Tear it Down

Yesterday, Barack Obama addressed the Associate Press Annual Meeting; a speech which Power Line’s John Hinderacker characterized thusly:

That's sort of like the Virgin Mary talking to a Knights of Columbus convention.

(I guess Catholic metaphors are to be expected today.)

Other reports of the meeting pointed a perennial and amusing gaffe made by AP chairman Dean Singleton—one which happens all too often when people try to wrap their tongues around the junior Illinois senator’s Luo last name.

SINGLETON: Can you imagine shifting a substantial number of Afghanistan -- a substantial number to Afghanistan where the Taliban has been gaining strength and Obama bin Laden is still at large?

OBAMA: I think that was Osama bin Laden.

John says that the entire transcript should be read for laughs, but I sure wish that Osama-Obama mix-up hadn’t happened—simply because I want to know what Obama has planned for Afghanistan.

See, I’ve been contending for some time that the anti-war Left is building up to the point at which it can characterize Afghanistan in the same manner as it has done with Iraq—as a lost cause. I’ve seen the rhetorical beginnings of it here and there (and I think Singleton's aborted question was part of that) but no one prominent is ready to say it straight out. The foundation hasn’t been sufficiently laid yet.

I say that the overt denigration of our efforts in Afghanistan is on the way (and, no, it won’t have to make sense). Why? Because every Bush effort must be demonized and scrapped--every single one, even the so-called righteous War.

The Bush edifice must be torn down. Feel free to tell me that I'm wrong.

(Thanks to Instapundit)

Comments

[John F. MacMichael]

I think you are right on the mark. If either HRC or Obama are elected, I expect that their second big foreign policy move (after Operation Bugout from Iraq) will be to cut and run from Afghanistan. Their core supporters will be making the identical arguments they used about Iraq: "...its an unwinnable war", "...a quaqmire", "...a civil war" ad nauseaum.

That is why I will be holding my nose and voting for McCain in the fall.

[AH·C]

How about cut and running 1st from the Balkans, which Slick promised we'd be out of by Xmas? What? 15 years ago? /sarc @ libs

[DarkStar]

Bush is a poor leader. It is his fault and his fault only that the American public doesn't understand what is at stake. He assumed because he said it, the population would fall in line.

All good president has to establish communication channels and trust of the American public before we can be led to war. The right radio media did a better job of supporting Iraq involvement in dealing with terrorists. Across the board, the right radio media mostly ignored Afghanistan. They mostly ignore northern Africa. Bush ignores them as well, IN THE MEDIA.

Because he failed to communicate, his administration failed to communicate and the U.S. population is less educated about the situation.

It is Bush's fault, like it or not.

[DarkStar]

From the other post, Rattle responded:

I think that is patently absurd, DarkStar. Now the population has to be spoon fed before they can comprehend basic world affairs? After some fools use planes as bombs to attack our country?

Okay, man. Keep right on peddling that B.S.

And this newfound concern for Afghanistan is heartwarming -- but, if you gave a damn about the Taliban presence in that nation before the invasion you would be the rare person on the left, indeed. And I don't believe you really give a damn now.

[DarkStar]

I think that is patently absurd, DarkStar. Now the population has to be spoon fed before they can comprehend basic world affairs? After some fools use planes as bombs to attack our country?

The U.S. population understood, and fully backed, the attack against Afghanistan. The U.S. population did not fully understand, nor back, the attack against Iraq. If they did, so many people wouldn't want to pull out of Iraq now, would they?

Give a guess on the percentage of Americans who know about the terrorist training ground in Northern Iraq.

Give a guess on the percentage of Americans who know about terrorists living in, and getting medical treatment in, Iraq during Sadaam's reign.

Give a guess on the percentage of Americans who know the difference between Sunni and Shia.

Why did president Bush say there was no direct link between al Queda and Iraq but vice president Chenny said there was a direct link?

Give a guess on the percentage of Americans who know North Africa is a new battle ground in the war on terrorism.

Give a guess on the percentage of Americans who suspect that the genocide in Sudan may have a link to terrorists trying to establish a safe haven.

Give a guess on the percentage of Americans who know the Philippines has an ongoing "war" with terrorism.

And this newfound concern for Afghanistan is heartwarming -- but, if you gave a damn about the Taliban presence in that nation before the invasion you would be the rare person on the left, indeed. And I don't believe you really give a damn now.

Sonny, let me finish off with this. I will match my service to this country against the average non-military family civilian, and chances are damned high that my service blows away those being compared. And I am now, and have always been, a civilian.

P.S. You don't know the definition of left or right otherwise you wouldn't be silly enough to classify me as being on the left.

[DarkStar]

Bonus question: Is FARC a danger to the U.S.?