-
Behind the Iraq Protests
April 18, 2013 | 20 comments
-
Turkey, Iraq, and Oil
April 5, 2013 | 0 comments
-
Sunni Reachout to the Shia Crescent
March 7, 2013 | 7 comments
-
Anti-Islamism in an Islamic Civil War
January 24, 2013 | 9 comments
-
Iraq: Playing the Sectarian Crisis Card
January 2, 2013 | 3 comments
The Obama Watch
The Dead Man and His Long Shadow
The Nobel Peace Prize-winning Obama is now paying the price for Gaddafi’s demise.
Muammar Gaddafi was certainly more than prophetic during the summit of the Arab League (AL) in 2008 when he inquired about the fate of his Iraqi predecessor for Western military interventions: Saddam Hussein. “The ruler and head of an AL member has been hanged. Why?” he asked. “In the future it’s going to be your turn. Even you, the friends of America,” he told the Arab leaders present as the audience was rolling on the floor laughing. “Friends of America… No, I say,” said Gaddafi, “We are friends of America, but America can approve of our hanging one day.”
Two years later, the eccentric dictator was dragged out of a sewage channel and lynched by a mob of rebels after the regime succumbed to an alliance of domestic insurgents and NATO air strikes. In the White House, Obama hailed Gaddafi’s demise, saying, “One of the world’s longest-serving dictators is no more. The dark shadow of tyranny has been lifted.”
Well, Gaddafi might be no more, but his long shadow keeps chasing Obama and other enthusiasts of the intervention in Libya even now. When Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, the rationale behind the award rested in significant part on the president’s commitment to nuclear disarmament, with the Nobel committee’s citation hailing Obama for a “vision of a world free from nuclear arms.”
Furthermore, the citation affirmed the following: “Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts.”
Or as Professor Juan Cole — the go-to Middle East “expert” for pundits like Andrew Sullivan and Glenn Greenwald — put it: “Barack Obama was given the prize because he is a game-changer.… Two years ago we were talking about whether Cheney could convince Americans to go to war on Iran. Now Washington is engaging in direct talks with Tehran that have eased tensions.”
However, when the next installment — the Libyan civil war — of that reality show otherwise known as the Arab Spring was hitting TV screens, NATO involvement attracted an unwanted and unintended audience: namely, North Korea and Iran.
An unnamed North Korean foreign policy official quoted by North Korea’s news agency lambasted air strikes on Libya and drew a direct parallel between his country’s nuclear arsenal and the ill-fated WMD program of Libya, which Gaddafi dismantled in 2003 as part of his plans to co-operate with the West. Calling the West’s bargain with Gaddafi “an invasion tactic to disarm the country,” the North Korean official said that the subsequent bombing of Libya by NATO forces was “teaching the international community a grave lesson,” and proclaimed that a powerful military was the only means of ensuring peace in the Korean Peninsula.
More ominously for the administration, the implications of the war in Libya did not escape the attention of Iran’s Supreme Leader — Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Supreme Leader compared the West’s tempting Gaddafi with diplomatic and economic incentives in 2003 in exchange for giving up his nuclear ambitions to “giving candy to a child.” Khamenei said Iran was right to reject restrictions on its nuclear program, making it clear that one can fool a child with sweets, but only once. Having seen what happened to Gaddafi, Iran is not going to trade its nuclear ambitions for any “candy.”
The non-proliferation connection of the war in Libya was completely missed by many analysts. The same Juan Cole endorsed the war in Libya as follows (while expressing slight reservations over the fact that Obama continued U.S. participation without authorization from Congress): “The Libya intervention, in and of itself, is therefore legal in international law in a way that the Iraq War was not. I personally believe that the UN attempt to forbid unilateral aggressive war is absolutely central to our survival on earth, and although it has had many failures, it is an ideal worth reaching for.” His position on Iran remained unchanged.
In a blog post last October, Juan Cole again called for dialogue between the administration and Iran, “Obama came into office convinced that the negotiating table was the only plausible way to deal with Iran. He should go back to that.”
But by now it has become abundantly clear that if a plausible way to deal with Iran exists at all, it is not the negotiating table.
Common sense suggests that a regime will only abandon a WMD program on the understanding that the other party will not subsequently try to take advantage of the degradation of the regime’s deterrence capabilities.
By backing the anti-Gaddafi forces in the Libyan civil war to the point of pushing a de facto policy of regime change (and not simply “protecting civilians”), Obama broke the United States’ tacit agreement with Gaddafi that had been in place since the Libyan autocrat gave up his WMD ambitions in 2003. The president has indeed become a “game-changer”… by eliminating the negotiating table from the list of options for dealing with Iran.
Gaddafi was not even the first dictator in the Middle East to be toppled after it dismantled its WMD program at the request of the Wet. That honor belongs to Saddam Hussein. Yet unlike Saddam, Gaddafi was never accused of failing to carry out his part of the bargain. After reaching a de facto agreement to give up his WMD program, Gaddafi joined forces with Western powers as a supposed ally against terrorism and became a regular visitor in Western capitals.
The truth is that the casus belli behind the NATO intervention in Libya was the violent crackdown on a popular uprising against Gaddafi’s rule. On the other hand, violent crackdowns on popular uprisings are exactly what Iran has been very busy with in recent years. The regime crushed the Green Revolution in 2009 under heavy criticism from the same Western powers that later intervened in Libya when Gaddafi forces were on the verge of defeating the rebels. At the beginning of 2011 the regime in Tehran faced off an attempt to revive the protests.
About the Author
Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi is a Shillman-Ginsburg Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and a student at Brasenose College, Oxford University. His website is http://www.aymennjawad.org.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (58) | Leave a comment
More Articles by Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi
More Articles by Oskar Svadkovsky
More Articles From The Obama Watch
http://spectator.org/archives/2012/01/16/the-dead-man-and-his-long-shad
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
Current Issue
- The Continuing Crisis
- Downton’s Class System — and Ours
- Obama’s Drone War
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
H/T to National Review Online
ADVERTISEMENT
Appleby| 1.16.12 @ 6:47AM
Obama is interested only in his own glory, and as a sophomore in a very liberal university he has no idea in the world that actions have consequences, much less what those consequences might be. Because he is rapidly failing in a job for which he was never qualified, he is flailing about trying to find something he can do that will arrest his fall; and the odd thing about this is that neither he nor his wife actually want this job anymore. They would be much better off agreeing to spend the next 10 months partying and travelling the world, obtaining face time for their daughters with current pop idols, and generally living it up until they have to go back to Chicago and hit the lecture circuit, and leaving the rest of us the hell alone.
Jack in Wi.| 1.16.12 @ 7:44AM
Obama is just another stooge of the Israeli Lobby, just the kid who wrote this essay. He looks old enough to enlist. Let him go and put his keester on the line, if he loves war so much. The people of this country are sick of wars and warmongers. That is why Obama is in trouble. He promised to end the wars, Patriot act, and to close Guantanomo. Instead he has expanded a losing war in Afganistan and has gotten us in a half dozen more around the world. He and the Republicans have continued to destroy civil liberties and the Constitution which guarentees them.
Iran, by the admission of our own intelligence agencies, has no nuclear weapons program. The present head of the Mosad, Prado, has said that even if Iran somehow got a nuclear weapon it would be no essential threat to Israel. 2 former heads of the Mossad, Dagan and Halevey, have called an attack on the Iran the stupidist thing immaginable. They think it would poison the Middle East for at least 100 years. They have been joined by Diskin the former head of the Mossad and other key memembers of Israeli military and intelligence communities.
The only solution to Iran is the same thing we did with the USSR and China. That is to open full diplomatic relations and trade and negotiate with them. We didn't bomb them when they got nuclear weapons. Why should we attack Iran for a non existant nuclear weapons program?
JKS| 1.16.12 @ 8:15AM
Sig Heil!
Crassus| 1.16.12 @ 10:29AM
Yada, yada, yada.
Bob K.| 1.16.12 @ 10:55AM
His co-author, Svadkovsky, appears to be Jewish. Where does he fit in here?
Redstateboy| 1.16.12 @ 11:28AM
Jack, Jack, Jack.... you foolish man. To quote a Jewish Holocaust survivor: "If someone says they're going to exterminate you - believe them."
Have you missed the weekly "Death to America! Death to Israel" Rally's held in Tehran? You think that's for entertainment purposes? Bananahead.
Haddit| 1.16.12 @ 3:55PM
Thank you Ron Paul..........
The Bruce| 1.16.12 @ 6:59PM
Neville Chamberlain would be so proud of you.
Stammon| 1.16.12 @ 8:51PM
I only wish your Zionist conspiracies were true. Then the Mossad would come and get you and I would not have to read this garbage.
victor | 1.16.12 @ 10:32PM
All Hail:
Ronaldus Minimus!
Occam's Tool| 1.17.12 @ 5:01PM
The International Atomic Energy Agency stated it couldn't tell if Iran was trying to obtain nukes...
but really, only cheeseheads and Paulbots believe in the peaceful intentions of Iran...
KennesawJack| 1.16.12 @ 9:52AM
Well said, Appleby. What we have here is an historically uniquely unqualified man-child who, as the manifestation of our debased culture, parlayed being a vacuous, empty-suit rock-star into the Presidency. The only success he has had is making Jimmy Carter's presidency look almost competent, no easy task by any means. I say we buy them a few cases of red Solo cups (with apologies to Toby Keith) and let them party on until next January. Thus occuppied, Obamarx can do less harm and, when this nightmare is over next January, can then slither on back to Rahmville to spend the rest of his life like he has the last three years, accomplishing nothing.
Controse| 1.16.12 @ 12:18PM
Well said. If only he would honor the Constitution while he is partying down.
Bob K.| 1.16.12 @ 10:45AM
Everybody forgets his Secretary of State who is running his foreign policy and it's operations.
Haddit| 1.16.12 @ 3:57PM
You mean the same one that turned her back on our fighting men that pissed on those sorry ass Taliban fighters? Oh she's something alright.
Teaghan| 1.16.12 @ 7:18AM
From your lips to God's ear, Appleby.
John786| 1.16.12 @ 7:26AM
Is mr tammimi a rapturer. Walks and talks like one.
Timothy L. Pennell| 1.16.12 @ 8:16AM
I am.
Occam's Tool| 1.17.12 @ 5:02PM
Much better than a supporter of little boys getting raped Afghani style, like you John 786. Burn in hell, jihadist scum.
Timothy L. Pennell| 1.16.12 @ 8:11AM
He "Won" a Peace Prize because he was a Far Left Liberal. He won a Peace Prize because he's a Marxist/Socialist/Communist/Maoist/Progressive/Global Warmer, who Hates the Jews.
And, what is a Peace Prize worth, if Yasser Arafat got one? Jimmy Carter Hates the Jews. "Give that man a Peace Prize." Al Gore has one, and he GOT IT, for making Hundreds of Millions of dollars by fleecing SUCKERS, like the Church of England, into giving him REAL MONEY, for Mythical Carbon Credits. (I don't know if he hates Jews. But, knowing who his FATHER was? It's a pretty safe bet that he does.)
Anywho.
Let me tell you a little Story, Mr. Mamalooka boobaday. Cause you've got it, all wrong.
Go get your Bible, and read your Revelation.
"And I saw the BEAST, rise from the Sea. And he was given a Mouth, to speak Haughty and Blasphemous words. And he was allowed to exercise authority for forty two months." Revelation 13-5.
The Beast from the SEA. That means that he will come out of the world of Politics.
There will be a 2nd BEAST. The BEAST of the LAND. He is the False Prophet.
Remember this.
Barack Hussein Obama, is like an Evil Stew. He has been surrounded by Evil, all of his life. He surrounds himself with it, still.
The Son of an Atheist/Communist, and a Muslim/Marxist. He was raised in Indonesia, until the age of 11, where he attended Muslim Schools, and Muslim Mosques. "Death to America!"/"Death to the Jews!". Where he knelt on his Prayer Rug, facing Mecca, and prayed to his God of Blood, and Cruelty, Submission, and Murder. And, he did so, in the name of his False Prophet. (The BEAST of the Land)
And, under young Barry Soetoro, the "Land" is getting bigger.
Why does HAMAS believe that Obama is their DELIVERER? Why do they sell Drinking Mugs, with his Image on them, from their Web Site? Why have they given him the name: ABU HUSSAIN / "Son of the Father"?
More importantly, why is no-one talking about this?
Hamas believes that this Muslim Mulatto Boy, has been put on the Christian Throne, for a purpose. And, so do I. America is Israel's ONLY Friend. It is only America, that keeps her safe. And, that brings us to LIBYA.
Khaddafi was right. Just ask Mubarak. These were two Rulers, of two Countries, NOT at War, with Israel. NOT run by the Islamists, Hell bent for Jewish Blood.
Until now.
And, if he started his "WAR OF CHOICE" because Khaddafi was "Killing his own people? (I think the number was a coupla hundred) Why does he do NOTHING about Syria?
If he got his Panties, all in a knot, because Honduras threw out their POS, Hugo Chavez wannabe President For Life? Why was it that he felt that "America should not MEDDLE in Iran", even as Iranians were being Murdered in the streets, for wanting Freedom?
It was because Iran is already at War with Israel, and Syria is needed, if Israel is to be SURROUNDED.
Now, the Muslim Boy is making arrangements to hand Afghanistan over, to his Taliban Brothers, as he just did, in Iraq, with its' Islamists.
Jordan will be next. Then Kuwait, the Emirates, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. Then again, the Islamists may just Attack Israel FIRST, and then mop up the "Kingdoms" after that.
Then comes the rest of Africa. Then, Europe.
And, it all starts with the Mulatto, on the Throne.
rhoetus| 1.16.12 @ 11:28AM
Too bad McCain played "Dead" during the last election.
Purp| 1.16.12 @ 1:37PM
You are seriously ill with conspiracies theories floating in your head.
Moreover, Jesus said you will not know the end times, and yet, you speak as if you do.
From your intimations, it's clear you prefer to invade and rule the world, which is just stupid
Other than also making it crystal clear you are anti-Obama, what else do you offer?
Haddit| 1.16.12 @ 4:05PM
You might want to keep reading in the Bible instead of stopping at points that suit your agenda. There are all kinds of warnings regarding the anti Christ and how he comes about............
Margie| 1.16.12 @ 4:57PM
Purp-i-traitor,
No, Jesus does not say we will not know the end times, He said we won't know the DAY or the HOUR. Mt. 13:32.
Read the New Testament as it is FILLED with what will take place before His return.
Herb| 1.16.12 @ 1:49PM
"Mr. Mamalooka Boobooday"
Heh, heh, someone on this thread my age or close to it. I was in the third grade and thought this was the stupidest song playing on the radio (not all songs; I was smitten with Gogi Grant whenever I heard "Wayward Wind") . There were some great tunes in 1956.
Anyway, great rant and I pray for this nation to survive this year of 2012. We're going to get probed in the last year of an incompetent's term, just like in 1980. Geez........
Timothy L. Pennell| 1.16.12 @ 3:43PM
That's not where I got it.
Howard Stern used that name for his Fake Traffic Reporter.
You must really be old.
Margie| 1.16.12 @ 4:59PM
Tim,
Scripture please as to Sea meaning the political world.
Timothy L. Pennell| 1.17.12 @ 6:38AM
It's not in the Scripture.
Everything isn't in the scripture. At least, not in plain English. The New Testament is full of Parables.
Theologians, who study the Scripture, have determined that "The Eternal Sea" is the world of Politics.
Makes sense to me.
What's the old saying: "The only constant, in the Universe, is BEAUROCRACY"?
VonMisesJr| 1.16.12 @ 9:16AM
Spot on Timothy! The European Socialist that awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the last three decades only prerequisite was that the recipient would wage war on the United States Constitution. Socialism and its desire for power to rule other people is the definition of evil.
I am optimistic that America, perhaps India, Canada and Austrailia may be able to withstand the threats from the communist block of China, Russia and North Korea; and the Islamic Middle East and Africa. But the Europeans are toast, and Mexico is a three way civil war between the military, the drug gangs and the people.
When Iran gets the "bomb," Hitler's Nazi extermination of the Jews will render him a piker. I give you credit for your courage to speak the truth. Like you, if I do not speak the truth, I do not have the conscience to permit sanity in the aftermath. Most are simply afraid. Your love of the Bible, like mine, gives me strength.
KennesawJack| 1.16.12 @ 9:54AM
Von, you and Timothy have started the day in fine fashion. Thank you. P. S. Don't count Europe out just yet. The natives are getting restless over there too, trust me.
VonMisesJr| 1.16.12 @ 10:53AM
Thanks Jack. Someone has to have some cojones besides Michelle and Pelosi.
I would not count on the metrosexuals from Brussels.
KennesawJack| 1.16.12 @ 11:53AM
Agreed, but I assure you, you can count on the Poles, Germans, Czechs, Austrians, Swiss and the Scandinavians. I spend a lot of time in northern/eastern Europe and I'm telling you, these people get it.
Occam's Tool| 1.17.12 @ 5:04PM
Kennesaw: sir, they need to have KIDS. I never thought I'd see a day when a Jewish guy was asking German women to have more German kids, but that day is today.
Louis Jenkins| 1.16.12 @ 10:01AM
"Now Washington is engaging in direct talks with Tehran that have eased tensions."
Well, our illustrious leader, who received a Nobel for "talking" mind you, is still talking and reving up for another round or war. Now I realize that the USA is dependent on the straight of Hormuz, and if Iran closes it off we'll be in a world of hurt, of our own making by the way, all because we refuse to reap the harvest of oil found in our own contiental soil. So Obama has received a Noble, big deal, because all he can do is talk, and ruin our economy through ill policies. And US service men and women will pay the price. Obama, every policy, every regulation, every act, is an absolute failure.
Haddit| 1.16.12 @ 4:10PM
Obama will have stepped on his shirtail once again if there is a war over the straights due to oil. He will have told the country that he is the turn coat, imbesilic, no nothing that those with a brain have already figured out. If we do anything war like due to the movement of oil, how stupid will it make him look? Unreal...........
Bob K.| 1.16.12 @ 11:07AM
This goes far beyond Obama and deep into the belly of the Democratic Party. The Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton supports these actions. So does the rest of the leadership of his party otherwise someone in it would be considering challenging him in the Democratic primaries.
Not a word about it. Don't tell me that Joe Lieberman is happy about the mishmash these people have made out of America's foreign policy!
Purp| 1.16.12 @ 1:41PM
What foreign policy? Iran extended it's hand to GW Bush after 9/11 and he slapped it back. That was the best chance we had to stop the Iranian nuclear expansion, but Neocon warmongerers and profiteers would have none of it. They wanted war at all costs to prove their cajones - which were only made of draft deferments and daddy's influence.
The Bruce| 1.16.12 @ 7:17PM
They didn't "extend their hand." They merely supported the War on Terror because we were going after the Taliban and Al Queida, the majority of whom are Sunni.
We didn't "slap them [Iran] back." We merely discarded the policy of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." We ignored them, as we had for decades.
Your revisionist view of Iran are patently false.
keith| 1.16.12 @ 7:31PM
The people of Iran may have given their condolences, not the mullahs. As for their brief respite from spinning centrifuges, it was due to their neighbor's thorough demise.
C Smith| 1.16.12 @ 11:26AM
The Other Dead Man and His Long Shadow
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2009
A Dream
"... one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places plains, and the crooked places will be made straight... and before the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." With this crudely transcribed misappropriation of Scripture (cf. Isaiah 40:4-5). Martin Luther King initiated the conclusion of his "I Have a Dream" Black Liberation treatise.
"Misappropriation" is not an over statement, King plagiarized liberally and habitually from a variety of eloquent and high-minded sources in so much that Ralph E. Luker, King Papers Project researcher and civil rights historian, comments:
"Moreover, the farther King went in his academic career, the more deeply ingrained the patterns of borrowing language without clear attribution became. Thus, the plagiarism in his dissertation seemed to be, by then, the product of his long-established practice" (Ralph E. Luker "On Martin Luther King's Plagiarism" 2004-12-21).
It is one thing to misappropriate the words of men, but quite another to misappropriate the words of God to support a social [socialist] gospel i.e., the precepts of men.
King in typical Black Liberation eisegetical fashion "spiritualizes" i.e., reads into the Isaiah passage any idea he chooses rather than allowing the literal contextual messianic meaning to pervade:
"Every Valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God" ( Luke 3:5-6).
King learned too late that there are consequences for misappropriating Scripture even to end that blacks are liberated from real or supposed economic, political, or social, subjugation. Black America is learning still:
"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:22-23).
http://popularapostasy.blogspo.....ality.html
McGee| 1.16.12 @ 11:26AM
It might be a good idea to petition the Nobel Committee to revoke the peace prize. Even if it didn't result in any action, enough such signatures - they could be collected from all over the world - would be a useful political tool.
Redstateboy| 1.16.12 @ 11:31AM
McGee.... you place more credibility on that useless (Nobel) organization than it's worth.
Buck Ofama| 1.16.12 @ 2:01PM
It was a Piece of Shit prize... awarded to the piece of shit excuse for a president, Jokebama.
Haddit| 1.16.12 @ 4:15PM
Correct. The HOMOBAMA is the joke from hell.
rhoetus| 1.16.12 @ 11:30AM
Is Romney Goldman Sachs' straw-man candidate?
tsd| 1.16.12 @ 12:13PM
We can keep piss'in in the wind, but in the end it will have to come to a head and we take action.... it can be before they get a bomb or after they use a bomb.
cicero| 1.16.12 @ 1:16PM
This is precisely why this upcoming election is so important. Not only does this administration know nothing about even the basics of economics, it is totally clueless about history. They were going to restart the dialogue with everybody. You
don't restart history. Just because you may think you are the best thing to ever happen, doesn't mean that history will consider you to be so. The Russians aagreed to restart the dialogue. They were on the losing end until our boy Barrack came along. They retarted the dialogue, and now we are weaker defensively as a result of the silly missile treaties he negotiated. We restarted the dialogue in the Arab would, and we are now sitting on a powder keg.
Se are moving into an historical perios where we had better figure out who are friends are. I suggest that we start talking of an alliance of the English speaking peoples. Look to the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and India. That is a solid block which could protect itself if necessary. That block could probably come to the aid of Europe, if necessary. (Europe has no ability to defend itself t this point.)
I don't want to start a rant here, but think that a reasoned discussion must begin. We could start by re-reading "The Gathering Storm", by Sir Winston, once again. It looks to me like the clouds are gathering once again, but this time over the East. God help us.
KennesawJack| 1.16.12 @ 3:51PM
Nice historical perspective, Cicero, and your reference to "The Gathering Storm" is spot on. I heard bandied about the last couple of years the notion of forming a counterpoint to the UN. Newt made reference to it just recently on the campaign trail. The notion is to form a mutual trade, defense, etc. organization among those nations that are truly democratic, i.e. free and fair elections, all the first Ten Amendments freedoms, respect for human rights, etc. Obviously, such an organization would be an economic as well as military powerhouse. The overarching idea is that member states would have truly free and open commerce among them. If that were to happen, the gathering storm in the ME would eventually have to dissipate simply because even the oil rich nations would not have enough wealth to compete with an economic engine of that magnitude. Your observation about a solid bloc of English speaking nations committed to defending Europe would be a step towards such an organization.
Buck Ofama| 1.16.12 @ 2:00PM
So much for "the most intelligent 'president' ever"... Ovomit.
We must rid the white house of the commie vermin infestation ASAP.
Haddit| 1.16.12 @ 4:19PM
The man that faces East to pray with his ass to the West. Why does anyone believe Muslims do this? Odd isn't it? To us Western USA we get their back side all heaped up in the air. Shame they don't reveal a boot when they do it.
shipley130| 1.16.12 @ 3:22PM
The Nobel Peace Prize committee needs to come clean and admit they jumped the shark when they gave Obama a Nobel.
Juan Jose Morales-Castillo | 1.16.12 @ 11:45PM
Giving away the Ignobel Pease Prize to scum who clearly deserve no prizes is by now a deeply cherished tradition of the Ignobel Committee.
Kingofthenet| 1.16.12 @ 5:08PM
There was NO promise by the USA to do anything, nor was Gaddafi giving up WMD any understanding he could rule forever and murder his OWN Civilians. This could have ended with Gaddafi in exile, he alone chose his end.
POST American| 1.16.12 @ 8:53PM
---------------------FINAL WORD-----------------------
---Bush Sr. --the Clintons --Bush Jr.
--the Obamas ---the 'BAR--Rockefellers'.
One and all at the beck and call, utterly
'on board' puppets, operatives and gofers
of the CFR Globalist RED China sellout and
-----------------TREASON OP.--------------------
-----------------------Hope you enjoy what may
very well be out FINAL presidential election.
whatever| 1.16.12 @ 11:23PM
This article is ALL over the place!
Andnier| 1.17.12 @ 1:23AM
Video Converter Ultimate,
video_ts to dvd,
Brushtac| 1.17.12 @ 10:16AM
Well at least one of the two is clearly a propagandist. They’re somewhat right as with most propaganda you have to have an element of truth in your argument in order for it to be considered substantial and relevant. That Israel has been adamant about promoting a preemptive attack upon Iran is not news to anyone. That such an attack would clearly violate international law and merit severe condemnation from the UN is also clear. That America would be drawn into the Israeli initiated conflagration is also true. That we would see the price of oil increase from 100 to 200 or even 300 dollars a barrel is also quiet likely. To my mind here’s the fundamental flaw in their argument, it’s that conducting a preemptive attack on Iran is necessary if Iran doesn’t stop development of a nuclear weapon. I don’t agree. That it’s no use talking to Iran, because it won’t work. Again I disagree. That a nuclear weaponized Iran is intolerable and would justify a preemptive attack. Again, I disagree. We lived for half a century with the prospect of nuclear war with the Soviets and didn’t have a war. Lastly the Iranians don’t pose a direct threat to the United States and thus we should proceed as we’re doing to try and corral the belligerent warmongers Likudniks and seek to establish a relationship with Iran that’s more positive rather than continuing to ratchet up the rhetoric and keep imposing more and more draconian threats and sanctions. We’re on the wrong path, one we should quickly recognize as it was the path to war that the Neocons established getting us into a stupid costly and unnecessary war in Iraq. I say no, no to the war mongers trying to incite America into another war in the Middle East.