extreme Catholic 

If you think of the terrorists as roaches, you can see that Iraq was the most hospitable place for them to arm and attack American interests in what was until recently a protected sanctuary. For terrorists, Afghanistan and Pakistan offer less to shoot at.

Iraq represents a sort of Roach Motel for attracting terrorists. One problem with withdrawing the troops from Iraq is that it will disperse the concentration of terrorists there. Of course it means less killing and wounding of American personnel, a very good thing, but it also means less killing and wounded of the enemy.

One other thing that I have heard discussed is the supply of terrorists. There are two theories: the happier one is that there is always a limited supply of them of which were are reaching the bottom of the barrel as they have been killed since 2001. The other theory is that the supply is unlimited and they are just regrouping now for tactical reasons.

Labels: war

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 3:30 PM   Permalink  

I think I understand now what is at stake with preventing Hillary from becoming president in a way that I can articulate. I think her election would cement into the political landscape a way of campaigning which is cynical and contemptuous of the small -d democratic process. The idea is you win by any means necessary. I don't know if the origin of this is the old-line Bolsheviks or the spiritual children of Saul Alinsky but she is a practitioner of it and wrote her thesis on him.

Obama on the other hand is a "good" politician, kissing the babies, wearing the odd hats, making the backroom deals. He, of course, agreed with the National Democratic Committee with not seat delegates and not campaign in Michigan and Florida. Hillary won most of these delegates, so now they want to change the rules to include them.

If elected, as far as I see it, there would be no differences in what policies they would put forward.

What concerns me is the residual effect it would have on the Democratic Party to have been able to crush Obama in the nominating process regardless of total votes cast in the primaries, and votes of elected delgates.

This should end the inclusion of super-delegates. Let people like Charlie Rangel run on the ballot as regular delegates.

Labels: clinton, election, obama

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 4:12 PM   Permalink