This was beginning to sound too familiar. A president is calling for a new war based on his inherent authority while members of Congress warn that it is war or death for America. However, former NSA director (and my neighbor) Michael Hayden added a new element: explaining that air power is like “casual sex” and that we need greater commitment than the military equivalent to a one night stand. Of course, this one night stand is expected to last months and cost billions. President Obama has already asked for $500 million to just arm Syrian rebels despite the fact that we are now facing our own weaponry in the hands of ISIS (captured from our past supply of rebels and the Iraqi military). Sort of like Warren Zevon’s song to send “Lawyers, Guns, and Money” except we are leaving the lawyers behind on this one.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told the American people that the choice is simple in going to war:
“[T]hey’re intending to come here. So, I will not let this president suggest to the American people we can outsource our security and this is not about our safety. There is no way in hell you can form an army on the ground to go into Syria, to destroy ISIL without a substantial American component. And to destroy ISIL, you have to kill or capture their leaders, take the territory they hold back, cut off their financing and destroy their capability to regenerate. . . . This is a war we’re fighting, it is not a counterterrorism operation! This is not Somalia; this is not Yemen; this is a turning point in the war on terror. Our strategy will fail yet again. This president needs to rise to the occasion before we all get killed back here at home.”
Graham was heavily ridiculed for his drumbeat to war in Iraq over the non-exist WMDs and previously called for war against Iran.
Graham however at least portrayed the war in relatively platonic terms. Former NSA Director Michael Hayden who was tied to both the unlawful torture and surveillance programs under the Bush Administration compared the U.S. air strikes as nothing more than enjoyable but meaningless “casual sex”:
“The reliance on air power has all of the attraction of casual sex: It seems to offer gratification but with little commitment. We need to be wary of a strategy that puts emphasis on air power and air power alone.”
No first base for Hayden on this date. Of course, given our continuing and perpetual military engagements, we are under Hayden’s terms something of a promiscuous power. Hayden clearly wants more of a commitment and long-term relationship. Something like . . . well . . . Iraq.
In the meantime, dating on Hayden’s term is not cheap. We are about to commit an initial half a billion dollars to just arming Syrian rebels — the same area where ISIS emerged with U.S. weapons to become the current menace. This is a collateral cost and does not include our direct military costs.
However, Obama insists that he does not need anyone’s approval to launch such a war as previously discussed. In a bizarre twist however the Administration is arguing that the President can always rely on Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which authorized attacks against Al Qaeda and those who “planned, authorized, committed or aided” the September 11th attacks, or who harbored said persons or groups. The problem is that that authorization occurred 13 years ago and the Islamic State happens to be the moral enemy of Al Qaeda at this point. Thus, Obama is claiming that he is fighting Al Qaeda by waging war on its enemy (while of course claiming that he needs for such authorization).
Perhaps Hayden is right. War, like dating, is just too confusing, too expensive, and just a bit dangerous.
Looks like Reagan was right.
We should have bought “Brilliant Pebbles”
not Iraq, Afghanistan and obama care.
Carlyle Moulton,
“I must be sillly. Ever since aircraft were invented militaries have been overestimating their effectivness in war.”
Seriously?
Have you ever heard of the Enola Gay?
jonathanturley: “war in Iraq over the non-exist WMDs”
I don’t understand why Professor Turley continues insisting on this falsehood.
WMD in Iraq was defined by UNSCR 687 and related UNSC resolutions. In 2002-2003, Iraq was confirmed with the UNMOVIC Cluster Document to have remained in material breach. That was the main trigger for OIF. After regime change, the Iraq Survey Group corroborated Iraq was in violation.
The primary sources clearly show OIF happened for the same reason for all our enforcement actions with Saddam: Iraq was in material breach of the UNSC resolutions enforced by 3 US Presidents under a decade-plus of US law and policy.
Burden of proof was always on Iraq to prove compliance, not on the US and UN to prove Iraqi possession. The fundamental premise of the weapons mandates was Iraqi possession was presumed until Iraq cured its guilt by providing sufficient account of its weapons. Meanwhile, insufficient account by Iraq imputed possession. That was necessary due to Saddam’s “denial and deception operations” (Iraq Survey Group), that variously included hidden stocks, a large covert procurement program, and undeclared chemical laboratories.
From the UNMOVIC Cluster Document:
We were not obligated to prove Saddam’s guilt. Saddam was already guilty. Saddam was obligated to prove compliance. We went to war in Iraq because Saddam remained noncompliant in his “final opportunity” (UNSCR 1441) to cure his guilt.
Hoka tooka my soda cracker?
Does your mamma chaw tobacco?
Lindsey Graham’s a Graham Krakker.
Hoka tooka my Grahamm Krakkker?
and
Went in dub, cme out dumb too.
Hustlin round Atlanta in his alligator shoes.
He is keeping the ISL down.
Who is Amanda Knox? Not some person from Knox College, I hope.
There may be a lot of map redrawing coming. It’s a very scary time in the world. I just hope we don’t see a situation like Northern Ireland in the 70s happen. Like the oil in the Middle East, there is a lot of money at stake in Scotland–and the North Sea crude as well… It’s a very short jump from “successionist” to “terrorist” if there is big money/oil at stake.
slohrss29 says:-
“Scotland wants their land back… been waiting for the negative PR for that to start.”
The goto blog for info on the dishonest propaganda by the UK PTB against Scottish secession from the UK is that of Craig Murray, former UK ambassador and current UK dissident and human rights campaigner.
His archives are well worth browsing. In my opinion he is one of the best bloggers on UK politics and World politics and the rights to which unpeople are not entitled. The only thing that I have read of his with which I disagree is his assertion that Amanda Knox is an evil murderess.
I will never forget Senator Graham 5 rugs for 5 bucks comment during his visit to Iraq. What a POS
Say what you want. Those people don’t recognize Sykes-Picot, heck, I bet half of them don’t even know what country they are in at any given time. We are imposing our system on them, and they have never truly recognized it. Just like the Kurds want their ancestral lands back, the Sunnis want to dominate the area at the expense of the Shia, so we need to let them sort it out. It’s a long trip to the US via camel. Maybe Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia should quit hiding behind these terrorist chumps and just have it out. Last country standing gives no quarter.
Scotland wants their land back… been waiting for the negative PR for that to start.
Bruce, Troops return home. It was US Army Soldiers that were the first carriers of the deadly Flu in the 1919 pandemic. Fort Riley was ground zero.
Obama’s sending 10.000 troops to Africa to go to war on ebola. What are they going to do, shoot the infected population? 3 American doctors taking every precaution still came down with the virus. Say a prayer for those troops. It’s time to shore up all our borders and tighten up immigration requirements.
And I went up there, I said, “Shrink, I want to kill. I mean, I wanna, I
wanna kill. Kill. I wanna, I wanna see, I wanna see blood and gore and
guts and veins in my teeth. Eat dead burnt bodies. I mean kill, Kill,
KILL, KILL.” And I started jumpin up and down yelling, “KILL, KILL,” and
he started jumpin up and down with me and we was both jumping up and down
yelling, “KILL, KILL.” And the sargent came over, pinned a medal on me,
sent me down the hall, said, “You’re our boy.”
AG
Paul C Shute says:-
And if you don’t think this war can be won without putting lots of boots on the ground, you are just silly.
.
I must be sillly. Ever since aircraft were invented militaries have been overestimating their effectivness in war. One thing aircraft do very well is create collateral damage.
Carly – one of the things studies have shown is that air power alone does not win wars.
Agreed again Annie. It is Congress’ duty to declare war or to not declare war. The President can request it, lobby for it but he doesn’t have the Constitutional power to just declare war all by himself. But Congress doesn’t want to take the responsibility because they are cowards and more concerned about keeping in power than what it good or not good for the country.
You are right. We have no one we can trust in the ME. We have already left the Israelis to twist in the wind and can’t count on their assistance. They are too busy fighting for their lives. The rest of the world sees the United States as weak and unable to keep our promises to our allies. We have no friends, because we drove them all away over the last few administrations and especially with the Obama administration’s in your face insults to some of our greatest allies (Great Britain for example) and obvious inability to be a steadfast partner to anyone. They can’t count on us. WE can’t count on us..
No one likes war. No one WANTS war. The American People generally have to be pushed into a war. That is actually a good thing. Insane people like war and killing. We are not (yet) insane.
But….once you are pushed or you jump, you are committed and you must WIN, because the alternative is not where anyone wants to go either.
Spinnelli: Bush tried half measures…. What’s a full measure, Nick? Nukes?
Look, here’s a terrorist who didn’t swim the Rio Grande:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/us/pennsylvania-shootings-suspect-is-called-a-survivalist.html
We must nuke the survivalist camps in Pennsylvania! I never trusted that state. Sounds so eastern European.
DBQ, I’m glad we can agree on a couple of things. How about not going to a war without a declaration of war by Congress? Think they’ll go there? I seriously doubt it. They would love nothing more than to just say “Bomb Iraq and Syria and tell us later”. They are duplicitous cowards. As far as partnering with any ME country, what a trap. Syrian moderate rebels just signed a nonaggression pact with ISIS. There is no one to trust here and the rest of the world won’t join a coalition to really do much to help us. GB is vacillating. This “war” is a big black gaping hole and we’re being sucked into it.
Did Navy Seals kill a dead Osama?
http://davidraygriffin.com/obama-says-justice-has-been-done-bin-laden-scholar-says-no/
I have a strategy for Iraq. Rebuild it. 24/7 electricity. Clean, running water. Working sewers. Return of looted artifacts. Education. Housing. Farming. We are an occupying power in Iraq. It’s extremely profitable for war contractors for to fight wars. If that’s what Americans want to do with their money then we really are stupid.
If you think ISIS can stand up to a functioning Iraqi society, think again. As long as we are spending trillions of dollars, then let it be for the good of the people of Iraq. Let it be a good use of taxpayer dollars.
As to Hayden, yes I’m certain that all those dead civilians just loved his causal sex with them. Who exactly are the barbarians in this? You mean the group that tortures people, kills civilians, does waterboarding? Is that the group?
“Reinstate the draft because our volunteer area is tired from repeat deployments.”
I agree with Annie. Our brave volunteers have been used as cannon fodder by the political snakes. If (if I say not that we are) we are going to go to any war, then everyone should have some skin in the game. A draft would be great. We have how many millions of able bodied people right now just drawing money from the Government and taxpayers who could be doing something. Anything. Maybe even bring back the CCC and get those unemployed out doing some support work for the military, dig a ditch, build a road. Something.
Taxed Enough Already, doesn’t mean that people are against taxation. Just against waste and corruption with our tax dollars. Instead of asking for more More MORE taxes, use what we have wisely. When it comes down to self preservation people will sacrifice.
The issue is with the Muslim Terrorists, we as a society have been insulated from them. 9-11 seems very long ago to some people. We haven’t been bombarded daily with rockets or have our infrastructure blown up like Israel. If we have the mood of the country would be different. If we have broken bodies in our streets instead of seeing it as a sick entertainment on the television, people would have a different mindset.
But the point is that IF you are going to declare war on anyone or anything…..then by God…..don’t just mouth the words. Don’t cripple the brave men and women fighting with idiotic rules of engagement. Go to war to WIN.
We should have very little concern for terrorism in this country; after all 9/11 was an inside job, along with complicit terrorists, Israel, UK & the whole 9 yards (Illuminati). As for Asia & the planet in general, there is a very real and present concern. Probably, the War on Terror started this ASOL or was glad to see it happen. Perhaps they got more than they wanted to chew. Regardless, something must now be done about it. FAR more important than the weak reasons for getting into Afghanistan & Iraq. As to why they can’t get a coalition going may have a lot to do with the many past betrayals of the US government, aka in this case, the Illuminati. If the Illuminati have set this monster up, they must use their troops to bring it down.The Illuminati has most of its troops as part of the US Army, Navy, Air Force & Marines. I have generally said that if you work for any of the above abroad, you are not working or fighting for the American people or the good people of the world. There may be an exception here now. Fighting ASOL could be that exception. Use ASOL instead of ISIS or ISIL; its more descriptive and doesn’t insult Isis.