I have long believed that US forces (under the auspices of the UN, as much as it pains me to admit it) would be the best thing to ever happen to Lebanon. It's pretty unsurprising to me that there are smart people in Lebanon who utterly agree.
I'm also still amazed at how many lefties are even now embracing James Baker "realism." [shudder] It may well have been that writing off Lebanon was an ugly necessity, although I'm not so sure it was. But in general, it's astounding that "realism" is now considered the height of liberal intelligent thought, whereas promoting democracy is somehow evil.
"Astounding" is the kindest possible word, by the way.
If the US goes to Lebanon militarily there will be violent opposition a lot like what we're seeing right now in Iraq, as well as hardcore support like we're also seeing right now in Iraq.
I say: stay out.
Severing Hezbollah from the Syrian/Iranian axis would be just as effective, if not even more so, and a lot less violent.
What the US should definitely not do is sell out Lebanon (a la James Baker) or sit on our asses and do nothing.
We should not have sold them out in the first place, especially in the way we did. If we'd done right by the Iraqis in Gulf War I, maybe it would have been justified. Maybe. But we didn't.
After 9/11 I was ready to roll right into Tehran and Damascus. It didn't happen. So now we're faced with the rest.
It's not a simple world. Just ask Harry Truman's ghost.
I have a hard time feeling like "we" sold out the Lebanese. Baker did it. We didn't vote on it or even know about it. Most of us still don't know about it, and would be horrified to find out about it.
This kind of crap really makes me appreciate a tendency among mainstream Arabs to hate US foreign policy while being very nice to me and other Americans personally. Sometimes I agree with the policies these people hate, and other times I really don't and they are right to complain.
2.6.2007 2:04am
Commenting on Dean's World is a privilege, not a right. Dean is your host, you are his guest, and you should behave in that fashion. Dean is not your babysitter, nor is he your punching bag. Please remember this. In general, you are free to disagree with anyone on any subject you wish, but abusive behavior will not be tolerated.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.
I'm also still amazed at how many lefties are even now embracing James Baker "realism." [shudder] It may well have been that writing off Lebanon was an ugly necessity, although I'm not so sure it was. But in general, it's astounding that "realism" is now considered the height of liberal intelligent thought, whereas promoting democracy is somehow evil.
"Astounding" is the kindest possible word, by the way.
I say: stay out.
Severing Hezbollah from the Syrian/Iranian axis would be just as effective, if not even more so, and a lot less violent.
What the US should definitely not do is sell out Lebanon (a la James Baker) or sit on our asses and do nothing.
We should not have sold them out in the first place, especially in the way we did. If we'd done right by the Iraqis in Gulf War I, maybe it would have been justified. Maybe. But we didn't.
After 9/11 I was ready to roll right into Tehran and Damascus. It didn't happen. So now we're faced with the rest.
It's not a simple world. Just ask Harry Truman's ghost.
This kind of crap really makes me appreciate a tendency among mainstream Arabs to hate US foreign policy while being very nice to me and other Americans personally. Sometimes I agree with the policies these people hate, and other times I really don't and they are right to complain.
Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.
Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.