I've been saying it for some time now and the recent CNN poll continues to trumpet the impossibility. In fact, with 47% to 48% all saying they would vote AGAINST Kerry, Gore or Clinton it pretty much spells doom for all 3. I suspect that the '08 Dem nominee will NOT come from one of those three. That could be refreshing and even perhaps someone I could consider, but I tend to doubt it given current Democratic politics.

Ever since Zarqawi was killed, the noise from Pelosi, Murtha, et al has continue to get louder regarding their "cut and run" strategy. I read from them that this is NOT "cut and run" but rather a "shift" in our policy.

The only problem with that is that they are ALL suggesting Iraq is a mess and we should cut our losses. They are NOT saying that we have won, we have accomplished all that we can and it makes sense to start redeploying our troops. They are NOT saying that pulling out will make the Iraq situation better. So call it what you will, but they are saying that it was a mistake, it is a mess, so let's get out before it gets any worse. That, my friends, is classic Cut & Run.

It was Cut & Run when Murtha proudly advised Clinton to run out of Somalia with tail between legs. It was Cut & Run when Murtha advised Reagan to "get out" of Beirut. It was Cut & Run when Murtha described:

"A war initiated on faulty intelligence must not be followed by a premature withdrawal of our troops based on a political timetable. An untimely exit could rapidly devolve into a civil war, which would leave America's foreign policy in disarray as countries question not only America's judgment but also its perseverance."

- Rep. John Murtha (D-PA). "From Vietnam to 9/11" (2004). Epilogue.

The Cut & Run strategy gets us nothing and leaves those we were trying to help in even worse shape. Murtha said it best himself when he said that other countries will question our judgment. If we are in such poor standing now as everyone thinks, will we be viewed as better if we pull out and Iraq falls apart? Clearly NOT.

The Democrats want us to leave not because it would be better for our country, but because leaving now - or planning to leave on a "political timetable" - would be admitting defeat and help them with their return to power. Am I wrong?

I read two blurbs today as it relates to Palestine and Hamas. First, I see that the "Group of 4" (I believe it is the EU, UN, US and Russia) has agreed to fund the Palestinian government with $120B to help with various humanitarian needs. That's nice - of course it sounds as if we are being so helpful and that the poor, poor Palestinians are just plain needy - maybe because of the evil Isrealis.

But then the second blurb is about how Hamas is spending some of its money (via LGF and Newsweek). It seems that they have plenty of dough for guns, but not enough to pay salaries, for medical care and other humanitarian needs.

So, Hamas makes poor choices and we fund their weapons purchases by taking care of the needs of their people that they are NOT meeting. Why don't we just give them weapons so that they could take care of their people? What's the difference?

 

It's not unlike me to get stuck on something inane like this, but it makes me laugh. Natalie Maines continues to make stupid comments. It's not that she's right or wrong, that I agree or disagree, it's just that they are dumb, dumb, dumb...

"The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism," Maines resumes, through gritted teeth. "Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country… I don't see why people care about patriotism."

Answer (Jeane Kirkpatrick speech delivered in 1984):

"...the distinguished French writer, Jean Francois Revel, understands the dangers of endless self- criticism and self-denigration.

He wrote: “Clearly, a civilization that feels guilty for everything it is and does will lack the energy and conviction to defend itself.”

It's not that you have to love your country, it's more of being proud of your affiliation rather than embarassed by it. I love my family - even if some of them are nuts. I love my University - even though if they employ some liberals. And I love my country, even though the Dixie Chicks were born here.

Countdown to the next stupid comment by the Ditzie Chicks: 6 days 11 hours...

Yeah, right! The bogus "pressure" by the Media mostly and of course that civil rights bastion known as the UN, increasing recently due to the 3 suicides, is a joke.

First, I've heard more calls for the heads of US officials over what could be called minor infractions than for the terrorists to stop beheading people and targeting civilians. I realize we have high standards, but let's not forget we are fighting an enemy whose strategy it is to use that "weakness" in an attempt to "win" by making us beat ourselves.

Second, I am just amazed at the sympathy given to the people at Gitmo. I suppose some percentage of the 500 remaining may be innocent and may go back to their lives and forget about killing innocents in the name of Allah, but come on, most of them can't wait to get out and start killing more people.

To say that their treatment and conditions are poor and thus caused these "unfortunate" suicides is just plain dumb. As a point of context, these prisoners, although not receiving the due process of U.S. citizens (and rightly so) are treated quite well as it relates to prisons in general. Consider our POWs during WWII where adult men lost 1/3 of there weight eating watery cabbage for every meal and were shot dead when trying to escape. We, on the other hand, provide "Muslim-friendly" meals - I'm sure they're not 5 star quality, but this ain't the Hilton and this ain't no vacation.

And consider that U.S. POWs were looking forward to being released to go home to their loved ones and get on with their lives rather than to look for ways to continue killing Germans. Most of the Gitmo detainees wanted to kill us before they were captured and yearn for the day that they can get back to the business of killing infidels.

These suicides are less about the conditions of Gitmo and more about the terrorist mindset. They are making a statement  - they are not depressed about the "poor" conditions.  They are martyring themselves and continuing the fight the only way they can. And frankly, I say let them go if they are so eager to meet their virgins. I'm not saying help them along, but I am saying don't pity them for they just struck their own little blow against us using our apologist media as their tool.

Keep Gitmo open, continue to treat the detainees with respect and proper care and be vigilant about those we release. Closing Gitmo can only mean 1 of 2 things: they either get released and most of them start killing innocents or they get detained somewhere else and it becomes the new Gitmo.

UPDATE: Here is a good post agreeing with me (I guess I should say I agree with him, since he's likely smarter and knows more about this than I)