-
Expanding Access to Health Insurance: Obama-Style
May 17, 2012 | 2 comments
-
The Washington Post Makes the Case for School Choice
April 15, 2012 | 20 comments
-
Mitt Romney's Tattered Economic Credentials
January 20, 2012 | 6 comments
-
Service Personnel Prefer Ron Paul
December 24, 2011 | 158 comments
-
No Christmas Celebrations in Baghdad
December 24, 2011 | 16 comments
The Spectacle Blog
The neoconservatives again are campaigning for war, this time in Libya. It's a tragic situation, but truly irrelevant to vital American interests. In this case they are exhibiting an instinct for the capillary rather than the jugular.
After all, we really are busy elsewhere, with about 150,000 troops still occupying Iraq and and fighting in Afghanistan, where the conflict shows no signs of easing. And other countries also should be on our mind. Consider Pakistan, our alleged ally which is destabilized by the continuing Afghan war. If our gaze should be anywhere, it is Islamabad, not Tripoli. It is worth reflecting on some recent stories on Pakistan.
1) Nukes 'R Us. Pakistan is a poor nation, unable to care for its own people and dependent on foreign, and especially U.S., aid. Yet it has money for more nuclear weapons. Not to mention the fact that the government has never owned up to its responsibility for A.Q. Khan turning Pakistan into an international "Nukes 'R Us." Reports the Times of India:
Despite being in the throes of a crippling political and economic crisis and almost entirely dependent on handouts from the United States and multilateral aid, Pakistan is poking a finger in the international community's eye. Days after it was revealed that Islamabad has doubled its nuclear weapons' inventory in the past decade, American experts have discovered that it has begun building a fourth plutonium-producing reactor to produce even more nuclear bombs to add to the 100-plus it already has.
The Washington-based Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) announced on Wednesday that it has obtained commercial satellite imagery from January 15, 2011 that shows what appears to be a fourth reactor under construction at Pakistan's Khushab nuclear site. The reactor construction was not visible during a previous satellite pictures last November.
2) Incompetent Security Forces. We are relying on Pakistan's security services to hold back the jihadist tide. However, Zahid Manzoor Bajwa now sits in jail after aiding terrorists. Reports the Los Angeles Times:
When police in the city of Lahore raided his house and those of associates in 2003, they found hand grenades, timers and loaded pistols. Asked about their arsenal, Bajwa and his friends acknowledged that they were planning to kidnap the son of a wealthy steel mill owner so they could buy enough explosives to kill foreigners.
Somehow, Bajwa's two-year stint behind bars went unnoticed by security officials in Punjab province. In 2009, they made him computer section chief for the Punjab police's intelligence wing, a post that gave him access to investigations and special reports on militant groups, surveillance directives, even security arrangements for VIPs.
Investigators now believe Bajwa downloaded secret data onto a flash drive and relayed it to the Pakistani Taliban, the insurgent group responsible for waves of suicide bombings across the country, said a Punjab security official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on such matters.
3) Pervasive Murderous Extremism. Malik Mumtaz Qadri gunned down the man he was supposed to be protecting Salmaan Taseer, governor of Punjab province. It seems Governor Taseer didn't believe that Christians should be executed for allegedly blaspheming the Prophet Mohammed. Reported the Wall Street Journal:
Mr. Qadri had previously been removed from a branch of the police dealing with counterterrorism due to concerns about his Islamist leanings, and had himself come forward to ask to guard Mr. Taseer, a senior police official said.
Preliminary investigations also have revealed that Mr. Qadri informed other police officers of his plans, the official said. Police have detained a dozen other people, including six police officers who were also on guard duty and are suspected of abetting the crime after they failed to stop the shooting of Mr. Taseer.
Investigations are focusing on Mr. Qadri's links with Dawat-i-Islami, a radical Islamist group that has been at the forefront of protests in recent weeks against efforts to change the blasphemy laws, the police official said. Mr. Taseer's death has exposed a deep fissure in Pakistan society between liberal politicians with Western lifestyles and religious leaders who hew to an Islamist view of the world and are gaining influence.
Why worry? I'm sure everything will work out fine for us in Pakistan.
On the other hand, perhaps this isn't the best time to go charging off in another war of choice in another fractious Muslim nation about which we know little.
View all comments (42) | Leave a comment
Leave a Comment
More Blog Posts by Doug Bandow
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/03/12/the-hawkish-instinct-for-the-c
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
Special Feature
Better that we become a nation of choosers rather than beggars. Our symposium on choice from the May, 2012 issue:
FLASHBACK TO: 1984
-
The Fairness Delusion
The speech our President should make.
-
Media Smears: One Man’s Experiences
A noted economist fires back.
-
Chuck Colson vs. The Fundamentalists
How political can you get?
-
The Reagan Doctrine
You might have missed it, but it was boomed in January.
-
The Woman Problem
Farcical feminism is a decades-old phenomenon, as George Will's essay from 1970 reminds us.
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
W| 3.12.11 @ 8:44AM
The lefty democrats are clamoring for a no fly zone and using the military in Libya.
burt| 3.12.11 @ 10:18AM
Is AS allowing Daily KOZ crazies to blog here now ? Did AS allow some nutter to peddled the evil neocons line on this website ? Who is monitoring the bloggers here to prevent this MOVEON.org like nonsense to be posted here ?
Red Phillips| 3.12.11 @ 11:07AM
The non-interventionism that Bandow espouses IS THE CONSERVATIVE POSITION, if you properly understand conservatism. Thinking that the US needs to make every global problem its own is an inherently radical revolutionary notion.
Dai Alanye| 3.12.11 @ 10:57AM
Bandow sometimes comes across as a genuine doofus. We don't need war with Libya but punitive actions sufficient to allow the rebels to win, and of a nature that influences their future thinking as to the wisdom of keeping on America's good side.
Regarding Pakistan, should things get bad enough we can always sic India on them.
Chris| 3.12.11 @ 1:41PM
But do we want the rebels to win?
Interested conservative| 3.12.11 @ 11:00AM
Burt. Let's tone down the emotion, since Mr. Bandow is a regular on AS, but leave a simple question - can Mr. Bandow name a single one of these "neo-conservatives" "campaigning for war, this time in Libya".
His description of Pakistan, if anything, understates the mess there, but how he started with the crack about Libya seems devoid of evidence. Our actions toward Libya seem dithering, confused, slow, and blundering; or to be polite, prudent, reserved, dispassionate, and appropriate.
Maybe he's going after Richard Perle, but even his comments seemed fairly nuanced, and much more domestically focused than war-mongering.
William R| 3.12.11 @ 7:11PM
Kristol, Krauthammer, Elllitot Abrams just to name a few .
Interested Conservative| 3.12.11 @ 9:38PM
Are they "campaigning for war"? Criticizing the administrations confused nonchalance isn't the same thing. Neither is providing supplies or medical aid or any number of other intelligence gathering or low-level assistance.
Maybe I haven't noticed it, but I have noticed the French and British taking much more aggressive positions, and for all that it's still just talk.
Where have the neocons called for a substantial incursion, either on the ground or comprehensive air operations?
Red Phillips| 3.13.11 @ 1:23PM
They are campaigning for a no-fly zone at the least, which as Robert Gates has pointed out is an act of war.
Teflon93| 3.12.11 @ 11:06AM
Iran is the key and has been for the past 32 years.
PCC| 3.12.11 @ 7:23PM
Actually, Saudi Arabia is the key and has been for 50 years.
Jake| 3.12.11 @ 1:20PM
Bandow echoes what many of us are asking.
We are still at war in Afghanistan and Iraq ( yes, we are still losing troops in Iraq ) and strategically ,
it makes little sense to open up a
new front in Libya .
When the most crucial strategic interest is dealing with Pakistan and Iran.
Enforcing a Libyan no fly zone or sending in ground troops sounds so naive and easy on paper.
Or Facebook.
Military engagement always carries risk for American pilots , soldiers and Marines.
Until some demonstrative strategic purpose is clearly identified for our military engaging in Libya ,
the US should focus on our present war
with it's two fronts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
And stay out.
Cpm| 3.12.11 @ 2:05PM
I go into full skeptic mode everytime somebody throws around the term neocon, neoconservative, etc.
Red Phillips| 3.13.11 @ 1:58PM
Cpm, are you denying that there is an identifiable neoconservative philosophy and that there are identifiable people called neocons who espouse that philosophy?
That's funny, because the "Godfather" of neoconservatism, Irving Kristol, wrote a book about it.
http://www.amazon.com/Neoconse.....563&sr=1-1
I admit it is often misused and tossed around by people who don't know what they are talking about, but I think we can rest assured that Doug Bandow knows what he is talking about and is using it properly.
jharp| 3.12.11 @ 2:06PM
"Pakistan.... ....unable to care for its own people..... Yet it has money for more... weapons."
Hmmm. Pakistan sounds an awful like like the U.S.
Borrow $3 trillion to invade and occupy a country that was no threat to us... no problem.
But borrow $100 billion to feed poor children? Obama is a socialist communist nazi secret Kenyan Muslim out to destroy America from within.
God you people are stupid.
Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 3.12.11 @ 2:44PM
Jharp: Can't you just "PLEASE" slam your fingers in your car door the next time you're closing it? That way we can have a break from your acrimonious posts here for a few weeks, and maybe, just maybe, miss you a little bit (but I doubt we'd miss you).
God my fingers are broken!!
God my fingers hurt!!
God it's impossible to type now!!
God am I stupid!!
(That's my impersonation of you after you break your fingers in your car door, just in case you weren't following me)
W| 3.13.11 @ 3:32PM
harpie is good for us; we can see how the disturbed lefty "mind" works, and then be grateful we are conservatives
BD57| 3.12.11 @ 2:28PM
I'm with Cpm on this ....
Mr. Bandow,
When you throw around labels like "neoconservatives", my first reaction is "the guy's substituting name-calling for argument."
Red Phillips| 3.13.11 @ 2:02PM
See my reply to Cpm above. Do you deny that something called neoconservatism exists?
If not then criticize the misuse of the term, not the use of the term.
BD57| 3.13.11 @ 4:22PM
Red:
Thanks for your suggestion, but I'll make my argument the way I choose.
Bandow's practicing "guilt by association" - because, in his view, "neoconservatives" are bad, any idea they're associated with is bad.
Bandow's use of the word is pejorative.
jharp| 3.12.11 @ 2:42PM
Conservatives neoconservtives, tell me what the hell the difference is.
To me you are all just a bunch of stupid rednecks voting against your own best interest.
You idiots pay 15.3 % in payroll taxes and LeBron James pays 3/1,000ths of 1%.
And you dumbasses think this is in your best interest.
God you people are stupid.
Chester| 3.12.11 @ 11:16PM
Ew, it's that stench again.
Interested conservative| 3.13.11 @ 12:51AM
Racist! Quit picking on a brother.
Chester| 3.13.11 @ 3:04AM
The bigot attacks Justice Clarence Thomas too.
Red Phillips| 3.13.11 @ 2:12PM
"Conservatives neoconservtives, tell me what the hell the difference is."
jharp, I know this is probably going to fly over your head, but please allow one of use stupid people to instruct you in political philosophy 101.
Conservatism is not primarily an ideology, it is a disposition, the disposition to conserve. Neoconservatism is an ideology and is not really conservative in any meaningful sense. Neoconservatism is a form of universalistic, rationalistic post-Enlightenment liberalism. It is really quite radical. This is why they are always babbling about exporting "liberal democracy" to all parts of the globe. It is modern day Jacobinism, but America has replaced France as the savior nation.
c. j. acworth| 3.12.11 @ 5:21PM
The Arab League has asked the UN to impose a no-fly zone over Libya. Why don't they do it themselves? I understand the Saudis have what is supposed to be a well-equipped well-trained (by us, at US taxpayer cost of course) air force. Why does every two-bit conflict in every jerkwater place have to be our problem to fix. Drill here, drill now!
PCC| 3.12.11 @ 7:32PM
Right on, C.J.
When it comes to the heavy lifting, we all know what is meant by the phrase "the international community". The United States.
Why don't we leave this one to Ban Ki Moon, Lady Ashton, the Arab League and the African Union? They're real go-getters, after all.
Or why don't we let the world's latest superpower, China, handle it. They've got more more men and money invested in Libya than the U.S. does.
We're not exactly on a winning streak when it comes to invading Muslim nations. Two disasterous interventions are enough for now.
jharp| 3.12.11 @ 6:40PM
"Why does every two-bit conflict in every jerkwater place have to be our problem to fix."
It because of our thirst for foreign oil. Jimmy Carter was right.
I suppose you honestly believe that we just want to be nice guys and help out.
God you people are stupid.
Junior Junior Harp.| 3.12.11 @ 7:42PM
Amount of U.S. oil consumption that comes from the Middle East: 2 mbd -- 12 percent
Allah your stupid, Pop.
Roy| 3.12.11 @ 8:20PM
Somebody's stupid, anyway.
Cousin Arlo Harp.| 3.12.11 @ 8:34PM
I do believe that Roy's Smarter than Junior Junior Harp's Daddy, Junior Harp.
Momma Harp| 3.12.11 @ 7:28PM
Please excuse Junior for being a repetitive bore.
He's lonely & seeks attention.
Thank you for understanding.
MikeN| 3.13.11 @ 1:19AM
Lebron James pays 3/1000 of 1% in payroll taxes? He makes about 20 million from the Heat. 3/1000 of 1 percent of that is $600. Even if we take his endorsements to be 10 times that, are you claiming Lebron James pays only $6000 in payroll taxes?
jharp| 3.13.11 @ 1:36AM
Lebron earns about $50 million
1% is $5 million.
a tenth of 1% is $500,000
A hundredth of 1% is $50,000
A thousandth of 1% is $5,000.
Since he pays about 3 /1000ths you would multiply $5,000 X 3 = 15,000.
Voila!
God you people are stupid.
jharp| 3.13.11 @ 3:06AM
Whoops. I stand corrected.
1% of 50,000,000 is 500,000
a tenth is 50,000
a hundredth is 5,000
a thousandth is 500 X 3 is 1,500
So Lebron pays 3/100ths of 1 percent in payroll taxes as opposed to us paying 15.3 %.
Thank you for the heads up.
That changes everything. It is now quite clear that it is our best interest for Lebron to pay a fraction of the rate we pay.
NoLib| 3.13.11 @ 4:03AM
Provide a link for your BS or shut the hell up. There are a lot of white players in the NBA; why single out LeBron, racist? Leave him alone.
I don't like anything about Leftist losers like you, but what I truly hate about your kind is your cynical use of class warfare to sow envy and division among your fellow Americans. I'd rather live poor than steal the wealth of other hard-working folks.
You have no honor, but you don't know it because you're dead inside.
Muhammad| 3.13.11 @ 8:57AM
Allah your stupid Harp.
Michael L. Hauschild| 3.13.11 @ 11:43AM
I will guarantee one thing, by the time Libyan thing is over there will be whole lot less people in the world that hate the USA. Not only that, the “Religion of Peace” will once again be showcased as to who is actually responsible for the death, destruction and strife in the ME. Even the Gaddafi “gang that can’t bomb straight” and the non-interventionist for hire idiot, Bando, will accidentally get it right once in a while.
Burt| 3.13.11 @ 11:53AM
As Doug , a useful idiot of the left rants on about those evil Neocons . Notice how his keeps quiet like the rest of the Obama state media regarding our WH Muslim Marxist's cozy relationship with his buddy Omar ! The Obama state media had HIDDEN the 2009 Military arms deal with Libya and the Marxists in the WH okaying the release of the Lockerbee Terrorist ( the killer of hundreds of US citizens) with the phony case of cancer to be released . Plus all those buddy photos of the
Bert| 3.13.11 @ 11:57AM
So my question is why is Obama being so reluctant to stop Omar's bloodshed with USA weapons which he sold to Omar ?
I am wondering which side is our Muslim Prez really supporting ?
fakenews| 3.13.11 @ 1:43PM
Which Intelligence you are relying on about Pakistan nukes. Does U.S Intelligence has any credibility after the Iraq war. This is a typical American media bashing Pakistan and siding with India. Which has done ZIP for U.S except buying billions of war equipment ultimately to use against Pakistan and destabilize Pakistan using Afghanistan. AND you call Pakistan your ally. Not once Pakistan is given credit my media or government. You Spy on your ally (R. Davis) under the diplomatic immunity charter. Your media hides public information (R. Davis) from American people. What is the credibility of "Freedom of Press" which has gone to La La land totally controlled by the government.
Jeff| 3.14.11 @ 11:14AM
a no fly zone requires troops on the ground ? who knew !!!
We should establish a Nothing To Fly Zone ... destroy the Lyibian Air Force on the ground ... one air stike and done ...