While Senators could not be troubled to go to a simple briefing on the NSA warrantless surveillance program and some like South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham shrugged off the importance of privacy, the same Senators are demanding the intervention into yet another war in the Middle East. It does not matter that we have major educational and environmental programs being cut for lack of funding. It does not matter that our invasion in Iraq is an ongoing nightmare. We are being told to intervene in a civil war where Sunnis and Shia are carrying out centuries of hatred with atrocities on both sides. Senators want the U.S. to enforce a no-fly zone which would involve direct attacks on Serbian air forces while President Obama has already pledged to directly support rebel forces with arms.
Graham is frustrated by the delay in intervening into a fourth war: “We need to create a no-fly zone. We cannot take air power out of the equation.” His colleague, Georgia Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss, has proclaimed “A no-fly zone may be the ultimate tactic that needs to be taken.”
Once again, the media is almost uniformly supporting this hawkish support by framing the question as to how far we should militarily intervene as opposed to whether we should intervene at all.
While Graham referred to the area as a “powder keg,” he is desperate for us to join the fighting through a no fly zone as well as military support. In the meantime, Russia has said it will oppose any no fly zone. Russia is of course the only nation with as conflicted a policy as our own. While denouncing Obama’s decision to supply arms to the rebels as destabilizing, Russia is of course sending massive support to the regime.
Once again, I am struck by how the media attention presupposes our intervention in some form rather than consider the possible position of non-intervention. We have a country filled with religious extremism and sectarian violence. Yet, these Senators are virtually panting to get involved in yet another war. Why?
We need Roman helmets and gaudy armour uniforms with feathers. Lindsey Graham Cracker needs a chariot. He wants to be a God. Every God needs a chariot. Citizens of American need to stomp their feet down and say NO. The next Democrat candidate will have to be a peace candidate or he.she wont win. Sorry Hilary but if you don’t oppose this war now then go back to New York. A gopher could win if he is anti war.
Get rid of Assad and you will get a Morsi. Or is it Mursi? A Muslim Nazi. We don’t need Curley from the Three Stooges to tell us where this is going if America gets involved any more than we now are. Obama, pull out now like your father should have.
We are making the same mistakes Britain did in the 19th century: overextending our military and getting involved in other peoples’ wars all over the globe. The Brits did it “for the Empire.” What’s our excuse? Does common sense really evaporate from the human brain when entering the Capitol building?
Bron is right about oil and gas. US production has boomed over the last few years.
“this isnt about oil anymore, we have so much god dam oil and natural gas we should invade ourselves.” (Bron)
Isn’t that exactly what NSA is doing?
“this isnt about oil anymore, we have so much god dam oil and natural gas b>we should invade ourselves.” (Bron)
Isn’t that exactly what NSA is doing?
this isnt about oil anymore, we have so much god dam oil and natural gas we should invade ourselves.
pardon my french:
fuking idiots.
Let the Sunni and Shia fight it out without our help.
Reblogged this on Randy C White.
Yet, these Senators are virtually panting to get involved in yet another war. Why?
Money, money, money.
Remember after WW I when we rejected joining the League of Nations … the good ol’ days.
At the end of WW II all the big boys in D.C. were worried that without the military spending and with the absorption of all the returning veterans into the workforce, the Great Depression would once again rear its ugly head so we continued our military spending, went into Korea, entered the cold war and Nam … etc., etc. Our economy grew and grew and grew some more till at one point we had made manufacturing than all other nations in the world, combined.
But its almost 70 years since the end of WW II and much has changed within our economy here at home and abroad. As Great Britain in the 19th century, America has been the world’s pivotal global power during the last half of the twentieth. But the twenty first is upon us and change is occurring.
At one time we could have both guns and butter. That is no longer the case.
leejcarroll, You are also on the top of your game, mentioning the chemical weapon ultimatum.
Darren, My bad, I see you mentioned the “red line”. You always do your homework.
Joe Louis has his Bum of the Month Club. Graham and Obama have their War of the Month Club. I don’t think anyone has mentioned our tough talking law prof saying “chemical weapons are a red line.” Well, if Obama ever worked a litigation case he would know you don’t ask questions you don’t know the answer to. And I know he’s a parent, so I bet there’s a lot of “the next time you do that they’re will be consequences.” W liked to talk and act tough, but so does this guy. He never should have made that statement if he wasn’t willing and prepared to back it up w/ quick and decisive actions. He looks weak, and in over his head. That’s VERY DANGEROUS!
Two observations:
1. A constant state of war creates a constant state of fear. I believe the Republicans feel an advantage with the electorate when there is fear, and the more the better for them. (And if you’re already losing the brown vote, you’ve got to go for the bullet vote.)
2. War is good for the defense industry, and the defense industry has been good to the Republican party money machine. It’s just plain good business and good economics for them to keep us at war – everywhere and all the time. (Don’t think they are satisfied to stop at four. There is always North Korea, and Iran, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Pakistan, and…)
Darren,
I submit that when you’ve claimed the ultra vires power to execute citizens without due process and basically ignored the 4th Amendment like it was merely a suggestion that you cannot as President lose face. It’s already gone.
“… these Senators are virtually panting to get involved in yet another war. Why?”
They have been corrupted by power which has converted them into jingoist warmongers.
They have converted the government into a Wartocracy.
President Obama got himself into a real fix when he declared some time ago that chemical weapons would be a bright line that would ensure US intervention if crossed. Now the US gov’t says they were used. No the president feels he has to act or else lose face. And with this president lives of our troops are less important than losing face.