Republican Wannabes Pump (Verbal) Iron on Iran

The chronically money losing right wing news outlet of the Reverend Moon ought to know what the Republican candidates are saying about foreign affairs. So the Geek assumes that the quotes presented in a recent article are correct. Feel free to check them at the Washington Times online http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071017/NATION/110170091/1001.

The overall impression given of the several Republicans on hand for at a conflab of the Jewish Republican Coalition is one of vapid chest pounding on Iran and, with one very surprising exception, a gripless understanding of the nature of the adversary facing us and the West today and into the future.

A few years back when the Geek lived in Texas he was amused by the race for governor. It seemed as if every candidate was trying to prove that he (or she) could tie a hangman's knot quicker and tighter than the rest of the posse.

Now it appears to the Geek that the Republican field is actually engaged in try-out for the role of General George S. Patton. In the contest to be the best Patton imitation, Rudy Giuliani set the standard for the night when he said, "Iran has to understand that not only is the military on the table, it is in our hand." He added, "This is not just some far-flung idea that we might act militarily, but instead we are poised and ready to act."

Wow! That's tellin' 'em, Rudy!

As if it wasn't already obvious in Tehran and elsewhere around the world that the US had the capacity for air and missile strikes of an overwhelmingly destructive nature on very short notice. What we can't do and won't be able to do in the foreseeable future is occupy Iran on the ground.

Not that the ever-so-decisive former Big Apple Mayor would notice the fine distinction between obliterating a country's physical infrastructure and using military force to bring about a better state of peace. No. That would take thought.

And, thought seems to be somewhat foreign to Hizzoner's approach to life. He prefers action. In a foot-stomping, crowd-pleasing peroration, Giuliani reminded the folks that he didn't have to do any thinking before tossing Yasser Arafat out of a UN sponsored concert.

Nearly breaking his arm patting himself on the back, the BAM commented, "I didn't hesitate like Hillary Clinton hesitates to answer questions on what she's going to do about Iran. I didn't seek to negotiate with him, like Barack Obama would do or says he'd do with these people. I just made a decision. See, I lead. That's what a leader is about."

That's right, Mr Giuliani. Make a decision, whatever feels good--just do it! Great concept when the leader is dealing with war and peace, lives and deaths. But, if it was good enough for the current administration, it should be good enough for the future.

Making reference to the (in)famous eye reading capacity of George W. Bush, John McCain sagely observed that when he looked into Vladimir Putin's eyes he saw the letters K,G and B. What a surprise! The Geek hadn't realised that Putin's long service to the sword and shield of the revolution had ever been a secret.

McCain opined that it was "time we got a little tough" with the lads in the Kremlin. That must have been another crowd pleasing line. It is also gripless.

As has been noted previously in this blog, Russia needs not toughness (whatever that might mean) but treatment by the US as if Russia remained the same Great Power it was back when the Soviet Union was still a going concern. The current administration has metaphorically at least given the back of its hand to the Russians while simultaneously needing Russian cooperation on significant issues--such as Iran.

The result of this combination of arrogance and realism has resulted in Russia hanging firm on the question of the defensive missile system scheduled for deployment in former WarPact nations. Among other consequences of the current administration's gripless approach to Russia, which the Arizona senator apparently believes has not been "tough" enough, is a revitalization of old Cold War practices such as Bear and Bison bomber flights on the periphery of NATO and US outposts and sea frontiers.

Oh, don't overlook the relative diplomatic successes enjoyed by Vladimir Putin in Iran and with the Caspian Sea countries. How will John McCain's call for getting a "little tough" with the Kremlin offset these?

Now for the surprise of the evening.

Fred Thompson shocked the Geek by echoing Mitt Romney's line. The politician turned actor turned politician said, "We need the active involvement of moderate Muslims and religious leaders to wrest back their faith, and indeed their peoples, from this cult of death."

Thompson, unlike the decisive Giuliani or the straight, tough talking McCain, seems to have a grip on the nature of today's adversary. It is Islamism/Jihadism. Pure and simple.

It might be going too far to infer that Thompson or Romney realise that Iran is both a symptom and a part of the problem, but not the totality of the challenge facing us now and tomorrow. At the least Thompson recognises that Muslims who reject the ideology of Islamism are allied with the West in the struggle.

For this, the former senator deserves a thumbs-up. It is far more difficult and far less crowd pleasing to focus on the battle of ideas and values than to spew verbal missiles and self-congratulations.

The Second Cold War like the First will be a long, hard slog. Success requires a firm understanding of the nature of the adversary. It requires knowing our strengths and weaknesses as well as those of our allies. It requires patience not heroic words. It requires action based on thought.

The United States, the world for that matter, does not need a gutsy Patton type. That would be as dangerous over time as a fluttering Hamlet clone who must dither over every choice, every option. Nor would we and the world benefit from having a wide-eyed sort who sees the world as filled with friends he hasn't met yet.

Looking at the Republicans assembled the other night and considering the Democrats line-up, the Geek can't help scratching his head and wondering just where will we find the person we really need for the upcoming years.

Fred Thompson Joins the Out To Lunch Bunch

The Geek admits this is not the most timely post he's ever written. That's OK. He's a historian. Anyway, keeping up with the foreign policy idiocy is exhausting. Sometimes the old Geekmo just can't take anymore.

Now it is probably too much to expect an undistinguished, former short-time Senator and lobbyist to come to the presidential campaign with any knowledge of the intricacies of foreign policy, war, and peace. But, as a TV actor and Ronald Reagan imitator, he darn sure should understand the importance of symbolism.

When Thompson derided Osama bin Laden as "more of a symbolism than he is anything else," it knocked the Geek off his rock in the sun.

Get a grip, Fred!

There are many things Osama bin Laden is not. He is not a political-military strategist. He is not an organizational genius. His combat record in the anti-Russian jihad in Afghanistan is, to put in kindly, undistinguished. Heck, his stone face and black beard aren't even the stuff of which great video drama are made.

Now, Mr Thompson, there is one thing at which bin Laden is very, very good. Symbolism. That's what he is. A symbol. An icon.

And, Mr Thompson, that's all he needs to be. That is his power. That is his strength. His appeal.

Bin Laden comes across to his target audience as a hero, a saintly remake of earlier heroes of Islam during its historical prime a millennium and more ago. He is seen as the austere, self-denying exemplar of Islam by those inclined to the Islamist ideology.

He is a walking, talking recruiting poster. He is seen to have lived as he has preached. Pure, willing to die, willing to fight, willing to kill for the cause and vision of Islamism.

Osama bin Laden doesn't need to be brilliant. He doesn't need to make good decisions. He doesn't need to have a strategic or tactical vision. Others can fill in the awesome blanks in his abilities and knowledge.

All he needs is to be who he is. To be seen as he wishes to be seen. For him, being seen as he wishes is easy. He plays to type. He plays himself.

You should have recognised all of those features, Mr Thompson. You invoke the memory and image of Ronald Reagan, the Great Communicator.

Reagan and bin Laden are the same under the skin. They both understood and played to the mythic imagery of their audiences. Bin Laden is what Reagan was--a symbol, an icon. As Reagan was "Morning in America," bin Laden is the "Dawn of Islamism."

Now, about your muddled thinking regarding "due process." Perhaps you've been playing a lawyer on TV too long to have a grip on this.

Capturing bin Laden, let alone giving him public exposure similar to that accorded Saddam Hussein or Manuel Noriega in handcuffs and orange jumpsuit would be the second most stupidly counterproductive thing that might be done. The most stupid thing would be to kill him with after-the-fact publicity of the fact.

Don't you or any of your aides realise that a symbol cannot be killed, an icon cannot die or be put on trial? Capture or publicly acknowledged killing would only elevate Osama bin Laden to the highest pinnacle of martyrdom.

Think how many young Islamist-leaning wannabe martyrs would be stimulated to offer their lives (and our deaths) at the metaphoric feet of bin Laden.

Mr Thompson, if you want to be something more than a second-generation facsimile of Ronald Reagan, you would be well advised to get a grip on the real nature of the war facing us and the centrality of symbolism--both their's and our's--to its prosecution.

A side note to John Edwards: Did you really, really mean it when you challenged Thompson on not understanding the "importance" of "capturing" bin Laden? If so, it is obvious that you still are totally clueless about what is happening in the world today (and have been for the past several decades.)

As a former Tarheel, the Geek will be happy to fill you in, Mr Edwards. And, in the spirit of bi-partisanship, the same goes for you, Mr Thompson.