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Loose Canons
The Broder Doctrine
The “Wag the Dog” economic recovery plan that will save Obama.
President Dude has been working hard to take the terrorists’ war against us off the national political radar. But as much as he doesn’t want to talk about it to anyone other than Bob Woodward, war poses an inconvenient truth and pops up at inconvenient times. The truth is that it ain’t over until one side wins and the other loses.
Unfortunately for Mr. Dude, neither the terrorists nor the usually-compliant media are cooperating with him on the eve of tomorrow’s election. Their disputatious acts come in the form of bombs mailed to U.S. targets from al-Qaeda’s franchise operation in Yemen and a column by the Washington Post’s David Broder.
In the latest episode of “The Real Housewives of Sanaa,” the Yemeni government has arrested a woman suspected in mailing explosive devices to American targets. The intelligence leading to the discovery of the bombs came from GCHQ, the British signals intelligence agency which closely resembles our NSA. The lady’s bombs were rigged in either or both of two ways. With timers to explode on the aircraft carrying them to the United States or with the now-common cell phone triggers to explode on command if there’s a suicidal jihadist aboard.
The arrested lady wasn’t the bomb maker, according to Obama’s anti-terror czar, John Brennan. And the bomb maker certainly wasn’t part of the al-Qaeda varsity. Once the Brit intel guys got the tip, the packages were discovered with relative ease because they were made from photocopier toner cartridges filled with PETN (the same powerful explosive stuffed in Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s Fruit of the Looms when Umar — also not one of the terrorists’ first team — tried to blow up a Northwest flight last Christmas Day) and wired to the external detonators.
There are several lessons for us in this incident, as well as some for al-Qaeda. One lesson is that over nine years, we have degraded al-Qaeda’s capabilities by capturing or killing many of their leaders and operators. But there is no reason for complacence: al-Qaeda will do its best to outpace our intelligence gathering and try to recruit and train jihadis with higher IQs.
The principle lesson is that we cannot allow Yemen to continue its harboring of al-Qaeda cells. For the record, the USS Cole was in Aden harbor when it was attacked in October 2000, killing 17 sailors and injuring 39. Anwar al-Awlaki, an American citizen and al-Qaeda imam involved in several terrorist attacks including the Fort Hood massacre, is based in Yemen. The only action Obama’s team has taken on Yemen is to list citizen Awlaki for capture or assassination, without due process or even a declaration from Keith Olbermann that Awlaki was the worst person in the world. (More on that another day.)
Bloodthirsty liberals such as David Broder have begun agitating for Barry to display his brilliance on the battlefield. Does that mean we attack Yemen? No, Broder wants Obama to wag the dog.
Worshipping at Obama’s altar yesterday, Broder wrote that Obama is “much smarter than his challengers in either party, better able to read the evidence and come to the right conclusions.” Broder’s right conclusion for Barry and our economy, requires reading a couple of times to believe your eyes.
Broder begins by weasel-wording his idea — “I am not suggesting, of course, that the president incite a war to get reelected.” And he continues to do just that.
Broder’s cure for our economic ills is based on the end of the Great Depression: “Look back at FDR and the Great Depression. What finally resolved that economic crisis? World War II.”
From that, Broder deduces, Obama could rally the nation around him because Iran “…is the greatest threat to the world in the young century.” Broder proposes that Obama use 2011 and 2012 to orchestrate a showdown with the Iranian regime. The showdown, he believes, would revive the arsenal of democracy and result in millions of Americans getting jobs to build the tools of war.
It takes a liberal’s cognitive dissonance, along with his characteristic ignorance of history and of the art of war, to come to that conclusion.
Mind you, it’s high time the Iranian kakistocracy was removed. It should be the price for making their country the global epicenter of Islamic terrorism. There is no prospect other than war for resolution of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and terror sponsorship. There’s no reason to concoct a crisis: the mullahs have been at war with us since the seizure of the Tehran embassy in 1979. The Iranians have been taking American lives in Iraq and Afghanistan — directly and indirectly — since at least 2005.
But in the amusing event Obama suddenly nominated Broder to replace retiring Defense Secretary Bob Gates, any war with Iran would have to be short and highly sanguinary to succeed. No one in their right mind — i.e., no one who isn’t a liberal — would go about removing the Iranian regime by mounting a massive years-long conventional war.
What is necessary is a two or three-week campaign against Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ military assets and the mullahs themselves using already-existing stealth weapons. The Air Force and Navy could do this with assets on hand.
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. You can follow him on Twitter @jedbabbin.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (88) | Leave a comment
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Booger | 11.1.10 @ 6:13AM
From the desk of President B. Hussein Obama:
Dear Citizens,
I am pleased to announce to you that our Federal Agencies, under My incomparable guidance, have successfully intercepted a number of bombs sent to this country from Yemen. These bombs were disguised as normal office supplies, and targeted various houses of worship in this nation. Their interdiction is a great day for displaying My magnificent mastery of governance. This attempted attack does, however, raise some questions which I wish to address at this time.
The greatest question raised is, of course, why do these folks keep trying to blow you up? I believe I can answer that question, and if you will have the spiritual fortitude to accept my answer, then we can do something about it. Consider this: It is a well-known historical fact that prior to the establishment of the illegitimate state of israel in 1948, there was an unblemished historical record of peace and harmony between the Muslim world and western europe for several centuries. The only instances where this peaceful accord was disturbed was when the barbaric invaders of western europe attacked Muslim lands in the so-called "crusades". Once again, this was an attempt by europeans, no doubt goaded by jewish bankers, to take the Holy City from the peaceful Muslims who lived there, an attempt which was, thankfully, thwarted by the great hero Saladin.
To this day the criminal enterprise which calls itself "israel" illegally occupies the homeland of the peaceful and noble Palestinian people. This illegal occupation, along with the apartheid it has established, has reduced the once proud Palestinian Muslims to poverty and degradation. Now think about this: How can their Brother Muslims sit idly by while this holocaust occurs before their very eyes? They cannot. And who has been the biggest supporter of the criminal gangsters who run "israel"? It has, of course, been the united states of amerikkka. Citizens of this country, I must warn you, these terrorist attacks are nothing more than your chickens coming home to roost.
Next, I must address our response to this attempted attack. Many of you out their (especially in the benighted fly-over country) are clamoring for "justice" or even "vengeance". Well, vengeance is Mine, and I think I will hold of on it for now. After all, what would the result of such "vengeance" be, anyway? If we arrest, assassinate or execute an extremist who is simply trying to secure freedom for his Muslim brethren, we will only make him a martyr. He will get to go straight to Heaven to enjoy his seventy-two virgins, and more extremists will come to his cause. The fact is that by using violence we will only bring about more violence. Hence, you people of Amerikkka must learn to peacefully accept these attacks when they come upon you. By doing that you will avoid creating even more extremists. And anyway, it's really just your chickens coming home to roost.
Now, one other thought on this matter. A large number of you have been protesting this "ground-zero" Mosque. I can think of nothing that would create more extremists carrying out more attacks on this country than trying to block the building of a Mosque dedicated to nothing more than the peaceful unity and harmony of all the peoples of Allah (peace be upon His name). Perhaps you should consider whether it is your own attacks upon the building of this Great Mosque that have brought about this return attack as retribution. You might even call it your chickens coming home to roost. And if these protests are the cause of extremist bombings, then maybe I should have Janet Napalitano look into closing those protests down for the sake of public safety. After all, you cannot go around shouting "fire" in a crowded theater.
So for now, please try to remember not to create any more chickens that will need a roosting place, and learn to let go of your misguided notions of justice and vengeance.
Your President for Life,
B. Hussein Obama
Yosemeti Sam| 11.1.10 @ 7:50AM
From Yosemeti Sam - not to be confused with Yosemite Sam.
Um, Mr. Booger:
In future, please insert the embedded added 'solemnity' regarding BHOs' sincere missives - as in:
"Your President for Life,
Measured Peace be upon you - infidels.
B. Hussein Obama"
Alan Brooks| 11.1.10 @ 8:27PM
"What is necessary is a two or three-week campaign against Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' military assets and the mullahs themselves using already-existing stealth weapons. The Air Force and Navy could do this with assets on hand."
Now you're cooking with gas.
Some Iranian brass have to be promoted- up to their 72 virgins.
Alan Brooks| 11.1.10 @ 8:30PM
that is you can't merely wipe out alot of corps, but also some heads as well.
"alsobiades always went for the jugular"
--Geo Patton.
L'audace, l'audace
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.2.10 @ 1:57PM
I note,
That Alan is STILL writing Schizophrenic posts in pairs...heh.
Ole Sarge| 11.4.10 @ 12:35AM
Ken,
Just stumbled across this alan character, he is a tad strange to say the least.
Tellthetruth| 11.1.10 @ 10:08PM
Ah...I can hear His dulcet tones as He delivers His carefully worded address to the drones......
old white guy| 11.4.10 @ 2:31PM
heh heh. funny.
Deborah D | 11.1.10 @ 6:47AM
Good grief!! Broder has finally reached his level of incompetence as far a thinker is concerned. What century does he think we're living in? What president does he think is in office? What a bizarre idea. Desperate is what desperate does. (To paraphrase Forrest Gump.)
hijinx60| 11.4.10 @ 10:13PM
You're right Deb. Of Course, he may be submitting a resume for the position of one of Barry's Czars.
Average Infidel| 11.1.10 @ 6:59AM
Courage and Honor. Do any of you remotely consider these two characteristics of a person when talking of the "won". I find this article a little puzzling to say the least. This is about one mans opinion. Nothing of it regarding the substance, "taking out Iran's leadership" has anything to do based upon the reality that is the "Won". He's simply put, a tool for the formation of a one world order concept. Even within the ranks of the senior leadership of our current military, he's consider a neutered dog, incapable of leading a frog across a pond let alone commanding the respect of our volunteer military forces. The task of leading is not what he is, never has been and quite possibly never ever would be. He's an agitator, nothing more.
Tomorrow will be a new dawn for the current regime, it will dawn upon their leadership that they are not leading a ship of fools as they think they were, instead they will awake to a realization that We the People will hold them personally responsible for their willful indignation of our rights, our way of life, our principles, and our will to take them out at the cost of their ignorance arrogance, and incompetence. Only the strong survive in politics and war. This is a known fact, which apparently obamas Bin Ly'n never either considered or realized. I do suspect though, on the 3rd of Nov, he will come to the realization that there are many more of us who cling to our guns, our religion and our way of life than those he claims to be behind him in his delusional concepts of a socialized menace. Even the articles recepient of disdane will have to realize this. I wonder, does he have a second alternative for an occupation outside of being a fellow cool-aid worshiper.
JimP| 11.1.10 @ 7:10AM
You know the left is desperate when a milquetoast like David Broder is advocating war to save their President's 'career'. Pathetic, outrageous and comic all at once.
butterfly53| 11.1.10 @ 7:10AM
That's what we need. Another war led by this metro-leg crossing- sexual president who knows little to NOTHING about the military or war or being a warrior. What about covert operations to eliminate that Iranian tyrant who looks like an inbred from Deliverence. Or has that with waterboarding gone by the wayside.
Tim*| 11.1.10 @ 7:11AM
David Broder is one more of The Entrenched Liberal Mainstream Media Agendists ,who prop up The Democrat Party.
We Are In A Media War.
Bankrupt The Mainstream Media.
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.
Rise Up In Rebellion!
ggoblue| 11.1.10 @ 4:50PM
tim, thanks for all you do...see you on the front lines tomorrow
no prisoners buddy, no prisoners
Tim*| 11.1.10 @ 5:16PM
Back at ya Michigan.
The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.
Rise Up In Rebellion!
Martin Owens| 11.1.10 @ 7:11AM
It wouldn't matter if Teddy Roosevelt were President- the day we jump the Iranians, the price of oil goes to $250 a barrel. Even the staunchest of our allies, the Brits, simply lack the wherewithal to help on this one. The rest of them- and the Useless Nations- would promptly side with Tehran.
So Sorry, but it's not 1965 anymore.
Paul Kotik| 11.1.10 @ 9:24AM
Okay, put your money where your mouth is. Be happy. Take a hedged bull position in oil futures and wait for the happy day when oil spikes to $250...and then do the tricky part, selling before it settles back to about where it is now, or lower. If you're so sure, then make yourself a pile! I hope you do!
SC Mike| 11.1.10 @ 7:41AM
Broder’s column yesterday should have been accompanied by a pop-up warning to prevent on-line readers from ruining keyboards and monitors: it was nonsense on stilts with roller-skates.
The only difficulty with his premise -- Obama is so durned smart that he’ll see the only way he can assure his reelection for the good of the country is to attack Iran is that there’s no evidence to support it. If Obama’s so smart, why has he implemented policies that stifle economic recovery? Nor has he evidenced much intellect in his foreign policy.
The Dean of Washington columnists has certainly lost it; we’ll forever celebrate his passing on Halloween 2010.
Paul Kotik| 11.1.10 @ 9:28AM
Okay, if nobody else will say it, I will. Barack Obama is not a particularly smart guy. Seems to me about middle- of-the-pack in any Ruling Class get-together. Might have turned out sharper if he'd had to exercise his God-given intellect in school, but it seems he was propelled along by the peristaltic movements of affirmative action, that is, the academies gut reaction to a clean fellow with no African-American accent except when he wants to. Face it, America: Barack Obama is a bit of a dullard.
Nunya| 11.1.10 @ 12:31PM
Paul, I've been saying it from day one. He's ignorant of basic economics, he has no business sense, and he's not all that bright. He's a good speaker, but that' about it. He's all style over substance, and add to that he's coceited and smug, thinking he's smarter than all of we, the "benighted" in flyover country.
If we were actually informed and intelligent we would recognize him for the "messiah" he is, and that he's much smarter than we.
Consummate V's| 11.1.10 @ 3:50PM
Really, peristaltic? Dude!
ghan| 11.5.10 @ 6:15PM
'peristaltic movements'!!! loved that one!
JP| 11.1.10 @ 7:50AM
Broder does have a point. And I think President Obama is more agressive vis-a-vis using lethal spec ops troops than President Clinton ever was. However, there are few things to consider:
1)Our military is a shell of its old Cold War self. Our Navy has fewer than 300 ships; most of our Marines and activie duty Army are still deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Special Operations, while being a liberal's choice of arms, has limited effectiveness when not tied to any long term strategy. Lobbing a few cruise missles at targets in Yeman might make David Broder salivate, but it could do more harm than good. Just look at the unintended consequences of the CIA's Predator attacks in Pakistan. Al Qaida and the Taliban are as lethal as ever.
2)The US is worse than broke. We ran up a $1.4 trillion federal budget defecit for FY 2010 alone. We are now more like the Spain of the 16th Century. We are still rich, we still have a powerful military, but we are becoming a financial and political backwater. The real action is in places like New Dehli, Hong Kong, and Rio. Both China and India will not sit back much longer and observe our ridiculous posturing. They know more than anyone that the US is a economically bankrupt nation. And bankrupt nation's evolve into immoral ones. It was less than 200 years after Spain lost its economic power that it allowed Napolean to station French troops in the Iberian Penninsula. I don't think we will see any CHICOMs occupying Ft Hood, but we may see a few CHICOM ships patrolling the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean by the end of the decade. Heck, our budget defecit is funding the largest military in the world.
Heywood| 11.1.10 @ 11:23PM
Our military is quite capable and combat experienced professionals--not a shell of it's former self--in fact, it's quite advanced from it's former self and we don't need a 300 ship Navy like we used to need due to technological advances.
Doctor Right| 11.1.10 @ 8:15AM
So according to Broder, Obama is "..."much smarter than his challengers in either party, better able to read the evidence and come to the right conclusions."?
Mr. Broder, here's a clue: Obama is a Liberal; that automatically nullifies points 1, 2 and 3.
You may need to renew your Sycophancy License, Mr. Broder...It seems to have expired sometime during the 80's...
stmichrick| 11.1.10 @ 8:15AM
Broder is proposing something he would crucify George W Bush for even thinking about.
I guess the difference is that the Bamster is considered to be smarter and would 'nuance' himself a victory.
Intelligent Design| 11.1.10 @ 8:33AM
Obama is at war against American citizens and the Constitution.
Reagan Loyalist| 11.1.10 @ 11:47AM
I do think that this is the central motivating driver of this man. He genuinely sincerely hates the USA, is ashamed of our history and at all costs, will both distance himself and his administrations from us and do everything in his power to discipline/educated us and in the process, remediate our sins.
If there were a national "time out" chair, he and Michelle would have sent the country class there immediately, to remain until we learned our lessons - which of course they would teach.
Intelligent Design| 11.1.10 @ 12:03PM
Obama's intention is to leave the United States a diminished nation when he leaves office. He's succeeding so far.
moron| 11.1.10 @ 8:53AM
Very revealing about Broder and Obama. The only purpose of war here is to save Obama's political hide and allow his teleprompter I, my, I, I, as many as 6 times per sentence. It's all about Barry.
Marie| 11.1.10 @ 6:17PM
And we're supposed to be ok with offering up the people in our armed forces to save B. Hussein Obama?
I don't think so.
Redstateboy| 11.1.10 @ 8:55AM
War isn't a jobs program, Mr. Broder. War means killing. And war leadership requires character and skill that are beyond Obama's supposed brilliance.
kind of sums it up all in 2 sentences
George S| 11.1.10 @ 9:04AM
Two years from now, will Broder write a column suggesting Obama take a ride through Dallas with the top down...?
pete the mediocre| 11.1.10 @ 9:13AM
I thought "Bush's wars" in Iraq and Afghanistan destroyed the economy. Now this genius is calling for war to revive the economy?
Where does the left find these people?
Furthermore, WWII did NOT save us from the depression. Only a person woefully ignorant of economics and history would make such a statement.
Kishego| 11.1.10 @ 4:12PM
"Only a person woefully ignorant of economics and history would make such a statement" You've just described 90% of washington D.C. (okay, maybe 95%, i was trying to be charitable).
hardcard| 11.1.10 @ 9:20AM
Is jon liebowitz stewart aware of this call to war??has davey broder taken over the obamasoros policy department. ms. behar and whoopi johnson goldberg are taking to the streets to campaign for the war bond drive. b.striesand, b.frank, and sgt.e.schultz sing about the bungle boy in company msnb"c" . soros invades Fort Knox for our protection.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.1.10 @ 9:32AM
A few months ago...
In conversation with some extremely connected men, I got a glimpse of the alternative futures in store for us following the elections.
Youall have read my references to that here, but with all good reason, everyone is focused upon the elections. .....Sort of a "first things first" mindset I can wholly understand and identify with.
Nevertheless, like many of you I had felt the tickling on the back of my neck when glancing at the middle east.
The beast is afoot there as never before. Hezbollah is cocked and ready to fire. Gaza is a lit fuse, but really only a diversion due to its tiny size.
Syria cannot survive,(literally would starve), without Iranian petro-dollars. The Arab Gulf states cannot feed themselves without petro-dollars to buy and import their food.
Israel cannot survive unless they can manufacture an effective first strike against Iran.....and Iran fully understands that fact.
Having lived and worked with the leaders all over that part of the world, I understand their mind-sets and world views.
Bottom line, folks, the Muslims there are as crazy as bed-bugs in relation to any rational working out of differences.
Meanwhile..."back on the ranch"...here at home.
I read an article just last week by an authoritative author that we have some 180,000 persons living here in the US who believe that "murdering infidels in defense of Islam" is not only reasonable, but "the right thing to do".
Each of us...each of us...needs to prepare for the coming storm.
Our Commander in Chief cannot handle it...period.
At the very same time, foreign and domestic "contingency operations" are rolling down upon us. Our military people know it. Our Intelligence people know it. I know it. And now you know it.
At the very same time, "political correctness" has prevented us , (heh, most of us), from speaking out about the fifth column of traitors that have already infiltrated our country..."Sharia Law advocates".
Simply glance at Eurabia and see one facet of our future.....unless.....
Each of us says NO!
(as www.texassaidno.com)
Doctor Right| 11.1.10 @ 10:44AM
Good post, Ken, and quite timely, too.
The enemy IS among us, and they are very patient. They will strike again.
God-willing, we'll have a President in office who will strike back, hard.
Unfortunately, the Muslims look at Obama and see a weak, pompous fool. They know that their best chance to hit us again is before this cretin leaves office.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.1.10 @ 11:15AM
Doctor Right,
If I am right, we DON'T HAVE TWO YEARS!
(for a new President/ CnC)
We have a maximum of two months after the elections.
chuck| 11.1.10 @ 9:53PM
If we had a President with balls, his first act would be to invite the leader of Saudi Arabia to the Oval Office, and in a private conversation let it be known that any 9/11 level of terrorist attack would be answered by the nuclear distruction of Mecca and Medina.
Do you think the Saudis might just stop funding and promoting terror?
Steve A| 11.1.10 @ 9:40AM
Memo To Obama, Just in case you were able to catch Game 4 of the World Series last night, take note of how Bush threw out the first pitch. That is how someone who actually has grown a set tosses the biscuit.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.1.10 @ 9:53AM
Steve A,
I enjoyed that too....but not near as much as when wearing a bullet-proof vest...shortly after 9-11...he walked out there in front of millions of people and threw a strike...knowing quite well there might be a sharp-shooting terrorist under the bleachers taking dead aim on him.
RCV| 11.1.10 @ 12:59PM
Well that settles it, Steve - Tim Lincecum for President.
Tim*| 11.1.10 @ 1:29PM
Obama For Ball Girl.
Steve A| 11.1.10 @ 3:06PM
RCV, That was funny, must admit. I do prefer Cliff Lee though as he is a southpaw like your man Obama. PS: Do you suppose anyone on BO's staff had the guts to tell him to taks a pass on tossing the first pitch from now on? I mean, it is weak. Especially when he tells everyone the White Sox are his team & then goes in the booth & can't name a player on the team.
RCV| 11.1.10 @ 4:57PM
Can't argue with you there. He ought to try taking the first jumpshot at the next NBA opening instead.
Tim*| 11.1.10 @ 5:32PM
He could be the faceoff puck in tonight's Blackhawk vs. Rangers Match.
The One We've Been Waiting For| 11.1.10 @ 7:22PM
We're buying shrimp, RCV. Dude, didn't you get the mem0 instructing trolls not to bring up basketball anymore? I had some of the naive Democratic Congressman over for a basketball game to help sell Obamacare. Naive means gone during the next election. Baron Hill kicked my butt. You can imagine the humiliation of being schooled by an old white boy. Oh it was all about him. Everybody told me how good I was. How was I supposed to know that he was an all-state Indiana basketball and football player. Well tomorrow he is going to pay for listening to me. He who laughs last ... I am the golf president. There has never been a president like me ever. My kick on my baseball delivery is also impressive. The fact that almost all girls throw a ton better than me is not important. They don't look as cool. Cap and trade, baby
RCV| 11.1.10 @ 11:27PM
Steve - After tonight, I think I'll stick with Lincecum.
Kishego| 11.1.10 @ 4:17PM
A friend of mine put the 2 clips back to back. It was quite funny.
Martine| 11.1.10 @ 6:20PM
B Hussein Obama, the alien in the White House, didn't learn to play ball because he grew up in Indonesia.
mames| 11.1.10 @ 10:03AM
how do these Broder types ever become thought of as "thinkers". The media is full of them, pontificating from their cozy lairs, sipping on their lattes or brandy, feigning intelligence as best they can. Broder is and always has been a true idiot without a core or a soul.
Maddox| 11.1.10 @ 10:08AM
Please correct the opening line of this piece to read "President Dud." I appreciate your reference to his arrogance but even that is a failure. He can't even fake superiority.
Louis Jenkins| 11.1.10 @ 10:14AM
If, and it is a fore drawn conclusion, Obama's power begins to wain? What has the Wun got in store for main street USA? It can come like a ghost in the night, or like a parade marching down mainstreet. Yes, we should be prepared and not spend too much time savoring our victory on Wednesday. The worst thing is to become stagnant. And yes, Bush threw a good opening pitch. And the Wun? What did he throw the last time he got on the mound?
chris| 11.1.10 @ 10:39AM
so the democrats' plan to save obama in 2012 is to start a war with iran? they now have the blessing of the elder statesman of the liberal media now they need the ok from matthews,oberman,couric, and then finally the military and ethical issues have to be debated and approved by"the view."
Doctor Right| 11.1.10 @ 10:46AM
The real question that the Broder, the Democrats and Obama are pondering is this:
How can we start a war with Iran AND blame it on Republicans???
Nunya| 11.1.10 @ 12:39PM
Right on, Dr. It's all Bush's fault don't you know...
:-)
chris haynes| 11.1.10 @ 10:51AM
Why ? Why are Iran and Afghanistan important to the liberals?
How about this obvious answer. They hate moslem. After all, with all its faults, Isalm teaches the equality of man before God, the sanctity of innocent life. Its against everything our elite stand for.
Try this. Ask a P.C. academic about his campus diversity program. Watch him blush withpride.
Then ask him if they have an Isalmic Culture Month. A real one. Veils, Purdah, prayers 5 times daily, fasting, lashes, the works. Bet they don't.
chris| 11.1.10 @ 11:04AM
are you serious? liberals/democrats want to close gitmo, stop "profiling," don't use the words muslim terrorists,keep calling islam a religion of peace, etc.
please explain in detail how liberals hate moslem?
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.1.10 @ 11:09AM
chris haynes,
Sorry, your contradictory remarks sailed right over my head.
...Yes, in your words..."...After all, with all its faults, Isalm teaches the equality of man before God, the sanctity of innocent life. "
That is without doubt the dumbest thing I have ever read...unless you equate "equality" as SLAVERY of all men. (Never-mind the women. they are simply child bearing camels.)
...and the only "innocent life" is that of faithful Muslims.
Evil, sir, evil.
Nunya| 11.1.10 @ 12:42PM
They believe in "the sanctity of innocent life", yet every place in the world today that is experiencing bombings is due to Muslim violence--against OTHER Muslims...
Evil is absolutely right.
RPM| 11.1.10 @ 11:12AM
Broder's advice will not be heeded. Just look at what Obama is doing in the face of certain Dem defeat-catering to the far left. The far left will never go for war, even if it is for the right reasons, much less for Obama's pride. Now, if he swings to the center the moderates may support him, but he's too arrogant and ignorant to do that.
Sons of Liberty| 11.1.10 @ 11:27AM
Mr. Broder is obviously not a very astute student of history. First, it was not World War II that brought us out of the Great Depression that FDR had prolonged many times over through his failed policies and massive spending. It was actually FDR's death (which resulted in an immediate constitutional amendment that would prohibit a president from ever serving more than two terms again) and the succession of Harry Truman to the predicency who instilled confidence in the business sector with new growth policies supported by the Republicans that started the recovery. It also didn't hurt that the war had basically destroyed every other economy in the world except America's. So there was no economic competition for several years and a lot of demand. A war with Iran, for Mr. Broder's reasons is a terribly flawed strategy. First, with President Obama as commander-in-chief it cannot be won. Second, the war will only basically involve Iran which will leave the rest of the world's economies intact. With President Obama's economic policies, many of which are very similar to FDR's, America will still be unable to compete effectively in the global marketplace. The recession would be greatly prolonged only with a lost war and a lot more debt added to it. And there would be tens of thousands of lives lost for nothing in a war that was doomed from the beginning due to the one who would lead it.
virginia| 11.1.10 @ 11:38AM
Broder wrote that Obama is "much smarter than his challengers in either party, better able to read the evidence and come to the right conclusions."
--------------------------------------------------------------
Broder you may want to freshen your lipstick. It seems to have smeared from kissing obama's-ass.
loulou| 11.1.10 @ 11:46AM
Broder wrote that Obama is "much smarter than his challengers in either party, better able to read the evidence and come to the right conclusions."
Broder obviously does not have all his faculties.
Time to retire, dinosaur.
ncatty| 11.1.10 @ 11:51AM
David Broder wants war with Iran and Jed Babbin wants war with Iran AND Yemen. Yikes.
David Thomas | 11.1.10 @ 11:56AM
"The principle lesson is that we cannot allow Yemen to continue its harboring of al-Qaeda cells."
Principal?
Paul Milenkovic| 11.1.10 @ 12:19PM
Leaving aside the ethics and morality of using a war as a jobs program (No Blood for Jobs?), there is a question whether war or a general mobilization is good or bad for the economy and for society.
There is this meme of the Good War and the Greatest Generation and What Can we Do Short of War to Get That Social Spirit Back?
Evidence suggests that the recovery from the Great Depression finally started to happen in the 40-41 time period prior to Pearl Harbor, which was also a time of pre-mobilization as the storm clouds of European and Pacific war were all around us.
But some commentators (i.e. Mencius Moldbug and perhaps others) suggest that the key was not so much the mobilization but the rollback of regulation, the cutting of red tape. Consider this, that the Roosevelt Administration went this way and went that way with all manner of experiments to turn things around, but they were no dummies and could see the imminent danger in the world, the Isolationists faction, notwithstanding, and they had to stop clanking around -- they knew they needed to get industrial and especially war production ramped up and fast. You know, the Big Daddy Warbucks as having an inside line to President Roosevelt mythology.
The parallel is this summer's Gulf oil spill. You would think that the President would exercise leadership in the form of this is a grave environmental crisis, we have to mobilize, as a nation, the skim the oil, sand-berm the beaches, and put every expert to work figuring out how to plug the well. Sort of like the recent rescue of the mine workers.
But no, it was business-as-usual, the Corps had to weigh in on the sand berms, the EPA had to weigh in on the skimmers, and the President had to apply his boot to the neck of some corporate scapegoat. Not the Franklin Roosevelt of 1940.
Perusha| 11.1.10 @ 12:50PM
Neville Obama is not constitutionally (in his own Narcissistic case, he DOES follow “the” constitution, but not America’s Constitution) capable of doing as Broder, in his well-earned sycophantic senility, suggests. Talk about grasping for straws!
Did you read the latest about Hitler, in the WSJ?
Deeper research into his early days have revealed that he was simply an---OPPORTUNIST!
Now, over 30 years ago I read a lot of the most famous books about Hitler and the Third Reich, from Albert Speer and William Shirer and others whose names I forget---even a volume about the night of the long knives, in 1934, when Adolf had his minions kill a lot of his previous supporters, who he figured would be future rivals.
Anyway, despite the awesome evil Hitler did, I was always impressed that he served in WW I at the front, in a dangerous “runner” position, and out of his thousands of comrades, was one of the few to survive. The idea was that he was “destined” to lead, because he was able to be in the midst of flying bullets and shrapnel and survive.
HOWEVER---it turns out that, until NOW, CW had simply believed what he had written in Mein Kampf.
Humanity forgot---NEVER believe a LIAR! In truth, he was stationed in a safe position, back in headquarters, THE WHOLE TIME!!!
Even though we are aware of the history of the Third Reich, especially the use of the BIG LIE by Goebbels, to further the brainwashing of the German populous, we bought a key LIE that provided a---THE?---springboard for Hitler’s rise to power.
Also, never forget another seminal action by Hitler and his criminal cohort---just after he barely won, he forced the legislature to pass the ENABLING ACT, which once and for all ENABLED him to become absolute dictator.
Well, I hate to use Hitler as a historical example to learn from about today’s American political scene, BUT----
Kerry---LIED.
Clinton---LIED
Obama---LIED
Carter---LIED
Also, witness the recent Pelosi-Reid legislative debacle, and tell me they weren’t essentially playing the ENABLING ACT card.
What else was it, to pass Obamacare when the overwhelming majority of Americans were—and ARE---against it?
Forget history = repeat it.
Too, believe FAKED history = trouble, leading to chaos!
You don’t have to believe in reincarnation, literally, to understand what’s happening, but---it helps.
When it comes to love and war, there are NO RULES, and the leftists not only know this, but they are animated by it---indeed, are the manifestation of NO RULES. Whatever they can get away with is the only rule!
America is NOW processing the results of many decades of the events promulgated by such suckers as Clinton. Any NORMAL person, which I take myself to be, was stunned that Clinton could get away with LYING about his GROSS pornographic CAREER, and even have high ratings!
As inevitably must happen, ignorant fools “couldn’t handle the truth”, so when Nietzsche proclaimed God is Dead and wrote a book entitled Beyond Good and Evil, the unwise wannabe strongmen USED these “far out” ideas for their own “GOOD”!
“Might is Right” is still the maxim that most “leaders” follow.
One time, in a class I was teaching, I got a blatant “lesson” about this, when this very large African American GIRL, with a very loud and powerful voice, straight out admitted as much---she said, BECAUSE I have this ability, I get to rule. In short, you HAVE TO listen to me, because I have a LOUD voice!
That’s what we are dealing with.
Another essential divide---who is REASONABLE?
We live in a time in which we ASSUME most sane people are reasonable. However, “reasonable” means "able to reason".
I certainly don’t observe a whole lot of THAT ability, right?
Maybe, though on Tuesday, enough people will have been so toasted by so many liars and their piled-higher-than Mt. Everest s*it that reason will become---reasonable!
Jeff Perren | 11.1.10 @ 1:36PM
The only sensible approach is to invade the entire Middle East (and Pakistan), starting with Iran. In WWII, we didn't stop at Belgium.
The whack-a-mole approach is guaranteed to keep the war against the jihadists going for the next three generations. Do it, get it over with. It will be less costly in the long run in every respect and Americans can get back to worrying about other things.
Ken (Old Texican)| 11.1.10 @ 2:46PM
Politico...
Has an article today..."Stopping Palin"
Read it.
Michael L. Hauschild| 11.1.10 @ 3:25PM
The only thing dumber that telling someone when you are going to end a war is telling them when you will start it.
Mick| 11.1.10 @ 3:37PM
Old Broder is trying to repackage crap as a chocolate ice cream...nice try bozo.
Barbara| 11.1.10 @ 4:48PM
Broder just flew the white flag y'all. Does he know this column is as good as an admission that the stimulus was and is a failure at job creation? What a gift to the loyal opposition - and two days before the election, too!
Only a lib could seriously, by serious I mean in writing, propose a new war as a default when Keynsian policies have failed. While apparently forgetting American soldiers are already fighting in two wars, too.
It IS fun to read Broder unconsciously stabbing his fellow travellers in the back, contemplating the deaths of more young men and women in order to save money on unemployment, doesn't sound like humane or sane economic policy.
And Dems tell anyone who disagrees with them they're stupid?
Molly| 11.1.10 @ 6:23PM
I thought BO was uncomfortable with the concept of victory. Who wants him messing with the military any more than he already is? Not me.
GKPAL| 11.1.10 @ 7:18PM
Mr. Broder you're delusional. Time for you to buy a racking chair and get the hell out of journalism you moron.
chris haynes| 11.1.10 @ 7:22PM
Isalm does teach the equality of man before God, the sanctity of innocent life. Facts are facts, even if you dislike Moslems.
And let's compare Saudi and the US. Abortion it's severely punished in Saudi. Now look at America. 45,000,000 innocent children legally killed. A 9-11 every day.
Its the biggest holocaust in history. And applauded by the likes of Guilliani, Scott Brown, and yes, Liberman. Tell us again who the barbarians are.
chris| 11.1.10 @ 8:00PM
to chris haynes,
if you really are against abortion, then you should not make it america v. muslims, and not mention only brown, guilliani, and lieberman. you conveniently forgot the entire democrat party which has enshrined abortion in its platform. it is a sacrament to the liberals/progressives.
jstwndring| 11.1.10 @ 10:22PM
How exactly, does a religion that teaches the "equality of man before God" consistently, and persistently inspire countless acts of violence and murder around the world? Most of the violent conflicts in the world today are between Islam and some other group, and each one of those conflicts was initiated by the followers of Islam.
Beautiful and peaceful religion, my ass! F-Islam, and every idiot naive enough to follow it.
Bob Menzies| 11.1.10 @ 8:49PM
If you want to use war as an employment program then it would be easier (and more cost effective) to have a civil war.
All those unemployed people can join the fighting and that will end unemployment.
Blow yourselves up and then rebuild - it will be great for GDP - and television reality programs.
The banks will love it, the military complex will love it, undertakers will love, everyboby will love it, well almost.
Of course some people will be slaughtered but that will be good for your balance sheet - the more dead people means the less to pay on pensions and health etc.
War is good, especially when you keep it in the family.
Isabella| 11.1.10 @ 10:33PM
Quote from article, "War isn't a jobs program, Mr. Broder. War means killing. And war leadership requires character and skill that are beyond Obama's supposed brilliance." I agree with this statement. I, however, do believe Obama has no problem with killing. He is cold, calculating, and the only strength he does have is his determination gathered from Alinksy rules. The end justifies the means. The brilliance label disappeared quickly. They are setting the stage in Yemen. The Saudi's are taking delivery of all the new weapons. I realize they have bought weapons from us many times, but the timing is of concern. Obama is to be reckoned with, but not because of his intelligence and ability to grasp anything....I have come to the conclusion he just has no soul, and will do anything to get what he wants. He can stand up before a crowd, or camera and lie without flinching. He is getting more predictable. We will have to work that much harder to stop him. No more American lives...finish up in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and go. We have to defend freedom here. If Mr. Broder, is preparing us for Obama's war; Obama must be delusional. We won't go along with this one. There is an old movie, "Arsenic and Old Lace" with Cary Grant's uncle thinking he was "Teddy Roosevelt"... now we have a remake, only this one is for real. "O" must yell, "Charge" and take to the stairs of The White House every night to capture the Republican Hill....but alas, poor old uncle "Teddy" was soon incarcerated at the Happy Dale Sanitarium..cheer up Obama, it may not be such a bad place. Maybe Happy Dale will have a room available for Mr. Broder also. Sometimes, life does imitate art.
Heywood| 11.1.10 @ 11:46PM
Yeah riiiiight! We'll just re-tool all the shut down auto plants, start cranking out tanks, guns and ammo--and who will be paying for that? Idiot Libs--this is the same thing I heard the other day from a union guy I know---was saying how I should be all for getting 'free' health insurance from Obama.
Bob Menzies| 11.2.10 @ 2:55AM
It could be argued that Iran is of little threat in the big scheme of things. What would Iran do if they had the bomb - knowing full well if they used it they would get 100 fold back in their tiny laps.
China (one of America's biggest creditors) sits on the side lines while underwriting America's long, expensive and counter-productive (neocon) military adventures.
"There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare." Sun Tzu
For nearly a decade now the neocon dream of "full sprectum dominance" is being played out, with the willing (financial) assistance of America's biggest competitor (and threat); while this continues America continues to grow weaker while the Dragon grows stronger and stronger - both economically and militarily.
"When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, then men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor will be damped. If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength. Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State will not be equal to the strain." Sun Tzu
The US could never defeat China in a shooting war; China is not playing ball in the currency wars, and without China recyclying its trade surplus into T bills etc. the US would be looking somewhat sicker than it already is.
How would the US fund its wars without raising taxes and interest rates without the sale of US debt?
"Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy's resistance without fighting." Sun Tzu
China has won, America has lost, all without one shot being fired - and you know who you can blame for that.
QED
Jack in the Midwest| 11.2.10 @ 11:42AM
All you lunatics calling for any kind of attack on Iran are crazy. This country needs peace and it's troops home defending these borders and shores. Let the world defend itself. We are broke. The world does not need 300 dollar a barrel oil. Iran is a no threat to the USA, or even Israel, with it's hundreds of nuclear weapons. Vote for a true patriot. Ron Paul for President.
Ole Sarge| 11.4.10 @ 12:37AM
Last thing I ever want to see is obummer attempting to wage war. His incompetence is showing up real well in the current wars, one was pretty much over until he showed up. Oh well, loose some win some.