Posts Tagged ‘iran’

It depends on the meaning of the word “No”

Posted: September 18, 2009 by datechguy in opinion/news
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A clip was played from Ann Curry’s interview with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Morning Joe today. When asked if what he said means that Iran will not weaponize their nukes, he answers saying they don’t need it leading to the following exchange:

So does that mean your answer is no?

What do you mean by “No”? (That might not be exact when they play the clip again I’ll make sure to make it so.)

Curry then actually asks him if this is his final answer. She actually uses that phraseology.

The Irony of all of this is simply amazing. What was the truth last time when a president asked what the meaning of a simple word means?

I’m feeling better and better about this decision now.

Update: They didn’t replay the clip, I’m sure it will turn up somewhere.

Arthur Carter Watch YOU FOOL!

Posted: September 17, 2009 by datechguy in arthur vs carter, internet/free speech, opinion/news
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After a pretty good week the president is off the wagon:

The Obama administration will scrap the controversial missile defense shield program in Eastern Europe, a senior administration official confirmed to CNN Thursday.

I’d keep an eye on Sarah Palin’s facebook page, this one is a fat pitch over the plate.

Lets cut to the Chase, Gates blather not withstanding the reason why the shipboard option is bad is because it is not actually in the country being protected so they have absolutely no control over their own defense or the decision to actually defend themselves.

This kind of stuff is sure going to provide an incentive for countries to be allied with us isn’t it?

That’s as Carter as you can get:

Carter 15 Arthur 9

This is a full You Fool moment:

Exit question: Is this the price from Russia keeping nukes out of Chavez’s hands and is this administration stupid enough to believe him? Can they learn from President Bush’s mistake concerning Vlad?

Update: Nothing on facebook yet but Conservatives for Palin has an awesome title post:

America’s New Foreign Policy – Speak Softly And Carry A Big “Kick Me” Sign……

Pretty good.

Update 2: Hotair comments

Arthur Carter Watch update

Posted: September 16, 2009 by datechguy in arthur vs carter
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Since I brought it up lets update the Arthur/Carter watch.

In terms of the country his actions on Iran, Chavez, North Korea and Honduras are all worth Carter points, that gives him 14.

His actions this week on Afghanistan, Cuba , the Somalia Strike and the Patriot Act are definitely Arthur moments. That brings his Arthur total to 9.

So the score is 14-9 Carter but do you notice a trend? All the Carter points are from inactive wars and diplomacy, while almost all the Arthur points involve actual fighting.

Could this be Obama crazy as a fox? Or is it a question of him willing to indulge his leftist allies as long as he doesn’t get blamed for military defeat? It might even be both at the same time.

The key question for the middle east: “Which Troubridge is Israel?”

Posted: September 9, 2009 by datechguy in opinion/news, war
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As my wife noticed every year I re-read the Guns of August. I think it’s very important to not only remember the lessons of Vietnam and World War 2, but the lessons of wars before that. Particularly World War 1 because it came at the end of a long period of general peace between the great powers , just like we have now.

As I’m a bit of a navel fan one of the most interesting stories to me is the pursuit of the Goeben and Breslau, two German ships in Mediterranean Sea at the very start of the war. British ships were ordered to intercept him including some commanded by Rear Admiral Ernest Troubridge.

Troubridge following a strict interpretation of his rules of engagement considered the ships a superior force and declined to engage. Accused of cowardice and court martialed he was acquitted but his career ended at that moment.

That would have been quite a shock to his ancestor Sir Thomas Troubridge who served with Nelson at St. Vincent, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Aboukir Bay and was the first Baron of the Troubridge Baronets.

It was likely a big shock to the Germans as well. The Kaiser had a healthy respect for the tradition of the Royal Navy and after a single battle of Jutland kept it pretty much in port.

It wasn’t fear of the reality of the early 20th century Royal Navy of Ernest Troubridge. It was fear of the memory of the early 19th century Royal Navy of his ancestor Thomas Troubridge and Lord Nelson.

And that’s how we get to Israel and the Middle east today. It hasn’t just been the fear of Israel’s nuclear power it has been the memory of each Israeli Victory in 1948 , 1956, 1967, 1973 and the willingness of Israel to do what had to be done to win.

The question on Iranian nukes really comes down to one thing: When the UN and the US under president Obama “fail” (assuming they are actually trying) to restrain Iran will today’s Israel act differently than the Israel of 40 years ago. Will it be Thomas Troubridge or will it be Ernest Troubridge? Iran, Europe and President Obama are betting on Ernest. I think it will be Thomas.

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