Bizblogger

Site for Free Markets and Free People

Monday, December 31, 2007

UK Newspaper: Petraeus is Man of the Year

The Daily Telegraph has nominated American General Petraeus their man of the year. Other mentioned candidates were: George Osborne, Lewis Hamilton, Paula Radcliffe - important Brits who helped inspire their nation in 2007. Additionally, because the UK is on the front lines in Afghanistan, there was consideration to nominate one of their own there. On the contrary, however, they nominated Petraeus in a country where anti-Americanism has become the norm. For going against the grain in this decision, we applaud the Telegraph.

The Telegraph is one publication in Britain that has always understood the importance of our fight against terrorism and they include the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as important frontiers for this fight.

It's interesting that many media outlets (not to mention US presidential candidates) have chosen to de-emphasize the war in Iraq now that real progress is being made. For not ignoring the real progress being made, again, we recognize the efforts made by the Telegraph.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

NY Times Hires Kristol - Liberals Outraged

The NY Times has just hired Bill Kristol to write a weekly column for its communist manifesto. I have mixed feelings.

On the one hand, I love seeing liberals get so bent out of shape about having diversity of opinion, since they view it as their birthright to be able to crush any dissenting voice.

On the other hand, I would love to have seen the NY Times downward spiral into oblivion and they are a perfect example of the clueless MSM at its worst. Who knows - someday, the paper might someday be used for something more than fire kindling, but I think it will still be a while.

Good job Bill - give 'em hell...

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Dole Slaps Huckabee

You know Huckabee is in trouble when former Sen. Bob Dole smacks him around on his recent foreign policy statements highly critical of President Bush. From the Des Moines Register:

“Dear Governor,

I’m puzzled by your gratuitous slaps at the President in the January/February issue of Foreign Affairs. By the way, I have no special ties to President Bush and I’m not involved in any presidential campaign.

Why have you joined the “Bush bashers?” I know Iowans fairly well and doubt those attending Republican caucuses will appreciate your critical comments. President Bush gets more than his fair share of criticism from the other side and many in the “mainstream” media. They all really must be heartened by your comments.

As a veteran, I worry about the future security of the good people of Iowa and all other Americans. We are engaged in a global war on terror which will not disappear because you imply a willingness, without any preconditions apparently, to sit down with the enemy. Sure we can all find fault with President Bush and his Administration on policy matters and phases of the Iraq policy. I doubt however Iowans will applaud second guessing more than five years after the agony of 9-11, particularly since you have been either silent or supportive during the interim as far as I can determine.

The Foreign Affairs piece is a perfect example of 20-20 hindsight, and wishful thinking in most instances. You make knotty foreign policy issues sound so easy if we would just change our ways. I never was a foreign policy expert though I followed it closely for nearly three decades under Democrat and Republican Presidents.

The great majority of Americans regardless of party, place liberty, freedom and security as top priorities. I’m certain you do too but I am troubled about some of the statements attributed to you in the Foreign Affairs article.

The administration is certainly not perfect, I cannot recall one, but I do not believe it should be your primary foreign policy target. We are a great, compassionate nation and I know you want to keep it so.

To win in 2008 we need to multiply, not divide."

I think most Republicans know Huck is a bit of a poser and don't want to see another Clintonesque politician elected.

Monday, December 17, 2007

The Errors of Huckabee

Mike Huckabee has been rising in the polls lately due to his folksy style and Christian minister background. Unfortunately for conservatives, Huckabee is no conservative. Apart from his experience as a tax hiker in Arkansas, Huckabee is simply buying into the Democratic line on foreign policy, ie. that the U.S. is hated because of Bush's "arrogant bunker mentality."

Peter Wehner has a great post on National Review Online that counters the Huckster's main argument.

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

NIE Report Flip Flops

Interestingly, one of the key authors of the recently leaked NIE report had the exact opposite findings when he reported to Congress in July.

Read on.

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

The NIE Report: Showing Hillary's True Colors

The media is having a field day with this NIE report published by an anti-war, anti-Sanctions Democrat that says Iran discontinued its nuke program in 2003. And somehow, there's no need for any more action against Iran. Or it proves Bush is a liar or something ridiculous...

I think one important but unnoticed element of the story is that it shows what a duplicative liar Hillary Clinton is:

I believe that we lost critical time in dealing with Iran because the White House chose to downplay the threats and chose to outsource the negotiations.
- Hillary about 2 years ago in a speech at Princeton University

This goes to show you just how diplomacy can work, and that Bush's cowboy approach is not the way to go on this.
-Hillary's spokesman today on hearing of the leaked NIE report.

Of course, the whole subject is foolish since few responsible people (including France and Israel) believe that Iran has stopped its program (as A'jad himself tells us). More than likely, as James Lewis points out, it's just a plan to try to handcuff Bush from pursuing any further actions.