Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Enemy Nations and Friends, where is the Moral Clarity?
There is an email floating around worth commenting. It is attributed to an anonymous author, but it can stand on its own.
From: harbachd@gdls.com [mailto:harbachd@gdls.com]
WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANY U.S. PRESIDENT, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN GIVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH?
My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of Iraq regime has been completed.
Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete.
This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq . This action will be complete within 30 days. It is now time to begin the reckoning.
Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United Kingdom , Spain , Bulgaria , Australia , and Poland are some of the countries listed there.
The other list contains everyone not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.
Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war.
The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hellholes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.
Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France .
In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home. On that note, a word to terrorist organizations Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth.
Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France , or maybe China .
I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France , Germany , and Russia . Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes a mis.
I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York .
A special note to our neighbors Canada is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change.
Mexico is also on List 2. President Fox and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra tank and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put em? Yep, border security.
Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now.
We are tired of the one-way highway. Immediately, we'll be drilling for oil in Alaska - which will take care of this country's oil needs for decades to come. If you're an environmentalist who opposes this decision, I refer you to List 2 above: pick a country and move there. They care.
It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, "darn tootin."
Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America It is time to eliminate homelessness in America . To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thank you guys. We owe you and we won't forget.
To the nations on List 2, a final thought: You might want to learn to speak Arabic.
God bless America . Thank you and good night.
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier.
(Please forward this to at least ten friends and see what happens! Let's get this to every USA computer!)
P. commented:
No I don't think that I want to hear any president give that speech. That is the "either you with us or against us" speech. That is the "we don't need anyone else" speech. That is the "attitude that got us where we are" speech.
I looked up the foreign aid for 2004 it break down like this in billions of dollars
Iraq 18.44
Israel 2.6
Egypt 1.87
Afghanistan 1.77
Columbia 0.57
Jordan 0.56
Liberia 0.21
Misc ~1.5
That comes to about $27B, that would cover only not quite 7 months of the war, not anywhere close to paying for it. Which of these countries do you think does not deserve the aid? Most of it is for military assistance which we think is in our national interest. It is a LIE to say that the US is subsidizing un-supportive countries around the world. Your message is mean spirited and based on false assumptions. Our aid in the past has been more humanitarian, but nothing of the size that you want us to believe.
Why should the US or any country refuse to deal with any other country on the basis of disagreement on a particular issue? My inference from your statements are that we are the bully on the block and anyone who disagrees on any issue can just take a hike.
The war in Iraq was a mistake, based on false information, and executed badly. We failed why do we now need to divide the world in list A and list B? The world changes, situations change. Germany, Japan, China, and Russia were all mortal enemies at one time. Now we deal with them as world partners. Vietnam was the last country to kick our butt, now we want to develop trade relations.
We cannot go it alone, and there is no reason to try.
Liberty or Death Commented:
P., do you think I wrote that? It came from the liberal Andy Rooney. I don't agree with some of it, but it was meant to be humor, not policy. But you made a few statements that I would like to comment on. We could quibble about your aid numbers, but they are illustrative. What kind of return do you think we get in good will, 10%, any? Egypt is the second largest producer of Islamic Jihadists behind Saudi Arabia, who is clearly number 1.
Aid to any nation other than military aid is Irrational and unproductive. When our government gives money to other nations there are always strings attached. Most of it is seen as US meddling. We should stop democratization and all forms of humanitarian meddling. Charity should be personal not a mandate of law. The US people are the biggest givers in the world. Aid for aids sake is charity, therefore not a government function.
I am not an Isolationist, but I strongly believe that nations should cooperate on common interests, and agree to disagree on other interests. I prefer "a live and let live foreign policy". I disagree with Art Rooney on that one but he was using hyperbole as satire.
Your list of mortal enemy countries is curious. Mortal enemy should not be a statement of our foreign policy, but rather recognition of other countries intent towards us. Intent and capabilities determine those who wish to harm us. We have no enemies of our own. We are willing to work with everyone. Talk is always a good thing. But some nations choose to harm us. It is they, not us who make themselves enemies.
Foreign policy including war is the means to stop other nations from harming us. So lets look at your list, Germany, Japan, China, and Russia. China and Russia clearly are our enemies. They are imperialistic, arm those who wish to harm us and oppose any attempt we have in foreign policy such as sanctions on Iran. China is waging economic warfare as well as shooting at us (laser hits on our satellites). China is intentionally engaging in unfair trade practices such as arbitrarily fixing their currency exchange rate low. Japan's culture considers trade as means of warfare, and with their government policy to intermix government and big business the policies of their businesses are the policies of their government. So their unfair trade practices are considered warfare. This is not how we perceive them, but how they perceive us. We are not in the enemy business anymore. Our last enemies were Mexico, Spain and Great Britain. We chose them. We seized land from all three and have not given it back. Germany and Japan were not our enemies, we were their enemies. What did we do to them after we crushed their ability to harm us? We spent our treasure to rebuild their countries. We took nothing and allowed them to be free states. What would Hitler and Tojo do to us if they won?
The US has the most ambiguous foreign policy of any nation in the world. We call those who wish to harm us like China and Russia friends. We have no friends. In fact the word "friend" and "enemy" are labels that confuse Americans. It is no wonder we no moral clarity when it comes to foreign policy. We treat foreign policy as just another domestic political issue. They see our president calling China our friend, even though they are shooting at our satellites, and doing everything the can to help those who wish to harm us.
Our bipartisan government for the last 60 years is totally responsible for this lack of moral clarity. We had moral clarity in WW II. The entire country rallied behind our government. In fact we have not declared war on anyone until today when we have a declared war on terror. Who the heck is terror, how do we stop him from harming us? Is the country united behind the president today? Nope. Moral clarity is out the window. It's Bush's war, it is the Republicans war. Can you say Bosnia and Darfor, then you can say it is Clinton's war. Darfor is a proposed liberal war. Lack of moral clarity is a bipartisan mistake.
When you label a nation as a friend or enemy you conjure up a certain picture in the minds of the people. The American people use every day context to define what that means. A friend, therefore is someone you can accept even though the occasionally harm you. You don't militarily attack a friend. Chuck the labels if you want moral clarity and therefore the bipartisan support of the American people. Define harmful behavior of any nation or society or group as harmful. When it gets to the point where we must act diplomatically to stop the harm, the president needs to clearly define the harmful behavior. Next he needs to get the consent of the American people that is time to act and what action is appropriate. Is this possible? People understand harmful behavior. They have raised kids. It is an easy analogy for them to understand. It is far easier to get moral clarity on a harmful behavior, than on an entire nation. This also allows us to seamlessly include the behavior of Islamic Jihadists as harmful even though they are not a nation, not a specific organized group but groups of people and individuals that are seeking mortal harm on us. They want us dead.
While the Islamic Jihadists grow stronger and more strident, we are dissolving into partisan bickering and are losing the will to act. Will we act when one of our cities is nuked? Yes. Why do we as Americans have to wait till we are brutally attacked? A brutal attack galvanizes the American people to act and the look to the president to clearly define the harmful behavior and who the perp was. Bush never made the connection between Islamic Jihadists and Iraq. In fact he is yet to define Islamic Jihadists as harmful. First it was "terror" and "Axis of Evil". Recently it was "Islamofacists", a term he made up without a detailed explanation of what that means. Now the term of the day is "extremist". Get a picture in you head who an “extremist” is? Sorta. If we all took a quiz, would we come up with same answer? Nope. It is no wonder that as a people we still lack moral clarity on what will eventually correctly labeled as Islamic Jihadists.
Oh, and every nation should prepare to go it alone. Seek common interest where you can, but if you can't go it alone you are on the extinction list. Just a matter of time.
Liberty or Death
There is an email floating around worth commenting. It is attributed to an anonymous author, but it can stand on its own.
From: harbachd@gdls.com [mailto:harbachd@gdls.com]
WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO TURN ON THE TV AND HEAR ANY U.S. PRESIDENT, DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN GIVE THE FOLLOWING SPEECH?
My Fellow Americans: As you all know, the defeat of Iraq regime has been completed.
Since congress does not want to spend any more money on this war, our mission in Iraq is complete.
This morning I gave the order for a complete removal of all American forces from Iraq . This action will be complete within 30 days. It is now time to begin the reckoning.
Before me, I have two lists. One list contains the names of countries which have stood by our side during the Iraq conflict. This list is short. The United Kingdom , Spain , Bulgaria , Australia , and Poland are some of the countries listed there.
The other list contains everyone not on the first list. Most of the world's nations are on that list. My press secretary will be distributing copies of both lists later this evening.
Let me start by saying that effective immediately, foreign aid to those nations on List 2 ceases immediately and indefinitely. The money saved during the first year alone will pretty much pay for the costs of the Iraqi war.
The American people are no longer going to pour money into third world Hellholes and watch those government leaders grow fat on corruption.
Need help with a famine? Wrestling with an epidemic? Call France .
In the future, together with Congress, I will work to redirect this money toward solving the vexing social problems we still have at home. On that note, a word to terrorist organizations Screw with us and we will hunt you down and eliminate you and all your friends from the face of the earth.
Thirsting for a gutsy country to terrorize? Try France , or maybe China .
I am ordering the immediate severing of diplomatic relations with France , Germany , and Russia . Thanks for all your help, comrades. We are retiring from NATO as well. Bon chance, mes a mis.
I have instructed the Mayor of New York City to begin towing the many UN diplomatic vehicles located in Manhattan with more than two unpaid parking tickets to sites where those vehicles will be stripped, shredded and crushed I don't care about whatever treaty pertains to this. You creeps have tens of thousands of unpaid tickets. Pay those tickets tomorrow or watch your precious Benzes, Beamers and limos be turned over to some of the finest chop shops in the world. I love New York .
A special note to our neighbors Canada is on List 2. Since we are likely to be seeing a lot more of each other, you folks might want to try not pissing us off for a change.
Mexico is also on List 2. President Fox and his entire corrupt government really need an attitude adjustment. I will have a couple extra tank and infantry divisions sitting around. Guess where I am going to put em? Yep, border security.
Oh, by the way, the United States is abrogating the NAFTA treaty - starting now.
We are tired of the one-way highway. Immediately, we'll be drilling for oil in Alaska - which will take care of this country's oil needs for decades to come. If you're an environmentalist who opposes this decision, I refer you to List 2 above: pick a country and move there. They care.
It is time for America to focus on its own welfare and its own citizens. Some will accuse us of isolationism. I answer them by saying, "darn tootin."
Nearly a century of trying to help folks live a decent life around the world has only earned us the undying enmity of just about everyone on the planet. It is time to eliminate hunger in America It is time to eliminate homelessness in America . To the nations on List 1, a final thought. Thank you guys. We owe you and we won't forget.
To the nations on List 2, a final thought: You might want to learn to speak Arabic.
God bless America . Thank you and good night.
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier.
(Please forward this to at least ten friends and see what happens! Let's get this to every USA computer!)
P. commented:
No I don't think that I want to hear any president give that speech. That is the "either you with us or against us" speech. That is the "we don't need anyone else" speech. That is the "attitude that got us where we are" speech.
I looked up the foreign aid for 2004 it break down like this in billions of dollars
Iraq 18.44
Israel 2.6
Egypt 1.87
Afghanistan 1.77
Columbia 0.57
Jordan 0.56
Liberia 0.21
Misc ~1.5
That comes to about $27B, that would cover only not quite 7 months of the war, not anywhere close to paying for it. Which of these countries do you think does not deserve the aid? Most of it is for military assistance which we think is in our national interest. It is a LIE to say that the US is subsidizing un-supportive countries around the world. Your message is mean spirited and based on false assumptions. Our aid in the past has been more humanitarian, but nothing of the size that you want us to believe.
Why should the US or any country refuse to deal with any other country on the basis of disagreement on a particular issue? My inference from your statements are that we are the bully on the block and anyone who disagrees on any issue can just take a hike.
The war in Iraq was a mistake, based on false information, and executed badly. We failed why do we now need to divide the world in list A and list B? The world changes, situations change. Germany, Japan, China, and Russia were all mortal enemies at one time. Now we deal with them as world partners. Vietnam was the last country to kick our butt, now we want to develop trade relations.
We cannot go it alone, and there is no reason to try.
Liberty or Death Commented:
P., do you think I wrote that? It came from the liberal Andy Rooney. I don't agree with some of it, but it was meant to be humor, not policy. But you made a few statements that I would like to comment on. We could quibble about your aid numbers, but they are illustrative. What kind of return do you think we get in good will, 10%, any? Egypt is the second largest producer of Islamic Jihadists behind Saudi Arabia, who is clearly number 1.
Aid to any nation other than military aid is Irrational and unproductive. When our government gives money to other nations there are always strings attached. Most of it is seen as US meddling. We should stop democratization and all forms of humanitarian meddling. Charity should be personal not a mandate of law. The US people are the biggest givers in the world. Aid for aids sake is charity, therefore not a government function.
I am not an Isolationist, but I strongly believe that nations should cooperate on common interests, and agree to disagree on other interests. I prefer "a live and let live foreign policy". I disagree with Art Rooney on that one but he was using hyperbole as satire.
Your list of mortal enemy countries is curious. Mortal enemy should not be a statement of our foreign policy, but rather recognition of other countries intent towards us. Intent and capabilities determine those who wish to harm us. We have no enemies of our own. We are willing to work with everyone. Talk is always a good thing. But some nations choose to harm us. It is they, not us who make themselves enemies.
Foreign policy including war is the means to stop other nations from harming us. So lets look at your list, Germany, Japan, China, and Russia. China and Russia clearly are our enemies. They are imperialistic, arm those who wish to harm us and oppose any attempt we have in foreign policy such as sanctions on Iran. China is waging economic warfare as well as shooting at us (laser hits on our satellites). China is intentionally engaging in unfair trade practices such as arbitrarily fixing their currency exchange rate low. Japan's culture considers trade as means of warfare, and with their government policy to intermix government and big business the policies of their businesses are the policies of their government. So their unfair trade practices are considered warfare. This is not how we perceive them, but how they perceive us. We are not in the enemy business anymore. Our last enemies were Mexico, Spain and Great Britain. We chose them. We seized land from all three and have not given it back. Germany and Japan were not our enemies, we were their enemies. What did we do to them after we crushed their ability to harm us? We spent our treasure to rebuild their countries. We took nothing and allowed them to be free states. What would Hitler and Tojo do to us if they won?
The US has the most ambiguous foreign policy of any nation in the world. We call those who wish to harm us like China and Russia friends. We have no friends. In fact the word "friend" and "enemy" are labels that confuse Americans. It is no wonder we no moral clarity when it comes to foreign policy. We treat foreign policy as just another domestic political issue. They see our president calling China our friend, even though they are shooting at our satellites, and doing everything the can to help those who wish to harm us.
Our bipartisan government for the last 60 years is totally responsible for this lack of moral clarity. We had moral clarity in WW II. The entire country rallied behind our government. In fact we have not declared war on anyone until today when we have a declared war on terror. Who the heck is terror, how do we stop him from harming us? Is the country united behind the president today? Nope. Moral clarity is out the window. It's Bush's war, it is the Republicans war. Can you say Bosnia and Darfor, then you can say it is Clinton's war. Darfor is a proposed liberal war. Lack of moral clarity is a bipartisan mistake.
When you label a nation as a friend or enemy you conjure up a certain picture in the minds of the people. The American people use every day context to define what that means. A friend, therefore is someone you can accept even though the occasionally harm you. You don't militarily attack a friend. Chuck the labels if you want moral clarity and therefore the bipartisan support of the American people. Define harmful behavior of any nation or society or group as harmful. When it gets to the point where we must act diplomatically to stop the harm, the president needs to clearly define the harmful behavior. Next he needs to get the consent of the American people that is time to act and what action is appropriate. Is this possible? People understand harmful behavior. They have raised kids. It is an easy analogy for them to understand. It is far easier to get moral clarity on a harmful behavior, than on an entire nation. This also allows us to seamlessly include the behavior of Islamic Jihadists as harmful even though they are not a nation, not a specific organized group but groups of people and individuals that are seeking mortal harm on us. They want us dead.
While the Islamic Jihadists grow stronger and more strident, we are dissolving into partisan bickering and are losing the will to act. Will we act when one of our cities is nuked? Yes. Why do we as Americans have to wait till we are brutally attacked? A brutal attack galvanizes the American people to act and the look to the president to clearly define the harmful behavior and who the perp was. Bush never made the connection between Islamic Jihadists and Iraq. In fact he is yet to define Islamic Jihadists as harmful. First it was "terror" and "Axis of Evil". Recently it was "Islamofacists", a term he made up without a detailed explanation of what that means. Now the term of the day is "extremist". Get a picture in you head who an “extremist” is? Sorta. If we all took a quiz, would we come up with same answer? Nope. It is no wonder that as a people we still lack moral clarity on what will eventually correctly labeled as Islamic Jihadists.
Oh, and every nation should prepare to go it alone. Seek common interest where you can, but if you can't go it alone you are on the extinction list. Just a matter of time.
Liberty or Death
