November 26, 2006 Postsh
00:57 A Wave Building? 18:47 Defeatism Disguised as 'Realism'
A Wave Building?
One can only hope that an anti-Chavez wave is building in Venezuela. That said, I'm not holding my breath that that's what's happening but I am encouraged that that's the subject of this article.
Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans packed a major highway Saturday in a rally for opposition presidential candidate Manuel Rosales, one of the largest demonstrations against President Hugo Chavez in years. Shouts of "Dare to change!" rose up from the dense crowd filling the highway for several miles and spilling into nearby overpasses and streets in Venezuela's capital, Caracas. The rally came eight days before the country's presidential election on Dec. 3.According to this website, Venezuela's population is approximately 25 million people. If the report is accurate that "hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans packed a major highway Saturday in a rally for opposition presidential candidate Manuel Rosales", then that could mean that there's enough disenchantment with Chavez to defeat him.
Rosales, speaking from a stage, promised democracy for a country he said was sinking into Cuba-style authoritarianism under Chavez. "I don't want to be a president who controls all the branches of government," Rosales shouted to thundering applause. "Let there be true democracy in Venezuela!" He denounced the government for prohibiting television crews from using helicopters to film the march, saying, "They don't want the people to see this multitude. They are scared," he shouted, pumping his fists. "We are going to win on Dec. 3."
That said, I'm doubtful that Chavez will lose, partially because he's a thug who won't think twice about resorting to thuggish tactics tow in, partially because he's like longtime American politicians like Ted Stevens, Robert Byrd and John Murtha in that he's adept at buying votes with pork.
Despite the revived opposition movement, Chavez remains hugely popular among the poor, especially those who see benefits from oil-funded social programs ranging from free health care to heavily subsidized government grocery stores.
Getting rid of Chavez won't be easy but it would be a great day for the United States and for South America.
Posted Sunday, November 26, 2006 12:57 AM
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Defeatism Disguised as 'Realism'
A wave of 'realism' is sweeping through the United States, proof that bin Laden was right. The current wave of 'realists' includes James Baker and Chuck Hagel. Here's what Sen. Hagel wrote in this morning's Washington Post op-ed:
The time for more U.S. troops in Iraq has passed. We do not have more troops to send and, even if we did, they would not bring a resolution to Iraq. Militaries are built to fight and win wars, not bind together failing nations. We are once again learning a very hard lesson in foreign affairs: America cannot impose a democracy on any nation, regardless of our noble purpose.Ironically, the title for Hagel's op-ed is "Leaving Iraq, Honorably". Frankly, I'm mystified how abandoning an entire nation before they're able to defend themselves is anything approaching honorable. I'd further take issue with calling it leaving, not that a Hagel-driven foreign policy wouldn't have that as a key component but because that isn't telling people the truth: Hagel's hogdepodge of random and stray thoughts is really defeatism wrapped into a tidy little euphemism created during Vietnam.
I can't even call Hagel's thing a plan because that would imply rational thought on his behalf, something that isn't evident. Believe it or not, Hagel's delusional thinking gets worse:
It may take many years before there is a cohesive political center in Iraq. America's options on this point have always been limited. There will be a new center of gravity in the Middle East that will include Iraq. That process began over the past few days with the Syrians and Iraqis restoring diplomatic relations after 20 years of having no formal communication.The first point that Sen. Hagel makes is that "It may take many years before there is a cohesive political center in Iraq", which is probably true. Sen. Hagel also says that "The Middle East is more combustible today than ever before", that "regional powers will fill regional vacuums, and they will move to work in their own self-interest". Sen. Hagel's verdict on this new Middle East: "This is the most encouraging set of actions for the Middle East in years." Sen. Hagel should be run out of office for thinking that. PERIOD. He's saying that an Iraq subjected to doing whatever Iran and Syria want is a positive thing. Forgive me if I don't agree with him.
What does this tell us? It tells us that regional powers will fill regional vacuums, and they will move to work in their own self-interest, without the United States. This is the most encouraging set of actions for the Middle East in years. The Middle East is more combustible today than ever before, and until we are able to lead a renewal of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, mindless destruction and slaughter will continue in Lebanon, Israel and across the Middle East.
Actually, let me take it a step further. If this is the highest level of common sense that Sen. Hagel has, then he isn't qualified to be a mayor. Sen. Hagel's had a defeatist attitude towards Iraq from the time the war started. He doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to honor our commitment to the Iraqi patriots who've fought hard to make their country great. Sen. Hagel is the polar opposite of the great Iraqi patriots. While the Iraqi patriots yearn for a bold new Iraq, Sen. Hagel's 'vision' of Iraq and the Middle East is nothing more than a timid acquiescence to terrorist-supporting nations like Iran and Syria.
Furthermore, Sen. Hagel is either too ignorant or too indifferent to who inhabits that region. Earlier, he said that Syria getting involved is a positive thing. Syria exports assassins to neighboring countries in the hopes of establishing puppet regimes that would act as training grounds for terrorist groups like Hizbollah. These puppet regimes would then act as buffers between them and Israel. If we leave Iraq now, it won't take long before it becomes al Qaida's new training ground. Forgive me if I don't see the wisdom of allowing that 'reality' to occur without a fight.
I think it's only appropriate to name Hagel 'Osama's Senator'. Osama predicted after Mogadishu's disgrace that America didn't have the dedication to finish missions. Sen. Hagel is intent on proving Osama right. If that isn't sickening enough, we're forced to hear Sen. Hagel dress his defeatist policies up as honorable. That's sickening.
By not finishing the mission, Sen. Hagel is condemning younger generations to dramatically increased terrorist attacks, too. If anyone thinks that Iraq won't turn into a terrorist training ground if we don't defeat them there, they're ignorant.
Shame on Sen. Hagel for not learning from history. Shame on Sen. Hagel for underestimating our troops' ability to win. Shame on Sen. Hagel for being the type of politician that Osama can't win without.
Posted Sunday, November 26, 2006 7:01 PM
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