SMALL MINDS CAN’T SEE THE BIG PICTURE
by Buck Evinger
This title sets up my commentary on a couple of issues, the first of which is about all you blog-mentators. THANK YOU ALL! Conservative and liberal alike. The conversations that appear here are always lively and spirited, and I want to praise the liberals and caution the conservatives who participate. Praise to the liberals for challenging us, our positions and engaging in the debate. Caution to the conservatives. How many opportunities do you get to engage in spirited political discussion with real live liberals? Enjoy it.
THE BIG PICTURE
I’ve tried to use Kerry-like nuance to expain to my liberal friends why Iraq is key in greater war on terror, but the trees keep blocking the view of the forrest.
The first premise you have to accept is that we are at war. If you can accept that the the tactics and strategy used to fight the war can be debated. Most liberals, including John Kerry, refuse to acknowledge that we are at war. It’s different from other wars we’ve fought, but hey, welcome to the new world order.
This is a war! A war between the western world, mainly the United States, and a group of muslim extremists backed a group of nation-states and despotic leaders who either share their common goals or support the terrorist out of self-preservation. There is no sense debating why we are at war and what motivations caused us to be where we are…..because we are here, now, and we must fight to win.
Now, how best to do that? Take Iraq for starters. Set aside the righteousnous of liberating an opprossed people from the clucthes of a murdereous madman, Iraq is prime real estate in the war on terror. If you own it, you can win the war. If you don’t have control of Iraq, you are at a serious disadvantage.
Establishing a democracy in Iraq, besides being the best hope of an oppressed people, will create a point of focus for the muslim street. Democracy works every time. It’s the form of government that best allows people and cultures to flourish. The average muslim knows not of democracy and a generation of exposure to it, in their own neighborhood, will open the pandora’s box of freedom.
Establishing a strong U.S. presence and creating a new viable democracy in Iraq puts the west and U.S. in the perfect position to help the next great uprising for freedom in middle east, Iran. The people of Iran are screaming at the world for help, but the world knows there is only one nation has the means and the moral leadership to deliver the help the people of Iran need. (Yes, it’s America)
Review.
Afghanistan: Run by a murderous regeime beholden to terrorists.
DEFEATED! NOW AN AMERICAN ALLIE HOLDING FREE ELECTIONS
Iraq: Run by a maniac with CONFIRMED ties to terrorists.
DEFEATED! NOW AN AMERICAN ALLIE HOLDING FREE ELECTIONS
Iran: Currently run by sworn enemies of the United States and the cheif nation-state protector of terrorists in the world.
SQUIRMING! SENDING DEATH SQUADS TO IRAQ IN A LAST DITCH EFFORT TO HOLD OFF THE RISING TIDE OF FREEDOM.
As wars go America is kicking ass under the leadership of George Bush. Do we want to be fighting a war. OF COURSE NOT! But sometimes good men, and nations, must stand up and do something, even if it means sending sons and daughters to die for the cause. If we don’t, thenwho will? If we don’t, then evil will flourish.
The reason why no American should vote for John Kerry is because he is unfit for command. He has done nothing but blame American policy and George Bush for our current situation and he thinks it’s fixable by making nice with the bad men and the backstabbers. THIS IS WAR! You don’t win by making nice. You win by killing people and breaking things…then the enemy is either dead or ready to make nice. John Kerry doesn’t have the skills or the balls to win and it’s clear, now more than ever, that he still looks at the world through a pre-9/11 frame of reference and doesn’t see the big picture.
IT’S THE VISION THING!
Emory Says: October 5th, 2004 at 4:42 pm
Along with Afghanistan, Iraq, and you could also review the changes that have taken place in Libya (Khadafy dumps nuke program) and Saudi Arabia (local elections planned). Sure, these countries have a long way to go toward democracy, but it can happen.
JD Says: October 5th, 2004 at 5:03 pm
We are with you, Buck
bob Says: October 5th, 2004 at 5:10 pm
Afghansistan: defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. The Taliban is back, the warlords run the country. karzi is trapped in Kabul. The opium trade is back full force, with ths years crop being a record setter, the adminstration “says” free elections are planned, but unti it happens you can’t count that as a given, bin laden free.
Iraq, run by a maniac, no conections to terrorists. no WMD’s, each month brings ever increasing deaths to the ranks of our soldiers. Not enough soldiers available to rotate in so the existing soldiers are being forced to stay longer than they were told. National guard and reserve units being used in increasing numbers, decreasing homeland security. 8000 police trained, not 100,000. the coalition is dwindling, Spain, costa rica, togabo all leave, Brition reducing contingint, Poland just announces they are reducinng by half now and will pull out completly after Jan.
Iran, laughing at the world and developing a nuke because they know we don’t have the manpower to back up our theats. N. korea (a real madman) buiding nukes and bush can’t do anything to stop it. Our Ally Pakistan, run a dicatator who overthrew a democratically elected gov, is an unsteady country one assination away from a radical islamic state with a bomb. Who sell nuke technology to the highest bidder.
We’re not kicking ass, we’re fighting a gueralla war who when confronted with force shoot and retreat and change their tactics. Every time we kill a child by accident we recruit more terrorists. take your head out of your ass and you’ll be able to use your vision thing.
JD Says: October 5th, 2004 at 5:10 pm
bob, I suggest you read Bob Woodward’s book “Bush at War”. In it even he admits, and he is not pro Bush, that the intelligence may have been exagerated by the sources but that Bush was straight on what he was told and said. But I imagine the last thing you have read is “Stupid White Men”.
bob Says: October 5th, 2004 at 5:20 pm
actualy the last thing i read was the 9-11 report, haven’t read SWM, I agree with moore’s politics but find him to be too reliant on emotional arguments. He’s funny, for about 10 minutes then he gets old. As far as bush, if he was given exageratted info, he needs to hold those accountable. he has not done that. The intel was not just exageratted. The only intel that was used was the intel that backed up a predetirmined position of attacking Iraq. and that intel was exagerated. In Woodward’s book there is the scene of Tenet giving bush his best intel against saddam and the WMD and bush, instead of saying that’s not good enough to go to war on. Says that’s all you got? I want more, prodding Tenet to give him the slam dunk line. In his book Woodward confirms Clarke’s assertion that bush cornered him two days after 9-11 and demanded intel on Iraq’s involvement: he didn’t ask if Iraq was involved, he demande proof that Iraq was involved. Big dif.
Emory Says: October 5th, 2004 at 7:03 pm
The Taliban are back in are their bunkers, Karzi is in the midst of an historic election, Allawi is a statesman, Iraq elections upcoming and police and national guardsmen numbers increasing, Musharaf is standing strong, Khadafy’s nuke equipment is in storage, USS Cole bombers on trial in Yemen…
bob Says: October 5th, 2004 at 7:08 pm
Emory:
If bush craps in an ice cream dish and covers it with whipped cream, do you call it a chocalate sundae?
JD Says: October 5th, 2004 at 7:17 pm
bob, what the hell does that mean?
bob Says: October 5th, 2004 at 7:19 pm
It means that bush spoon feeds you shit and you eat it up.
JD Says: October 5th, 2004 at 7:21 pm
You got anger problems man
bob Says: October 5th, 2004 at 7:26 pm
Good comeback, let’s be friends, ok, I’ll buy you an icecream cone.
JD Says: October 5th, 2004 at 7:29 pm
bob, your comments, while amusing, are not terribly intelligent but thats okay because liberals like style over substance anyway.
bob Says: October 5th, 2004 at 7:37 pm
Whatever JD, keep talking in rherotical circles. you want jokes you get jokes, you ask for rational rebuttals you get rational rebuttals, you dismiss arugements with stereotypes because you don’t like the conclusions so you go back to jokes. the fact is, bush is spoon feeding you shit. He’s been lying about this war except once, when he said that “saddam tried to kill my daddy” that was honest. The rest of it is a bunch of crap. He doesn’t care about democacry, if he did he wouldn’t silence dissent at home. I have to get back to my school work, but it’s been fun poking your cage.
JD Says: October 5th, 2004 at 7:57 pm
bob, okay you probably got to finish your coloring book so listen to your rhetoric later
Maverick Says: October 6th, 2004 at 4:24 am
HAHAHA Bob your just not all there are you? The lights are on but nobodies home, is that the case? Sounds like it and you said you have to go back to school, are you even old enough to vote??? Even if your are it sounds like your the one who believes everything that you hear from the Liberal meadia. Let me guees your favorite news channel is CNN. Or wait… you probally dont even watch the news you just listen to mommy and daddy talk about it at the dinner table and beleive whatever they say huh? Tell me, please let me know the case because it really bothers me that there are so many people that are blind to the truth in this country. So you say that we (Conservatives) are all wrong on all these subjects, then where do you get your information from??? I would love to know…
And also somebody who curses, only does so because they havent the vocabulary to describe what they really feel… remember that the next time you want to jot down vulgar comments for all to see. And this is just my opinion but iam not impressed nor persuaded more so by a person that curses, it actually annoys me at their lack of knowledge.
Anyways Bob take care, right me back if you can find the words to, and say hi to your Anger Managment coach for me (if you dont have one please consider getting one).
Thank you,
Maverick
JD Says: October 6th, 2004 at 9:43 pm
Hey where is bob? Come on we need you man.
Emory Says: October 10th, 2004 at 9:34 am
Yeah, where is Zoot too?
draco Says: October 18th, 2004 at 7:53 pm
Hey BOB!
“…evil triumphs when good men do nothing…”
- does anyone remeber who said it?
I love that quote.
to say Bush is evil compared to the rest of the worlds leaders is a laugh. did the french not make bids for the oil contracts? the germans? where is their higher morals now? oh- right! money was to be made! Please, can a liberal show us an example of a better leader with the courage of his convictions to stand against terrorism and human rights abuses? really? no, I mean, c’mon, really! please give me at least one example!
hey BOB, how come Qaddafi is scared to death of his extremist neighbors? is it because Bush is trying to help? or could it be the mass graves and soccer stadiums used for murder? I’d love to buy you a first class ticket to the heart of the jihad and see if you could maybe advocate for the “tortured” prisoners at abu ghirab, - it’s called “teasing BOB, not torture. get a clue. do you suggest we nuke N. Korea? what exactly are you saying?
yeah, we need these libs!- they are fun!
let’s face it guys, like the french, when the heat is on, the liberals run away because all they have is their hatred for winners, america, and logic.
Jeff Says: October 19th, 2004 at 8:05 am
Bob is the reason why there needs to be a test before anyone can register to vote. You should show that your informed before you vote.
Serbian National Says: October 19th, 2004 at 2:15 pm
Bob isn’t even old enough to vote - like he said, he has to get back to his school work.
Did the reading teacher assign you a particularly hard book, Bob? Your first chapter book, perhaps?
Mike Says: October 27th, 2004 at 7:24 am
I, for one, am just glad that we now have so many allies. Afganistan is an allie. Great Britain is an allie. Ali G is even an allie. Hooray for allie!
Anonymous Says: October 27th, 2004 at 2:38 pm
POOR BOB! You guys really put him in his place. I wonder where pople like Bob get their thinking from. But then again, immature people just repeat what they hear someone else say, cause they can’t figure it out for themselves, I suppose.
Suzanne Katz Says: October 30th, 2004 at 8:58 am
Hey Zack where are your comments,
this election has created a divided country, I have been looking for some comment from you and can not find one.
My dear friend are you hiding down there in red neck land?
JD Says: October 30th, 2004 at 1:23 pm
Suzanne non voting protests put you in the same camp as the lazy’s. Hold your nose and vote against the guy most unfit. It is the reality we live in and it will matter this year.
JD Says: October 30th, 2004 at 4:26 pm
Listen to what Dan Rather has to say: “Even in the best of times, under the best of circumstances, Americans do not welcome intervention in their democratic affairs, particularly not their presidential elections.” How true. If only he could see himself in that sentence.
bonniem Says: October 30th, 2004 at 8:38 pm
I heard Dan Rather putting down Pres. Bush right after he was elected. Just happened to scan the stations on my radio, and I could not believe how stupid he was calling our President. I lost respect for him right at that moment and will not listen to him on any program he is on. Rather is the biggest ego for someone who who thinks he is so very smart - but has proven how ignorant he is.
Jonathan Ferguson Says: October 31st, 2004 at 9:04 am
You’re right Bonnie, Rather was wrong to call Il Dubya stupid. Dubya is a corrupt fascist dry drunk, but anyone who can get themselves appointed to the supreme court after they lose an election, can preside over the worst administration in history, and has a 50-50 shot of winning the next election is definitely NOT stupid.
Jonathan Ferguson Says: October 31st, 2004 at 9:05 am
Sorry, typed too fast, my last post should read ‘appointed president by the supreme court’
Jonathan Ferguson Says: October 31st, 2004 at 9:06 am
Now, on the other hand, if Rather had called the lemmings who call themselves conservative who are supporting a neo-fascist regime stupid, he would have been on to something.
Suzanne Katz Says: November 5th, 2004 at 3:09 am
To Buck Evinger and also JD
First, Buck, wonderful, loved every word you wrote, wish I could write so well,
Now to JD
I was blowing off steam, I always vote and did vote and for Bush, but thank you for your comment.
Suzanne
Steve Says: December 2nd, 2004 at 11:39 pm
Mr. Evinger,
U claim we dont like war, we dont want to be at war is what you say but you openly name other countries for subsequent invasion(s). A large part of what people are scared about is the president has not told us of his Big Picture. Representing the Western Civilization, we are openly attacking countries that have not initiated war with very little guidance to the american people. If Bush was not so keen to go to war the next one would have followed naturally. Instead he forced the hand and turned the spotlight on himself. What is american freedom when Bush will not ever leave the states again without security. We dont know whats next and were scared because Bush is at the helm of our great war machine.
Brian Galvin Says: December 11th, 2004 at 7:27 am
What a Huge load of horsesh*t! Next after you have explained the “war on terror” so one sidedly please explain the virtues of a jobless recovery of our economy. Bush is wrong and too much of a putz to admit. His followers are too foolish to realize you cant preach freedom on one hand and support puppet governments (S.A.) with the other. Dont forget the meddling in Iran so quickly. They are this way ’cause the US tried its nation building there. You are all clowns and ruining things for the rest of us.
Serb National Says: December 13th, 2004 at 2:09 am
Brian, Bush inherited an economy on the downfall - its the nature of our system of economics, that there are periodic recessions. What Bush did, however, was (though not in a way I agree with) to stop the recession as soon as he possibly could, and turn it right back around. If you watched the debates, you saw that Mr. Kerry brought up that Bush had lost around 1 million jobs, but Mr. Bush corrected him in saying that he had also gained back around 500 thousand of those lost jobs. Mr. Bush stopped the recession sooner than many other Presidents might have, and then turned it right back around in four years.
Lefty Says: June 27th, 2005 at 12:49 am
It is great to have comments such as the ones posted above to look back on. Now that the real Iraq story is actually unfolding it is hard to be as blindly optimistic about Iraq’s future as you all were isn’t it? It is also clear that you had no clue about the relationship between Iraq and terrorism (or the lack thereof). Here is some more information for you. The war on Iraq started about 2 months before you realized. It was a covert, illegal war. While Bush was creating the false impression that he was working with the UN, we were already dropping hundreds of tons of bombs on Iraq. Do you wonder whether Bush has any other secrets he’d like to keep from you? This story was just released in the Times Online (a british newspaper). Tomorrow it will hit the US press. Here is a tiny excerpt.
Ministry of Defence figures for the number of bombs dropped on southern Iraq in 2002 show that virtually none were used in March and April; but between May and August an average of 10 tons were dropped each month, with the RAF taking just as big a role in the “spikes of activity” as their US colleagues. Then in September the figure shot up again, with allied aircraft dropping 54.6 tons.
If this was a covert air war, both Bush and Blair may face searching questions. In America only Congress can declare war, and it did not give the US president permission to take military action against Iraq until October 11, 2002. Blair’s legal justification is said to come from UN Resolution 1441, which was not passed until November 8, 2002.
Last week one US blogger, Larisa Alexandrovna of RawStory.com, unearthed more unsettling evidence. It was an overlooked interview with Lieutenant-General T Michael Moseley, the allied air commander in Iraq, in which he appears to admit that the “spikes of activity” were part of a covert air war.
From June 2002 until March 20, when the ground war began, the allies flew 21,736 sorties over southern Iraq, attacking 349 carefully selected targets. The attacks, Moseley said, “laid the foundations” for the invasion, allowing allied commanders to begin the ground war.