Posts with the tag Afghanistan
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Senator McCain, with his Vietnam and senatorial experience, was perhaps the one US politician who might have stopped the Iraq adventure.
We Cassandras foresaw in 2002 (and went on public record) that just one of the major reasons why the US and UK must not invade Iraq was precisely because that would risk not one, but two more "Vietnams" ("Can't stay, can't leave" situations) - one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.
If McCain, claiming to be the "experienced" presidential candidate, didn't see that obvious risk (although many of us life-long diplomatic and military experts were shouting about it) then his "experience" is so stymied by bad judgement that it counts for nothing.
As for Afghanistan, leaving it as G W Bush's unfinished business, to go into the Iraq maelstrom, alienated that wide 2002 international backing on whose money and support any hope of giving Afghanistan a chance to recover from the Soviet and Taliban years, was lost.
For what Afghanistan needed while the Taliban were quiescent licking their wounds was a realistic world-backed development plan to rebuild, continue the Taliban's no opium policy, and make Afghanistan a reasonably none- too-poor society - much as I saw it in 1970.
Yes - I'm afraid it's too late now. But then as Sweden's brilliant Count Oxenstierna told his would-be diplomat son in 1648 - "Do you not realise, my son, with what little wisdom the world is governed?" Especially with the Bush/Blair team in charge!
Obama, though, has the pragmatism, high intelligence, and common sense to work hard to mitigate the catastrophic folly of President G.W.Bush. He's the only one who could possibly handle this double "Vietnam" challenge.
For more on the current US electoral situation see our www.dipconsult.eu
We Cassandras foresaw in 2002 (and went on public record) that just one of the major reasons why the US and UK must not invade Iraq was precisely because that would risk not one, but two more "Vietnams" ("Can't stay, can't leave" situations) - one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.
If McCain, claiming to be the "experienced" presidential candidate, didn't see that obvious risk (although many of us life-long diplomatic and military experts were shouting about it) then his "experience" is so stymied by bad judgement that it counts for nothing.
As for Afghanistan, leaving it as G W Bush's unfinished business, to go into the Iraq maelstrom, alienated that wide 2002 international backing on whose money and support any hope of giving Afghanistan a chance to recover from the Soviet and Taliban years, was lost.
For what Afghanistan needed while the Taliban were quiescent licking their wounds was a realistic world-backed development plan to rebuild, continue the Taliban's no opium policy, and make Afghanistan a reasonably none- too-poor society - much as I saw it in 1970.
Yes - I'm afraid it's too late now. But then as Sweden's brilliant Count Oxenstierna told his would-be diplomat son in 1648 - "Do you not realise, my son, with what little wisdom the world is governed?" Especially with the Bush/Blair team in charge!
Obama, though, has the pragmatism, high intelligence, and common sense to work hard to mitigate the catastrophic folly of President G.W.Bush. He's the only one who could possibly handle this double "Vietnam" challenge.
For more on the current US electoral situation see our www.dipconsult.eu
Yes - McCain with his Vietnam experience and time in the senate was the US politician best placed to oppose, perhaps even stop, the Iraq war where there was obviously a grave risk that to vote for it - a second war leaving Afghanistan perilous unfinished business - was to risk at the same time not only a second "Vietnam" in Iraq, but a third "Vietnam" in Afghanistan.
The first security job of the next president will be to try to avoid both these new potential "Vietnams". How can McCain, let alone the totally inexperienced Mme Palin (with, we are told, a one in seven actuarial chance of being president by 2012) possibly succeed in this?
No - experience does not automatically qualify. Look at Cheney and Rumsfeld with perhaps more hands-on experience of security and defence maatters than anyone else. They got us into the worldwide catastrophe of Iraq. Not just military, but financial.
Curious that the overall cost of "Iraq" to date is around $700bn, financed by borrow-all-the-way: the same figure as is now assessed as needed to resolve the financial meltdown. The financial demands of "Iraq" are to a large extent responsible for this financial crisis.
For more of our work at JP Diplomatic Consultancy, France, please see our www.dipconsult.eu
The first security job of the next president will be to try to avoid both these new potential "Vietnams". How can McCain, let alone the totally inexperienced Mme Palin (with, we are told, a one in seven actuarial chance of being president by 2012) possibly succeed in this?
No - experience does not automatically qualify. Look at Cheney and Rumsfeld with perhaps more hands-on experience of security and defence maatters than anyone else. They got us into the worldwide catastrophe of Iraq. Not just military, but financial.
Curious that the overall cost of "Iraq" to date is around $700bn, financed by borrow-all-the-way: the same figure as is now assessed as needed to resolve the financial meltdown. The financial demands of "Iraq" are to a large extent responsible for this financial crisis.
For more of our work at JP Diplomatic Consultancy, France, please see our www.dipconsult.eu
Dr. Khaleel Mohammed: ‘Film demonizes an entire community. I have allowed myself to be used.'
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/27/08) " The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today said that a participant in an anti-Muslim film that is being distributed to 28 million homes in presidential election swing states CALLED the production a “vile piece of propaganda” in a statement sent to www.obsessionwithhate.com/
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/27/08) " The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today said that a participant in an anti-Muslim film that is being distributed to 28 million homes in presidential election swing states has issued a statement calling the production a “vile piece of propaganda.” Read More »
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/27/08) " The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today said that a participant in an anti-Muslim film that is being distributed to 28 million homes in presidential election swing states CALLED the production a “vile piece of propaganda” in a statement sent to www.obsessionwithhate.com/
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/27/08) " The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today said that a participant in an anti-Muslim film that is being distributed to 28 million homes in presidential election swing states has issued a statement calling the production a “vile piece of propaganda.” Read More »
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/sep/22/uselections2008.republicans
Republican operatives are using an anti-Muslim film and push polling to raise fears of terrorism and smear Barack Obama
Richard Silverstein, Guardian, 9/22/08
We are now entering the closing weeks of what promises to be yet another close and contentious presidential election contest. As each side seeks to maximise its advantages and minimise its weaknesses, the Republican party has chosen the lowest of low roads, engaging in two sleazy political marketing campaigns over the past week.
First, DVDs of an anti-Muslim documentary film are being distributed to 28 million voters in swing states like Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Colorado and Wisconsin. Second, Republican telemarketers have begun push polling aimed at scaring Jewish voters in swing states from voting for Barack Obama…
The mass distribution of Obsession is an obvious Republican scare-tactic, right out of the Rovian playbook. Party operatives believe that scaring Americans into believing there's a jihadist under every bed will play to Republican strengths and Democratic weaknesses on national security. They swiftboated John Kerry in 2004. Now they're jihadising Barack Obama.
Republican operatives are using an anti-Muslim film and push polling to raise fears of terrorism and smear Barack Obama
Richard Silverstein, Guardian, 9/22/08
We are now entering the closing weeks of what promises to be yet another close and contentious presidential election contest. As each side seeks to maximise its advantages and minimise its weaknesses, the Republican party has chosen the lowest of low roads, engaging in two sleazy political marketing campaigns over the past week.
First, DVDs of an anti-Muslim documentary film are being distributed to 28 million voters in swing states like Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Colorado and Wisconsin. Second, Republican telemarketers have begun push polling aimed at scaring Jewish voters in swing states from voting for Barack Obama…
The mass distribution of Obsession is an obvious Republican scare-tactic, right out of the Rovian playbook. Party operatives believe that scaring Americans into believing there's a jihadist under every bed will play to Republican strengths and Democratic weaknesses on national security. They swiftboated John Kerry in 2004. Now they're jihadising Barack Obama.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43940
Ali Gharib, Inter Press Service, 9/19/08
WASHINGTON, Sep 19 (IPS) - Millions of voters in U.S. states crucial to this fall's presidential election received DVD copies of a controversial documentary film as advertising inserts in their morning newspapers over the past week, with more expected to be sent out over the upcoming weekend.
The 2006 film, "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West", which has been accused by critics of encouraging Islamophobia, was reportedly delivered, or slated for delivery this weekend, into tens of millions of households in states such as Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Missouri and other "swing states" that don't vote consistently for either party and usually decide elections.
Republicans and their candidate, Sen. John McCain, have made the battling the threat posed by radical Islamists a central platform of their campaign, while presenting their Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, as being weak on the issue. Obama has also fought off persistent "smear" campaigns, particularly among Jewish voters, that he is a closet Muslim. Read More »
Ali Gharib, Inter Press Service, 9/19/08
WASHINGTON, Sep 19 (IPS) - Millions of voters in U.S. states crucial to this fall's presidential election received DVD copies of a controversial documentary film as advertising inserts in their morning newspapers over the past week, with more expected to be sent out over the upcoming weekend.
The 2006 film, "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West", which has been accused by critics of encouraging Islamophobia, was reportedly delivered, or slated for delivery this weekend, into tens of millions of households in states such as Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Missouri and other "swing states" that don't vote consistently for either party and usually decide elections.
Republicans and their candidate, Sen. John McCain, have made the battling the threat posed by radical Islamists a central platform of their campaign, while presenting their Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, as being weak on the issue. Obama has also fought off persistent "smear" campaigns, particularly among Jewish voters, that he is a closet Muslim. Read More »
By Ahmed Rehab
Word count: 830
[Ahmed Rehab is strategic communications director for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil liberties group. He may be contacted at arehab@cair.com]
You have to wonder about a film that could muster no better an endorsement to adorn its poster than that of CNN’s resident right-wing extremist Glenn Beck. "Obsession is without exaggeration one of the most important films of our time," says Beck. (Who would accuse Glenn Beck of exaggerating?)
The film Beck is lauding, “Obsession: Islam’s Radical War against the West,” is a 2005 work of anti-Muslim propaganda that has recently been widely distributed via an unprecedented campaign. Read More »
Word count: 830
[Ahmed Rehab is strategic communications director for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil liberties group. He may be contacted at arehab@cair.com]
You have to wonder about a film that could muster no better an endorsement to adorn its poster than that of CNN’s resident right-wing extremist Glenn Beck. "Obsession is without exaggeration one of the most important films of our time," says Beck. (Who would accuse Glenn Beck of exaggerating?)
The film Beck is lauding, “Obsession: Islam’s Radical War against the West,” is a 2005 work of anti-Muslim propaganda that has recently been widely distributed via an unprecedented campaign. Read More »
Millions of propaganda DVDs distributed with Florida newspapers promote Islamophobia ahead of US elections.
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=27925
The mass mailing of a controversial DVD "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" has sparked anger among many in South Florida.
The hour-long video began turning up in mailboxes last week as a direct mailing, and also as an advertising insert in dozens of newspapers, including The Miami Herald and the South-Florida Sun-Sentinel.
The DVD is promoted by Clarion Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to "educating the public about national security threats." Read More »
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=27925
The mass mailing of a controversial DVD "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" has sparked anger among many in South Florida.
The hour-long video began turning up in mailboxes last week as a direct mailing, and also as an advertising insert in dozens of newspapers, including The Miami Herald and the South-Florida Sun-Sentinel.
The DVD is promoted by Clarion Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to "educating the public about national security threats." Read More »
Jeff VanDenBerg, News-Leader, 9/17/08
Like other newspapers across the country, this Sunday's News-Leader contained a glossy insert and DVD of the film "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West."
Ordinarily, such a blatant piece of anti-Muslim propaganda wouldn't merit much attention, but this "advertisement" was sent to about 28 million newspaper subscribers in key electoral swing states. It was paid for by The Clarion Fund, an opaque nonprofit organization that doesn't list its directors or staff or sources of funding on its Web site. Read More »
Like other newspapers across the country, this Sunday's News-Leader contained a glossy insert and DVD of the film "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West."
Ordinarily, such a blatant piece of anti-Muslim propaganda wouldn't merit much attention, but this "advertisement" was sent to about 28 million newspaper subscribers in key electoral swing states. It was paid for by The Clarion Fund, an opaque nonprofit organization that doesn't list its directors or staff or sources of funding on its Web site. Read More »