In Memory

"First, patriotism is a natural and healthy sentiment and should be encouraged by both private and public institutions. Precisely because we are a nation of immigrants, this is a powerful American sentiment.

"Second, world government is a terrible idea since it can lead to world tyranny. International institutions that point to an ultimate world government should be regarded with the deepest suspicion.

"Third, statesmen should, above all, have the ability to distinguish friends from enemies.

"This is not as easy as it sounds, as the history of the Cold War revealed. The number of intelligent men who could not count the Soviet Union as an enemy, even though this was its own self-definition, was absolutely astonishing."

The founding High Priest of Daemoneoconservatism -- Dr Irving Krystol -- who made famous the hit about "...being mugged by reality..." has passed, yet will not be forgotten anytime soon.

"We have seen in the case of Europe how a social democratic welfare state discourages population growth as well as economic growth, and suppresses the virtues traditionally associated with "manliness" in foreign policy.

"Europe is now paying a terrible price, to the point where it is in the process of losing its historic identity, because of the sovereignty it has accorded the social democratic ethos over both domestic and foreign policy. That the two are inseparably intertwined has never been more convincingly demonstrated.

"True, the American version of "national greatness" has recently run into some local difficulties out there in the Middle East, and I suppose that the idea itself will be muted for some time ahead.

"But I note that the American population has just reached 300 million, with 400 million pretty firmly projected for 2040. So my grandchildren will be living in a country with the world's third largest population, the strongest economy, and the most powerful military establishment.

"Our critics may demand ever-greater humility from our ever-greater power; that would be a historic first were it ever to happen.

"So, for better or worse, "national greatness" is being thrust upon us."

Pic - "Medal of Freedom Earner"

What's In It For Us?

News that 44 has reset the idea of a possible missile defense network among the ex Warsaw Pact hotties in Czechland and Poland has magically inspired a Whiskey Foxtrot Tango moment.

And on the same day IAEA's double secret probation codecil says Iran may really be a nuke power right now!

Sure - everybody knows -- Commonwealth cannot bear to have any NATO stuff any where near her frontiers. Just ask Georgia.

"The Russians apparently think they have a divine right to threaten Europe with nuclear annihilation and anything that interferes with this is “destabilizing.” Actually the missile-defense sites posed no threat to Russia’s vast missile arsenal, and Putin undoubtedly knew this."

And everybody knows real Russian participation in doing real sanction stuff for Iranian enrichment interruptus would be nice too.

So, the quiz is -- what is in it for Great Satan?

A few clues Scooby Doo:

Despite Chavez's recent hello in Tehran about supplying tons of refined petrol to the mullahs in case the 'internat'l community' got all jank about Iran's nukey stuff - Commonwealth President Medvedev suddenly announced that sanctions are kinda like pretending guys are right all the time "... sometimes you have to embark on sanctions and they can be right.”

Commonwealth's GRU and new school KGB guys also announced investigation of the mystery ship that vanished for a few days and turned up empty near Africa is wrapped up.

Wicked gossip tattled that Artic Sea was toting air defense stuff to Iran. Talk about a slow boat! Would have been way faster to take a train, or a Caspian sea shipping racket.

Little Satan's avuncular PM BiBi (j'ever notice he kinda reminds ya of Gene Simmons in Kiss?) alledgedly magically appeared in Mockba to discuss secret secrets - like the nasty little S 300 Air Defense System or it's future mate - the S 400.

Or maybe BiBi was cutting deals for Little Satan's air force to refuel in Commonwealth airspace as a logistical leg up on smacking the living dayights out of some choice tender, sensitive portions of Iran's regime.

Or maybe BiBi wants Russia to point out Grozny suffered way more horribly (not once --but twice) than Palestine ever did in January's Strip blitz.

Plus - any strike on Iran -- or better yet -- a massive regime killing strike on -- oh, say the top 20% of Iran's ruling clerics and fanboys like Besseji HQ's, crippling the Revo Guard, knocking out Karg Island, annihilating ship killing missile batts near Hormuz, or clawing Persia's 90 or so aircraft they maybe could get airborn on a good day right out of the sky would all result in a spike in oil prices that would sweetly replenish Mockba's coffers.

So, what's in it for us?

Pic - " Dont EVER give up something for nothing"

Future Persia

Reading the IR tarot cards or staring into the crystal meth ball for future current events, the issue of a nuked up, gay free, girl fearing Khomeinist Iran is certainly at the top of the list.

A recent cyber tete' a tete' with the super savvy avuncular Dr Walid Phares may shed some light on the future by considering the past:

"There have been two faces of Iranian strategy - one from 1979 to 2003, the other from 2003 onward. The latter has been much of the same but since the United States’ invasion of Iraq, Iran feels surrounded by American presence in Iraq on the one side and Afghanistan on the other.

Between 1979 and 2003 these policies and their implications have always been there. Iran always had a policy on Iraq all along.

"It was to bring down Hussein and bring about an Islamic Republic, dominated by Shia doctrine, in southern Iraq.

"From 2003 to 2005 there has simply been an accelerated reaction to Iraq and other events in the region. In support of their use of Hezbollah as a proxy for their geopolitical goals in the region, Iran diverted 300 million in funding for the group between 1982 and 2000.

"Other such examples of their policies and influence in the region are the long-standing strategic alliance with the Syrian regime as well as their support for militants in the Palestinian territories.

"It is in Iran’s interest to promote problems in Syria, Pakistan, Iraq, and Lebanon. In dealing with Iran sanctions have a large role but this is only one piece of the process. Sanctions are meant to levy diplomatic leverage. Like sanctions, neither diplomacy nor military force will work alone.

" A coherent combination of these strategies must be applied. We cannot simply engage Iran for the sake of engaging. It is important to engage Iran at a senior level and then hold these figures accountable.

Stuff to consider -- and be on the look out for include - yet are not limited to:

1) Theological and political radicalization
2) Propaganda and psychological warfare
3) Violation of individual and collective human rights
4) Political and economic dislocations
5) Organized criminal activity
6) State-sponsored terror
7) Maritime threats in the gulf
8) Development of weapons of mass destruction
9) Employment of these weapons
10) Regional destabilization

"The bottom line with responses to Iran: we must look at diplomacy, the battle of ideas, economic sanctions/incentives, U.S. and European and Israeli missile defense, and military options.

Of course - if Mullahopolis develops a designer nuclear umberella of her own it is tough to imagine a regime, whose primary tenet faithfully upheld for decades is Great Satan hating, would be inclined to settle down.

Most likely she will feel like Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in Star Wars III -- "Unlimited Power!"

Aggressive, ugly and down right mean.

Pic - “Every time it has met something hard in its way, the Khomeinist regime has stopped or even backtracked.”

Putting The Terror In Interrogation

Never a good idea to diss Great Satan's regime changers (unless you live next to a hospital), alas, a recent arti by former Marine Commandant Krulak and former CENTCOM General Hoar deserves a carefully considered counter.

"Americans were told that defeating Al Qaeda would require us to ``take off the gloves.'' As a former commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps and a retired commander-in-chief of U.S. Central Command, we knew that was a recipe for disaster.

"But we never imagined that we would feel duty-bound to publicly denounce a vice president of the United States, a man who has served our country for many years. In light of the irresponsible statements recently made by former Vice President Dick Cheney, however, we feel we must repudiate his dangerous ideas -- and his scare tactics.

"We have seen how ill-conceived policies that ignored military law on the treatment of enemy prisoners hindered our ability to defeat al Qaeda. We have seen American troops die at the hands of foreign fighters recruited with stories about tortured Muslim detainees at Guantánamo and Abu Ghraib.

Hold up for a sec. Really?

If that's true -- then there wouldn't be a single despotry left in the entire ME - all those intolerant, illegit regimes and their secret police, secret prisons, secret trials, secret torture chambers and secret executions would have been overthrown eons ago by rowdy Mohammedists who could not bear the idea of their own tribesmen being tormented by their own leaders in scary places where people are REALLY tormented and REALLY die.

Plus -- even better -- if it is true that wild wacked wicked hot whispers of merciless misery tend to function as a giant magnet for Saudi rejects, Syrian Agents, Irainian minions, rowdy Pyramidlanders, rejectionist Palestinians, magical Chechens etc -- then what is l'raison d'avec mon Generals?

Choose, churn, turn and burn.

Magnetically create a Kursk style kill zone, and magnetically suck in Saudi rejects, Syrian agents, Iranian minions, rowdy Pyramidlanders, rejectionist Palestinians, magical chechens etc for their very own annihilation -- and here's irony for ya - a fresh pool of captive intell -- availible for thorough, leisured interrogation -- as merciful (true! Gen Con says unlawful combatants may be shot at capture sans trial or appeal!) -- yet righteous booty.

"And yet Cheney and others who orchestrated America's disastrous trip to ``the dark side'' continue to assert -- against all evidence -- that torture ``worked'' and that our country is better off for having gone there.


So what?

"What leaders say matters. So when it comes to light, as it did recently, that U.S. interrogators staged mock executions and held a whirling electric drill close to the body of a naked, hooded detainee, and the former vice president winks and nods, it matters."

Oh! The humanity!

Newsweek actually killed people in Land of the Pure with a fake believe tale than have perished in Great Satan's righteous grip -- or even ended up on the buck naked pyramid pile at abu Grahib.

Not to diss Teuffel Hunden --yet -- devil's advocacy may instead laugh and say

"...staged mock executions and holding a whirling electric drill close to the body of a naked, hooded detainee..." are EXACTLY the signals America should send to the world.

A few youtube vids of KSM gurgling and shrieking for divine deliverance would be nice too.

Fakebelieve fantasies of what all befalls captured fools and killers could send a wonderful signal that would easily be understood throughout the entire literacy-weak ME and surrounding environs.

Great Satan is kinda crazy unpredictable and downright lethal in wartime -- if enemy combatants fall into her clutches - there's no telling what all could happen cap'n!

Pic - "We have ways of making you talk. Be Otches"

Bloody Bashar

Here's irony for ya. Perhaps the best book out yonder on Syria is Flynt Leverette's "Inheriting Syria." Fully crunk with tons of reasons to ignore Syria or hound and confound them at every opportunity - Dr Leverette seemed to want to see Great Satan estab a fan club out reach to this pitifully small -- yet larger than life player in the ME.

Dr L's malign influence advocates giving Dr General President for Life Bashar incentives, bling and a chance to show what kind of cat he really is.

Dr General President For Life Bashar al Assad may have been the recipient of accidental regime change but his regime is weak, wicked and fiddles about with terrorists, WMD -- while buddying up to Great Satan's sworn blood enemy - the most proficient serial killers and tormentors of Americans til 911 time - the Iranian created Hiz'B'Allah.

Well, maybe the verdict is in.

"Shortly after taking office, in a dramatic departure from Bush-era policy, President Barack Obama made good on his pledge to reestablish dialogue with Syria. In recent months, in an effort to build confidence and improve the relationship, the administration has dispatched seven delegations to Damascus, including multiple visits from its top Middle East diplomat and peace envoy and senior military officials.

"Much of the discussion has focused on stabilizing Iraq, an area where Syria -- the leading point of entry for al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgents since 2003 -- could potentially make a significant contribution. Washington also sought Syrian assistance in bolstering the embattled government in Baghdad. The administration chose Iraq because it was assumed to be a topic of "mutual interest," a belief seemingly confirmed in June 2009 by Syrian Ambassador to Washington Imad Mustafa, who described Iraq as "a very strong opportunity to cooperate with this administration."

"Three months later, however, it is becoming increasingly clear that Damascus is falling short. Not only are jihadis continuing to flow into Iraq via Syria, but the Assad regime appears to be actively working to undermine the stability of the Iraqi government. The recent carnage in Baghdad tells the story.

"On August 25, Iraq withdrew its ambassador to Syria to protest the suicide bombings that killed nearly 100 Iraqis a week earlier. In his videotaped confession, the mastermind of the attacks admitted he planned them on orders from a man in Syria. Adding insult to injury, the attacks emanating from Syria came just one day after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was in Damascus for talks with President Bashar al-Assad about border security.

"Despite Syrian protestations to the contrary, the bombings were not an aberration. In mid-July -- a month after the initial US-Syrian military talks about border security -- several armed fighters with Syrian passports were arrested in Mosul, another Iraqi city beset by suicide attacks. At about the same time, Assad himself hosted anti-American Iraqi Shi'ite militia leader Muqtada Sadr, whose Mahdi Army has proven a significant impediment to efforts to stabilize Iraq.

"Regardless of whether the latest attacks were perpetrated by al-Qaeda or Baathist insurgents, Damascus bears responsibility. For the past six years, the Assad regime has provided al-Qaeda carte blanche to attack neighboring states via its territory. The relationship between this terrorist organization and this terror-sponsoring state remains complicated. Likewise, even now Damascus continues to oppose extradition of Iraqi Baathists who are working to destabilize the government in Baghdad.

"After half a year of its good-faith effort to forge a partnership with Damascus based on "mutual respect and mutual interest", the Obama administration has hit a wall. While Syrian officials routinely articulate a desire for improved relations with Washington, the Assad regime has yet to take steps necessary to make this possible. From Iraq to Lebanon to its ongoing support for Hamas, and despite Washington's conciliatory steps, Damascus remains intransigent.

"Concerned that Iraqi-Syrian tensions could undermine efforts to rehabilitate Syria, Washington has yet to condemn Damascus for its role in the Baghdad bombings, preferring instead to describe the events as an "internal matter" between the governments. Based on the priority Washington ascribes to Iraq, however, a stronger US response is warranted.

"To date, the administration has been rather generous in response to Syria's promises to improve its behavior. Based on Syria's pledge to cooperate with CENTCOM on border security issues, for example, this past June the Obama administration undertook to return an ambassador to Damascus, a seat vacant since 2005. In July, the administration likewise eased the process of granting export licenses to Syria's aviation industry, another conciliatory gesture designed to encourage better behavior.

"Absent critical Syrian followthrough on Iraq, Washington may want to reevaluate its conciliatory approach. While the administration is unlikely to take dramatic steps anytime soon, it could deliver a powerful message to the Assad regime during the UN General Assembly in mid-September. Syrian officials have been advocating an Assad-Obama summit for months and are hoping to engineer a meet and greet on the sidelines of the New York meeting. Given the ongoing problems posed by Syria, Obama would be well advised to snub Assad in New York.

"Despite the best of intentions, the Obama administration approach has not yet convinced Damascus to change its ways. While it may be premature to throw in the towel and resume the Bush-era policy of isolation, if Syria's current behavior in Iraq persists it should provoke a policy review that adds some sticks to the arsenal of carrots already deployed against Damascus. The recent suicide bombings in Baghdad suggest an absence of mutual US-Syrian interests in Iraq.

"Apparently, the Assad regime does not want a strong, democratic and stable Iraq. As the US starts to draw down its forces there, Washington's Syria policy should reflect this reality.

Submitted by Dr David Schenker

Pic "Bloody Bomber Bashar"

Complacency?

As 911 fades into the history books, the daemoneoconically delish High Priest of Democrazy brings up a cool thingy Uncle Winnie said eons ago:

''The United States is like a giant boiler. Once the fire is lighted under it, there is no limit to the power it can generate.''


"Americans are known to be forgetful about history. That's not always a bad thing. Certainly, it's better than living in the past. When Saddam had declared that the incorporation of Kuwait as Iraq's 19th province was ''a fact of history,'' I recall the Chief of Staff of the Omani Armed Forces saying that ''Until people stop talking about history around here, there will never be any peace.'' And few countries could have put the past behind them as quickly as the U.S. did with Germany and Japan after World War II.

"Forgetfulness has its price, however. As we mark the eighth anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, we are in danger of becoming complacent once again. Perhaps that is because--thankfully--there have been no more attacks on American soil during those eight years. No one predicted that we would be so fortunate, and to this day we cannot fully explain why we have not been attacked again Our success in breaking up planned attacks, including through information obtained from captured terrorists, is certainly part of the explanation.

"Although the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq continue--and we must be careful about premature declarations of victory--they have so far proven to be setbacks for the enemy. And improved domestic security has not only prevented attacks but also serves as a deterrent.

"But the enemy has certainly not given up. In the last eight years, there have been successful attacks on the U.K., Spain, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, to name just a few. And this is an enemy with great patience and a long time horizon. It took more than eight years from the first attack on the World Trade Center in February 1993 to prepare the second, more devastating, one.

"There is a grim joke about a member of the Taliban who meets an American who is bragging about his expensive Rolex: ''Yes,'' says the Talib, ''you have the watch but we have all the time.''

"Unfortunately, this struggle will be with us for a long time to come and it could re-emerge in more dangerous forms if we try to pretend that it's no longer serious.

"Even if the terrorists are in retreat, extremist views are still gaining strength among large segments of the world's population. And the threat that terrorists might someday get their hands on weapons of mass destruction remains and could easily grow if nuclear proliferations continue.

"A successful attack with biological or nuclear weapons could produce casualties that would dwarf those of Sept. 11. Beyond the death and destruction, such an attack could transform the way we live and lead us to hunker down into closed societies and closed economies.

"President Obama has some unique qualities that could help him lead the country in a new and possibly more demanding phase of this struggle, one that is likely to be waged as much in the realm of ideas as on the battlefield. He brings to the task his own personal qualities and eloquence and also represents in his person what can be achieved in societies where all citizens are treated truly as equals. The power of that idea is one of our most powerful tools for draining the swamp where extremists breed and find support.

"To be successful, however, President Obama needs to speak hard truths to the world and particularly to the world's dictators. He must not only defend the right of Muslim women in the West to cover their heads, as he did three times in his speech in Cairo, he must also--even more importantly--speak in defense of women's rights in those Arab and Muslim countries where both Muslim and non-Muslim women are forced to cover completely or not allowed to drive. And he must also speak hard truths to the American people, to remind them that there are still large challenges ahead and that those on the front lines need our full support.

"The American military and their families--along with law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community--continue to demonstrate incredible strength and resolve in defense of the country. They deserve in return to have the country's full support and gratitude.

"There is also much that can only be done from the civilian side. That includes supporting those brave individuals throughout the world who are standing up against extremism, including the reformers in Iran today. It means supporting the struggle for women's rights that those extremists would deny.

"It means doing everything we can to take the Palestinian issue away from the extremists, at the same time that we must be clear in our support for Israel's security.

"The United States still has enormous strength, but only if we maintain the will to use it.

Pic - "Anything but complacent"

Bride Of Palestine

“Unfeeling, heartless creator! You had endowed me with perceptions and passions, and then cast me abroad, an object for the scorn and horror of mankind”

At the fateful glacier meeting betwixt Dr F and his handbuilt critter, commissions are engaged to create a helpmate for it. Later, Viktor recants - fearing that unsafe sex may in fact create “a race of devils . . . on the earth.”

Kinda like "Ye Olde Land For Peace" con that hath reared it's pointy little head yet again.

HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal of Wahabbi Arabia summons shades and specters with an interesting bit that pretty much says the heck with Palestine and Little Satan

"Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Mohammedism the custodian of its two holy mosques, the world’s energy superpower and the de facto leader of the Arab and Muslim worlds — that is why our recognition is greatly prized by Little Satan. However, for all those same reasons, the kingdom holds itself to higher standards of justice and law.

"It must therefore refuse to engage Little Satan until she ends her illegal occupation of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights as well as Shabaa Farms in Lebanon.

"For Saudis to take steps toward diplomatic normalization before this land is returned to its rightful owners would undermine international law and turn a blind eye to immorality."

This is significant - and brazenly hollow. After all, Little Satan split the Strip way back in 2005. Where were the Kingdom's Higher Standards then? What tactical and strategic designs did this ME powerhouse exude then?

HRH Turki goes on to point out how awesome Land For Peace was betwixt Little Satan and Pyramidland yet only after Little Satan repented for siezing Egyptian turf in a series of desperate counter attacks in response to a secret attack by several Arab Leaguers against a democratic member of UN and promised to return every inch of sweetly acquired real estate booty.

Listing Gaza along with West Bank and the petite Shee Bah Farms (Har Dov in Little Satan speak) is suspect.

Land first -- then Peace.

YAWN

That faux school idea is sooo played.

Look -- since Nazi time Deutschland and Imperial Nippon screamed "God! Please! Stop!" over a 100 borders have been moved, dreamed up and established - and they didn't satisfy everybody -- yet -- an agreed upon border is way more better than generations of blood shed over turf.

Basing more polices RE: Palestine around mythic narratives of Little Satan's hedonistic appropriations for the Arab World's problems is retarded and are based on incorrect conclusions. So far, the redux'd land for peace has not only totally failed to resolve the problem - it has made it worse.

Everywhere Little Satan splits - intolerant (and currently Iranian fed and funded) rocket rich rejectionists tend to move in like HAMAS in the Strip and Hiz'B'Allah beyond Lebanon's 'Blue Line'.

High time to reassess, redress and stress that Little Satan ain't the problem.

Palestinian and Arab rejection of Little Satan's right to exist is.

Art "Bride of Palestine"