Agree bold is not President Biden’s middle name. The downside in doing just enough to support Ukraine and contain Iran is that it will not be sufficient in an election year with Republican opposition attacking his policies as both warmongering and not hawkish enough. I have no idea the appropriate number or location required for our troop placements to support current containment policies. If it were not an election year, it would not be required to ‘show react’ to every Iran provocation. I am sure that I am not nostalgic for Trump narcissistic foreign policy. I get we need bold, but not looking for the Wizard of Mara-logo to return behind the curtain.
I think you already know how I feel about war and empire building/containment, but if we are going to risk the blood of our nations people, then election year or not, I want a Commander in Chief, be it man or woman, who has the balls to carry that big stick and more importantly swing the hell out of it when it's needed. Our soldiers who all take the ultimate risk when signing up to serve, deserve nothing less.
The problem with Biden is less about the the big stick and more about that he is not capable of inspiring anyone that he has a proactive policy and paint a picture of what he is trying to accomplish in a broad way to gain support.
Agreed, but I'm not at all convinced that Biden himself even knows what he is trying to accomplish. My vote will usually always go to someone who is not what I consider to be a warmonger or whose piles of dark money isn't coming from the defense industry. Maybe that will change when these politicians and yes our military leaders too, are willing to put actual skin in the game by allowing their sons and daughters to be sent to the front lines and danger zones. I want a peaceful solution or at least maybe a stalemate whenever possible, but I am also a realist so know that option isn't always available. As such, I am a firm believer that if we are going to insert our troops in all the world's hotspots, then they should go in with the confidence of knowing that their leaders are looking out for them. I can't imagine how betrayed our troops that are stationed in these hotspots must feel to know that their welfare means so little to those of us at home. We all just go about our business as if their sacrifice is just the price you pay. Articles like Steve's should be plastered on the front pages of every major newspaper.
The best way to stay out of war would be to articulate a coherent policy that sufficiently opposes our adversaries to let all know what we will protect our vital world interests and support our allies. President Truman was able to do this post WWII with a theory of Soviet containment and the Marshall Plan. I do not believe either political party is putting forward a presidential nominee that will meet present global challenges. We will have to choose between them.
Such a policy along with a military strong enough to make it real is definitely needed. We could have that if the Feds made it a priority instead of using its resources to buy votes and subjugate the states. The states should govern our day-to-day lives. The Feds should stick to its constitutional duties such as national defense and foreign relations. This comment is not aimed just at Biden and democrat administrations. They just happen to be the ones in charge right now.
I also don't have much faith in who will probably end up being our choices. So many current and perhaps up and coming conflicts seem like just one matchstick away from blowing up whole regions of the world. America has a lot of external and perhaps after the influx of fighting age young men across our border even internal enemies, that would love to see us fail. It is primarily because of these enemies and the very real dangers they pose that I feel such a commitment in trying to do my part to help heal our nations political divide. I believe that divided as we are right now, we cannot stand as strong, so like Trump or dislike him, like Biden or dislike him, like Haley or dislike her, etc., we have to do better to reach out to each other and try to understand others perspectives. Stop with all the labels and name calling and so on and just talk and listen to each other. We currently have a leader that no one at all seems to fear or probably as you said earlier, even understands. Between that and the bitterness and even hatred that so many feel of us feel for our fellow Americans just does not seem to bode well to me. I really believe we are so much better then that. If I was an enemy of the US of A and wanted to lash out and strike, now would not necessarily seem like the worse time to do it. Please excuse my language, but frankly I think this political season is going to be a hell of a shitshow and the aftermath probably even worse regardless of who wins.
Weak tea. Biden telegraphed the locations of the strikes. OPSEC was almost non-existent. The militants knew it was coming. It was exactly as expected: a bunch of strikes in the desert to weapons storage areas. This is what I wrote and predicted would happen. It will not deter them one bit.
I believe those warnings are in keeping with longstanding laws establishing conduct when engaged in hostilities. (See the Article 57(2)(c) of Additional Protocol I of 1977) Also note international law regarding air and middle warfare "when the attack of a lawful target by air or missile combat operations may result in injury or death to civilians, effective advance warnings must be issued to civilian populations, unless circumstances do not permit". You and I are not well versed in the rules of warfare which relegates us to armchair quarterback status. I note, however, that your opinion is certainly reflected in the criticisms voiced by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Sen Lindsey Graham. It's a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation for any president.
Interestingly, Iraqi government spokesman, Bassem al-Awadi, refutes the claims by the US government that the Iraqi government was notified prior to the air strikes. He has accused the US Government of "deception and distortion of facts" and says the US has made "an unfounded claim crafted to mislead international public opinion and evade legal responsibility". He is alleging the US has violated international law.
We do need to rebuild our understanding and use of deterrence.
That said: vowing to retaliate and taking time before doing so allows for foes to back down, preventing a regional war that no one (besides Hamas and Ansar Allah) want.
Excellent commentary Steve. I really wish I could like this op ed dozens of times over. And to add insult to injury, lets also not forget the easing of sanctions that have allowed the release of billions of dollars to flow into Iran's coffer's. It's disgraceful, disgusting, and disrespectful to have such a callous disregard for the lives of our nations defenders and other peoples loved ones. And after sending our soldiers into all these dangerous environments, when the worse happens, our Commander in Chief can only stand up in front of the world and offer up such useless platitudes as the "we will respond in our own time" nonsense. I highly doubt that gives the families of these soldiers much comfort while their standing by their loved ones gravesite.
Agree bold is not President Biden’s middle name. The downside in doing just enough to support Ukraine and contain Iran is that it will not be sufficient in an election year with Republican opposition attacking his policies as both warmongering and not hawkish enough. I have no idea the appropriate number or location required for our troop placements to support current containment policies. If it were not an election year, it would not be required to ‘show react’ to every Iran provocation. I am sure that I am not nostalgic for Trump narcissistic foreign policy. I get we need bold, but not looking for the Wizard of Mara-logo to return behind the curtain.
I think you already know how I feel about war and empire building/containment, but if we are going to risk the blood of our nations people, then election year or not, I want a Commander in Chief, be it man or woman, who has the balls to carry that big stick and more importantly swing the hell out of it when it's needed. Our soldiers who all take the ultimate risk when signing up to serve, deserve nothing less.
The problem with Biden is less about the the big stick and more about that he is not capable of inspiring anyone that he has a proactive policy and paint a picture of what he is trying to accomplish in a broad way to gain support.
Agreed, but I'm not at all convinced that Biden himself even knows what he is trying to accomplish. My vote will usually always go to someone who is not what I consider to be a warmonger or whose piles of dark money isn't coming from the defense industry. Maybe that will change when these politicians and yes our military leaders too, are willing to put actual skin in the game by allowing their sons and daughters to be sent to the front lines and danger zones. I want a peaceful solution or at least maybe a stalemate whenever possible, but I am also a realist so know that option isn't always available. As such, I am a firm believer that if we are going to insert our troops in all the world's hotspots, then they should go in with the confidence of knowing that their leaders are looking out for them. I can't imagine how betrayed our troops that are stationed in these hotspots must feel to know that their welfare means so little to those of us at home. We all just go about our business as if their sacrifice is just the price you pay. Articles like Steve's should be plastered on the front pages of every major newspaper.
The best way to stay out of war would be to articulate a coherent policy that sufficiently opposes our adversaries to let all know what we will protect our vital world interests and support our allies. President Truman was able to do this post WWII with a theory of Soviet containment and the Marshall Plan. I do not believe either political party is putting forward a presidential nominee that will meet present global challenges. We will have to choose between them.
Such a policy along with a military strong enough to make it real is definitely needed. We could have that if the Feds made it a priority instead of using its resources to buy votes and subjugate the states. The states should govern our day-to-day lives. The Feds should stick to its constitutional duties such as national defense and foreign relations. This comment is not aimed just at Biden and democrat administrations. They just happen to be the ones in charge right now.
I also don't have much faith in who will probably end up being our choices. So many current and perhaps up and coming conflicts seem like just one matchstick away from blowing up whole regions of the world. America has a lot of external and perhaps after the influx of fighting age young men across our border even internal enemies, that would love to see us fail. It is primarily because of these enemies and the very real dangers they pose that I feel such a commitment in trying to do my part to help heal our nations political divide. I believe that divided as we are right now, we cannot stand as strong, so like Trump or dislike him, like Biden or dislike him, like Haley or dislike her, etc., we have to do better to reach out to each other and try to understand others perspectives. Stop with all the labels and name calling and so on and just talk and listen to each other. We currently have a leader that no one at all seems to fear or probably as you said earlier, even understands. Between that and the bitterness and even hatred that so many feel of us feel for our fellow Americans just does not seem to bode well to me. I really believe we are so much better then that. If I was an enemy of the US of A and wanted to lash out and strike, now would not necessarily seem like the worse time to do it. Please excuse my language, but frankly I think this political season is going to be a hell of a shitshow and the aftermath probably even worse regardless of who wins.
Be difficult to argue with your sentiments.
Too much? Not enough?
https://apnews.com/article/attack-military-iran-iraq-houthis-229a735edbb7759ba9ade543013917df
US hits hard at militias in Iraq and Syria, retaliating for fatal drone attack
As of 2150 EST Friday, Feb 2, Drudge Reports 125 Strikes...too much? Not enough? Tea still too weak?
Weak tea. Biden telegraphed the locations of the strikes. OPSEC was almost non-existent. The militants knew it was coming. It was exactly as expected: a bunch of strikes in the desert to weapons storage areas. This is what I wrote and predicted would happen. It will not deter them one bit.
I believe those warnings are in keeping with longstanding laws establishing conduct when engaged in hostilities. (See the Article 57(2)(c) of Additional Protocol I of 1977) Also note international law regarding air and middle warfare "when the attack of a lawful target by air or missile combat operations may result in injury or death to civilians, effective advance warnings must be issued to civilian populations, unless circumstances do not permit". You and I are not well versed in the rules of warfare which relegates us to armchair quarterback status. I note, however, that your opinion is certainly reflected in the criticisms voiced by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Sen Lindsey Graham. It's a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation for any president.
Interestingly, Iraqi government spokesman, Bassem al-Awadi, refutes the claims by the US government that the Iraqi government was notified prior to the air strikes. He has accused the US Government of "deception and distortion of facts" and says the US has made "an unfounded claim crafted to mislead international public opinion and evade legal responsibility". He is alleging the US has violated international law.
We do need to rebuild our understanding and use of deterrence.
That said: vowing to retaliate and taking time before doing so allows for foes to back down, preventing a regional war that no one (besides Hamas and Ansar Allah) want.
For example: https://archive.is/h2ICf
Excellent commentary Steve. I really wish I could like this op ed dozens of times over. And to add insult to injury, lets also not forget the easing of sanctions that have allowed the release of billions of dollars to flow into Iran's coffer's. It's disgraceful, disgusting, and disrespectful to have such a callous disregard for the lives of our nations defenders and other peoples loved ones. And after sending our soldiers into all these dangerous environments, when the worse happens, our Commander in Chief can only stand up in front of the world and offer up such useless platitudes as the "we will respond in our own time" nonsense. I highly doubt that gives the families of these soldiers much comfort while their standing by their loved ones gravesite.