. The Islamic terrorists have nothing to do with the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel is simply a block in their progress toward world hegemony. Who carried out the murders in Mumbai? In Munich? Who persecutes the Christian Copts in Egypt,the Bahai in Iran. Who persecutes the Kurds in Turkey & Iraq? Who has wiped out the ancient Christian sects in Iraq? Who conducts terrorism in the Philippines .Who for decadeshas been slaughtering Christians & Anamists in South Suden ? Who carried out 9-11?Who placed the bombs in London? These are but a few examples of the terror wars of recent days. None were conducted by Baptist, Hindus,Jews or Catholics.. Islam is at war with Western Civilization. It is time we faced reality.

RacerJim| 10.18.10 @ 11:29AM

You hit the nail squarely on the head, OLDRAY. Unfortunately, today's illumati PC world considers "Keep It Simple Stupid" (reality) too simplistic and inflamatory.

Mark Shepler- Jupiter, FL| 10.18.10 @ 11:52AM

ALLEN WEST UPDATE: Well, it seems Dick Morris' column today about the Dems sliming opponents in lieu of running on their records has taken a turn for the ludicrous today here in sunny S. Florida. It seems, NBC has followed some very tendentious links to establish a diabolical connection between Lt. Col. West and, get ready for it,....the OUTLAWS MOTORCYCLE GANG. Now, if you don't know anything about the gang, do a little homework and you'll have a good laugh at the how preposterous the story is.

It's all over the Sun Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale's "newspaper" of record. Of course the Klein campaign and the DCCC factor heavily in the so-called, "breaking" news story. After I quit laughing, I wrote on Sun Sentinel's blog:

"Well, I think this is just more liberals preaching to the liberal choir, trying to gin up turnout. After all, only a truly insulated, suburb-dwelling know-nothing liberal could possibly believe that the Outlaws and a black man were involved. The charge is so preposterous it serves to point up liberal's panic than anything about West. It also reminds, yet again, the so-called "mainstream media" is anything but objective and non-partisan. After this latest negative stink-bomb clears away, and it will, Ron Klein will still be left with a desperate need to talk about anything, anything at all except his and the Dem's record. And that is not very inspiring to the agents of hopey-changey, is it?"

Sheila| 10.18.10 @ 12:00PM

The liberal Jewish democrats in Florida don't deserve West, but the rest of us need him.

NavyBrat| 10.18.10 @ 12:07PM

But CONSERVATIVE Jews all around the country LOVE the guy. I'm one of them.

trianglewhip| 10.21.10 @ 1:20AM

Me 2 I'm centralist.

Taxpayer| 10.18.10 @ 3:07PM

I didn't know it was the job of the US government to secure ol supplies for its domestic industry and consumers. I can think of better ways of accomplishing that goal than sending troops overseas.

SpiralArchitect| 10.18.10 @ 6:56PM

OK. Now you know.

chris haynes| 10.18.10 @ 4:16PM

Given what's in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, we have enough oil for about 500 years. More oil than any other country. Perhaps more than the rest of the world combined. There is no need for us to be in the Mideast or the Persian Gulf.

And today we have no merchant marine and we run enormous trade deficits. Why can t those who benefit from international trade protect it from whomever they may think endangers it.

And these bad Moslems. Have they brought us abortion? 41 million killed in history's greatest holocaust. A 9-11 every day? Are the Moslems silencing dissent in our universites? The enemies of our people and our way of life are the liberals, not the Moslems.

NavyBrat| 10.18.10 @ 4:57PM

The muzzies & the liberals have been working hand in had to bring about the death of our Republic throught the farce of "multiculturalism." They are one in the same, in my humble opinion.

Redstateboy| 10.18.10 @ 5:12PM

can ya think of anyone Liber-uls dispise more than a Man who happens to be Black and is a staunch Conservative? You want to see Hate come out of a Liber-ul - specially a Black Liber-ul?
have him debate with a Black Conservative.

Judith Hofbauer| 10.19.10 @ 2:25AM

Allen West is my hero and if he doesn't win because of this crap, I am going to be angry forever. Allen is so smart, no teleprompter needed, that his historical and hands-on knowledge would render superb leadership. The Tea Part, Repubs, Conservatives, and Indies need to line behind this guy and push him over the finish line. Go Allan Go!

Fionnagh| 10.19.10 @ 4:56PM

Right there with you, Judith, and I live in Washington State! As the author stated, West is presidential material. If along the way, he gets that far, I'll take an extended leave of absence from my job and campaign for him 24/7, anywhere his campaign might send me. In the meantime, I've sent $$ for his current campaign.

chris haynes| 10.20.10 @ 11:29AM

A Lt Col threatening captives by shooting his pistol, against orders? Kick him out, and the guy who promoted him too.

Who cares about what the soldiers think about counterinsurgency? What counts is what is best for the USA. We have a volunteer army. The pay is good and the benefits fat. If soldiers dont want to follow orders, they dont have to join. When their tour is over they can quit.

And McCrystal was asked about these orders. He noted the Russians had killed a million and still lost.

A more apt question is why is the USA there?

To bring western civilization and democracy? Total joke. Our wonderful constitution, and most of our elite, say its okay to murder babies by the millions.

Oil? Weve got more oil in Colorado than they have in the entire Mideast. A 500 year supply.