We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:21:12 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2010 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Kat didn't go far enough in her "Pardon me?" link in today's H&I Fires. This is the video: This is the part that Scott at Powerline characterized as a "catechism:" I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems... ...I will not weaponize space... ...I will slow development of future combat systems... ...and I will institute a "Defense Priorities Board" to ensure the quadrennial defense review is not used to justify unnecessary spending... ...I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons... ...and to seek that goal, I will not develop nuclear weapons... ...I will seek a global... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:30:46 -0600 No, you're wrong. She's quite sane. Just incredibly taken-advantage-of in every way possible, and very decent about it. Most women who'd been ardently pursued, then dumped, her formal wedding cancelled, and left financially liable for a home she didn't own and never lived in -- might have been vitriolic, or spilled the beans, on a radio interview still available on the Internet. But she wasn't, and she didn't. So chill and take a deep breath, nephew dear. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70161 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70161 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:40:20 -0600 Quite frankly, Obama scares the heck out of me. I don't think it's a coincidence that the end of Obama's (likely) presidential term ends in 2012. The damage will be done, and the butcher's bill will come due. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70144 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70144 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:38:10 -0600 (GWOT), has been won. The War on Tuggy Feelings (WTF) on the other hand hand, has entered a terrible attrition phase.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70135 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70135 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:25:31 -0600 Fred. I agree completely. Not just Putin, though. A whole range of folks who are already challenging Bush will probably step up the game. Kumbaya world just ain't going to get it. I think Obama's ideas are so idealist they don't look at the reality that is both the national interest of these other nations (which, like ours, they consider paramount to their continued or improved existence) nor at the real character of these people. Some of whom are not dictators of terrible tyranny just because the world isn't ordered in a certain way or because the US did or didn't do something. Many of these people are in it for their own power and their own, often twisted, ideologies. Everyone keeps talking about Obama's "reaganesque" upbeat speech, but the difference is, Regean was willing to back that up with specific demands and he had a line in the sand when it came to tyrants and evil. Obama is saying there is no line in the sand and he's willing to make them legitimate players and equal partners just because they rule a nation. I keep saying it because I have to: Nuts! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70130 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70130 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:37:40 -0600 I am reminded of the Kennedy / Khrushchev match for Champion of the World back in the early 60's. After their first meeting, Khrushchev thought he had the measure of the young contender and started a worldwide effort to smack him around. Khrushchev's efforts ranged from authorizing the Berlin Wall to putting missiles in Cuba. Well, Kid Kennedy was good - or at least good enough - to stand off Khrushchev. Now a rematch is being scheduled. If it is to be President Obama vs. Putin then the odds favor Putin. Obama is much less than JFK and Putin is much more than Khrushchev. Bambi vs. Godzilla comes to mind. You have to live in the sure and certain knowledge that Putin WILL challenge President Obama immediately. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70129 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70129 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:23:02 -0600 campaign. The war continues. Which is part and parcel of the problem. It's like saying we "won" the War in North Africa, but are now bogged down in Italy with no plan to go forward. As for the new Defense Priorities Board - I'm reacting to what's in the piece - create a new board. Nothing about removing the existing boards. Lets be honest - as long as DoD is on an annual budget cycle, *nothing* is going to get fixed, and that's before you get to the politics. Create a new board. Yay. With what authority? More importantly, what power? A board isn't going to make a bit of difference and is just going to be the illusion of progress. It's the budget process, and the institutions of the President, SecDef, and "Congress, assembled" where lie the problem. A new board is going to be window dressing. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70126 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70126 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:52:58 -0600 Okay expect a counterpoint on this tomorrow. I will only give you a preview to say this: if the DSB and DPB aren't doing their jobs, and we know the 2006 QDR was a bust, then yes, we do need to fire those committees and charter one that will do the job of getting us out of the Cold War mentality. Re: 21st cent military, no one (in Obama's camp) says we've lost the war, in fact we won the 2003 war. It's just that we don't appear to have a purpose in Iraq now other than to indefinitely sit between warring camps, and if our govt is unwilling to fully commit to the job and just trickle forces into the meatgrinder for the next 10-100 years, then yes, we need a new plan that continues the Army of Excellence. Re: nukes. IT'S A GOAL, not necessarily a four-year plan. It may surprise you to know that the US govt is a signatory of the NPT, which includes THE GOAL of eliminating all nukes. Doesn't mean we have to get there tomorrow, but we do have to show good faith in the arms control agreements that the Senate has approved. This administration eschews treaties - got it - but perhaps we could do something crazy like join (and lead) the international community again. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70125 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70125 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:40:43 -0600 This is what happens when you don't score above an 80 on the test over at Lex's blog...." MR T's Haircut | 02.27.08 - 2:31 am | # Ayup.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70122 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70122 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 10:26:47 -0600 McGovern http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70120 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70120 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:54:40 -0600 WTF phase. Part of me wants to say "Everyone needs to see this." After all, it's only 52 seconds long. However, the problem with that is comprehending it. Sure we get it. Especially with all the great resources we have here at the Castle. But what about the majority of America? The part that would score under 50 on that civics test? They still get to vote. The only hope is that they would read your breakdown after viewing the YouTube vid. I despair.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70119 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/obamas_defense.html#comment-70119 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:53:35 -0600