A funny thing happened over the weekend: While President Obama took heat for saying he didn’t have a strategy to deal with the Islamic State (also known as ISIS and isil) in Syria, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) delivered a pretty remarkable statement (for a potential Presidential Candidate).
“If I were president, I would call a joint session of Congress,” Paul told the AP. “I would lay out the reasoning of why ISIS is a threat to our national security and seek congressional authorization to destroy ISIS militarily.”
So, if Rand Paul is able to wake up to the threat that Islamic terrorism is to western societies in its quest for world domination maybe our “root causes” limp wristed effete liberal politicians might also at some point.
Aaron Blake is making excuses for the administration just as fast as he can.
“Polls have increasingly shown that Americans view Obama as a weak commander in chief without much direction or heft t0 his foreign policy.”
Without much direction? That’s like saying the Pope and Gallileo had a mild disagreement or that the Pacific Ocean is slightly damp.
And all this on a day when, just to highlight Obama’s policy failures, Ukraine de facto surrendered to Uncle Vlad by asking for a ceasefire on Moscow’s terms. The Russian military drive on Mariupol this week was the crusher that defeated Ukraine. Obama is now the biggest surrender-monkey in American history.
Rand Paul is sensible and knows the Constitution. I agree with Allen West regarding Obama.
The position of non-intervention has some merit…..that intervening destabilizes and could be replacing on bad actor for a worse bad actor.
However the only way ISIS could get worse is if it gets nukes.
Logically…….destroying ISIS is unlikely to worsen things and does remove an international menace.
Ken, I give credit to Paul for changing his mind. When the facts change, so to must the response to them. That said, I’m not sure it’s the right response. All past ME interventions have ended in some degree of disaster; why would smashing ISIS, even if it can be done which is not in any way a sure thing, be any different?
And I totally disagree with one of Lifson’s statements. It is not that libertarians have certainty about the world. Rather it’s that libertarians are certain that intervention will invariably create unforeseen complications, and that the resulting situation may well be worse than if we just left well enough alone.
Reality is setting in. Time to cut to the chase and start carpet bombing the useless wogs.
Few will protest, most will applaud, everyone will be relieved.
The diplomacy factor is to make sure the Saudis pay for all of it because, in the end, the Saudi royal family will be the big winner.
That’s easy to do: tell them about the Ohio-class and the 688 parked off of Medina that are fully loaded and targeting their cute little meteorite. 688 since the Ohio needs an escort.
Rand Paul has been playing the American Isolationism card all this time. Finally decided he was getting nowhere with that and picked up the ITS WAAAAAAAR!!!!!! card instead. But its a political decision, not a Reality decision.
This does not fill me with respect for his leadership skills, I fear. A statist demagogue who leans Right instead of Left is still a statist demagogue.
America does not need another war. America needs a huge tax cut and a President who listens to his generals when they tell him who needs killing and when. America also needs to get the Eurotrash to step the hell up and start shouldering some of the work of killing ISIS. Maybe the French and the Germans could go shoot some of them for a change, eh?
After all, you can actually -walk- from the Middle East to France and Germany. Its been done before, if memory serves. The Crusades I think they called it.
All that being said, I do agree that Rand Paul could not possibly do worse than what Barry has managed. I think the problem is not that Barry golfs too much, its more that he doesn’t golf enough. He stops by the office just often enough to keep everything in an uproar. If he never came in to work at all it would probably run smoother.
Paul is likely calculating that Congress would choose not to deploy which would relieve him of having to repeat the Bush disaster of Iraq and Afghanistan. ISIS is just the latest variety of Jihad designed by Saudis to distract America internationally while it further Islamizes the West under our noses and with the full cooperation of progressives. Bombing the shit out of them for revenge, fun and practice makes sense but leaving the Islamic wastelands to kill their own as much as possible should be our strategy while we free up our citizenry to practice civil censure of everything Islamic. Paul greatest strength is his domestic and economic leanings.
“…tell them about the Ohio-class and the 688 parked off of Medina that are fully loaded and targeting their cute little meteorite.”
The Saudi’s would likely laugh as hard as I. Even OBOZO couldn’t get a boomer skipper to risk his boat in the shallow, narrow Red Sea…..when he can reach out and touch Moscow from the Arabian Sea.
Israeli “Dolphins”, allegedly in the Persian Gulf, carry SLCM that can whack the meteorite and/or Tehran from anywhere in the Gulf. Dolphins are small and real quiet….and air independent (made in Germany).
Before we take any action against ISIS, we should interview CAIR and the loud mouth activists,such as Syed Soharwardy,to see if we can act with their permission. Don’t wanna outrage those voting blocks,y’know.
Then, once we have their approval, we should send our elite troops minus reporters and any recording devices, and tell them to WIN.This might result in injury or,god forbid,death to some of our opponents.
Perhaps a total news blackout until it’s all over would be in order.
I know this is a terrifying step for our politicians,resulting in multiple nervous breakdowns,but eventually they will have to realize that everything can’t be negotiated.
But we had better be prepared to take resolute action now,because with each succeeding PC generation, it’s only going to get more politically impossible,especially with Muslim populations booming in Canada and the U.S.
Astonishing – ISIS be easy to take out. They seem to have lots of parades of their guys and war toys, and lots of mass gatherings to shout about their awesomeness – why can’t the Droner In Chief just provide some airshow for these festivities?
Extra bonus question – why is ISIS threatening everybody and their cousin except Israel? Shouldn’t Israel be Caliphate Enemy #1?
Mooselimbs don’t care about Israel. In fact the average Mooselimb cheers every time Israel whacks a Palestinian, because they feel the same about the Palies as we do about Travellers. They think the Palies are scum. This is well documented.
Also, and this is not to be underestimated, if threatened the Israelis might actually kill the sh1t out of them and wreck their little red jihad wagon.
That’s why they threaten the Eurotrash and Yanks instead. Its perfectly safe.
It was noted on Fox News and old kowtow-in-chief, Bambam has already gone with it: ISIS is morphing it’s name to ISIL as in Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The Levant not only Iraq, Syria but also Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Cyprus and part of southern Turkey.
Just so much more for the empty chair to manage I guess.
RN: “Why is ISIS threatening everybody and their cousin except Israel? Shouldn’t Israel be Caliphate Enemy?”
Partly because the IDF would slaughter them, partly because AQ/Sunnis really don’t care about Israel or the Palestinians; they’re much too busy pining for the days before infidels stained their holy places. Don’t worry, they’ll get around to it, especially if they start to lose.
I like your airshow idea though.
Phantom: Of course the EU should be doing the heavy lifting on ISIS; but they’re dominated by the Euroweenie lobby who say “we shouldn’t stoop to the level of terrorists” – especially if someone else does it for them. I favour a coalition of air-power that bombs the crap out any Islamist invader/insurgent/freedom fighter they find, anywhere. Maybe the Russians could help!
Ah yes, the Putinator: give him some food for thought as he carves up Ukraine -let’s give the guy realpolitik cudos for starting an insurgency, then formulating a “peace plan” – mess him up real good by offering Ukraine NATO membership so nearby members like Romania can feel more secure.
Perhaps NATO could provide another “humanitarian” convoy to Ukraine. Perhaps the US could offer a demonstration of the Raptor’s capability. Perhaps he could remind Putin the US nuclear arsenal is far superior to the Russian, which is mostly a rusted shadow of its former self. No doubt it could do great damage but the point here is deterrence, if we’re not going to put boots or bombs on the ground.
We asked ourselves if Putin would stop at Crimea. We got our answer and now ask ourselves it Putin will stop at eastern Crimea. We have our answer now I think as we ponder the reality of Ukraine’s imminent, and second, partition.
Then we can ask ourselves where it is exactly that Putin will stop.
And furthermore:
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/387006/only-deterrence-can-prevent-war-victor-davis-hanson
“You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: victory; victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.”
THAT is what is needed.
Rand Paul seems consistent to me, as there is good reason for America to reward the Jihadists, with free entry into their paradise.
He still remains a noninterventionist, but recognizes evil.
As for Putin, I have to admire his read of NATO.
Seize Crimea.
Invade more of Ukraine.
Accidentally shoot down an airliner.
Continue to invade Ukraine.
And when NATO finally gets its act together(If ever) Putin will concede some of the conquered areas of Ukraine, in return for a secure land bridge to a secure deep water, year round port.
Cynical as hell but when dealing with pompous assholes such as Obama and the EU, Putin looks good.
Amazing how a man who is lying to everyone can be so honest.
Where Obama in telling the truth looks like he is lying.
“We have no strategy to handle ISIS”.
Sure he goes, it is supply them with weans via 3rd parties, send them endless Journalists to behead, warns them of any military reaction and do as little as possible to prevent their murderous rampage.
Doing nothing is a strategy.
Weapons..
So sorry, meant Eastern Ukraine, not Crimea.
Si vis Pacem, para Bellum.
If you want peace, be prepared for war.
True then.
Still true now.
Har! YOU go and tell ISIS to leave the US (and Canadians) alone. Go on! Go ahead!
The Crusades were a long time ago. NOW a jihadist can go from Beirut to NYC on an overnight flight, and
then on to Calgary within a day, if he so desires.
The Western anger against Russia and Vladimir Putin is misplaced. We need him more than he needs us. Why
do I say that? Because he kills Muslims – 200,000 in Chechnya especially. For that he has been put on the
ISIS short list of people they really dislike.
As for the rights and wrongs of the Ukrainian invasion, Ukraine is a sovereign nation. And that should be
respected. However, Ukraine was long an essential part of what we call Russia; in fact a lot of “Russian”
history took place in what is now known as Ukraine, from the state of the Kievan Rus to the Battle of Kursk.
There was much less justification for the Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939 (which was a kind of vicious
opportunism); and less now. However, after the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, we were
happy to accept the Soviets as our good buddies – because they killed Germans, lots and lots and lots of
Germans.
The Russians are our good buddies now, although we are having trouble realizing it. Conscience has a way
of getting in the way of expedience. To win, we need expedience.
LOOK OVER HERE! LOOK OVER HERE! IGNORE THAT MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN……
Moslems killing each other ….. what’s new about that. Moslems killing each other and I’m supposed to care? Moslems beheading journalists? Didn’t we already see this 8 years ago. This ramping up of the “new” danger from moslems ….. purely a cheap diversion from the real issues.
As others have pointed out: Russia is much more of a danger (and I add China to that). The Europeans have yet to step up to the threat. (They’d rather Uncle Sam do the work for them.)
And finally, raw politics. Forget the economic disaster. Forget the health care fiasco. Forget the IRS targeting “dissenters”. Forget Benghazi….. forget immigration, forget all of the crap that has occured for the past 6 years BECAUSE, well, because MOSLEMS are killing reporters.
Total hocky puck.
LOOK OVER HERE! Nothing to see over there –>.
After all, you can actually -walk- from the Middle East to France and Germany. Its been done before, if memory serves.
They don’t need to walk anywhere…simply look inward to all the Islamic enclaves within their own coutnries…That is where you start.
I’m getting real tired of hearing about and not seeing squat done about the attempted islamization of the planet. Just watched a video from England. Imans there are attempting to enforce Sharia Zones..whereby Sharia wil be en forced by “groups of Young Men”..F**ing unreal SHITE.!! This is coming here and and is continually enabled by the elites of Canadian Media, the Liberal Party, Political Correctness, Human Rights BS among other things….
So I got a few words to the wise for you Islamists: Canada: Fit in or F**K OFF.
Royalties not required…
Bumper sticker coming soon.
Stk
“I would call a joint session of Congress,” Paul told the AP. “I would […] seek congressional authorization to destroy ISIS militarily.”
This is what I was saying on August 31. Congress has to declare war, not Obama, Congress.
http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/archives/operation-empty-36.html#comment-920850
No doubt the house could pass a declaration of war against ISIS but I don’t think the senate could. Doing that would piss off what’s left of the dem base.
It only needs Obama’s imprimatur on it and the Left base would be fine with it.
Proof: Code Pink is nowhere to be found since Obama became President in ’09, despite illegal intervention in Libya and Afghanistan still ongoing.
Can Cogress declare war despite objections from the President?
I beg to differ. America – and the world – urgently needs a war of conquest against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and a Nuremberg type trial to punish those in leadership positions who survive the war.
It’s that, or sit and wait until a western city somewhere spontaneously ignites due to Iranian nuclear fire.
Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the United States Constitution, sometimes referred to as the War Powers Clause, vests in the Congress the power to declare war,
wording:
The Congress shall have Power[…] To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water
Five wars have been declared by Congress under their constitutional power to do so: the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II.
“despite objections from the President?”
The President is the Chief Executive, his job is to enforce the legislative decisions of Congress. Congress members are the Legislative branch and representatives of the People.
The President can veto acts of Congress, but Congress can override the veto with a supermajority, 2/3rds, vote.
john robertson – Russia did not accidentally shoot down a civilian airliner. It was 2 Ukrainian fighter jets that destroyed it with cannon fire on both sides of the fuselage. The reason you’ve never heard cockpit voice recorder audio is because you would clearly hear the pilots trying to call them off, and the thud thud thud of shells hitting…not a Russian BUK SAM. http://www.globalresearch.ca/evidence-is-now-conclusive-two-ukrainian-government-fighter-jets-shot-down-malaysian-airlines-mh17-it-was-not-a-buk-surface-to-air-missile
Also, it likely went down the memory hole so quick because Vlad has intercepts of the airliner’s radio calls….
But the Pacific Ocean is still damp, right?
At this point especially, it is futile to make excuses for a man who just won’t commit to even reassuring the people he was twice elected to lead. Obama covers for his incompetence because the popular press is finding it harder and harder to do so.
Obama doesn’t care that he helmed the US into ruin. Making a total hash of foreign policy is icing on the cake for him.
Destroy ISIS???
Why would they do that?
Obamba and freinds spent so much time creating, arming and clearing the way for them, I hightly doubt they would want them “destroyed” now.
Hell, they’ve even opened the borders to allow them in with millions of other Third World community disrupters to back out of a good chaos opportunity.
Obama doesn’t care that he helmed the US into ruin
You are wrong. He cares very much and is very pleased with the results.
I have finally succumbed to the Manchurian Candidate theory of Obama. He was raised in a muslim country and is a socialist. He hates America.
Hey – it’s the airshow I asked for in my post at 12:56 yesterday!
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-09-05/meanwhile-skies-above-isis-capital