Misunderestimating

I'm going to say something very unpleasant, that may get me a lot of trouble from the wingers. I don't care. I've been damned consistent these last 4 years about one thing: never, ever underestimate your enemy. Study him/her at every chance you get. Interact with him/her peacefully at every opportunity, better to understand their critical faculties and weaknesses. Know his/her history and do not ever, ever, trash mouth your opponent or strut about like an arrogant peacock.

More after the jump.

All that being said, Israel and the United States both deserve to be blindsided (more the U.S. than Israel) by constantly equating the desire for evidence to be evidence in reality. Just because you say it is so, doesn't make it so, no matter how many Fox News channels you have under your control.

The only thing we've been vigilant about in this country is fecklessness from the Democrats and dishonety and bad faith from the Republicans. In five years nothing else has been accomplished. Nothing. We're weaker, more spread out and more disliked the world over. I can attest to it as fact. You know why? Because I have seen it with my own goddamned eyes.

And we wonder why?

Know thy enemy, for what better way to destroy him when the time comes. And what better way to be destroyed by failing in this task.

Stupid and arrogant. And deserved.

Sean Paul Kelley July 18, 2006 - 10:41pm

Sean Paul Kelley's diary | printer friendly version |

Absolute agreement here

Check the sig.

"We're in a giant car heading towards a brick wall and everyone's arguing over where they're going to sit." [David Suzuki]

pipermaru July 19, 2006 - 12:15am

Blindsided

You've got to watch that reality-based thinking. You get to thinking that there are actual things and people out there to be dealt with, and pretty soon you'll be thinking it might be wise to know something about them. Next thing you know you'll be trying to solve problems.

pihwht July 19, 2006 - 5:22am

yeah and

you wouldn't want people to realize bombs kills and the victims have blood and flesh.....

Tina July 19, 2006 - 5:36am

You Mean

The flesh and blood as created by God? Are you saying the victims of the Bush administration's policies are the children of God?

Huh, imagine that.

Politics is the control of wealth and power. You are being conditioned to condemn politics as petty and boring, thus granting all the more control to the powers that be. You are either a part of the problem or a part of the solution. The choice is yours.

Rook July 19, 2006 - 10:53am

yeah and

memories.

pihwht July 19, 2006 - 6:40am

Misunderestimating

How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don’t think.

Adolf Hitler

Oh, and

The public be damned! I’m working for my stockholders!

Cornelius Vanderbilt

dsquared July 19, 2006 - 7:28am

Underestimate?

Part of what this conflict is about is the fact that Hizballa has been allowed to grow militarily and otherwise unchecked and unfettered over the last 6 years. The lack of perfect intelligence is a given, as intelligence is never perfect and usually far from it. It is much better to push them now than later when they are even stronger and maybe the Iranian's supply them with WMDs. A similar case can be made for other much more dangerous entities which are obviously crazy and looking for much more lethal stock piles...

About arrogance, etc ... the Israelies, having been involved in regional wars and daily terrorist attacks, have no delusions about what war is and do not need sugar coating, posturing, or bravado. The US public on the other hand is much more removed from the reality of conflict, not having had a war inside their borders for over a century, and getting their visions of what war is from mass media. How else do you get people who don't really know what war is on board other than to sell them ... honestly or dishonestly.

Pailo July 19, 2006 - 7:47am

Better To Hit Them Now?

For as long as I can remember, Israel and the various factions around her have been doing this dance. The only difference now is that there is not a competent person in the White House able to lead and help calm this situation down.

Actually, it seems Bush is intent sitting back and letting it get worse. Either that, or he is just replaying his roll of Bunny in the headlights while a class reads "My Pet Goat". He has no idea what to do.

Once upon a time the United States would lead in creating a diplomatic solution, followed by an international effort at peace keeping.

Now, he sits back, acting the clown at the G8 summit while the rest of the world takes the lead. It's pathetic.

Politics is the control of wealth and power. You are being conditioned to condemn politics as petty and boring, thus granting all the more control to the powers that be. You are either a part of the problem or a part of the solution. The choice is yours.

Rook July 19, 2006 - 11:00am

Israel keeps acting like it

Israel keeps acting like it can fight its way to peace. It can't. Whatever, I'm looking forward to the day the one state solution is implemented. I think there's a decent chance I'll see it before I die.

Ian Welsh July 19, 2006 - 7:10pm

why

does Hezbullah [i am surmising you mean the enemy of the US and Israel, *we* are the US, the last time i looked...] have to be defined as the "enemy"? how about an equal party? how about an "adversary" why not just some more people attempting to do what they think is the right thing to do,
Defining them as "the enemy" creates and continues a way of thinking that is not helpful, IM oh so HO.

"who would Jesus bomb?"

bernadene July 19, 2006 - 11:23am

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