I finished this book a couple of days ago.
Near the end Yon writes these words that resonate strongly with me:
“We can win. But we can still lose.
And if we lose, Iraq will be the worst foriegn policy disaster in our history. Imagine Vietnam, then multiply it by al Qaeda and Iran.”
His book is fascinating and full of informed perspective that's almost entirely missing from the mainstream media. It's a book written by someone who is an unabashed supporter of the war in Iraq – but who is also an unabashed critic of how it has been conducted (most especially before General Petraeus took over). Michael Yon is a warrior himself (Green Berets), and has the professional soldier's ingrained habit of seeing the world pragmatically, honestly – you won't get a less biased view of Iraq from anyone else I've ever heard of.
Run, don't walk, to buy his book. Whatever your view of the war in Iraq, you'll come away more informed.
Normally the very best thing politicians can do (so far as I am concerned) is nothing at all. I like the infamous “gridlock” – it makes it much less likely the bastards will pick my pocket for more money than they already have.
Yes, I'm still smarting from April 15th.
But every once in a great while, some politician proposes action that's noble, not self-serving, and not motivated by a grab for money or power. The last such action I can remember (at the national level) was Zell Miller's speech at the Republican convention.
This morning I read of another, by a politician I have never heard of before (but whose name I will now watch for!): Representative Sue Myrick, Republican from North Carolina's District 9. Here's the lead of a press release she put out yesterday:
Today, Rep. Sue Myrick (NC-9) called on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to revoke former President Jimmy Carter’s passport. This is in response to the former President traveling to Syria to meet with Hamas, an organization officially designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
“Former President Carter has acted in contradiction of international agreements to isolate Hamas. He has acted in defiance of both United States policy and international policy. His actions reward terrorists, lend support, and provide legitimacy to their belief that violence will eventually get them what they want,” said Rep. Myrick.
That is simply brilliant!
Most recently, our most excreble ex-President was seen hugging Hamas leaders and expressing his reverence for Yasser Arafat. At right he is putting a wreath on Arafat's grave, instead of dancing a jig on the gravestone as would have been much more appropriate.
Taking away this man's (I use the term in its loosest sense) passport seems completely appropriate. He has been acting against his own country's interests, and worse, for the interests of our enemies. He's an embarrassment to us all. In the good old days, we'd have quietly shuffled him off to a “clinic” where he could babble to himself harmlessly. Taking away his passport would hobble him nearly as well, and would help hide our most embarrassing ex-President from our neighbors.
Kudos to Ms. Myrick for such a wonderful idea! I'm sure it will never happen, but for once, a Washington politician has proffered an idea that I can support – something to celebrate!
