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Loose Canons

Dissolving Iraq

By on 12.27.11 @ 6:09AM

What are our permanent interests? Conservatives will need to get it right before Election Day.

Less than two weeks ago, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta presided over the final withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. Since then, Iraq has been dissolving as quickly as an Alka-Seltzer tablet in warm water.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government issued an arrest warrant for the Deputy PM, Tareq al-Hashemi, promptly after the last U.S. truck convoy rolled across the border into Kuwait. Maliki, a Shiite, accuses Hashemi, a Sunni, of involvement in terrorism. Hashemi fled to the north, taking refuge in the Kurdish region under the protection of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. Hashemi has admitted that some of his guards were involved in attacks, but denied involvement and refused to return to Baghdad for trial on the ground that Maliki exercised political control over the courts.

Last Thursday, in a series of coordinated attacks, more than seventy people were killed in Iraq. The Thursday attacks spurred speculation that al Qaeda in Iraq had been revived, though other terrorist groups were probably capable of the planning and coordination that had previously been al-Qaeda’s trademark. Another attack, a suicide bombing at Iraq’s Interior Ministry, killed at least six the day after Christmas.

This carnage is not Iraq’s “new normal.” It is a return to the old normal that will continue until some new strongman asserts control over Iraq or Iraq is broken up into sectarian regions and swallowed by its various neighbors.

On the day of the Interior Ministry attack, the parliamentary minority controlled by Iran’s puppet, Moqtada al-Sadr, demanded that the Iraqi parliament be dissolved and that new elections be held to resolve the disputes. That a new parliament would be able to resolve anything is risible, given the several parliaments’ failure to act since the first one was established after the fall of Saddam Hussein.

All of this was not only foreseeable, it was inevitable as I have written on this page for almost six years. The bonfire of the neocons burns brightly in Baghdad.

Now we have to face the fact that there is neither any way for us to stop Iraq’s dissolution nor any reason for us to try.

It is not the fact that our troops have been withdrawn that makes it impossible for us to influence Iraq’s future. It is the fact that our standing in the Middle East has been weakened by our unwillingness to deal with the terrorist nations’ intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan, or with the Islamic ideology that propels nations to sponsor terrorism.

There are some who will demand that American troops be sent back into Iraq to provide order and stability as only they can. The neoconservatives will insist that, like socialists defending their flawed idea, nation-building didn’t fail because its theory wasn’t properly applied or for a sufficiently long time. This is a debate we should engage in eagerly, because on its conclusion depends the future of American conservatism and, perhaps, the future of America itself.

Neoconservatives will say, truthfully, that nation-building doesn’t always fail. They will point to post-World War II Germany and Japan to prove the point. But implicit in those examples is that the defeated Axis powers were comparable to Iraq and Afghanistan, which they were not. In neither Germany nor Japan was there an undefeated enemy. In neither was there a dominant religious imperative that prevented democracy from taking root. And in neither were there third-party nations with the power and motivation to prevent nation-building from succeeding.

Each of those conditions pertains in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and any one of them could have prevented the success of nation-building. When all three combine, the failure was — again — both foreseeable and inevitable.

The conservative debate won’t be just between those who support the nation-building theory and those who oppose it. There is a third voice — that of the libertarians — who not only oppose nation-building but also demand that America withdraw from its role as a superpower.

Rep. Ron Paul, the libertarians’ most prominent voice, demands not only withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan but also from our bases in other parts of the world. Amidst our economic crisis, the siren call of cutting defense engagements abroad is stronger than it is in times of economic growth. There is some basis for the idea of reducing our forces in Europe, where our NATO allies have had a free ride since the fall of the Soviet Union. Why should we defend those who won’t invest in their own defense?

In truth, we shouldn’t. But that doesn’t mean that we should forfeit our influence there — or in Japan and the Pacific. That’s because our interests in defending freedom are based on more than vague moral principles. The libertarians are wrong because our nation — any nation — is entitled to build and protect its interests abroad. For America to remain free and prosperous, we cannot abandon freedom of the seas, of the skies, of the cyber domains and of space. If we fail, our adversaries — be they the Islamic terror-sponsoring nations, China, or Russia — will prevail and our freedom will decay as inevitably as Iraq will dissolve.

American conservatism used to be defined in terms of fiscal responsibility, personal responsibility, and strong defense. If the libertarians and the neoconservatives succeed in redefining it, the political force of conservatism will disappear until the basic principles are re-established. We cannot allow that to happen because the consequences for our nation will be too dire.

For the next ten plus months, the critical campaign to prevent Obama’s re-election will demand our best efforts and our fullest attention. But we cannot afford to let the debate over conservatism’s future be delayed. We can, and must, debate and resolve our internal differences at the same time. If we do, we can clear away the fog that now envelops the values of conservatism. By so doing, we can push whoever the Republican nominee may be in the right direction, in both meanings of that term.

Let’s begin with the principle stated by British Prime Minister Henry John Temple, Lord Palmerston, stated to Parliament in 1848: “We have no eternal allies and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow.” Palmerston’s Principle is as correct with respect to domestic politics as it is to foreign affairs. In the political circus that will be 2012, it is a principle that should be a benchmark of the conservative debate.

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 (66) |

Ken (Old Texican)| 12.27.11 @ 6:41AM

Well balanced and well spoken Mr. Babbin.

Alan Brooks| 12.27.11 @ 2:10PM

"... our nation -- any nation -- is entitled to build and protect its interests abroad."

An imperialist entitlement from God? what happens when every nation steps on each others' toes?

Buck Ofama| 12.27.11 @ 4:28PM

Agree. I don't want the g0ddamned chinks building and protecting their greasy chink interest in the USSA. Same for the goat-fvcking rag heads.

Alan Brooks| 12.27.11 @ 6:56PM

They already own us- you are about 5 years too late.

internal threats| 1.12.12 @ 4:31PM

Agree - If we fail, our adversaries -- be they the Islamic terror-sponsoring nations, China, or Russia -- will prevail and our freedom will decay as inevitably as Iraq will dissolve.

internal threats| 1.12.12 @ 4:35PM

- sorry, forgot the quote marks - "If we fail, our adversaries -- be they the Islamic terror-sponsoring nations, China, or Russia -- will prevail and our freedom will decay as inevitably as Iraq will dissolve."

Robert Pinkerton| 12.27.11 @ 7:28AM

"Iraq" was cobbled together from what had previously been three different territories, for British imperial convenience. Where is it written, in any Faith's Scripture or in any secular law, that those three separate territories must remain glued together? Let them separate.

IzeHavitt| 12.29.11 @ 12:46AM

I think I'm going to have to agree with you, and, even Joe Biden. Those people may simply not be worth the hassle. Let them do themselves in. That's their history anyway.

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 7:35AM

Dr.Ron Paul Understands History.

Watch The Short Video.
http://digitaljournal.com/article/316304

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

Clint-from-Wi| 12.27.11 @ 9:34AM

Ron Paul has got a winning coalition. Go dr. Paul!
www.facebook.com/Dems4RonPaul
http://www.democratsforronpaul.com/

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 9:43AM

ANKENY, Iowa – 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul won another local tea party presidential straw poll in Iowa tonight, outshining his competitors in a display of growing organizational strength around the state.
This local win follows Ron Paul’s endorsement by two Buena Vista-area tea party co-founders, his endorsement bytwo Dubuque-area tea party founders, and his winning first place in the Dubuque Tea Party presidential straw poll."

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

Clint-from-Wi| 12.27.11 @ 9:43AM

Ralph Nader says of Ron Paul:
"Libertarians like Ron Paul are on our side on civil liberties. They’re on our side against the military-industrial complex. They’re on our side against Wall Street. That’s a foundational convergence”.
www.buzzfeed.com/buzz/Democrats_for_Ron_Paul
www.meetup.com/nycdems4ronpaul/

Clint-from-Wi| 12.27.11 @ 9:56AM

Ron Paul & His AN Support http://www.democraticundergrou.....32x3311430
http://lmliberty.us/2011/12/24.....z1hkH4xdNx

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 12:24PM

" Possible Ron Paul Iowa Win Drives NeoCons to Apoplexy.

Rep. Ron Paul’s top-tier status heading into Iowa and New Hampshire means he definitely can’t be totally ignored by the major media, as he has been in the past. So the censors and blackout artists have been replaced by the smear bund. This past week they got pretty well revved up, but they’re still probably a long way from being in high gear.

As The New American's Jack Kenny noted here a couple of days ago in his article, “Campaign Could Get 'Downright Ugly' if Paul Wins Iowa,” the Big Government Republicans are sharpening their knives for a bloodfest.

But they’re not waiting for the results of the January 3, 2012 Iowa caucuses to get ugly."

We Tea Party Patriots Are Used To The Smear Bund.
They Pulled The Same Propaganda Squad Crap On Our Tea Party.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 12:30PM

Message to Minorities "Ron Paul is Spelling this Sh*t out for You" Ron Paul 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFWNRifg2jA

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 12:27PM

Ronald Reagan,
" If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. I think conservatism is really a misnomer just as liberalism is a misnomer for the liberals–if we were back in the days of the Revolution, so-called conservatives today would be the Liberals and the liberals would be the Tories. The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is.

Now, I can’t say that I will agree with all the things that the present group who call themselves Libertarians in the sense of a party say, because I think that like in any political movement there are shades, and there are libertarians who are almost over at the point of wanting no government at all or anarchy. I believe there are legitimate government functions. There is a legitimate need in an orderly society for some government to maintain freedom or we will have tyranny by individuals. The strongest man on the block will run the neighborhood. We have government to insure that we don’t each one of us have to carry a club to defend ourselves. But again, I stand on my statement that I think that libertarianism and conservatism are traveling the same path."

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

Michael Tomlinson| 12.27.11 @ 7:36AM

This was only inevitable with Barack Obama (the Democrats Ron Paul) occupying the White House. Thank God Ronald Reagan didn't ascribe to the Babin philosophy or Eastern Europe would still be in the Soviet Empire.

As for cobbling together a country from different territories of the British Empire the United States has done alright.

chuck| 12.27.11 @ 9:32AM

"As for cobbling together a country from different territories of the British Empire the United States has done alright"

You can not in any way compare Western civilization, with that of the Muslims. Their beliefs are such that people who do not share your beliefs must be converted, enslaved, or killed.

America is a "melting pot", of people from all over the world, but with our own distinct culture. Iraq is literally 3 different cultures, Shia, Sunni, and Kurds, forced together into one country. They were held together by Saddam, but like the former Yugoslavia after Tito, they are destined to separate. Let it happen.

Bob K.| 12.27.11 @ 5:03PM

This is caused by complex, age old problems that are hardly ever mentioned.

They are all Muslims: That is the only thing they have in common.

First, there is an internecine religious feud between Shiites and Sunni's that has been going on for, what?, only a 1000 years or so?

Then there is the language problem: The Sunni's speak, for the most part Arabic, which is not an Indo-European language. There are 3 distinct languages spoken in this area with 3 distinctly different linguistic root structures. The Shia's for the most part speak Indo-European languages. Then there is the matter of nationalism:The Kurds, who claim different and separate nationality from Iran and Turkey and Syria, speak Indo-European languages like the Persians. But the Turks speak a Turkic language, and the Syrians and Iraqis speak Arabic. And the Syrians also have their sunni/shia conflict.

So there are 3 major fault lines there which all contribute to the mess: Religion, language and nationalism.

They will never get together and this would be OK if they were not, for the most part, sitting on a sea of oil!

Bob K.| 12.27.11 @ 4:42PM

Michael,
The USSR is no more. Since the time of Reagan and Gorbachev. The Soviet empire is gone.

Russia remains. Russian nationalism remains. Russia still has hegemony over virtually all of the former soviet republics.

The people in charge are different. Russia's age old goals are the same.

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 7:54AM

Dr.Ron Paul,
" While President Obama’s demand that Israel
make hard concessions in her border conflicts may very well be in her
long-term interest, only Israel can make that determination on her own,
without pressure from the United States or coercion by the United
Nations.

“Unlike this President, I do not believe it is our place to dictate how
Israel runs her affairs. There can only be peace in the region if those
sides work out their differences among one another. We should respect
Israel’s sovereignty and not try to dictate her policy from Washington.

“The President also defended his unconstitutional intervention in Libya,
authorized not by the United States Congress but by the United Nations,
and announced new plans to pressure Syria and force the leader of that
country to step down."

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

joe gause| 12.27.11 @ 11:22AM

Clint: Give us a break! We're all tired of your rant. Go visit another web site.

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 12:38PM

Why Don't You Try And Make Me Yourself, RINO-CINO Boy.
You RINO-CINO's Got A Bad Habit Of Tryin' To Get Others To Do Your Fightin' For Ya.
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

Buck Ofama| 12.27.11 @ 4:30PM

How many times each day to you wank off to a picture of this niche-candidate, Paul?

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 7:36PM

How Many Times A Day Do You Chew Bibi's Bone ?

Timothy L. Pennell| 12.27.11 @ 8:39AM

5 Comments, and 2 of them are about Ron Paul, by the same guy. The Apostle Paul, didn't go on as much about JESUS, as this guy goes on about this IDIOT. We haven't seen something like this since Germany: Circa 1930. The only difference being that Ron Paul's little Mien Kampf Newsletter, seems to be having the opposite effect as the other Mien Kampf, by the other little freak.
Give it a rest.

Anywho....Maybe Biden's right? (I'll pause so you can throw up in your mouth like I did.) But, hey. As the old saying goes: Put a thousand Monkeys in a room with Typewriters.......Even a Broken Clock is right twice a day. You get the picture. Maybe they should go there own ways? Yugoslavia broke apart and, with the exception of Bill Clinton Bombing the WRONG PEOPLE, evrything's turned out okay.

Maybe they CAN'T be Democracies? Evidently, the Arabs are a race of Children. They need someone to tell them what to do, 24 hours a day. Add to that, the FACT that they strap on a Bomb Belts, and Blow Themselves up, at the drop of a hat, because some Fat Slob "Religious Leader", with a stack of Porno Mags in his tent, next to his Booze, and living like a King, while Abdullah is eating out of the garbage, tells him to. And, he doesn't just do it. He thinks he's won the Lottery while he's doing it.

Obviously, this way of life isn't working.

Strong Fences, make for good neighbors. They should be separated, like the children they are. The Middle East has become a Lawless Wilderness of Animals. You look at it, and you think you're looking at some kind of Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Movie. MAD MAX comes to mind.

I say: Cut'em loose. But, with a Warning: "F**k with us again, and we won't be so nice, next time. We'll be back. But our Feet will never touch the ground. And you will become another Footnote in History. The Philistines of the 21st Century."

I'm just saying.

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 8:48AM

Written By : Eric Dondero :

Fmr. Senior Aide, US Cong. Ron Paul, 1997 – 2003
Campaign Coordinator, Ron Paul for Congress, 1995/96
National Organizer, Draft Ron Paul for President, 1991/92
Travel Aide/Personal Asst. Ron Paul, Libertarian for President
1987/88

I have been asked by various media the last few days for my comments, view of the current situation regarding my former boss Ron Paul, as he runs for the presidency on the Republican ticket.

I’ve noticed in some media that my words have been twisted and used for an agenda from both sides. And I wish to set the record straight with media that I trust and know will get the story right: conservative/libertarian-conservative bloggers.

Is Ron Paul a “racist.” In short, No. I worked for the man for 12 years, pretty consistently. I never heard a racist word expressed towards Blacks or Jews come out of his mouth. Not once. And understand, I was his close personal assistant. It’s safe to say that I was with him on the campaign trail more than any other individual, whether it be traveling to Fairbanks, Alaska or Boston, Massachusetts in the presidential race, or across the congressional district to San Antonio or Corpus Christi, Texas.

He has frequently hired blacks for his office staff, starting as early as 1988 for the Libertarian campaign. He has also hired many Hispanics, including his current District staffer Dianna Gilbert-Kile. "

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

chuck| 12.27.11 @ 9:38AM

Nice selective editing, Robo-Clint. You left out the part about Paul believing the Israeli's should be left to be annihilated by the Arabs.

You know, it's the Arab "peace plan for the Middle East"! NO MORE OF THOSE DAMNED JEWS!

And Doctor Ron Paul is all for it.

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 9:47AM

Uh Oh !

RINO-CINO Chuckie Attempts To Play His Dog Eared Anti-Jew Card On Dr.Ron Paul.

Dr. Ron Paul,
" While President Obama’s demand that Israel
make hard concessions in her border conflicts may very well be in her
long-term interest, only Israel can make that determination on her own,
without pressure from the United States or coercion by the United
Nations.

“Unlike this President, I do not believe it is our place to dictate how
Israel runs her affairs. There can only be peace in the region if those
sides work out their differences among one another. We should respect
Israel’s sovereignty and not try to dictate her policy from Washington."

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

chuck| 12.27.11 @ 10:35AM

You know, it's the Arab "peace plan for the Middle East"! NO MORE OF THOSE DAMNED JEWS!

And Doctor Ron Paul is all for it.

Timothy L. Pennell| 12.27.11 @ 9:52AM

Is Jeremiah Wright a White Hating, Jew Hating, America Hater? In short, No. "I sat in his Pews for 20 Years, and I never heard him say anything like that." Barack Hussein Obama.
It's like you're Retarded.

If one of the Nurses, that peeks in to Clint's Padded Cell from time to time, wouldn't mind, Could you take his Keyboard away for a coupla days? It won't make him any better. But, you'd be doing the rest of us, more good than you could ever know.

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 12:33PM

" Possible Ron Paul Iowa Win Drives NeoCons to Apoplexy.

Rep. Ron Paul’s top-tier status heading into Iowa and New Hampshire means he definitely can’t be totally ignored by the major media, as he has been in the past. So the censors and blackout artists have been replaced by the smear bund. This past week they got pretty well revved up, but they’re still probably a long way from being in high gear.

As The New American's Jack Kenny noted here a couple of days ago in his article, “Campaign Could Get 'Downright Ugly' if Paul Wins Iowa,” the Big Government Republicans are sharpening their knives for a bloodfest.

But they’re not waiting for the results of the January 3, 2012 Iowa caucuses to get ugly."

We Tea Party Patriots Are Used To The Smear Bund.
They Pulled The Same Propaganda Squad Crap On Our Tea Party.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

RJ| 12.27.11 @ 8:39AM

Think of that smile Kristol provides to television viewers. Now, imagine him in an American military uniform, on the front lines of combat, moving forward knowing life and death await many and few.

Would he , if lucky and brave, return to his job with the same determinations he has so loudly provided over the years for America to send it's youth into combat for political reasons and those suggested as national self interests?

John Kerry is not the person to ask...

Mike| 12.27.11 @ 8:41AM

This writer speaks as if he is not a neocon. The neocons are those other people that made the mistakes and they are the reason that Iraq was a debacle. This writer is a neocon. Make no mistake about it.

The Iraq war was was a horrible mistake and a tragedy of epic proportions. The turmoil that we are seeing there (and that we have seen all through the fall of this year) was inevatible regardless of how long we stayed there. Let it go.

L. Ross| 12.27.11 @ 8:45AM

Any stability in the Middle East is the result of a strong man siezing power, eliminating his enemies, and ruling via terror. If we were not willing to fit societal norms in the area, we should not have started. The idea that we cold just roll in and bring democracy into a muslim nation is ridiculous. If anything vindicates George H.W. Bush's decision to cease operations and leave Iraq under the control of Saddam Hussein, it is what we are about to see in the next few months after our withdrawl. I'm not saying we shouldn't have tried, but the effort to "Americanize" Iraq was always doomed to fail. "Shock and Awe" left the Iraqi populaion non-plussed. Carpet bombing of Baghdad would have been required to gain the awe of this population. If we are not willing to engage in total war, we should not bother. We lost thousands of our bravest warriors, with untold numbers gravely injured. I am afraid their sacrifices will have been for nothing.

bluecollarbytes| 12.27.11 @ 8:54AM

Let's dispense with the "Dr Paul" reference, as though "Dr" makes Ron special . I don't remember heart surgeon Frist constantly referred to as Dr once he became a senator. and he Was 'special'.

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 9:18AM

Let's Not.

He Earned The Title In The Air Force, As A Flight Surgeon And In Private Practice, Delivering Over 4,000 Babies With No Abortions.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

Ted| 12.27.11 @ 9:44AM

Dr. Paul earned the title by virtue of the fact that he graduated from Medical School. I don't mind it that people refer to him as Dr. After all, he put in the effort and did the work required.

chuck| 12.27.11 @ 10:37AM

Newt has a PhD, so I guess we'll start calling him Dr. Gingrich.

Margie| 12.27.11 @ 7:05PM

Everybody and his brother is a Dr. it seems, not only in politics, but I hear it on Christian radio as well.
Really, who cares?

Just because you have a Dr. next to your name doesn't necessarily mean you're in your right mind.

Consider Sigmund FREUD the FRAUD.

Nick| 12.27.11 @ 7:47PM

Margie,

You had better call those Christian radio stations and tell them that they are violating Christ's command not to call anyone a teacher (cf. Matt. 23:6–7).

By the way, where are the answers to my questions?

Do you believe that infants can sin?
Did Paul mess up when he wrote, in the same chapter, that "many have sinned"?
Did the Holy Spirit inspire the Old Testament authors to write that Enoch and Elijah did not die, and then inspire Paul to write that "ALL [pantes] have died"? If He meant ALL, as in everyone who ever lived?

Until you can answer these questions, your argument, or, rather, your flawed interpretation, doesn't have a leg to stand on.
God Bless!

Margie| 12.27.11 @ 10:23PM

You're insane, Nick.
I hope you repent and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ, lest you perish.

Nick| 12.27.11 @ 10:47PM

Margie,

These are the type of responses I used to get from Toddard, Marxist Reader, and 3/5 Bob!

So, basically, you are admitting that your argument doesn't have a leg to stand on, eh?
Well, it's about time.
God Bless!

Micha Elyi| 12.28.11 @ 3:23AM

Nick busted you Margie. You don't know what "doctor" means and you don't know your Bible half as well as you hallucinate that you do.

chuck| 12.27.11 @ 9:42AM

blue,

The Paulestinians (I just love that name, so fitting) get there panties in a wad if you don't refer to the Messiah as "DOCTOR".

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 9:52AM

The RINO-CINO's (I just love that name, so fitting) get there panties in a wad if you refer to Dr.Ron Paul as Dr.Ron Paul.

Dr. Ron Paul,
" While President Obama’s demand that Israel
make hard concessions in her border conflicts may very well be in her
long-term interest, only Israel can make that determination on her own,
without pressure from the United States or coercion by the United
Nations.

“Unlike this President, I do not believe it is our place to dictate how
Israel runs her affairs. There can only be peace in the region if those
sides work out their differences among one another. We should respect
Israel’s sovereignty and not try to dictate her policy from Washington."

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

Ryan| 12.27.11 @ 8:58AM

The more I think about it, the more I believe that Paul's position is simply a few steps too far in the wrong direction. He's TOO friendly to the militant Islamist world - Sunni and Shia alike - and his position is not in the best interests of the US in the long term.

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 9:21AM

Dr. Ron Paul, " I'll ask Congress for A Declaration Of War against Iran, if necessary."

Dr.Ron Paul Voted To Use Force In Afghanistan.

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

howard lohmuller| 12.27.11 @ 10:52AM

Mr. Babbin is too generous in his criticism of President Obama's governance. The Democrats have forfeited American influence and national security interests in the Middle-east. And they are deliberately destroying the American economy, crippling the private sector in order to enlarge the central government and distribute wealth to their supporters. Obama is creating one of the greatest dangers this country has ever dealt with, a Leninist like regime from a successful Capitalistic Republic. If he is not stopped, America will be finished.

Know your reps| 1.12.12 @ 4:48PM

howard lohmuller said "Mr. Babbin is too generous in his criticism of President Obama's governance. The Democrats have forfeited American influence and national security interests in the Middle-east. And they are deliberately destroying the American economy, crippling the private sector in order to enlarge the central government and distribute wealth to their supporters. Obama is creating one of the greatest dangers this country has ever dealt with, a Leninist like regime from a successful Capitalistic Republic. If he is not stopped, America will be finished."
-- Thank You - It's amazing how the far left is sheltered, it seems the media is many times successful in promoting leftist ideology, and threatening Republican ideals.

Peppermint Tea| 12.27.11 @ 12:22PM

And so Mr. Babbin, your solution is.......?
I had one told me back in 2003, "Arm the Kurds and tell them to keep the oil flowing."
There is no Iraq. Let the Shiites be annexed by Iran, the Sunni flee to Syria, and the Kurds and Iran agree on a border.

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 1:18PM

Ron Paul 2012 Campaign Ad ~ Who is Mitt Romney? Created by NIU Students for Liberty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1wPrsEP2nc

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

Richard Baker| 12.27.11 @ 2:26PM

These Paul supporters are rabid for him because he speaks for the libertarian crazies. Get rid of laws for prostitution and drugs and if Israel weren't there then the world would be peaches and cream. Yes, he advocates a constitutional return which is fine but his isolationist sentiments are a fantasy because we were the only country left undestroyed after WWII and had world leadership thrust upon our victorious shoulders. A Paul presidency would be absolutely chaotic similar to the chaos in the military when the perpetual gadfly Les Aspin became Secretary of Defense. One last question for the Paul supporters is this: What exactly did Paul accomplish during his time in the House? Try and be specific, if you can.

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 7:45PM

Ronald reagan,
" If you analyze it I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism. I think conservatism is really a misnomer just as liberalism is a misnomer for the liberals–if we were back in the days of the Revolution, so-called conservatives today would be the Liberals and the liberals would be the Tories. The basis of conservatism is a desire for less government interference or less centralized authority or more individual freedom and this is a pretty general description also of what libertarianism is.

Now, I can’t say that I will agree with all the things that the present group who call themselves Libertarians in the sense of a party say, because I think that like in any political movement there are shades, and there are libertarians who are almost over at the point of wanting no government at all or anarchy. I believe there are legitimate government functions. There is a legitimate need in an orderly society for some government to maintain freedom or we will have tyranny by individuals. The strongest man on the block will run the neighborhood. We have government to insure that we don’t each one of us have to carry a club to defend ourselves. But again, I stand on my statement that I think that libertarianism and conservatism are traveling the same path."

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

cicero| 12.27.11 @ 4:10PM

Enough with the Ron Paul blather on every subject. This was an article about the current and future status of Iraq.
The decision to go in and punish those who were instrumental in an attack on the Homeland was appropriate. The decision to bring Jeffersonian Democracy to the malefactors and those they governed/ruled was not. It took the west 6000 years to arrive at America. We should have gone in, dragged the dictators or parties (Taliban) out of thier lairs, killed them, and left. We could have left a note for the ones taking their places that warned them not to do that again - or we would come back and do the same to them.
How they rule their people is for them and their people to decide. The Muslim countries have been telling the West for centuries that they prefer their way of life to our way of life. What don't we understand about that?

BD57| 12.27.11 @ 7:25PM

Absolutely ... the Paulbots pollute every article's comments with their politicking.

Whether removing Saddam was a 'mistake' depends on what replaces him ... presently, we don't know the answer to that question.

I don't see anything in Islam (as I understand it) to suggest it's capable of living in a pluralistic society.

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 7:43PM

" Ron Paul’s “Tea Party” money bomb meets $4 million goal

Ron Paul (R-TX), a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, ended his “Tea Party” money bomb Sunday at midnight. Mr. Paul succeeded in meeting his fundraising goal of $4 million. The Paul campaign plans on using the grassroots donations for additional campaign activities in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. With the donation ticker still climbing, Mr. Paul has raised more than $4,048,000 as of 9am EDT Monday.

Ron Paul 2012 Campaign Manager John Tate urged supporters to contribute Sunday.

“The more resources we have, the more undecided voters in Iowa and New Hampshire we can contact through email, mail and TV to spread Dr. Paul’s message of liberty and free markets that has him skyrocketing in the polls in the early states,” Mr. Tate wrote.

“The establishment knows Ron Paul is the one candidate who is serious about cutting spending, standing up against assaults on our liberties, restoring sound money, and fighting for a return to constitutional government,” Mr. Tate added."

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

Buck Ofama| 12.27.11 @ 4:33PM

Who is this doctor R Paul anyway? I've never heard of him.

Even Ovomit supposedly holds a juris doctorate, proof positive that having a doctorate does not necessarily qualify one for high office.

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 7:40PM

" Ron Paul wins new poll in Hawkeye State


Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX), a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, bested former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in an American Research Group of likely Iowa GOP caucusgoers Friday. Mr. Paul’s lead is small, but the Texas congressman pulled in 21 percent of the votes to lead the GOP pack for the 4th time in less than a week.

Mr. Romney, who has only beaten Mr. Paul once this week, is in second place with 20 percent of the votes. Mr. Gingrich, who was once the frontrunner in the Hawkeye State, garnered 19 percent of the votes to finish in third place."

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

Oldefarte| 12.27.11 @ 5:03PM

'......Ron Paul supporters are easy to recognize, their signature headgear, when properly applied also keeps fat from dripping on your grill and flaring up. Also his name is Barry.

Ron Paul supporters not only appear when his name is invoked 3 times, it drives them crazy, an admittedly short trip.

The Federal Reserve killed most of Ron Paul's supporters puppies.

If you're bitten by a Ron Paul supporter if you don't become one, you do become a carrier.

Where do Ron Paul supporters have their meetups? A house of mirrors.

Ron Paul supporters never get sick and can only be killed by decapitating them. There can be/is only one.

When Ron Paul returns to the Earth, his followers believe he will restore the constitution so well that the ink will smell wet and also miraculously restore the moat around America to its pre-civil war glory.

To a Ron Paul supporter the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution are collectively known as the Bill of WRONGS!

Every time a bell rings a Ron Paul supporter get his mouth very salivated.

Ron Paul supporters think everyone who doesn't support him fears him like they fear getting abducted by aliens, again.

When the feces found in the U.S. Capital was determined to be Ron Paul's, his supporters were quick to hail it the best idea, anywhere, ever and also delicious.

If Ron Paul falls in a forest, his supporter(s) will claim it's because gravity is inherently unconstitutional.

Some claim Ron Paul supporters spam online polls, the truth is they just all have the same I.P. address because... Hey! LOOK kittens!

The most ardent of Ron Paul's followers think the US government is too big when it has more people than the secret number Ron Paul has written on his magic anti-alien hemp underpants. ......'

Clint| 12.27.11 @ 7:51PM

" Ron Paul grassroots supporters release video on US foreign policy.

Watch The Short Video.
Read more: http://digitaljournal.com/arti.....z1hmnfCuiu

http://digitaljournal.com/article/316304

The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.

WJ| 12.27.11 @ 6:01PM

The less that conservatives say about Iraq the better. Please don't go reminding the country that some conservatives got us into that pile of dung where lives and treasure were completely wasted. I don't think the American voter wants to rehash Iraq.

Babbin seems obsessed with it. He supported the wrong side and continuously tries to cover his tracks.

Bob K.| 12.27.11 @ 10:48PM

Amen!

Bugler| 12.28.11 @ 7:34PM

So you're content to see this travesty repeated?

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