John McCain and al Qaeda

Historians of early 21st century American politics will remark the degree to which radical forces, usually called neoconservatives, perverted language as recommended by the National Socialist Party in 1930s Germany. Continue to demonize liberals, blame them for all social and economic problems, and soon enough no one will be willing to admit to being a liberal. Claim that liberals and Democrats are too soft to combat terrorists and soon enough a majority, even in the oldest democracy on earth, will believe it. Open up entire electronic networks, such as Fox, and chains of radio stations, such as Clear Channel, and buy enough newspaper chains, and make all these media available to pre-programmed neoconservative ditto heads, and sure enough a subculture will emerge which distrusts its own government and believes that an entire political party is not to be trusted.

This has all happened before. And where it has happened, authoritarian government emerges.
Worst of all, a formerly "maverick" Republican, one who was sensible enough to understand the dangerous perversions involved in this radicalization of American politics, will find himself repeating the idiotic mantra that we are "fighting al Qaeda in Iraq so we don't have to fight them here."

John McCain knows better. I know he knows better. But it is appalling when a serious patriot like McCain is forced to fall into line with these radical perverters of language, one of the most dangerous things that can happen in a democracy, in order to lead a party that is so far off the mainstream rails that it will take decades to return to civility and normality.

If John McCain seriously believes we are at war with al Qaeda in Iraq, that alone is such a serious error in judgment as to rank him with George W. Bush at his worst and therefore disqualify him from any chance to govern this country.

John McCain is intelligent enough to know that our tragically flawed invasion of Iraq has indeed kicked open a hornets nest, a 1300 year old hornets nest of violent rivalry inside Islam, and that for us to put all the hornets back in the nest will take decades and trillions of dollars, that it will assure the decline of the American republic, and that it will represent a grasp at empire that would cause all of our founders to revolve in their graves.

Why then would he, a combat veteran, a courageous prisoner of war, permit himself to be captive to the perverters of language? Does he want to be president so badly that he will join that band of radicals who have seriously damaged American democracy, who have tortured and lied, who have twisted our very Constitution so wrongly that it is hardly recognizable?

I refuse to believe it. It is not the John McCain I have known for 30 years.

John McCain can redeem himself and redeem the soul of his party by admitting once and for all that what is flawed about Iraq is not our military strategy, not our lack of will, not our failure of national commitment. It is that we chose the wrong war at the wrong time with the wrong enemy. John McCain's problem is not al Qaeda. His problem is George W. Bush and the people he chose to advise him.

We will pay for their arrogance for years to come. Our 35,000 casualties are paying with their lives and their futures.

Comments

[Quixotic1]

Actually, I accidentally posted my comment below to the wrong story. It was meant for the story about Bush sacrificing golf to show solidarity with the troops.

As far as McCain is concerned, he has already sold his soul and short of renouncing everything he now stands for there's no getting it back. That deal is signed and sealed.

[CocteausTwin]

Senator Hart,

Thank you for taking time to share your thoughts. I happen to agree with the points you have made. I at one time considered voting for McCain and I am lifelong Democrat. But that was in 2000. He does indeed to be in some sort of new captivity. I hope he will try to free himself from his self-serving captors, so he might lose this election with a semblance of dignity. But that doesn't seem that that will be the case.

Please continue sharing your thoughts and helping us to return our country to the bastion of freedom that it should be in order to survive and lead the world to a more peaceful and understanding existence.

Michael

[Quixotic1]

Gee, and all this time I thought he was a shallow, tactless and insensitive child of wealth and privilege. Go figure.

[candyc]

Gary Hart is a perfect example of the best and brightest this country has to offer. The fact that he came out early for Obama was one of the reasons I started really paying attention to him.

Hart will be a key player in our foreign policy when Barak becomes POTUS.

Just another example of the embarrassment of riches to be bestowed on the American people in 2008...aft­er eight years of craven suffering. I cannot wait to see the next administration. John Edwards as Atty General! Go Obama!

[afrozashrafi]

vote bank politics can raise devils and ghosts to intimidate and force the masses into believing something the politicians create for their own convenience . Al Qaieda has been creeping into the American imagination on a regular basis to remind them of what it has been for the whole of the Americans . Iraq is another disaster for them to deal with . The presidential elections there, have given them a well cooked up story to dish out to the electorate and it is here only that America seems vulnerable . There is no question about America being pushed on the defensive as all it's calculations have gone awry in the context of Iraq and now they are no longer sanguine as to the escalating distrust in the American agencies and being seen as the aggressor , responsible for most of the ailments plaguing their own country . The road to doom as Mr. Hart suspects is already in motion and the economy is in serious trouble . For any nation to be atop the world as the country of power and influence calls for a periodical evaluation of it's policies and programmes , a thing USA seems to wary of .

[lyingtruth]

Greatest War President; that is his ambition. Annapolis, fighter pilot, son and grandson of Admirals.
To do better than his father he needs to Commander-in-Chief.
As President he will script himself a role in the greatest war story he can imagine!

[IngeniousGirl]

And Scott Ritter (remember him, the lone voice saying there were no WMD's in Iraq as a UN Inspector) reported today that Iran is cooperating and has been very helpful in calming the Basra conflict. We can trust Scott because he is a man of his word, and he actually talks to "our enemies" and gets to visit them.
McCain is same old same old. There were lots of Soliders in Vietnam who were POWs or sufferred worse, I know one pilot burned over 70% of his body including his face, but he gets by ... So many died and worse so many committed suicide but somehow John McCain has made himself up into a lovely fairytale with a little help from the Karl Rove side of the House and Bumbling Bush who really gave up golf due to a meniscus tear in his knee. (He was spotted playing golf several months after his "quitting the game" on my birthday in October 03).
The real enemies are here in America, the fascist leaning Republicans who have twisted every last bit of truth they can and shoved it down our throats.
PART 2

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Huzzah, Part 2.

P.S. Contractors LOVE to bid on work when there is no "oversight," either legal or financial.

[IngeniousGirl]

If the truth be told we had a nice press conference today between the Commanding Officer of Northern Iraq (1st Brigade 1/10th MTN ) and Keegan from State telling reporters that over 70% of AKI is gone and they have captured most high value targets and the OIL IS FLOWING NICELY and CONTRACTORS ARE FLODDING IN TO BID ON PROJECTS THAT KEEGAN operating under Rice, has planned.
Really? and what did the Col. say about when can the troops come home because he stated that the Iraqi's in Kirkuk and that region pretty much are running the territory etc., well he said maybe November or December but in reality that is the end of the 1st Brigade's tour, since they arrived in Sept 2007.
PART 1

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Huzzah, Part 1.

[Rockyman]

If only we had heeded Scott Ritter's advice that there were no WMD's in Iraq and therefore NO REASON to invade we would have saved ourselves a quagmire that threatens to continue diminishing the security and economic health of our country...­.....and cause injury and death to many more. We took the wrong fork in the road and where we now find ourselves is not a good place!

[Madampotential]

It looks like he just redeemed himself? Heard the latest news? CNN just reported McCain will hold a pess conference tomorrow and LIE to the American people by telling them that "MOST" of the troops will be out of Iraq by the end of his 1st term. This is a BIG LIE and a very vague goal?? he is Lieberman all over again and telling the voters what they want to hear to get elected. He knows he is not going to pull ou troops out!!!! Liar! Liar ! Liar! Liar!

I hope Obama and Dean/DNC does not let John "100 years" McCain get away with this. I think Obama was punked by the McCain campaign because he does not use the 100 yrs phrase anymore in his speeches. I am sure glad Dean is head of the DNC b/c he will crush McCain on this one!

[Tariqahmed]

Said 100% correctly.

[UpstateNYer]

It's a gimmick Hart.

Get over it.

[dadw5boys]

Russia in Afganistan = USA in IRAQ!!!!!!!!!!

History repeating it's self!!!!!

[mjjcpa]

Only if we surrender(crat)

[Counterglow]

By throwing billions upon billions of dollars and thousands of American lives down two Third World ratholes, you are doing absolutely everything Osama bin Laden wants. How much does it cost him to hand some murderous fanatic a rifle and have him shoot at your troops from a children's hospital? How much does it cost you to get the terrorist out of there without slaughtering a bunch of kids?

If I were a terrorist, I would get down on my knees and thank God for people like you. With a few thousand people and a few million dollars, I could persuade you to damage your own economy and throw your own Constitution and the democratic principles it enshrines down the toilet.

Mission accomplished.

[VegasDem]

Spot on, Counterglow!

And how would withdrawal be surrender anyway? We killed Saddam, and forced regime change, there isn't much left to do but let the Iraqis determine their own political fate. Of course they are going to slaughter each other along religious divisions, that's what that entire region has done amongst its own people for a thousand years.

Al-Qaeda wasn't in Iraq until we made it possible. This is what happens when you fight wars for oil and try to disguise them as anything but.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Nocturnal Emission Accomplished.

[wmfor]

We alrady have surrendered.

We have surrendered the the lives of our troops. We have surrendered the effectiveness of our military. We have surrendered our reputation in the world. We have surrendered our economy. We have surrundered our morality. We have surrendered our honor. We have surrendered our Constittution. What else would you have us surrender on the altar of neo-conservative lies?

[SciVo]

Wot? Iraq was defeated and Saddam was executed. The war is long over. How do you win an occupation? Republicans need to start asking the right questions before they can get the right answers.

[stretchnm]

All taken out of context! Here's how Keith Olbermann lies:
First he says:" Mr. Bush has predicted that the election of a Democratic president could, quote, "eventually lead to another attack on the United States.""

But the question was phrased as follows:
"If we were to pull out of Iraq next year, what's the worst that could happen, what's the doomsday scenario?"

The question was NOT "What will happen if a democratic presdent is elected?"

The President replied:

"Doomsday scenario of course is that extremists throughout the Middle East would be emboldened, which would eventually lead to another attack on the United States.

That liar Keith Olbermann just connects his own dots for himself. and gives you his INTERPRETATION of what the president said as if it was ACTUALLY WHAT HE SAID. IT WAS NOT! Keith Olbermann is a LIAR!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rtpw1I7Yjsg

[alvdh1]

Hey, Mr. Stretchm the Truth. The fact remains that the president and his cronies have repeatedly lied to Americans. The doomsday scenario is inmaterial when it is, as usual, couched in fear. This jerk who has no concept of the U.S. Constitution has rallied the republic though lies and and a constant bantar of fear. He has done nothing to make us safer. In fact his has made us less safe by invading a country that was completely contained by the no fly zone. You have obviously innocculated yourself against the truth with Fixed News kool aid. As I said above, it wasn't the doomsday scenario that caught most peoples attention, it was the fear tactic rearing its ugly head again.

[robizio]

Impressive that you claim to correct Olbermann and 'catch' his duplicity, when it is clear you didn't actually watch the video. If you had, you would see Keith state the question as you quote it here, and the president's full response (including your quoted portion). How then, can you accuse him of trying to hide things by supposedly omitting statements that he plainly said into the camera of his own show? What you claim was missing, was in fact, not missing at all.

And your language skills fail you--even had he omitted those statements (which he did not), the word "COULD" implies potential outcome in the first place. You are vehement that "the question was NOT 'what will happen'...­" Will, and could, are two different words with completely different meanings.

So, to recap, you are either completely unconcerned with reality, have no disregard for the truth, or have no grasp of simple concepts of english like the distinction between "will" and "could". Or all three, as it would appear. Congratulations, stretchnm.

[DannyEastVillage]

don't tell me you're expecting regard for truth from anyone associated with--or supportive of--this administra­tion..??? This administration never had anything to do with what is true; but only with what will facilitate the power-grab. The lot of them are addicts pure and simple.

[Kache]

There is no other interpretation. Bush did not say that cows or pigs or horses would pullout of Irag, he was talking about Democrats. And that was the very context in which the question was asked.

Why do you feel you have to defend George Bush? What the hell is wrong in your head that you feel he deserves anything but your contempt.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

The doomsday scenario is NOT another attack within the United States -- it is a multi-country hellstorm war within the middle east into which we plunge headlong.

But our presence in Iraq is only emboldening those who want such as their IDEAL scenario.

And if anyone thinks China will remain passive while we threaten its oil supply from Iran...

It ain't simple.

[wmfor]

But you have missed the most important part of the statement. Has Bush given up golf or has he not? Don't you see how the future of our country depends on this bold and decisive act of the President?

[William1950]

Mr. Hart,

I remember when... I registered as a democrat so that I could vote for you in a presidential primary.. I wish that you had won that prize. I was a citizen of Co and was a long admirer of your sound judgment. I can only hope that you continue your work as a lone vioce of sanity and do what you can to help Sen. Obama win the presidency this year.

As far as the job that the neocons have done, my fear is that so many people actually believe them that we may be lost already.. my hope is that there are enough of us left who can see the greatness of our country and what she can still be to the world, and for her citizens.

thank you

[envirossf]

Here, Here, William, and welcome to the next Presidential National Security Adviser, Gary Hart.

[Paul]

Al Qaeda is not an existential threat to the US. McCain should know better.

We have done far more harm to ourselves than al Qaeda could possibly inflict: invasion of Iraq, thousands of US personnel killed and wounded, bankrupting the treasury, holding American citizens indefinitely without charge or access to council, massive wiretapping, tearing up the Geneva convention, torturing our adversaries.

McCain thinks we can stay in Iraq for 100 years. He is delusional and will play right into al Qaeda's hands.

[newworldman777]

The Republican's assertion that we should stay in Iraq to fight al-Qaeda, "to fight them over there, so that we won't have to fight them here" is lunacy. Studies have shown that only 2% of those who are shooting at our troops and blowing them up are actually al-Qaeda. The other 98% are insurgents and plain, ordinary Iraqis and other Arabs and Persians who simply hate Americans and want to see us dead. Therefore, if and when American troops, by some miracle, manage to wipe out that shady 2% of al-Qaeda, will we then pull our troops out, or will we remain there to proceed with the long and arduous operation of attempting to wipe out the remaining 98% of those fighting us? Not that that 98% of insurgents (or 2% of al-Qaeda, for that matter) is a finite number of fighters who want us dead, mind you. For every one that we kill, two others are prolly being recruited (the dead fighter's brothers, cousins, etc).

Our leaders must eventually face that silly little thing called "reality," and admit that we can't win this "war" by killing off al-Qaeda and the insurgents. Deals will eventually have to be made, and deals come from talking to our enemies (Ouch! The Repubs may label me a traitor for uttering that statement). Of course, after our unbelievably incompetent "leaders" have labeled them part of the "axis of evil," that may now be a hard order to fill.