But remember: it’s the GOP candidates who are stupid and unqualified to govern. Andrew Malcolm, IBD:
“Look, the Taliban per se is not our enemy.
“That’s critical. There is not a single statement that the president (Obama) has ever made in any of our policy assertions that the Taliban is our enemy because it threatens U.S. interests. If, in fact, the Taliban is able to collapse the existing government, which is cooperating with us in keeping the bad guys from being able to do damage to us, then that becomes a problem for us.”
ABC News’ Jake Tapper asked Monday if the White House regretted Biden’s language. And Jay Carney replied, “Not at all.”
JB doesn’t identify the “bad guys.” Other unidentified Obama administration officials have for months been trying to plant the news meme in D.C. media that under the president’s relentless assault, the Afghan al-Qaeda is virtually extinct, to help justify the hasty U.S. troop withdrawal before the 2012 election.
But if al-Qaeda is neutralized, that pretty much leaves only the Taliban as the IED-planting, bullet-firing culprits that Biden says are not the enemy.
Now why, experienced observers of politics ask themselves the year before a presidential election, would the vice president of the United States seek to de-enemy the Taliban? Could it be because we are reducing the nation’s goals there? Obama never talks of victory, even in his good war in Afghanistan.
So, what’s the point? Here’s how Biden described it:
“We are not just deciding that all we are doing is supporting a government and building up their military capability. We’re engaged in a reconciliation process. Whether it will work or not is another question. But we are in a position where if Afghanistan ceased and desisted from being a haven for people who do damage and have as a target the United States of America and their allies, that’s good enough. That’s good enough.”
So, Moammar Gadhafi’s mere threat of killing Libyans in his own country with no American impact was good enough for Obama to intervene and topple him.
But the negotiated return to Afghan life of a Taliban influence that has already killed thousands of innocent civilians (plus NATO troops) is OK with Obama, as long as it has no impact on Americans? And, of course, permits U.S. withdrawals in time for Nov. 6, 2012.
Convenient, to put it politely.
Myself, I’d have gone with cynical, opportunistic, crassly and dangerously partisan, and in a certain sense, treacherous.
But then, I’m not much of a healer — and being polite requires far too much in the way of self-editorializing.
And who on a blog has that kinda time?
So…the Taliban is not our enemy, but people who own private jets, surgeons, and Tea Part participants are.
Then again, Dems keep likening Republicans to the Taliban (e.g. KOS’s “American Taliban” book) – does that mean that Dems are okie-dokie with Republicans now?
Incentives matter.
Success, to the Left, makes you an enemy. Politeness makes you a rube and a doormat. Compromise makes you an ally and/or a useful idiot. Mass murder and terrorism makes you part of a movement that must be respected.
Standing up for your natural rights makes you a dangerous fringe extremist. Pointing out the blatant falsehoods of the political class and their media enablers makes you a paranoid kook. Standing up for the ideals and strictures this nation was founded on makes you a know-nothing anarchist. Actual anarchy, trespassing and rioting makes you a dissatisfied youth whose concerns should be listened to.
Bending over and taking it makes you a team player. Pushing back makes you an OUTLAW!
I hope they understand the incentive structure they’ve been setting up. I hope they understand how dangerous is the game they’re playing, and how likely it is to end very badly for everybody. I hope they understand that the only things keeping us from coming after them are inertia and our own better nature, and that neither of these things is fixed and permanent.
And for as much as I hope they’re stoking these flames out of ignorance, I fear that they know exactly what they’re doing.
You’re being unhelpful again, Jeff. Keep it up.
Or, as Anna Nichole might have said, “Outlaw, bishes!”
I can’t even imagine having to spend another 4 years listening to this idiot undermine American foreign policy.
It is from this interview by Newsweek during which Biden makes other pronouncements but it seems he was not asked about this. Amazing in that the editorial linked was written by Biden and his Newsweek interviewer Gelb back in 2006 and is about Middle East policy.
Remember when the MBM was telling us that having Joe on board would help Obama with foreign policy, since Joe knows so much about it?
Good times.
Heh. I’d forgotten about that.
It’s true. The Taliban is not the enemy of the Democrat party. They’re as dedicated to primitivism, tribalism, oppression, slavery, and murder as the Democrats.
I can see Joey Biden singing “You’ve gotta friend in me” to the Taliban in Randy Newman’s brain-damaged voice.
I’m not a Ron Paul guy, because of his ideas on foreign policy, but this is the kind of thing that stops me from calling him crazy.
America sucks at war. We’re very efficient with the tactics of battle, but when it comes to long term commitment, we’re positively schizo. It’s one of the limitations of a free society like ours, and isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does need to be acknowledged.
It’s not that I’m an isolationist, it’s just when war happens, I think B-52’s are better than drones…
B-52s are better than Democrats, who are more the problem at the root of this. The USA has been always the enemy of those the progressives call friend. They are why our policies are erratic and thus suck.
I like the B-52’s too.
Nothing — almost — will cut a medieval backward religious set-up to pieces quite like them. Rock and Roll, whisky, sexy.
Biden is dumber than a cow!
Joe Biden is the smartest man in the room.
If, y’know, it’s a really small room, located somewhere in Antarctica. In the summer. And surrounded by starving penguins…
[…] H/T Protein Wisdom […]
No, Ron Paul thinks Wikileaks was a public service and Bradley Manning a patriot, even though they published info that got our people killed…
which means they’re on the same level as the NYT, so…
Had a Taliban kid over for a year as an exchange student. Little bastard never did figure out how to crap inside correctly. Totally an enemy of the carpet, if not the state.
I actually look a lot like that avi. But if somebody would point me to the right button, I would probably put up a mugshot.
Jason and the Scorchers are playing dec 30 at Smith’s Old Bar.
30 years. Man.
Sorry. Carry on.
There’s situation comedy on Starz on that taliban exchange student thing. Somebody needs to flesh that one out.
Howdy big D,
You doin alright?
i think the concept of joe biden is interesting. its performance art for the mentally challenged.
I’m numb danger.
That said, the cat sits in my lap now, so thats pretty cool. It’s a big damn cat.
You have to signup at gravatar and use the same email that you used to sign up here.
If Joe Biden is the answer it was a stupid question.
If Joe Biden is the answer it was a stupid question.
Swen wins the thread.
It’s a big damn cat.
Maine Coon? You can’t beat them for either big or damn in cats.
To paraphrase Christopher Smart:
Deus te amat.
Wow, I guess she may be a maine coon. I just looked it up.
Becky got her about 6 years ago from somebody who was moving out of town and were going to leaver her. She had been declawed and never get’s on any of the furniture or counters except for the ottoman when she would put a particular afghan on it, or when she sat in her lap.
I can tell she’s just as scared as I am, she’ been passed around all of her life and knows that Becky’s gone. It’s pretty overwhelming to realize she is aware, and she is.
Donald! I hope that you are doing well, or at least better.
I recommend that you and the oversized cat take comfort in each other. There are lots of worse things than enjoying a good book with a happy cat on your lap.
And Scotch. Rocks, if you have to have it that way, but I prefer it room temperature and neat. Or high-quality hot cocoa if you teetotal.
I hope you can drop in from time to time and let us know how you’re doing.
I’m more of a chilled vodka guy Slart, but appreciate the thought.
So, here I am a single guy living alone, house is curiously clean and I got a cat.
Next thing you know I’ll start pressing my clothes, cutting my hair, and grow a neat mustache.
…and watching a lot of shows on Bravo!, and the buggery of course — goes without saying. Have you considered learning classical guitar and perfecting an awesome paella?
(Damnit, why won’t the Hallmark people call me back regarding that card-writing gig?)
It’s pretty overwhelming to realize she is aware, and she is.
My black cat started singing odd, eerie songs around the time the gray kitty started sitting for days at a time in unaccustomed places.
The vet found a mass in the gray kitty’s belly; she was pushing 18yrs old so I had her put down. When I brought home the empty carrier, I could tell that the black cat knew that the gray one wasn’t coming home.
The eerie songs stopped. They know. They totally know.
My Black Lab comforted my Yellow Lab in her final days after she had gone blind.
After she passed away and we laid her to rest, he would lie on her gravesite for hours.
He mourned her for at least two weeks.
Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid is on!
Incredible movie.
Dear VP Biden,
The Talib I met most certainly were my (and our) enemy.