America's neo-liberal legacy to the world.
Fortunately, few nations have actually followed their violent, misguided tenets. Fai de bèn a Bertrand, te lou rendra en cagant
I hope Speigel made a bit of a mention of that in its backgrounder on the man. Fai de bèn a Bertrand, te lou rendra en cagant
This fucking genius believes he can kill a religious idea - "radical Islam" - with a fucking army? Wow.
If I try to read between the lines, the objective is to line up 'allies' behind whatever the US does, not the fight itself. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
You don't appear to fully appreciate this what-you-said genius's genius.
...In her most outspoken comments on Afghanistan since Germany came under pressure this month to send more troops, the German chancellor said she had "absolutely no time" for proposals to redeploy Nato troops within Afghanistan. ...Without naming specific countries, Ms Merkel told a meeting with foreign correspondents in Berlin that she was "worried about the current debate in Nato. We decided only a few years ago on a division of labour among Nato partners," she said, referring to the role of Germany's 3,300 troops in the relatively peaceful north and the responsibilities of other countries elsewhere.
...Without naming specific countries, Ms Merkel told a meeting with foreign correspondents in Berlin that she was "worried about the current debate in Nato. We decided only a few years ago on a division of labour among Nato partners," she said, referring to the role of Germany's 3,300 troops in the relatively peaceful north and the responsibilities of other countries elsewhere.
For the record,
I don't know how he feels about going, but I know how the rest of us feel... and at least he knows I haven't and won't vote for anyone who voted for the war.
Christopher Hitchens (love him/hate him/love him/hate him) did history a favor with "The Trial of Henry Kissinger."
Karen in Austin 'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher
And how about this banner?
Obama in the shadows with a calculating, worrisome upward cast of the eyes; Hillary a toothy grandma looking left and somewhat downwards; McCain confident, serene, gaze upward and left-to-right out of frame to the future.
I am continually astonished by how easily people like the Good Doctor can overlook the fact that the secular structures of Western societies have casually rested their boots on the neck of virtually all of the Arab/Muslim/Middle Eastern world for generations now. It never seems to occur to them that any people anywhere, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or location, might eventually grow tired of having a boot on their neck, and might seek to fundamentally challenge those wearing the boots. Now where are we going and what's with the handbasket?
European Tribune - Comments - Dr Kissinger Calls
there are vital Western interests in the region and we have to fight.
What vital interests does Afghanistan hold for the West?
But he also went in for some casuistry about why it had to be done in Afghanistan and not, for example, Saudi Arabia; and how it was an "illusion" to think it could be done in Pakistan.
So, basically, this "vital Western interest" Europeans must fight for doesn't apply concerning American allies/clients. Which makes me think that Henry Kissinger is not full of wisdom, but of something that smells bad.
Either there are no Western interests in the region and we don't fight. Or there are vital Western interests in the region and we have to fight.
Kissinger is implying here that there are Western interests in Afghanistan (which I don't buy) - otherwise "we" shouldn't be fighting over there. He also uses the Domino theory for fundamental Islam (which I also don't buy) and says that a war is the only way to fight it (disagree fierecely). So, if I get this right, because in potentia Europe is threatened by the increasing polarization and fundamentalism (fed amongst others by the war doctrine of the USA itself) we should defend our interests already over there so we don't lose them here.
<head hurts of juggling different viewpoints>
The first description that comes to mind: Chinese finger trap.
And beneath the smoke, it's the beginning of a new NATO doctrine: open combat in parts of the world that are far from the alliance's original sphere of application, and according to US specifications.
