Soft thinking on American soft power

[sailaway21]

In recent days I have been informed that I only present one side of the many issues that concern me. Making no pretenses of being a non-partisan journalist I am a bit perplexed as to why it should be expected that I delineate what I feel to be the wrong side of important issues. But some have felt that I have not even considered views opposing my own and that I am less than open minded, the latter of which I consider to be a bromide for those unable or unwilling to inform themselves and come to their own opinion.

So in a spirit of propitiation I offer up for everyone's perusal, if not a hilarity shared with myself, the following claptrap by a couple of overly intelligent men who should know better. It is not without interest that one of the author's is the man who actually disclosed Valerie Plame's past status as a covert CIA agent to Robert Novak but felt under no compunction to admit such and thus end the wasting of millions of dollars on a special prosecutor.

I will hold my comments on the article in abeyance pending responses and the conclusion of the Green Bay Packers football game.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...120502254.html

[PBzeer]

Is this what they mean by alternate universes?

[Giulietta]

SA, can't you for once writte in English so I can understand what your'e talking about??

Is it that hard?

[sailaway21]

Yeah, John. I suppose it could appear that way. You know I never had a weight-lifter on board who was worth a damn when it came to working on deck. The 60 year old AB could take a better strain on a line than the 23 year old iron pumper. Always with some excuse like, "it's not a pure motion". I guess the State Department has experienced the same problems with manning. (g)

The part I particularly like is where they aver that one of the keys to us being liked is to be more generous. This is the transmogrification of the GI Joe giving out cigarettes and chocolate into national policy. It would be like giving crack addicts a couple hundred dollars and asking them to please spend it wisely.

These two coconuts think that we had European alliance through the Cold War because we instituted the Marshall Plan after WWII. They obviously haven't been paying attention to post war gratitude from France, or considered the fact that European cooperation might have had something to do with American military spending and the fact that what seperates Europe and the former USSR is widely considered to be the finest armored fighting terrain in the world. Anotherwords, absent the US presence, it's a relatively leisurely drive in a T-78 Soviet tank to a nice view of the Atlantic.

[Rockter]

Sailaway...

It's best not to lump the French in with the British on this one.

Look who's troops are fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan today.
It ain't the French, or the Germans, or the Irish, or the Belgians. All you have to do to get the Spanish out is hope for a socialist, plant a bomb in a crowded Madrid train station, and wait a few weeks.

There are still American fighter-bombers flying ove me when I am sailing in Scotland.

Long may it continue.

They kept us in one piece and supplied in 1940-45, and Cambridgeshire is lined with the graves of the young American aviators that died to defend us here in the UK, and I... yes I... am grateful for that.

Few notice... but I notice.... and I am grateful well beyond platitudes and once-a-year poppies, and I am to young to have known any of them.

Rockter.

[sailingdog]

It is well known that the neo-con Kool Aid drinkers have their own reality...and our Sailaway is one of the guys who's got red teeth from drinking the Kool-aid by the gallon.

[PBzeer]

Perhaps then, you could enlighten us Dawg, on just what is the "real" reality?

[jrd22]

Rockter-thank you on behalf of my father, and all the other pilots, who flew out of England in WW2, for your kind words. It seems as though the world is experiencing mass amnesia, no one seems to remember anything that wasn't on the news last evening.

Sailaway- am I mistaken or did the authors pull the rug out from under themselves by citing the popularity figures from Pakistan? While we were doling out money and food and supplies, we were liked. When the relief effort ended -they went back to hating us. How is this "smart" power. I'm tired of reminding people that the US is usually the first on the scene, and by far the largest contributor, whenever there is a disaster- even if they hate us.

John

[sailaway21]

I'd say so, John and would also agree with your later statement. And I'm not sure who exactly came up with this idea that it was important for America to be liked by the rest of the world. He should be horse whipped. I think we should settle for the rest of the world merely having a healthy respect for the US, and that statement can be read in whatever way they wish to. (g)

I'm posting a few things that I disagree with but seem to be written by respected authors. Some think that I might only see one side of the issues, and while I only have my one opinion on the issues, I'm endeavoring to post some other sides than mine. I hope I'll be forgiven for posting the ones I find most humourous. After all, the process is painful to me and it helps to laugh!

[Rockter]

jrd...

I have been to some of the military cemetries, and they are peaceful places. I get a little melancholy, there, as I should.
A lot of the names are very different, and very American, and all very young.
All denominations too.
Here is one....

http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/ca.php

They are all Americans, and they all died so that we could have what we have today, for all it's faults.
Such freedoms do not defend themselves.
There is a time to fight, no matter how the leftists try to dilute the reasons why, and no matter how loud they are, or how often they make use of the freedoms they have.... freedoms these young Americans died for.

Rockter.