Moving Beyond Gut-Check Diplomacy

Pallisor, in case any of the links are broken, the three BF songs are, More Than This, On The Radio and Avalon Live (1988-1989.) Also I just came across this one, I Put A Spell On You.

IZAGEEK: I think Covert is brainwashed! Left, Right, Left.

Geek, That is the smartest post that you've had up here at NW:) I agree with you. Unlike some, 40R and others, I have absolutely no problem admitting something if it's true. I personnally feel that that is a good trait to have and one of the reasons why I have been somewhat successful at this thing called life.

I don't know how anyone could do 24 years in the Army and not be brainwashed. I probably have a different definition than you of the word, but I sure I am. I'm braiwashed from the standpoint that, if I'm going to error, I will always error on the side of the soldier. Do you think I would error on the side of some politican who bases his vote on a bill on how many votes it will get him over a soldier brave enough to kick in a door when he knows not what is on this other side- perhaps instant death? I'll go with the soldier- everytime, right or wrong- GUILTY AS CHARGED GEEK.

"The mothers and fathers will give you their sons and daughters with the confidence in you that you will not needlessly waste their lives. And you dare not. That's the burden the mantle of leadership places upon you. You could be the person who gives the orders that will bring about the deaths of thousands and thousands of young men and women. It is an awesome responsibility. You cannot fail. You dare not fail." -Schwartzkopf

I know 40R thinks Bush was just a cowboy who wasted a lot of lives in Iraq. Maybe he was and did. I know a lot of people think that we should have never went to Iraq, including you, Geek. Maybe your right.

Maybe everybody was right! However, right or wrong, no matter what, I will always be on the side of the soldier. I think about them all the time. When I drive home to my nice house w/ac; when I'm at the Mall; on vacation soaking up the good life. I'd rather by wrong with those brave warriors then right with a political hack wantabe on NW or a career civil servant who writes some blowhard report with a slant because he got passed over for a promotion. Make no mistake, errors on BOTH sides have taken to the point we're at- although the democrats like to point to W.

I'm brainwashed- Guilty as charged:)

IZAGEEK: I think Covert is brainwashed! Left, Right, Left.

Geek, That is the smartest post that you've had up here at NW:) I agree with you. Unlike some, 40R and others, I have absolutely no problem admitting something if it's true. I personnally feel that that is a good trait to have and one of the reasons why I have been somewhat successful at this thing called life.

I don't know how anyone could do 24 years in the Army and not be brainwashed. I probably have a different definition than you of the word, but I sure I am. I'm braiwashed from the standpoint that, if I'm going to error, I will always error on the side of the soldier. Do you think I would error on the side of some politican who bases his vote on a bill on how many votes it will get him over a soldier brave enough to kick in a door when he knows not what is on this other side- perhaps instant death? I'll go with the soldier- everytime, right or wrong- GUILTY AS CHARGED GEEK.

"The mothers and fathers will give you their sons and daughters with the confidence in you that you will not needlessly waste their lives. And you dare not. That's the burden the mantle of leadership places upon you. You could be the person who gives the orders that will bring about the deaths of thousands and thousands of young men and women. It is an awesome responsibility. You cannot fail. You dare not fail." -Schwartzkopf

I know 40R thinks Bush was just a cowboy who wasted a lot of lives in Iraq. Maybe he was and did. I know a lot of people think that we should have never went to Iraq, including you, Geek. Maybe your right.

Maybe everybody was right! However, right or wrong, no matter what, I will always be on the side of the soldier. I think about them all the time. When I drive home to my nice house w/ac; when I'm at the Mall; on vacation soaking up the good life. I'd rather by wrong with those brave warriors then right with a political hack wantabe on NW or a career civil servant who writes some blowhard report with a slant because he got passed over for a promotion. Make no mistake, errors on BOTH sides have taken to the point we're at- although the democrats like to point to W.

I'm brainwashed- Guilty as charged:)

IZAGEEK: I think Covert is brainwashed! Left, Right, Left.

Geek, That is the smartest post that you've had up here at NW:) I agree with you. Unlike some, 40R and others, I have absolutely no problem admitting something if it's true. I personnally feel that that is a good trait to have and one of the reasons why I have been somewhat successful at this thing called life.

I don't know how anyone could do 24 years in the Army and not be brainwashed. I probably have a different definition than you of the word, but I sure I am. I'm braiwashed from the standpoint that, if I'm going to error, I will always error on the side of the soldier. Do you think I would error on the side of some politican who bases his vote on a bill on how many votes it will get him over a soldier brave enough to kick in a door when he knows not what is on this other side- perhaps instant death? I'll go with the soldier- everytime, right or wrong- GUILTY AS CHARGED GEEK.

"The mothers and fathers will give you their sons and daughters with the confidence in you that you will not needlessly waste their lives. And you dare not. That's the burden the mantle of leadership places upon you. You could be the person who gives the orders that will bring about the deaths of thousands and thousands of young men and women. It is an awesome responsibility. You cannot fail. You dare not fail." -Schwartzkopf

I know 40R thinks Bush was just a cowboy who wasted a lot of lives in Iraq. Maybe he was and did. I know a lot of people think that we should have never went to Iraq, including you, Geek. Maybe your right.

Maybe everybody was right! However, right or wrong, no matter what, I will always be on the side of the soldier. I think about them all the time. When I drive home to my nice house w/ac; when I'm at the Mall; on vacation soaking up the good life. I'd rather by wrong with those brave warriors then right with a political hack wantabe on NW or a career civil servant who writes some blowhard report with a slant because he got passed over for a promotion. Make no mistake, errors on BOTH sides have taken to the point we're at- although the democrats like to point to W.

I'm brainwashed- Guilty as charged:)

Dunno.

Obama is being backed into a corner by the Islamics, expertly displayed by this weekends New York Times interview with Jordans King Abdullah, in which he describes a hazy, non-specific ''right of recognition'' for the State of Israel if this country bows to all that the Islamics demand, which have always proven themselves to be false promises to begin with.
Jerusalem for the Palistinians as capital. ''Right of return'' , Withdraw from the West Bank and more importantly ,from the Golan,end of settlement and the allowance of free Paliesntian workers passage throughout Israel.

And in return?


Nothing.

Even Obama cannot be this ignorant. It is important to observe two pertinant regions here. One is Lebanon and Obamas fumbling of the relationship vis-a-vis this nation and HEZBOLLAH and Syria, which we looked at earlier. The other is the Golan, previously used as a Syrian springboard into Israel,as these ''Heights'' look down into the southern terminus of the Bekka Valley and thus are excellent positions from which to place tanks and artillery in order to blast Jewish towns in the valley below,[which is Israel proper and not contested territory]. As this region is but a crossing of the Syrian border,this will be the area from which HEZBOLLAH would fight the IDF,as Syria/Iran has made this terrorist group into a regular standing army, lacking only the important prerequisite of an air force, which Syria can provide. The luck going for the Israelis here is that they have superior pilots,while those of the Islamics are wretched. The future success or failure of Obamas foreign policy lay in this region,as well as being able to keep the Pak mess in check.

when people write comments can we PLEASE have them actually to do with what the artic is actually about??? This article says NOTHING about collateral damage, and nothing to do with detainees. This article talks about how most modern politicians take their "gut feelings" toward other political heads of state and make that feeling the rule of law with said state. This article then points out how Obama doesn't make personal connections with heads of state he uses lodgic and things about things. So instead of blabering on about some crap you want to spew to the rest of the world think before you write.... kthx

This is silly. I guess you missed Obama's recent apology tour through Europe. If he could have been more sniveling it is frightening to contemplate. He is naive, foolish but extremely good at reading other people's words on a teleprompter. Perhaps someone should whisper in his ear and mention that there are real, fundamental disagreements between the US and Europe and just because the Bush haters blamed Bush for everything they didn't like that doesn't change reality.

Even we liberal Democrats sorely miss President Reagan???s leadership. We strongly disagreed with his policies and shamefully underestimated his intellect, but we couldn???t doubt his compassion, conviction and good will toward all. Now of course we all recognize him among the great presidents of history.

How will President Obama meet the inevitable mortal crisis? We don???t know yet. But I am old enough to have watched the Air Force load B-52s with nuclear weapons during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and I have never had more confidence in a president.

President Obama has the intelligence, coolness, toughness and judgment to lead the United States and the world in these dangerous times. We are blessed to have him.

Apologizing? I've heard that simplistic summarization of Obama's foreign - albeit shortlived - policy. That's a laughable response coming from a group of people and a past administration that continually side-skirts the law and it just doesn't stand with Americans who believe in the values held by our nations founders. It's called owning up to the responsibilities to obey international laws not "apologizing" - something Bush and friends were never understood. On a personal level, the commenters who make these silly accusations should question what this says about themselves. A bit of honest reflection is a good thing - you may want to try it.

Obama is a murder. Pelosi & Reid are Murders.

They are running around, killing innocent people in Pakistan & Afganistan... And to what end? A pitiful increase of US troops is not going to be able to change Afganistan. We will be there for 50 years or a hundred years...

Blood is on Obama. Pelosi, and Reid's hands. When they are removed from office, the US government MUST try them for Crimes against Humanity.

PS: I don't believe any of the above - Because I am a Republican. If I were a Democrat, well, ...

Nothing looks more sillier than a President running around the world apologizing. It's almost hysterical , every country around the world was complaining about Gitmo; so the minute the President gets into office he orders the closing of the prison. Now he doesn't where he's going to place them. All of a sudden no other country wants them, why; because they got sense enough to know that they may just be dangerous. I'll take gut check diplomacy anyday over I'll lay down and let you walk all over me diplomacy.

Obama ihas been flying around the world appologizing to everyone for America's actions under Bush. In doing this Obama is demonstrating a fatal weakness. Obama is showing the rest of the world that he does not have the backbone to make the tough decisions and will try and analyze and talk everything to death. There comes a time when all of the analysis and the talking is done (and failed) and it is time to take some action. You can not negotiate with terrorists, fanatics, or the power hungry. There is only one thing they understand and that is might and the willingness to use it. Obama is to hung up on gaining concensus and being the good guy to make the unilateral decision to use America's might when it is called for. This demonstrated lack of will to use America's might is what is causing the recent flare up of insurgent activity in Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The only question left is how bad things will need to get before Obama wakes up, if he ever does.

'PEACE INITIATIVE' - FOR GLOBAL SOLUTIONS OF GLOBAL PROBLEMS of Respected Pope Benedict XVI & US President Barack Obama under their highly positive Patronization - is obviously a right direction requires an outstanding 'passionate' efforts to cool down animosities that have been bursted by an unfotunate Bush-Fire misleading into flames that are still dangerously polluting social-climate of our human-globe since last several years, and impacted a highly negative 'distrust' that must have be converted now in 'Mutual-Trust' gradually (step-by-step) by contribution of practical testimonies of national+regional+international development works leading to prove a visible'harmony' by an honest confidence-development 'strugle' instead of any 'War' on our planet - i.e. The Planet - the Human Earth created by "An Engineering-Hand Behind This Cosmos" for just equal rights of "Development-For-All" positively with an 'un-biased' human civilization, without any discrimination of religions, races, colours, languages,nationalities.