American Politics Draws Strange Bedfellows
Not to mention under-the-bed perverts and voyeurs...
American politics draws all kinds of kibitzers from abroad. That's to be expected, because our USA - until five years ago - was the 'leader of the free world'. Even still, millions across the world pay more attention to our politics than we do to theirs; in fact, millions of people in the 'rest of the world'(ROW) pay more attention to our politics than millions of our own people. Witness the last eight years. That's because those in the ROW are stakeholders in who leads America.
Sometimes our politics draw partisan attention from unexpected protagonists.
During the 16 April Democratic debate, Barack Obama once
again refused to condemn former President Jimmy Carter- for holding talks with the Hamas terrorist group. That fact won him praise from Hamas leaders. John McCain's camp swooped in on this so-called endorsement as a fail-safe fund-raising 'gotcha'.
Well, Juan Cole has turned over the fact that al-Qaeda No. 2 man Ayman al-Zawahiri has declared that he is actually in John McCain's camp! Not surprising: both want to destroy Iran. Al-Zawahiri is miffed that
McCain keeps confusing hyper-Sunni al-Qaeda with radical Shiism. During a new online Q&A session, al-Zawahiri said al-Qaeda wants to see the destruction of Iran - a Shiite nation battling the terrorists. He hopes that the US struggle with Iran will destroy the latter and weaken the former, putting al-Qaeda in a position to administer the coup de grace.
American politics draws all kinds of kibitzers from abroad. That's to be expected, because our USA - until five years ago - was the 'leader of the free world'. Even still, millions across the world pay more attention to our politics than we do to theirs; in fact, millions of people in the 'rest of the world'(ROW) pay more attention to our politics than millions of our own people. Witness the last eight years. That's because those in the ROW are stakeholders in who leads America.
Sometimes our politics draw partisan attention from unexpected protagonists.
During the 16 April Democratic debate, Barack Obama once
again refused to condemn former President Jimmy Carter- for holding talks with the Hamas terrorist group. That fact won him praise from Hamas leaders. John McCain's camp swooped in on this so-called endorsement as a fail-safe fund-raising 'gotcha'.Well, Juan Cole has turned over the fact that al-Qaeda No. 2 man Ayman al-Zawahiri has declared that he is actually in John McCain's camp! Not surprising: both want to destroy Iran. Al-Zawahiri is miffed that
McCain keeps confusing hyper-Sunni al-Qaeda with radical Shiism. During a new online Q&A session, al-Zawahiri said al-Qaeda wants to see the destruction of Iran - a Shiite nation battling the terrorists. He hopes that the US struggle with Iran will destroy the latter and weaken the former, putting al-Qaeda in a position to administer the coup de grace.We hope that war 'saps' both Washington and Tehran. The dispute between America and Iran is a genuine struggle, and the possibility of the US striking Iran is real. Whichever country that emerges victorious will find itself in an intensified and fierce battle with al-Qaeda.So, take care, my fellow Americans. As we do our politicking, be aware that the rest of the world is watching you.
posted by Vigilante at 5/09/2008 09:17:00 AM
6 Moderated Comments:
Hillary doesn't even get honorable mention! McCain wants to bomb-bomb-bomb Iran. But doesn't Hillary also want to obliterate Iran? I quess al-Zawahiri knows Hillary's out of the running. Meaning he has a better grasp of what's happening than the Clintons?
It is a fact that al-Zawahiri is a murdering thug, but he has a better grasp of the region's politics than McBush who has little grasp of anything. The fact that Obama has made it clear that he believes in seeking diplomatic solutions (as do I) to problems rather than target solutions on bomb sights probably makes him more attractive to even the most evil of the evil, with the exception perhaps of al Qaeda who just wants us all dead regardless of the consequences.
As to Hillary I suspect she is keenly aware of what is happening in the Middle-East. I have said before and will continue to say, if Iran or any other nation provides succor to our enemy they then become our enemy. It doesn't matter whether you agree with the war we are fighting; this is a general principle of protecting our own blood in the persons of our troops and our allies. When diplomatic solutions fail it is time to turn to the bomb sights for alternate solutions. Under no circumstances should America become the punching bag for ANY other nation, regardless of who they are. War is [and should be]a last resort but sometimes it is the only thing left to do.
Obama '08
However, by making the Iraq War a first resort, we lost our credibility. I understand your logic, Mike. My support is not for Hillary, but she is intelligent and keenly aware of the political situation in the Middle East.
Of course, diplomatic solutions are primary to averting war. America has lost its diplomatic due to its standing as the world bully, courtesy of the usual suspects.
Madmike, I make one exception. America should clearly not be the punching bag for the rest of the world; but nor should the rest of the world be a punching bag for America.
The primary reason I feel we are enduring such hatred from the world has a lot to do with who we have for president and how few people honor our democracy by speaking out... present company excluded, of course.
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Quite a statement of geo-political folly to see the world superpower and a major regional power at odds when a more insidious force seeks to harm them both.
Stella and Beach: True and true!! The enemy is al Qaeda. We should not forget that...ever! Stella of course we have failed. We have a failure and an embarrassment as a president. I wake each morning and try not to remember that. If I do I get depressed and find it necessary to have sex or drink. Usually I drink:-)
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