Nov 14 2008
Do The Dems Dare Lose The War On Terrorism?
In an interesting addendum to my post below on how far President Bush was able to change the world after 9-11 there is a new poll out from Rasmussen which shows 60% of Americans believe we are winning the war on terrorism.
Voter confidence in the War on Terror has reached its highest level ever, with 60% now saying the United States and its allies are winning, according to the first Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey on the issue since Election Day.
A dour 15% of liberal pessimists are still lurking out there obsessed with failure. What is important about this turn of events is if Obama and the Dems fail, as many believe they will be pulling back and attempting appeasement – thus giving our enemies hope we will fold if attacked again, then the left will be seen as responsible for squandering victory. I if any number was going to give the liberals pause it should be this one.
If their actions or talk results in losing ground against terrorism, they will rightfully get the blame. Are they smart enough to see the nuclear land mine at their feet? History would indicate they are not. H/T Powerline.
I am already seeing signs that South and Central America might again be returning to what we saw under the Carter administration. Seems Putin also thinks an Obama presidency means a weakening America. He is doing a tour of Cuba and Venezuela. Wonder if he will make a stop in Nicaragua too.
They are arrogant, I hope they are smart and haven’t bought into the Bush derangement syndrome. We will see if they can put the country before arrogance or not. Imagine not knowing? I guess this is the age of governance, the people wait around to see what the government is going to do. Good way to keep every one off balance. I guess it puts all control in the hands of the few.
That 15% is representative of the hard core nutroots and their ilk.
Their closed echo chamber in which they have built an alternative reality shows itself regularly in the polls.
On some things they also draw in outside near support and tend to hit a repeating support number of near 22%.
Watch that 22% number as a barometer of future trends depending on it’s direction of movement.
The left talks about repairing our image in the world. How exactly do we need repairing, we are the bad guys, who thinks so? I know that the terrorist don’t like us, and the Kyoto signers don’t like us. Who are the others and why?
AJ, it’s not all good news. Also in the poll results is this little gem:
” Now 35% say the president is doing a good or excellent job handling the Iraq situation, while 44% say he is doing a poor job. Just one week ago, 28% of voters said Bush was doing a good or excellent job. The week before, the percentage was 27%. ”
People have all sorts of confidence in our efforts now, but the guy leading the charge, the guy who has been leading the charge even when the American people were in the full throws of defeatism, when the Iraq war was already declared a “failure”, isn’t getting one damn bit of credit for being a steadfast leader.
It’s nice that people are confident in the war effort, but the dichotomy between the 60% number and the the 35% number is infuriating. Essentially, a plurality of people are saying “George Bush is doing a poor job successfully waging the war” or “George Bush is incompetently winning the war”.
So far we have, the point was to never be attacked again, we have been winning, maybe we have won.
What about Iran, AJ?
Does this advice from so called Obama experts hold water? Don’t do sanctions. Don’t use threat of military force. Just have tea (or something that sounds like recycled European tea)?
Experts to Obama: Don’t threaten Iran
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1226404730976&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
I’m willing to wait and see how far we get sucked into the black hole of empires (Bajaur/Swat Valley where even the Afghan Moghuls couldn’t get control, let alone anyone else in history).
Bin Laden’s video of Nov 2004 was very clear – his intention was to use the fear of terror to bankrupt the U.S. I figured he’d read Paul Kennedy’s 1987 “Rise and Fall of Great Empires”. Reagan used that concept to bankrupt the former Soviet Union. Empires fall when their military expenditures exceed their revenue. Rome, Spain, Britain are historical examples.
Gee, all you have to do is watch the last Die Hard movie and consider the possibilities of cyber-attacks, maybe combined with a dirty bomb?
Of course they will. They exist to loose wars. Look at Vietnam. President Johnson did not want to win and Senator Ted Kennedy actively wanted to loose. Look at the Cold War, the Democrats did not want to win and actively wanted to loose. Look at the Gulf War and the Iraq War, the Democrats wanted to loose. Of course the will do all they can to loose the War on Terror. Obama said he wanted to withdraw from Iraq and loose the war. And the Democrats are now switching on Afghanistan, they say now it cannot be won. Only a matter of time before Obama says it is unwinnable. And Obama plan for terrorists is to put them on trial in civilian courts, where there will be no conviction and the terrorists will be released into the U.S. Or some sort of special court for terrorists, that they said was unconstitutional under Bush. The ACLU is conducting a $500 million PR campaign to close Gitmo. He cannot resist the pressure. That is his plan. Loose and bring the terrorists here.
This war is far from being over. Our enemy got a bloody nose in Iraq, but is still fighting. Iraq was drawing men and resources into combat with our armed forces. Now that the fighting is going down in Iraq, we can expect the enemy to reinforce other areas.
If we take a strategic defensive posture, the enemy will be able to choose the battlefield. Most likely, they will attack our ‘soft’ targets.
Not that they don’t want to kill our soldiers. Our armed forces are not just more difficult to hit, they tend to suffer far more losses.
cp
Seems Putin also thinks an Obama presidency means a weakening America.
It does.
colin:
Those numbers on Bush are not really about Iraq, they are about people who will do their best not to give him credit no matter what.
The truth is the Democrats have a problem themselves in this regard: Bush has implemented some policies that have been successful no matter what they say. Now that one of their own is going to be in the White House the Democrats and the press have to decide whether or not they will press him to kill all those policies. I think chances are Obama will end up keeping a lot of those policies alive. He might even be forced to stand by Iraq to a greater extent than he said he would. If that happens, Bush will have to be rehabilitated in the public’s eyes somewhat..just to give cover to the new Messiah if nothing else.
birdalone,
Fannie and Freddie have bankrupted the US more then the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for that we can thank the democrats. And I read Kennedy’s books, it was about this time that Japan was to have overtaken us.
Well, again, Joe Six Pack seems to be the only realist posting! Way To Go Joe!
I’m not liberal, nor am I moderate, and I think we will not win this war in any theatre, if you define winning as:
1.U.S. Troops being able to completely leave any of the countries we are in now.
2. Peace being achieved, such as in France or West Germany after WWII.
3. Equal rights for all under the “New” governments, and their Islamic Republics.
If that is your definition of winning, as mine is, it will not happen.
The reality is, the U.S. placing Islamic Law in the Constitutions of Iraq and Afghanistan, seals our defeat.
Don’t bother blaming it on Obama, Bush had 7 years to get this war won. Iraq is more peaceful with hundreds of thousands of troops there,(Unless your a Christian) it wont be if they leave, no matter when. They take the Quaran, the Hadiths, the Sura, seriously, and that will be reveiled in time.
Afghanistan is as big a mess now, as it was 7 years ago.
And this past week, an Iraqi soldier opened fire on U.S. soldiers, killing a few, wounding several more before our troops killed him.
The Christians in Iraq are STILL being threatened and forced to leave, or take on Dhimme status. Jihad Watch has had several reports on this last week, and the two previous weeks.
Bush’s answer seems to be to empty the country, and send them here, as he increased Iraqi immigration 10 fold this year.
So, the rosie picture being portrayed here, isn’t all it’s made out to be.
Take Care.
Somalia: Jihadists seize yet another town, impose Islamic law
That’s what the jihad is all about: Imposing Islamic law, by all possible means. Somalia Jihad Update. “Somali Islamists seize town, impose Islamic law,” by Mohamed Olad Hassan and Katharine Houreld for the Associated Press, November 13
Afghanistan: Suicide attack kills 9, including US soldier
As the Taliban has made clear (for now), it is not interested in negotiating with infidels. Would that infidels exhibited the same sort of decisiveness. “Convoy attack kills US soldier, 8 Afghan civilians,” by Fisnik Abrashi for the Associated Press, November 13
Taliban stops executing people long enough to ask UN to block executions of Taliban prisoners
Jihadist hypocrisy alert. “Taliban urge world to block Afghan executions,” from Reuters, November 13
Taliban denies negotiating with Karzai government; Karzai to brief British on secret negotiations with Taliban
Cognitive dissonance. “Taliban Denies Negotiating, or Being Willing to Negotiate, With U.S., NATO, or Karzai Government,” from MEMRI, November 12
Pakistan: Christian doctor accused of blaspheming Islam freed, but in hiding
Pakistan’s blasphemy law, which is based on Islamic law, continues to be a source of human rights abuses. An update on this story.
Just a few the host “Missed”
Afghanistan: Non-burqa wearing school-girls sprayed with acid
An especially bad time to be female in the Islamic world, including Londonistan. “Afghan schoolgirls sprayed with acid,” by Ben Farmer for the Telegraph, November 12
Iraq: “We are killed because we are Christians”
The Christians in Iraq, although they have lived there longer than the Muslims have and have nothing to do with the United States, are considered, because they share the religion of the American “Crusaders,” to be kuffar harbi — infidels at war with Islam — and thus by the terms of Islamic law their lives are forfeit. Persecution of Christians in Iraq Update: “‘We are killed because we are Christians,'” by Deborah Haynes in the Times, October 27
“Muslim killed Catholic girl in love with flatmate,” by Jeni Harvey for the Yorkshire Post, November 12
Latest victims of jihad against the Christians of Mosul: two women
No doubt the jihadists feel “exonerated.” After all, they already commanded the Christian minority to depart Mosul — or else “you will be victims of more attacks.” Open season on Christians of Mosul continues unabated.
“Iraq: Two Christian women killed in Mosul Mosul,” from AKI, November 12
“Somalia bombings have markings of Al-Qaeda: US official,” from AFP, October 30
“Somalia: Christian Aid Worker Beheaded For Converting From Islam,” from Compass Direct, October 27
“Briton and his colleague killed by their Afghan security guard,” by Tom Coghlan for The Times, October 27
Stop the presses: Jihadist sentiments rising in Middle East!
What was AP’s first clue? Anyway, it is clear from this article that the Salafists are gaining strength because they are able successfully to present themselves as the adherents of authentic Islam. This shows up most pointedly the ridiculousness of the line the American government is following, with its new a priori assumption that the Salafis are inauthentic in their practice of Islam: it leaves American analysts no way to evaluate, or to develop ways to challenge, the Salafist appeal.
“Ultraconservative Islam on rise in Mideast,” by Paul Schemm for Associated Press, October 19
“The Iraqi government is asking Christians to remain in Iraq, but is doing nothing to stop them from being slaughtered”
There are promises of action from the prime minister, but it would be pleasantly surprising to see concrete steps taken faster than could be measured on the scale of geological eras. “More violence in Mosul: father and son killed because they were Christian,” from AsiaNews, October 23
Somali apostate murdered at wedding
Reason? He converted to Christianity. “Somali Christian shot at Muslim wedding,” from Mission Network News, October 23
Indonesian police arrest 5 in al-Qaeda-linked plot against Jakarta fuel depot
Striving for spectacle and economic impact, along with loss of life. “Indonesian police arrest 5 over fuel depot ‘plot’,” from CNN, October 22
“Taliban gunmen kill Christian aid worker in Kabul,” by Amir Shah for Associated Press, October 20
“Taliban beheads bus passengers,” from Agence France-Presse, October 20
“Shiite cults seek to wreak havoc in Iraq,” by Usama Redha for the Los Angeles Times, October 15
Thailand: Jihadists kill 2 teenage boys, injure one in drive-by shooting
Thailand Jihad Update: Jihad against teenage boys and a fruit-trader. “Three killed in Thailand’s south,” from Agence France-Presse, October 17
Spain arrests 18 Moroccans suspected of links to al-Qaeda
Eurabia Alert. “Spain: Eighteen arrests during nationwide anti-terror raids,” from AdnKronos International, October 16
“U.S. official has new evidence of Iranian meddling in Iraq,” by Barbara Starr for CNN, October 14
St. Louis: 14 funnelling money from bank fraud to Palestinian territories
Misunderstanders of Islam at it again. No doubt the MSA’s that are so upset about my college talks this week will soon set them straight about jihad and Islam.
“StL feds charge 14 in Palestinian fraud case,” by Robert Patrick for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 14
kathieon 14 Nov 2008 at 5:43 pm
They are arrogant, I hope they are smart and haven’t bought into the Bush derangement syndrome
BDS is sufford on both sides of the political spectrum. One need only to look at the above to realize we have “Won” nothing!
combat18on 14 Nov 2008 at 10:26 pm
Of course they will. They exist to loose wars. Look at Vietnam.
And the Democrats are now switching on Afghanistan, they say now it cannot be won. Only a matter of time before Obama says it is unwinnable.
Sir: please show some evidense that it is currently being won!!
One question before I leave for the day:
Can anyone find in the U.S. Constitution, or Founding Documents, any reference to “War Resolutions”? I see “Declaration of War” but I’m still looking for war resolution.
Yes, I’m a Constitutional Conservative.
Take care.
The left will be delighted to lose the war on terror, as it considers the United States and Israel the true bastions of worldwide terror. Nations like Iran and Lybia are simply misunderstood. Once the new media has been eliminated, we will silently surrender to Islam all over the globe. Of course, the American people will know nothing about it, as we will have returned to the days of the Cronkite MSM monopoly. New York and other cities will then either be taken over by the religion of submission, er, that is peace, or they will be blown up. The fault will of course be that of Bush who had so enraged Islamists that they had no choice but to get even.
robert c verdi wrote: “Fannie and Freddie have bankrupted the US more then the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for that we can thank the democrats. And I read Kennedy’s books, it was about this time that Japan was to have overtaken us.”
Fannie and Freddie by the Dems is a gift to bin Laden’s plan.
But the US debt trajectory fed by the wars and increases in Defense and Homeland Security spending and all the other increases in deficit spending had already pushed the cumulative federal deficit to ten trillionUSD by summer 2008.
As to Japan – look at their currency reserves and holdings of US debt and, combined with same in China, South Korea, and Taiwan, you tell me where global financial power now resides.
My point was that bin Laden is using the FEAR of TERROR. No need to actually succeed again to sustain the FEAR-based spending. bin Laden’s probably still playing golf in the Swat Valley while checking his profits from oil futures trading in June.
I would like nothing more than a strong challenge to Dodd and Schumer in 2010 as a thank you for the Fannie/Freddie debacle.
The Hartford Courant has not been kind to his hyper-partisan performance as chair of Banking committee.
Whether a reformist Republican can be successful is open, but CT has a reputation for independence. A challenger to Schumer is tricky because Giuliani is not as beloved in New York as people think, and no one in the NY GOP understands this. The NY GOP needs to find a reformer even if it means luring talent overlooked by the Dems.