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Loose Canons
As the World Burns
Continuing Season 4 of the Obama Soap Opera.
For the last week, the election debate has been focused on the existential question of how much impact will result from Mitt Romney’s “47%” remark. The campaign suffers from a malaise that can only be cured by a real crisis such as Obama replacing Joe Biden with Paris Hilton or Dave Letterman.
In that same week, there’s been a steady flow of SGO (“s**t going on,” in the comprehensively useful acronym coined by former SEAL Al Clark), events far more important which are going almost unnoticed. Consider just a few.
The treacly flow of information from the Obama administration about the war in Afghanistan is more reminiscent of Vietnam each day. “I think we are on track,” Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said last Friday in announcing that the last of our 33,000 “surge” troops have been withdrawn. Panetta also said that the surge had met “…its objectives of reversing the Taliban momentum on the battlefield and dramatically [increasing] the size and capability of the Afghan national security forces.”
The latter remark would be comical if it didn’t come in the context of cessation of joint operations with Afghanistan forces below the battalion level, resulting from another “green on blue” attack on U.S. troops by the Afghan troops they are supposed to be training. Training operations have been slowed as well, while new “vetting” procedures are used to re-clear Afghans who are supposed to be trainees.
The context includes the Taliban attack on Marine Camp Bastion which resulted in more U.S. deaths and the destruction of so many Harrier aircraft that the Marine air squadron, VMA-211 whose aircraft they were, is now out of action. The last time VMA-211 was combat ineffective was in December 1941 when it was almost wiped out in defense of Wake Island.
The squadron commander, Lt. Col. Christopher “Otis” Raible, and Sgt. Bradley Atwell were killed in the 16 September attack. (Raible was killed while inspecting the flight line at 10 pm, as was his custom. According to an e-mail from a direct source that was forwarded to me, Raible was armed only with a 9mm pistol and died fighting.)
The “green on blue” attacks — Afghani soldiers and policemen attacking our troops — account for 51 U.S. deaths so far this year and the frequency of these attacks is increasing.
In Barbara Tuchman’s epic history The March of Folly, she recounts that in 1954, the Joint Chiefs of Staff wrote a memorandum for President Eisenhower (which he may have never read). In part, the memo said it was “absolutely essential” to have a “reasonably strong stable civil government in control” in Vietnam. As Tuchman wrote, the memo said that it was “hopeless to expect a United States training mission to achieve success,” unless — in Tuchman’s words — Vietnam “could effectively perform all functions necessary to recruitment and maintenance of its own forces.”
The Karzai regime, like Diem and his Vietnamese successors, has utterly failed to perform those functions, with the entirely predictable results that parallel our involvement in Vietnam.
We have been defeated in Afghanistan. Obama has succeeded, with Romney’s complicity, in keeping the Afghanistan war out of the campaign debate. Obama’s White House has also succeeded in claiming ultimate credit for the SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden while, at the same time, leaking an enormous amount of classified information about that operation, going so far as to bring in Hollywood producers of the coming movie about the raid, Zero Dark Early.
Those leaks damaged national security. Alleged leaks by former SEAL “Mark Owens” in his book about the raid, No Easy Day, briefly stirred that concern. But “Owens’s” book has done something else. It has angered the SEAL community because it breaches a trust.
Special operators — SEALs, Army Special Forces, Marine Recon and Air Force special ops — share a code of silence. It’s not like the Mafia’s “omerta” code of silence, which is a code of fear, a tyranny. It’s a code of honor that compels the spec ops guys to serve without discussing, even with their families, what they do. It’s a large element of the pride they take in their job. The pseudonymous “Owens” — a real hero, a warrior’s warrior by all reports — broke that code. From what I’m hearing, he will be ostracized for violating the code, and he should be.
Though “Owens” will be ostracized, the Mujahedin e-Khalk, an Iranian opposition group, shouldn’t be. The MEK was listed as a foreign terrorist organization by Bill Clinton in 1997 as a sop to the Tehran regime, which didn’t change its behavior toward us or the MEK.
After the Iraq invasion of 2003, MEK forces were bombed by U.S. forces, surrendered and were disarmed. In captivity, they were designated by the U.S. as “protected persons” under the Geneva Convention. The MEK were transferred to Iraqi custody and have been attacked repeatedly by Iraqi forces. They have also reportedly been deprived of medical supplies and other humanitarian aid. Despite their maltreatment — and abandonment by America — the MEK have been a source of valuable intelligence information from inside Iran on the Iranian nuclear weapons program.
Britain and the EU nations removed MEK from their terrorist lists in 2008 and 2009. Now, after a long legal battle, the US State Department is about to delist MEK as a terrorist organization. That is a good step, but what else will State do?
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 (53) | Leave a comment
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Appleby| 9.24.12 @ 6:53AM
There's nothing more to be said, except that the End Times are approaching and it's time to get ready to rumble.
Jack in Wi| 9.24.12 @ 7:24AM
It looks like the end of times is approaching Appleby. But I don't think it has to. It is all in the hands of Man and how he handles his life. The MeK is a disgraceful group of assassins, run by the Mossad. They are a front group just like groups set up by Chalbi Just before the Iraq war. How did that turn out? The Mossad also gave suport to Hizbalah and Hamas in the begining as couterweights to other groups. How did that turn out? The Muslim world is in an uproar right now. It is because of a film which was put together perhaps with radical Zionist funds. With a Coptic Christain is the fall guy. That is the theory of Justin Ramondo over at Antiwar.com. I think he hasput forth a great reporting job. Ccheck it ou for yourself and if you don't agree give me a real critique. If Mr. Babbin has his way we will have a massive world war with Islamic country's. Many millions will die. The oil the world needs from Iran and Iraq will be gone. they are Shia run countries who will burn every well rather then put up with Israeli domination. Saudi Arabia will go up in flames as well as the majority Shia population in it's oil producing provices expodles.
Jack in Wi| 9.24.12 @ 7:35AM
Now Applyby my candidate for The Antichrist is of course Bibby Nutanyahoo, who Mr. Babbin loves so much. He is trying to lead us into a horrible world war using horrible weapons against millions of people. All my life I have read how the world should have done something about Hitler and how WW2 would have been avoided. Well it is time to do soemthing about Nutanyahoo. The military and intelligence establishments in both Israel and the Us have called him out. An attack on Iran would be a terrible war crime against International Law, and Christian Just war Doctrine. Good for these brave civil servants. Lets hope the Israeli people replace this old lunatic soon. Most of them want nothing to do with his war
The Avenger| 9.24.12 @ 7:50AM
Once again Jack in your obvious antisemitic rant, you miss the point of the article. The point being that the MSM is covering for Obama's ineptness by deflecting from the stories that should be told. So sad that you can't see past your hatred of Israel long enough to see the very real damage being done by the Obama lapdogs in the press.
Nick| 9.24.12 @ 11:47AM
Obviously, Avenger, anyone who thinks that Prime Minister Netanyahu is worse than Hitler, as Jackboot the Nazi does, is clearly deranged, and suffering from senility.
Oh, and he is a rabid anti-Semite.
Skippy| 9.24.12 @ 12:24PM
This whole "anti-Semite" crap has to end, and now is as good a time as any.
There will be no more use of "anti-Semite" as a descriptor.
These scum are "Jew-haters", and that is what they should be called.
Jack in Wi| 9.24.12 @ 2:21PM
As I was highly complimentary of the Israeli military and intelligence community and most Israeli's who want no war. How does that make me antisemitic? Nutanyahoo is worse then Hitler. He has hundreds of atomic weapons that could easily kill more people then Hitler ever did. Hopefully the people in Israel will soon replace him. There is no place for another delusional racist leading the world into the appocalypse.
JD| 9.24.12 @ 4:13PM
He cannot be worse than Hitler, having not actually done anything. Opinions are split as to whether he intends to. He is not, for example, Saddam Hussein, who DID gas the Kurds.
Jack in Wi| 9.24.12 @ 4:39PM
Hitler didn't own most of the American Congress like Nutanyahoo does. I think that is changing as war become more and more unpopular. The absolutly only good thing I can say about Obama is that he hates Bibby. Well do you blame him having to bend over and his his smelly rear end everytime they meet. That doesn't count the daily calls from Tel Aviv.
jdondet| 9.24.12 @ 1:05PM
Do you really believe what have written or are you just trying to provoke a response?
TLP| 9.24.12 @ 4:59PM
People, like Jack, say what they mean, and mean what they say.
Lenin did. Stalin did. Hitler did. Mao did. Min did. Pol Pot did. Castro did. Mugabe did. Chavez did. I'mahandajob does.
And, our Muslim Boy - Obama does.
Everything he said he'd do? He's done.
It is always wise to take Evil at its word.
When, oh When, will we Humans ever LEARN?
Now, take out your Bible and turn to Revelation.
And then tell me I'm wrong.
KyMouse| 9.24.12 @ 5:02PM
"the end times..."..."is all in the hands of Man and how he handles his life," Jack says.
Reading Ezekiel chapter 37, I see God repeatedly saying "I will" do thus-and such, as part of His plan, without saying that we mortals can change any of it.
Consider Isaiah 46:9-13:
"...I am God, and there is none else;I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things tha are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure:
"Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man who executes My counsel from a far country; yes, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.
"Listen to me, you stouthearted, who are far from righteousness -- I will bring near My righteousness; it shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not be delayed; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel My Glory."
Oops -- there's more of that pesky stuff about God's promise to preserve Israel.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.24.12 @ 2:06PM
Only God knows of the appointed time so what makes evangelicals so special that they think they can predict that time? There have always been wars and plagues and earthquakes and volcanoes and tidal waves and droughts and rumors of wars. George W. Bush actually believed we were living in End Times too which is really f*cking scary given the fact that he has the final decision to launch ICBMs.
TLP| 9.24.12 @ 5:01PM
He was right.
Open your eyes.
"There are none so Blind, as those who refuse to see."
Like you, Dumb@ss.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.24.12 @ 6:13PM
The American Evangelical End Timers are not conservatives. They should be rounded up along with the Salafists of the world and put on a desert island to battle to the death. Please leave the rest of us out of it.
TLP| 9.24.12 @ 7:47PM
Don't worry, Dickhead.
When the time comes?
You will, most definately, be LEFT OUT.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.24.12 @ 7:55PM
What a Christian you are with such a Christian vocabulary. You are a moron and a dangerous moron wanting to send more young American men to die in the Middle East for your delusional Apocolyptic Fatalism. I am an Orthodox Christian and an American, but people like you and I have very little in common because I understand that everything is in God's hands and I love my family and want what's best for them. I don't feel the need to start Armageddon. You have more in common with the Al Qaeda types that you claim to hate. Two peas in a pod.
KyMouse| 9.24.12 @ 5:08PM
Yes, there have always been earthquakes, etc., but what's different in our day is the rebirth of the nation of Israel. This return was foretold many times in the Bible, such as Ezekiel 37:13-14, 21-22, etc.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.24.12 @ 6:15PM
The modern day secular nation of Israel is not the Israel of the Bible. Many traditional Christians (Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians) believe the Israel in the book of revealations is the Christian Church not the modern Jewish state.
Von Mises Jr| 9.24.12 @ 8:17AM
While the Obama regime was taking credit for Foreign Policy citing that Romney and Ryan had none, the Islamic Terrorist refused to cooperate killing four Americans and making a moronic fool out of Barry and the regime.
Event will shape the election before the next six weeks are over. China may not wish for another four years of Obama since when our monetary and financial markets implode, they are SOL on their hundreds of billions in loans. The Saudi leadership may want to help Obama with more production and lower prices, but the terrorist do not seem to like Barry chanting "Obama, Obama, we are all Osama."
And the real wild card is Israel. If they think Barry may win, they must go for broke. They will not last another four years if this regime continues, and Bibi knows it.
Al Adab| 9.24.12 @ 1:07PM
JR:
The Left has become even more isolationist that Conservatives these days. They wish to disengage from the world and let the chips fall. Sadly they temper that view with some utopian humanitarianism (Free Tibet, Save Darfur,etc.) which causes them to pursue chimerical policies.
Conservatives at least temper their foreign policy views through the national interest and of course our Neos still follow Wilsonian nation building concepts to our detriment.
Western Civilization and Islamic Civilization have found themselves at odds for the better part of 1200 years. It heats up then cools off in cycles and these days it is hot. No small part in that played by the 1979 Iranian revolution but more recently due to inept foreign policy by current and recent administrations.
John (below) may be correct that there is still time in dealing with Iran. I think the time has passed and that the Iranian regime is pursuing its policy regardless of international views. We will see. As you note, what other nations think about this election will have a great influence on events in the next sixty days.
Al Adab| 9.24.12 @ 1:10PM
My third paragraph should note that no small part in the current warfare is due to the existence of several, non-state "terrorist" organizations. They are actually surrogates for state action sponsered by nations unwilling, as of yet, to act on their own behalf.
TLP| 9.24.12 @ 5:04PM
Isolationist?
They threw Mubarek under the bus - ala Jimmy Carter and the Shah - and they Killed Khaddafi.
That's not Isolationist.
At least, not where I come from.
John786| 9.24.12 @ 9:12AM
There is still a chance to make peace with Iran. A peace that accepts Iran's rights under the NPT. I fear that the END TIMERS will get their wish: and plunge the world into armegedon. Sane people, can not benefit, from these, end timer policies.
Boar Hunter| 9.24.12 @ 10:02AM
By end timers I assume you are talking about the coming of the 12th imam or the anti-Christ. The only chance for peace with Iran is to kill their leaders, take their oil and convert their children to christianity.
Islam is of satan.
Occam's Tool| 9.24.12 @ 11:02AM
Boar: you are far too generous to Islam, my friend.
Who Knows?| 9.24.12 @ 11:36AM
Google Pat Condell and watch his Muslim riot youtube---awesome!
Who Knows?| 9.24.12 @ 11:36AM
It should become an Internet sensation!!!
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.24.12 @ 2:14PM
George W. Bush was an End Timer as well and unlike the doubt over whether Iran has or will ever get a bomb there is no doubt that George W. Bush had thousands of thermal nuclear warheads at his disposal.
Peace with Iran is attainable. Russia (an Orthodox Christian nation) has peace and friendship with the Shia Islamic Republic of Iran. Those who attacked our embassy in Benghazi were Sunni Islamists (like Bin Laden) not Shia Muslims like the people of Iran. The Shia are not our enemy. They may be Israel's enemy, but that doesn't mean they have to be our enemy.
Israel is not an ally of the United States. Israel is for Israel and that should never be forgotten by Americans.
JmsA| 9.26.12 @ 8:55PM
Stop the nonsense and lies: Iran is a client state of Russia. Did the Sunni hold the American embassy personnel hostage for 444 days? No, they didn't. It was the Shia under the leadership of Khomeini.
I recall your not long ago proclaiming Putin, the ex-KGB thug, a great leader, while continuing to defend the butcher Assad. Could it be that Syria is also a client state of Russia, who sells the butcher Assad arms which he used to to kill not only the rebels, but also unarmed civilians? Could it be that your antipathy towards those who believe in the End of Times relates to Magog (Russia), which according to prophecy by Ezekiel, Chapters 38 and 39, will be the leader of a regional coalition against Israel? You go on and on pretending you care about Christians, but I suspect that such is but a cover to disguise your true intent: defend Russia's geopolitical and strategic goals, such as its continued naval presence in the eastern Mediterranean, including its only naval refueling station in the region, at Tartus, not to mention, as per the former Soviet Union, the radicalization of the Middle East against the West by way of the socialist Baath Party, founded in Syria, and presently in control of that country's military.
Winston Churchill once said, and I paraphrase: The worst thing about allies is not having any. Israel is our only friend and ally in the region, and no matter how you and others try to make it seem otherwise, you will not succeed.
Who Knows?| 9.24.12 @ 10:58AM
Go to powerlineblog.com and click on the “A word to rioting Muslims”, by Pat Condell, at the top of the page. Just about the best straight talk I’ve ever heard---it really puts Islam in its place!
Anthony| 9.24.12 @ 11:58AM
Ah yes, Iran's rights under the NPT. See no evil.... speak no evil..... hear no evil...... Just the way, Obozo, Hillary and Ahmadinejad want it.
Tick tock.......tick tock.......tick tock.......BOOM.
Al Adab| 9.24.12 @ 1:13PM
John:
See my above. I would like to share your optimism, but I think the Iranian regime is comprised of the "end timers" which we rightly fear. The West had several opportunities to change the dynamic in Iran and mishandled every one of them over the last thirty years. With the Jewish High Holy Days upon us we shall see what actions the players may take.
John786| 9.24.12 @ 8:32PM
Sheikh Al Adab,
I hope you are well.
I, with the rest of humanity, have a vested intrest in peace. Peace is very much achievable through dialogue. However, I fear that some people, do not want peace, but are after capitulation. The sanctions as they start to bite will inevitably lead to war. Iran needs a face saving solution. Unfortunately, the war drums are getting louder. You don't want to sleepwalk into this. Americans need to know the consequences. Oil flow will stop as a minimum. This alone will cause immense suffering in the third world. And destroy economies. No one will benefit especially Israel.
TLP| 9.24.12 @ 5:07PM
I agree with Goat Boy John.
We should seek Peace with Iran. The Peace of the Grave.
We can take them out, Now?
Or, we can wait for Millions to Die, like we did with Hitler.
I choose - NOW.
spike59| 9.25.12 @ 6:09AM
Iran is not interested in peace; they are interested in the destruction of Israel-they keep saying so, over and over:
NEW YORK, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday Israel has no roots in the Middle East and would be "eliminated," ignoring a U.N. warning to avoid incendiary rhetoric ahead of the annual General Assembly session.
We don't even count them as any part of any equation for Iran. During a historical phase, they (the Israelis) represent minimal disturbances that come into the picture and are then eliminated."
In 2005, Ahmadinejad called Israel a "tumor" and echoed the words of the former Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, by saying that Israel should be wiped off the map.
It's high time the rest of the world starts taking these threats seriously-if the Israelis decide to turn Tehran into a parking lot, more power to them
Bill8472| 9.24.12 @ 10:08AM
When the West falls into one of these binds were there is no easy answer, somebody always brings up the End Days. It's not even the end days for Europe, and it's not the end days for the United States. It's certainly not the end days for Islam (unfortunately); Islam will undoubtedly continue wreaking havoc in places where it has no business sticking its ugly nose.
These are NOT the end days. They're an unpleasant time. Even the least deserving of us will survive.
Appleby| 9.24.12 @ 12:04PM
You just keep peddling that, and get back in line for the latest updated Binkie so you can get it all on video when the balloon goes up. As for me and my house, we have better things to do.
Bill8472| 9.24.12 @ 12:43PM
See ya after the apocalypse.
Mike W| 9.24.12 @ 10:30AM
I wonder if Babbin received any money from MEK. So many other of our politicians have been bought off by this terrorist group that I would hope that Mr. Babbin would at least get some cash for his relentless propaganda.
Who Knows?| 9.24.12 @ 10:58AM
Go to powerlineblog.com and click on the “A word to rioting Muslims”, by Pat Condell, at the top of the page. Just about the best straight talk I’ve ever heard---it really puts Islam in its place!
Occam's Tool| 9.24.12 @ 11:01AM
Hmmm, our Ambassasador is sodomized and murdered in Libya, thanks to the Jooooooos, so says Jack in Wi.
The outcome of all this is in Mark Steyn's latest work and in the great Tom Kratman's prophetic novel "Caliphate." Quite frankly, the time of the Razor is coming, aided by traitors such as Jack in Wi., dhimmi extraordinaire.
Eventually, America will "Wake Up" and Pay Them Back. I fear that it will not happen until something terrible happens to us, though. It should be happening now, but the enemedia lulls them to sleep.
Nick| 9.24.12 @ 11:58AM
Did you see the Appeaser-in-Chief call the KILLING OF FOUR AMERICANS, and the burning of our embassies and consulate, as "bumps in the road" on 60 Minutes last night, Occam?
The incompetence of O'Bama truly knows no bounds.
http://hotair.com/archives/201.....-the-road/
CJW| 9.24.12 @ 2:47PM
Nick
Obama gets upset only when his professor friend Gates gets stopped by a white police officer. Then there is a summit. Attacks on our embassies, killing Americans, the Fort Hood Allah Akbar massacre, etc do not interest O.
More than incompetence. He does not care.
TLP| 9.24.12 @ 5:10PM
He's not incompetent.
In his mind?
Everything is Right On Schedule.
Never forget that.
JGW| 9.24.12 @ 11:39AM
Jack in WI,
Have you converted yet?
Start one of your posts with either:
" There is one God but Allah" or,
"Allahu Akbar"
You'll have more credibiliy.
John786| 9.24.12 @ 12:34PM
The asylums must be empty today. Either that or they've all been given access to the Internet. End time loons.
jdondet| 9.24.12 @ 12:58PM
What a load of you know what! That is not an indictment of this article far from it. I say it because of what Mr. Babbin is writing about and the seeming "I don't care," attitude by a large segment of the population . Coupled with Mr. Stein’s article about end times, it sure causes one to wonder.
I am afraid the U.S. could be at war soon. It will not be with some third world dictator with some bullyboys for an army. This time I fear a well-equipped army with modern weapon systems will be squaring off against us and in case no one has noticed there is not a lot of arrows left in our quiver. Add that with a commander in chief of dubious motives and we could be looking at the short end of the stick real quick.
Dimitry_Aleksandrovich| 9.24.12 @ 1:53PM
The MEK was listed as a terrorist organization because it is a terrorist organization, but if we start trying morally justify using terrorist organizations like MEK or worse like the Sunni Islamist Jundullah to fight Iran then we have moral ground to stand on in criticizing the activities of Hezbollah. Furthermore given our activities in the Middle East if there was ever an armed insurgency in the United States the Iranians and Syrians would be completely justified in financing and arming that rebellion.
My point is that the policies of the United States government are completely hypocritical. We support terrorism against our enemies and then condemn our enemies for supporting terrorism against us and our client states like Israel.
Alex Feltham | 9.24.12 @ 4:45PM
You ain't seen nothing yet.
How this current discomfort will likely explode with a nuclear Iran is discussed in "Game Changer" at:
http://john-moloney.blogspot.com/
ONTIME| 9.25.12 @ 1:34AM
In Nam the ARVIN were infiltrated so badly it was a sure fire bet they were going to take heavy casualties and our SOP's were in just as much danger because they were sure most of the missions were compromised, got a bit sticky at times.
spike59| 9.25.12 @ 6:12AM
...and at the United Nations General Assembly, our Dear Leader is planning on giving an address before the world to...condemn a third rate movie trailer for a third rate movie that no one has seen