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How Long Is This War?
May 20, 2013 | 15 comments
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Next: The Benghazi Select Committee
May 13, 2013 | 94 comments
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Nobody Died in Watergate
May 9, 2013 | 148 comments
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Benghazi Bullchips
May 6, 2013 | 184 comments
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Obama’s Thin Red Line
April 29, 2013 | 207 comments
Loose Canons
CSI Benghazi
Futile and pointless best describe the FBI investigation of the consulate attack.
Three weeks after the terrorist attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans, the FBI finally was permitted to bring its formidable forensic investigative capabilities to the burned-out husk of a building.
The FBI’s efforts won’t be entirely futile. Their expertise and methodical approach will certainly yield some evidence of what happened and perhaps who committed it, but there are a number of facts that compel us to conclude that their effort will be pointless.
Much of the information about the attack is already known. From a former Navy weapons expert, I learned that the attack was both well-planned and conducted by very highly trained terrorists. Examining the photographs of the scene — and talking to his own contacts — this man told me that the terrorist attack apparently began with a mortar bombardment. Most important, he told me, was the fact that the first rounds fired actually hit the building. A mortar is an imprecise weapon. Unless the terrorists had carefully picked their firing points and “registered” the target — measuring carefully the distance and relative heights — they wouldn’t have been able to do so.
This proves that the terrorists were not only careful planners, they were highly skilled with their weapons of choice. Untrained “demonstrators” simply couldn’t have hit the target with such immediacy and precision. Mortar fire would have fallen all around the area, missing the target as much as hitting it.
We don’t know, but the FBI must, the results of the autopsies on the bodies of the four men killed. The ambassador apparently died of asphyxiation in the fires started by the bombardment and other parts of the attack. The other three may have died from gunfire or other causes.
But most forensic evidence of the perpetrators — bodily fluids, finger prints, hair and such — were probably destroyed in the fire or were not ever in the building, as the mortar crew was not. And whatever there may have remained would have been contaminated by news crews and others tramping through the ruins for three weeks. (CNN, in its own search before the FBI arrived, found a journal kept by the ambassador in which he recorded his fears of an attack.) Most importantly, in the absence of witness interviews and the ability to pursue freely and question both witnesses and suspects, what the FBI finds will be useless.
Identifying the perpetrators and — as Obama promised — bringing them “to justice” will be impossible. The FBI spent about three hours on the scene and wasn’t able to stay to pursue witnesses and suspects. There is no civil order in Libya, no courts to issue search warrants and no police to serve them. No Libyan court exists to try the cases. In short, the whole exercise was pointless. If we really wanted to catch and punish the terrorists who committed this attack, it would be a job for the CIA and U.S. Special Operations Command to find and then capture or kill them.
President Obama and Attorney General Holder still — despite four years’ experience — believe that terrorist attacks are criminal acts for the criminal courts, not acts of war to be responded to in kind.
It’s a milestone of sorts that we have to rely on a Clinton for the truth. But it was Hillary Clinton who first admitted that there was a probable link between the al-Qaeda offshoot in Libya and the attack, as the New York Times reported. Further, Clinton admitted that Obama’s military intervention in Libya had backfired. Speaking to the usual suspects at the UN on September 25, Clinton said: “Now with a larger safe haven and increased freedom to maneuver, terrorists are seeking to extend their reach and their networks in multiple directions.”
Our military intervention in Libya, which followed an admonition by then-defense secretary Bob Gates that America had no national security interest in that nation, has made things worse, creating — in Clinton’s words — a larger safe haven for terrorists.
To paraphrase Joe Biden, al Qaeda is still alive and GM is still dying. The danger created by Obama’s cavalier approach to the threat has been demonstrated redundantly in Benghazi, costing the deaths of four Americans including the first dead ambassador in 33 years.
The danger Obama has created is magnified by America’s inattention to the war. Whether we like it or not, Islamists are engaged in a global war, working like Stakhanovites to best employ their kinetic and ideological weapons against us. As they did in Libya, they manufacture opportunities to do so whenever we leave ourselves open to attack.
Both President Obama — who has worked hard to keep the war out of voters’ minds — and Republican candidate Mitt Romney — who hasn’t focused on these issues at any point in the campaign — are apparently happy with this inattention to the war.
But wars do not proceed on the schedules or according to strategies candidates establish. Our enemies aren’t taking a few months off to let us sort ourselves out. As my father always said, the world has a lot of moving parts and just because we’re focused on one doesn’t mean we can ignore the rest.
We can’t know how the war will intrude on the remaining thirty days of the campaign, or even if it will. The third presidential debate, to be held on October 22, will focus on foreign policy. It will take Romney far beyond the issues he has spent his life thinking about. Will he — can he — be as prepared on those topics as he was in the first debate?
Romney’s positions on Afghanistan, Egypt, Israel, Libya and much more will have to be developed and focused between now and that debate. After omitting mention of Afghanistan in his convention speech, Romney said, “Our goal should be to complete a successful transition to Afghan security forces by the end of 2014. We should evaluate conditions on the ground and solicit the best advice of our military commanders.” That’s internally inconsistent. If we can’t complete a “successful transition” in 2014 — and we can’t — does he believe we need to stay until we can? Is that all he has to say about a war in which 2,000 Americans have died to no apparent purpose?
A week ago Paul Ryan said of Libya, “It’s part of a bigger picture of the fact that the Obama foreign policy is unraveling literally before our eyes on our TV screens.” In the October 22 debate, Romney will have to adopt that theme and tell the world — in detail — how he would better manage our national security interests and defeat the enemies who we face. Americans and our enemies will be watching.
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 (57) | Leave a comment
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Jack in Wi| 10.8.12 @ 7:43AM
If Romney wants to win, he has to push for leaving Afganistan now. I read today that he is for arming the Syrian rebels. That is a huge mistake. There will be many consequencews that are bad from his speech, on foreign policy, today if reports I read are correct. In this speech he is supposed to come across as more strident then Obama. I don't think the people want that anymore. I thought Mitt was moving in the right direction after that debate. Now I wonder? I have always said he should get rid of all those Bush and McCain people he has stinking up his campaign. If he keeps up with that kind of foreign policy, he will probably lose.
Von Mises Jr| 10.8.12 @ 8:06AM
BREAKING NEWS: ALL EXPERTS SAY RUSH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BENGHAZI ATTACK AND DEATH OF OUR AMBASSADOR AND OTHERS. RUSH REPEATEDLY USED THE WORDS "OBSCENE PROFIT" THAT ENRAGED ISLAMIST THAT DO NOT UNDERSTAND CAPITALISM.
OUR DEAR LEADER WAS SO DISTRACTED BY THE NEWS, ALL MSMS EXPERTS SAID HE COULD NOT CONCENTRATE ON A STINKING DEBATE WHILE RUSH WAS STILL AT LARGE.
SUBVET| 10.8.12 @ 11:20AM
Von........here is some breaking news you won't hear on the drive -by about his "down low marriage".
http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/oba.....low-jesus/
Von Mises Jr| 10.8.12 @ 11:42AM
Black Liberation Theology claiming to be Christian is like fascist calling their economics crony "capitalist." It is a deception.
"Collective salvation" is no more Christian than GM, GE and Berkshire operating in free markets without government collusion.
CJW| 10.8.12 @ 11:29AM
MORE BREAKING NEWS!!!!
The FBI working with investigators from the Obama Labor Dept found at the "crime scene" DVDs , popcorn, and movie reviews of the Muhamed movie that proves the attack was because of the movie and not a terrorrist attack.
TLP| 10.8.12 @ 12:07PM
If this was Friday?
You'd be looking at another Box of Frozen Bananas.
CJW| 10.8.12 @ 12:26PM
But, it must be true, Baghdad Jim Carney said so.
Stan Redmond| 10.8.12 @ 11:48AM
Don't you mean Bush? We all know Bush is to blame for everything.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 10.8.12 @ 8:34AM
It is sometimes remarked (regarding the role of conflict in foreign policy and its impact on elections) that the enemy gets a vote. Despite the Obama campaign’s attempt (in the classic Chicago tradition) to exercise the franchise of the departed bin Laden on their behalf, al Qaeda continues to resist casting its vote for him. Perhaps if they would promise to send some stimulus dollars their way in the next term they could shore up their support.
TLP| 10.8.12 @ 8:47AM
Stimulus Dollars?
They don't need money.
What they need is something to keep them warm at night, when the Wife is Buried in the Ground, up to her shoulders, awaiting Morning, and her Death by Stoning for going to the Mailbox with one of her shoes off.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 10.8.12 @ 9:00AM
Perhaps the Obama campaign could make a promise to use all of "workers" the BLS decided were "employed" doing unpaid work for family members ( in order to get to 7.8%) to box up rocks and ship them there, so they can have greater participation and more success in their stonings.
TLP| 10.8.12 @ 10:07AM
And, if the Rocks that they send over there, are made out of Coal? Now, we're looking at Green Jobs, as well.
A Twofer.
It's like that Movie - HOLES.
Sorry. I admit it. It's actually nothing like HOLES.
Just gettin in a little Practice, if ya know what I mean.
vtwin| 10.8.12 @ 10:10AM
7.8%, more good news for the American people.
CJW| 10.8.12 @ 11:32AM
vtwin
It is good news only for the people stupid enough to believe it.
Did you know Obama has revised the batting averages of his favorite baseball team?
Strikeouts will no longer be counted as times at bat.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 10.8.12 @ 3:18PM
CJW;
You are on fire today.
CJW| 10.8.12 @ 4:07PM
Al
With Obma and JoeyB, it is like low hanging fruit.
Speaking of low hanging fruit, where is purpie?
I can never match the poetry and verse of you and KJack.
Anthony| 10.8.12 @ 6:02PM
Even better news vtwin, you and Purp are now signed up as human shields for our embassy in Iran.
It was nice knowing you two, actually it wasn't.
Houdini| 10.8.12 @ 10:19AM
Who knew that mowing your neighbors lawn for $10 would drop the unemployment rate.
TLP| 10.8.12 @ 12:23PM
The same people who knew that Selling Old Records, Selling Used Clothes, and Fixing Bicycles were Green Jobs.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 10.8.12 @ 3:20PM
The problem is, it now counts my 12 year old son as part of the work force, until he is seasonally adjusted out until the time comes for raking leaves or shoveling snow.
TLP| 10.8.12 @ 12:19PM
Rush just called Obama a "GREEN LIGHT" for the Terrorists.
He also said, last Monday, that we should hold a Contest yadda, yadda, yadda.
I'm trying to remember which guy, who runs a CONTEST on one of Rush's Favourite Online Magazines, has been Writing on that Online Magazine - for Months - about "President Green Light".
Imitation, truly is, the Greatest form of Flattery.
What an Honour.
All I need now, is an Acceptance Speech.
I wonder if Nick is doing anything?
Albert Constantine Jr.| 10.8.12 @ 12:28PM
I've always maintained that imitation is the sincerest form of plagiarism.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 10.8.12 @ 12:36PM
Meanwhile, if Rush brings up frozen bananas, bicycles seats or jars of liberal tears, you will have officially been made a member of his writing staff.
TLP| 10.8.12 @ 3:20PM
Stay tuned.
More at 11.
mike 3/505| 10.8.12 @ 4:07PM
Wow! I never knowed I was giving a shore 'nuff celebrity a hard time here. Way to go Tim!
Regards,
Mike
BTW...I see the Doc on Wednesday. Hoping to get clearance to go back to my regular medicine, Dahlmor single malt. Heheheheheh
TLP| 10.8.12 @ 6:36PM
Mike 3/3505: give me a holler on my email - tpennell4@comcast.net
I wanna send you a Great VET SHIRT.
It comes in Red, White, and Blue.
It's Embroidered.
And, it's nice enough to wear to Church.
I do.
Send me an Email, and tell me your Mailing Address. Your Size. And, your Colour Preference, and I'll send it right out.
It'll be my thanks to you, as a Fellow Vet.
Don't screw around.
Email me ASAP.
Your Friend - TLP.
I just sent one out to SUBVET.
Don't just sit there.
Send me that Email.
TLP| 10.8.12 @ 6:37PM
I designed it.
mike 3/505| 10.8.12 @ 7:09PM
Shot over!
TLP| 10.8.12 @ 8:38AM
4 Words - Dog and Pony Show.
Kinda like The Rapist - Blowing up Empty Tents, and Aspirin Factories with $1,000,000 Cruise Missiles, on the Day that he Testified before a Grand Jury, in his INDECENT EXPOSURE TRIAL, and on the Day of his IMPEACHMENT VOTE.
This Sh*t happens everytime we get a Femocrat in the White House. (Will ya look at that. I sub consciously wrote Femocrat. I call Copywrite on that one!)
They ARE Weak On Defence.
They ARE Soft on Crime.
They DO See this Country as the Epicenter of everything that's Wrong and Evil in the World.
They ALWAYS Blame America 1st.
And, you CAN'T Question their Patriotism, because they haven't any.
Unless you're looking for a Free Vibrator?
Why would anyone EVER Vote for one of these SCUMBAGS?
Seriously.
c. j. acworth| 10.8.12 @ 8:44AM
Free stuff, man. They gimmie free stuff.
OregonBuzz| 10.8.12 @ 8:58AM
Sho' nuf. Obama done give me a cell phone.
Anthony| 10.8.12 @ 8:44AM
It appears that despite the fact that Ambassador Stevens was an Obozo koolaide drinker who paid the ultimate price for his folly, he nonetheless sought additional security and was denied.
Obozo and Hillary have blood on their hands because of their multicultural approach to foreign policy. If this had been Bush, the MSM would be going ballistic with charges of failing to connect the dots, demands for presidential daily briefing memos, (that only the genius himself digests in super human time), and demands for explainations with Obozo in front of them daily.
But this is the Obozo era, where peace and love exist between Dear Leader and his media whores.
Of course the Muslim Marxist would never allow Americans to defend themselves while in Islamic countries lest they do something offensive to Islam like attempt to survive!!
Every American in service of their country overseas is in mortal danger under Obozo and Hillary.Neither one of them gives a damn about American lives,they only care about saving their pampered and pathetic asses.
OregonBuzz| 10.8.12 @ 8:57AM
More cakes and circuses? Typical of the failed Obama regime.
Louis Jenkins| 10.8.12 @ 9:05AM
Well I'm sorry, but Mike, in NC, stated that the attack was planned on the very first written AS opinion. I believe we all knew it, except maybe Obozo, who was in an extreme case of denial. Hillary finally came around, but only days later. She still spouted off about the video, and the maker has been arrested, illegally or otherwise. How many more foreign dignitaries are out there waiting for the shoe to drop Obama? Hiding behind their desk, with the door locked?
We could have also told the FBI that they would find much. The scene was dirty, and yes the terrorists already had the coordinates registered when their mortars started thumping.
Joellen| 10.8.12 @ 9:06AM
I cant say this enough I DESPISE our media. Anthony is so right - if this were Bush or any Republican.... But once again the media has an agenda and they are steadfast in keeping it. GOD help us. Right now I am just filled with disgust because I am listening to a mob cheering on Obama at a fund raiser in Los Angeles. Again GOD Help us. To know that there are still this many people fooled into believing in this guy - GOD HELP US; or even worse they arent fooled they actually believe in his marxist agenda - PLEASE GOD HELP US.
Anthony| 10.8.12 @ 9:37AM
I am not a biblical scholar, but does not the bible say God helps those who help themselves?
It's up to us, and nobody else.
If Obozo wins a second term, these folks deserve everything that is coming to them, and I do mean everything.
DTOM| 10.8.12 @ 9:51AM
Actually - I believe the Venezuelan vote crisis will be a big topic in the October 22nd debate.
This is an incredibly volatile situation in Venezuela - and one that we should pay attention to. Hugo seems to be stealing an election and confirming his theft with tanks in the streets. There have been huge rallies for Hugo's opponent until Saturday - and the exit polls have confirmed that Hugo should have lost...
Of course Obama will enviously side with Hugo against the population... This may get very hot.
Just another reason for voter ID and a vote fraud identification project.
Don't Tread On Me!!!
vtwin| 10.8.12 @ 10:05AM
“Of course Obama will …side with Hugo against the population.” Sure, just like Obama sided with Gaddafi and Mubarak.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 10.8.12 @ 10:57AM
How's that not siding with Quaddafy and Mubarak working out for US diplomatic efforts now? I'm sure glad that the populations in those countries showed their gratitude for our enlightened policies under this administration by not storming our embassy and raising an Al Qaeda flag, or murdering our ambassador and three other embassy staff members.
CJW| 10.8.12 @ 11:36AM
Mubaruk continued the peace treaty with Israel negotiated by Sadat. Morsi is already calling for the destruction of Israel that is part of the Islam Brotherhood. Is there a difference between Al Quaeda, Brotherhood, Sufi, and the rest? They all seek the destruction of the USA and Israel.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 10.8.12 @ 12:49PM
If I had to distinguish between the goals of Al Qaeda and the goals of the Muslim Brotherhood, I will say that Al Qaeda exists to aid the destruction by violence of Israel and the West (particularly America) and replace it with and expanded Islamic caliphate. The Muslim Brotherhood does not limit itself to violence, and will accept accomplishing the results by any means necessary (to include a vote or voluntary surrender).
vtwin| 10.8.12 @ 3:35PM
And, had we sided with Gaddafi and Mubarak, you think we would be in better standing with the their respective populations?
CJW| 10.8.12 @ 4:09PM
vtwin
In answer to your questions:
1. The four Americans killed in BenghaziGate would be alive.
2. Egypt would not be promising, with Iran, to destroy Israel, which would involve us in a war.
vtwin| 10.8.12 @ 7:02PM
1. What about the 178 American kill on Pam Am flight 103? You don’t think Gaddafi had anything to do with that?
2. Egypt is not be promising to destroy Israel. “Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s Islamist president, promised to respect his country’s historic peace treaty with Israel.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/new.....reaty.html
CJW| 10.8.12 @ 8:24PM
You are venturing into purpland.
The Muslim Brotherhood is committed to jihad against Israel. http://www.americanthinker.com.....house.html
It is not even open to debate that the Muslim Brotherhood is committed to destroy Israel. Do you disagree?
Gadaffy was responsible for the Pan Am attack. But we did not depose Gadaffy in 2012 because the Pan Am attack in 1989.
You did not say we should attack Gadaffy because of Pan Am. You said we deposed hims so we would have better standing with the Libyans.
Stan Redmond| 10.8.12 @ 11:50AM
Obama sided with the Muslim Brotherhood. Great job there.
Houdini| 10.8.12 @ 10:25AM
If Romney wins, you can expect the Ollie North memorial shredders to begin working overtime in the White House and every other department, especially at Justice and State.
mike 3/505| 10.8.12 @ 4:10PM
And a veritable as it were, FLOOD of Presidential Pardons.
Sidebar to Tim...a suggestion....Run a side bet as to if Obama resigns in favor of Biden to finish his term, so Biden can then pardon him.
TLP| 10.8.12 @ 6:39PM
Mike 3/3505: give me a holler on my email - tpennell4@comcast.net
I wanna send you a Great VET SHIRT.
It comes in Red, White, and Blue.
It's Embroidered.
And, it's nice enough to wear to Church.
I do.
Send me an Email, and tell me your Mailing Address. Your Size. And, your Colour Preference, and I'll send it right out.
It'll be my thanks to you, as a Fellow Vet.
Don't screw around.
Email me ASAP.
Your Friend - TLP.
I just sent one out to SUBVET.
Don't just sit there.
Send me that Email.
I designed it.
Stephie| 10.8.12 @ 10:44AM
Why would he side with those two vtwin? He wanted the moooslim botherhood in charge.
I wonder if Sean Penn went down to party with Chavez at his victory party? I bet he and Danny Glover went down together.
Stan Redmond| 10.8.12 @ 11:52AM
This whole FBI bull is nothing but a defensive strategy to protect the Obama [pbuh].
From now until election day Obama will simply say, "I will not comment on ongoing investigations" whenever he is asked about Benghazi and his failures in North Africa.
Who Knows?| 10.8.12 @ 12:02PM
The world is on fire. Certain places, like the Middle East, are more intense than others.
Maybe we should take a lesson from our oh-so-human obsession with eating. Talk about extremists!
Unlike breathing, the regular reception of gaseous sustenance, and its release of waste, the cycling of gross elements in and out is a dominant feature of our pleasurable lives. The one is “tasteless”, the other “tasty”.
So, what’s COOKING?
Yes, consider “cooking”, not just concerning combinations of grown foods using heat, but also in terms of ideas, thoughts, politics, sex, dreams, God---you name it.
“If we can appreciate the considerations of the advanced physics of contemporary science, we can see how the scientific investigation of matter ultimately yields to a description of Nature as light (or energy), transcending matter (which is only a temporary appearance or transformation of energy). And if we can understand that ALL of phenomenal Nature (subjective and objective) is a complex of energy, then we can transcend the dualism of matter and consciousness. Consciousness, then, is not merely reducible to matter (or material processes( but it is at least a distinct form of the single principle (or energy) that is also appearing as matter (or form).
Who Knows?| 10.8.12 @ 12:03PM
This understanding sets us free to investigate consciousness and mind as dimensions of existence that are equally as real or viable as matter. The investigation of consciousness and of mind (or psyche) is thus just as direct a means for entering into the depths of reality as the investigations of matter. And, therefore, there is just as much justification for the spiritual discipline of self-knowledge and the exploration and transcendence of matter, mind, and self as there is for the scientific discipline that explores the perceptible or material world alone. Indeed, the ultimate philosophical or spiritual process is directly orientated to considerations of greater significance than is the process engaged by merely materialistic investigators. But materialistic science can ultimately go beyond itself into the paradoxes of space-time and light-energy. And when science leads to such profundity, it is at the threshold of the ancient Ways of spiritual and Transcendental Philosophy.”
Nirvanasara, by Da Love Ananda, pages 117-118, 1982
ncatty| 10.8.12 @ 1:33PM
I am frank to say that I am not sure what Romney's position on foreign policy and defense (the same things, really) is, except to be "strong." I am in favor being strong generally but against being strong any longer in Afghanistan in particular. One thing we conservatives are having a hard time understanding is the Drone Murder Incorporated Obama is running in the Middle East. No one talks about it. Is it helping or hurting our defense interests? Who knows? Would Romney stop it or increase it? I don't know and he may not even know. I think generalities are all that we can expect from Romney except in one respect: no US money to regimes that are critical of us, not to mention won't protect our embassies.
Oldefarte| 10.8.12 @ 3:00PM
We never should have entered Iraq/Afganistan after 9/11/01, but should have simply loaded numerous B-52's with atomic bombs and delivered same to an unpopulated area to that region. Our government has now facilitated the Arab Spring into a Muslim Brotherhood takeover of the Middle East [along with their oil and missles], and Benghazi was a planned payback for UBL's death, and our diplomats were sacrificial lambs sent to their slaughter. The Brotherhoodification is desired by our government, along with the increasing toward $8/gallon gasoline from their OPEC manipulated oil price structure, and if same is re-elected in November, this nation will turn into Cuba or Mexico within two years. We should fight/battle this Muslim terrorism problem economically, not militarily, by domestically producing every drop of oil available both offshore within all three of our oceans and onshore as well, thereby receiving a true market oriented oil supply and not effectively funding ME terrorist organizations from purchasing Arab country produced oil. Since their only national/regional source of revenue is from their oil, if same becomes less valuable due to our domestically produced supply that satisfies our energy needs, then their revenues declines, their terrorist funding declines, and we kill two birds with one stone!!!!!
Billabong| 10.8.12 @ 7:35PM
In reply to V-Twins comment about 7.8 percent, I
wonder how many of the 23,000,00 unemployed
could give a rats ass about those phoney reports!
bluecollarbytes| 10.8.12 @ 9:18PM
Babbin- "Both President Obama -- who has worked hard to keep the war out of voters' minds -- and Republican candidate Mitt Romney -- who hasn't focused on these issues at any point in the campaign -- are apparently happy with this inattention to the war."
With so much on Romney's table, his step by step laying out of policy positions makes sense. He killed it at the first debate. Whatever Obama does, or whatever Romney politely lets him get away with this time, Romney will probably 'kill it again and again' in the next two debates. Surely Romney knows good international policy as much as Obama practices the bad. His ironclad support of Israel over any of its enemies is a good place to start. Taking a serious look at this 'free trade' with communist China is long overdue.
Romney has earned room to maneuver in my opinion, without denying/betraying American values.