Frank Rich: The Missing Link Between Fort Hood And The War In Afghanistan

New York Times:

For all the right's jeremiads, its own brand of political correctness kept it from connecting two crucial dots: how our failing war against terrorists in Afghanistan might relate to our failure to stop a supposed terrorist attack at home.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[StillAmused]

Once again, Frank Rich has nailed it to the barn door.

The same right-wing du//ards -- who can never wait to unsheathe their favorite word, "terrorist", in response to ANY predictable fallout from our fabricated, aimless and immoral invasions and occupations of two countries (and cultures) -- are now beside themselves with enthusiasm for amping up an endless, aimless investment of American blood and treasure in Afghanistan.

As we learned the hard way -- from Junior and his reading-room neocon deskwarriors with their sporty pocket-protectors -- war is not for simpletons or chickenhawks.

[solomon sez]

"AND IT'S 1 2 3, what are we fighting for Don't tell me i don't give a damn Next stop AFGHANISTAN " "Those that don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it " well, we could do this all morning. Lets not. GET OUT OF AFPAXISTAN NOW. IT'S ALL OVER BUT THE DYING!!!

[mac33z]

“If we have learned anything concrete so far from the massacre at Fort Hood, it’s that our hawks, for all their certitude, are as utterly confused as the rest of us about who it is we’re fighting in Afghanistan and to what end.”

It should be obvious by now, that the “military industrial complex,” is calling the shots, and needs a war to assure continued profits.
Couple that, with energies interest in the resources, and there’s no enigma at all.
It’s not “whom” we’re fighting in Afghanistan, that’s the puzzle; it’s the “reason,” which by now should be pitifully clear.

[Leatherhelmet]

Rich is comparing two different concepts in a pathetically weak op-ed.

The p.c. problems in our military, government and society that helped prevent stopping 9/11 and the Ft. Hood killings has zero to do with our policies in Afghanistan.

He is being purposely stupid but that is his schtick.

[StillAmused]

"The p.c. problems in our military, government and society that helped prevent stopping 9/11" ??

Not only are you completely off the historical page, you've rolled off the edge of your desk. With all the documented, undisputed and irrefutable factors which combined to "prevent stopping 9/11" -- mostly, involving a complete breakdown in coordination between intelligence, immigration and law enforcement -- the notion that 'political correctness' played ANY role is the most b0neheaded proposition yet advanced by ANYONE.

Congratulations.

[Carl Caroli]

The rabid right is suffering from "chicken little" syndrome, using everything they can to run around claiming the sky is falling, vilify their perceived enemies here and abroad and oh, by the way, ramping up the war in Afghanistan is the best solution to all our problems. Not only are they disingenuous, they are as transparent as glass and equally as brittle. Sadly, too many people with their own agendas, both political and monetary, buy into their twisted logic and then job the mob with a safety in numbers and scorched earth attitude. We've not progressed much since the days of the Salem witch hunt.

[proc]

Frank is the missing link to the Neanderthal.

[krocklin]

There is no strategy that wil defeat Al Queda or the Taliban. We had an ally in Mushareff, but what he could do is much more limited and less corrupt.
We can only pursue a policy of containment that we use in other dictatorial countries with poor populations with an endless pool of enemy combatants.
Many in the military knows this. Plus the cost of if all delights our enemies. Russia and China were our enemies at one time too.
Al Queda and jihadists are even more widespread. We need a new strategy.

[jws2346]

Err.., Mr Sherlock Rich why don't you just let the trained investigators investigate and stop trying to make political hay out of everything ?

[jmpurser]

You didn't read the column did you?

[Chazz27]

No they didn't.

[OnePartyEqualsTyranny]

Typical right wing agenda, attacking the messenger not the message. Try reading and ascertaining for yourself.

[OnePartyEqualsTyranny]

Typical right wing agenda, attacking the messenger not the message. Try reading and ascertaining for yourself.

[OnePartyEqualsTyranny]

Another missing link is that the Right wing fundamentalist has been compelling our military for years with their Christian Fundamentalism, which is alike to the same extremism as the Jihad movement. If you do not believe me do some research on Erick Prince’ Blackwater and Jesus camps for kids, they are as every bit as dangerous and extreme as the terrorists. They're on the same mission from god as the others are on a mission from their god. It is time to repeal tax exemption on all these corporations.

[Evil genius]

There was a time when Christianity was a way of life rather than just a personal faith. Christianity provided the foundation for social order and government, just as the fundamentalist Muslims want Islam to do today. Christianity underwent a reformation, when personal faith was separated from government and the maintenance of social order. That made the religion more tolerant, more secular, and generally more peaceful.

Islam has undergone no such reformation. It has the same intolerance and rigidity that Christianity once had. That allows some of its adherents to co-opt others into actions that transcend rational thought. That will continue unless the view that Muslims have of their own religion isn't softened, and made less rigid. Modern Turkey, under Kamal Ataturk, did exactly that, knowing that rigidly interpreted Islamic laws are incompatible with a modern society.

No amount of military action is going to help achieve this broader objective. The US government hasn't even begun to understand this much deeper issue, let alone act on it. If I were them, I'd be pouring most of my resources into encouraging every moderate Muslim on the planet to speak up, and to help propagate a view of Islam which is different from that of the extremists.

[OnePartyEqualsTyranny]

“If I were them, I'd be pouring most of my resources into encouraging every moderate Muslim on the planet to speak up, and to help propagate a view of Islam which is different from that of the extremists­.”

I would add, if I were them, I'd be pouring most of my resources into encouraging every moderate Christian on the planet to speak up, and to help propagate a view of Christianity which is different from that of their extremists.

[Bernique]

I think President Obama should bring the troops home and, instead, send in the Peace Corps. Then we would see progress.

Three cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson.

[jmpurser]

I've been thinking along the same lines though I think it would take some military presence to keep the social workers alive. The Taliban is as opposed to education as the Republicans are. And then this morning I read this stunning paragraph in a Krisof column:

"Tererai is a reminder of the adage that talent is universal, while
opportunity is not. There are still 75 million children who are not
attending primary school around the world. We could educate them all for
far less than the cost of the proposed military “surge” in Afghanista­n."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/opinion/15kristof.html?ref=opinion

[Bernique]

beautiful story, jmpurser. Thanks for the link.

[StillAmused]

Once again, Frank Rich has nailed it to the barn door.

The same @ssclowns who can never wait to unsheath their favorite word -- "terrorist" -- in response to ANY fallout from our fabricated, aimless and immoral invasions and occupations of two countries are beside themselves with enthusiasm for amping up an endless, aimless investment of American blood and treasure in Afghanistan.

As we learned the hard way -- from Junior and his reading-room neocon groupies with their nifty pencil-protectors -- war is not for simpletons or chickenhawks.

[turner5spot]

David Broeder came out this morning and finally came to the conclusion that should have been obvious for over a year for anyone with a pulse. Obama can not make touch decisions. And those of us who worried about the effects of a President who likes to vote "present" are now being proven correct.

As Broeder puts it, this indecision is costing lives. I realize most of you only care about when Al Qaida terrorists are killed, but maybe the Huff Po can get around to posting the escalation in the deaths of our troops since the "prognosticator in chief" has taken over.

[denny8844]

I love the Kool Aid drinkers that populate this space

[turner5spot]

Afghanistan war spending next year to go from 46 billion to 65 billion. It looks like Obama will increase troops again making this more and more a unilateral war. Wouldn't this be the last thing we should have expected considering the internation support that Obama was supposed to bring us? We are nearing the point where this is more unilateral than the beginning of the Iraq war.

So how do you explain this? An escalated war and dwindling international support. Where's the beef?

[morgan1]

There are two threats to our country that surpass this Muslim fearmongering and both are domestic. One, deals with gang membership in the military particularly the White Supremists groups who deal in weapons and drugs and hate everyone and all authority but their own. They are a growing menace. Second, the Christian Fundamenta­lists/Evan­gelicals who also condemn everyone not a member of their fanaticism. Both groups will embrace each other to further their goals of Armageddon and genocide against those not White and non-believers. When it comes to racism and bigotry, both are far above any Muslim threat for they believe in violence, the sword, the gun and nuclear holocaust to be the ones left standing. Excellent article.