Comments on: Perpetual War for Perpetual War http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog @TAC Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:36:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dissident Voice : The Afghanistan-Pakistan War: Obama’s Vietnam? http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/perpetual/comment-page-1/#comment-9451 Dissident Voice : The Afghanistan-Pakistan War: Obama’s Vietnam? Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:14:35 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/blog/?page_id=2078#comment-9451 [...] the anarchy of lawless armed conflicts, with militarized empires involved in prolonged wars, if not perpetual wars, with colonial and imperial military occupations. If the collapse of the Soviet empire in 1991 has [...] [...] the anarchy of lawless armed conflicts, with militarized empires involved in prolonged wars, if not perpetual wars, with colonial and imperial military occupations. If the collapse of the Soviet empire in 1991 has [...]

]]> By: The Primary War Objective is to Deceive Americans: Bribe Iraq’s Militia and Declare the “Surge” a Success | America at War http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/perpetual/comment-page-1/#comment-8955 The Primary War Objective is to Deceive Americans: Bribe Iraq’s Militia and Declare the “Surge” a Success | America at War Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:04:34 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/blog/?page_id=2078#comment-8955 [...] Source: http://www.uruknet.com/?p=m56815&hd=&size=1&l=e http://www.amconmag.com/blog/perpetual/ [...] [...] Source: http://www.uruknet.com/?p=m56815&hd=&size=1&l=e http://www.amconmag.com/blog/perpetual/ [...]

]]> By: Jeff Huber http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/perpetual/comment-page-1/#comment-8813 Jeff Huber Tue, 11 Aug 2009 17:19:04 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/blog/?page_id=2078#comment-8813 Interesting idea about staying in the north, David. I'll have to mull that one over. Thanks for the stimulating suggestion. Best, Jeff Interesting idea about staying in the north, David. I’ll have to mull that one over. Thanks for the stimulating suggestion.

Best,

Jeff

]]> By: David Isenbergh http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/perpetual/comment-page-1/#comment-8807 David Isenbergh Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:25:22 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/blog/?page_id=2078#comment-8807 Very nice piece, Mr. Huber. Thanks. I'm surprised, but pleased to see American Conservative reflecting true conservative values, in the tradition of Edmund Burke, Prince Metternich, De Tocqueville, Mark Twain, Reinhold Niebuhr, Russell Kirk and Peter Viereck. Unfortunately, the term "conservative" has in recent decades been mostly associated with various forms of rightwing radicalism: laissez-faire, libertarianism, neo-conservatism, neo-imperialism, anti-scientism, etc. To get back to Mr. Huber: I agree that we should go about, in a methodical and disciplined way, pulling our troops out of Iraq --but with one exception: The one major region where our military is actually welcome is the Northeastern area populated by Kurds. We owe it to them, and to ourselves, to maintain a strong military presence there, to prevent the region from becoming a dangerous battleground for neighboring, hostile forces among Sunni and Shiite Iraqis, Iranians, and, quite possibly, our Turkish allies, who have been waging a protracted war against their own Kurdish nationalists. In all of Iraq, it is only here that we have a good chance of maintaining, through military & economic involvement, some regional stability and progress. By the way, when I use the term "Iraq," I do so guardedly: Iraq as a sovereign state ceased to exist the moment we overthrew Saddam Hussein in 2003. What we have is at least three incompatible entities --Shiite, Sunni Arab, and Kurdish-- pursuing their separate (and mostly conflicting) interests, cobbled together into a semblance of nationhood only by the strong hand of our military occupation (much as in the past Iraq was held together from Baghdad by other forms of arbitrary rule, including that of Saddam himself). The chances of Iraq again becoming a viable state are about as good as those of Yugoslavia. Very nice piece, Mr. Huber. Thanks.

I’m surprised, but pleased to see American Conservative reflecting true conservative values, in the tradition of Edmund Burke, Prince Metternich, De Tocqueville, Mark Twain, Reinhold Niebuhr, Russell Kirk and Peter Viereck. Unfortunately, the term “conservative” has in recent decades been mostly associated with various forms of rightwing radicalism: laissez-faire, libertarianism, neo-conservatism, neo-imperialism, anti-scientism, etc.

To get back to Mr. Huber: I agree that we should go about, in a methodical and disciplined way, pulling our troops out of Iraq –but with one exception: The one major region where our military is actually welcome is the Northeastern area populated by Kurds. We owe it to them, and to ourselves, to maintain a strong military presence there, to prevent the region from becoming a dangerous battleground for neighboring, hostile forces among Sunni and Shiite Iraqis, Iranians, and, quite possibly, our Turkish allies, who have been waging a protracted war against their own Kurdish nationalists. In all of Iraq, it is only here that we have a good chance of maintaining, through military & economic involvement, some regional stability and progress.

By the way, when I use the term “Iraq,” I do so guardedly: Iraq as a sovereign state ceased to exist the moment we overthrew Saddam Hussein in 2003. What we have is at least three incompatible entities –Shiite, Sunni Arab, and Kurdish– pursuing their separate (and mostly conflicting) interests, cobbled together into a semblance of nationhood only by the strong hand of our military occupation (much as in the past Iraq was held together from Baghdad by other forms of arbitrary rule, including that of Saddam himself). The chances of Iraq again becoming a viable state are about as good as those of Yugoslavia.

]]> By: Fred Jakobcic http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/perpetual/comment-page-1/#comment-8777 Fred Jakobcic Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:39:02 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/blog/?page_id=2078#comment-8777 It is amazing at the number of people who seem unaware of the perpetual war machine that is the United States Government, aided and abetted by Congress and whatever administration that is at the helm. The military is part of that machine, maybe too robotic in its part in the perpetuation of war in all its forms...overt and covert of which their are many variations. This has been gone on far too long in its benefits to the Military-Industrial-Complex. Is the foreign policy of the United States necessarky to keep the M-I-C in business and people at work and the many bases and other military installation in perpetuity. It is amazing at the number of people who seem unaware of the perpetual war machine that is the United States Government, aided and abetted by Congress and whatever administration that is at the helm. The military is part of that machine, maybe too robotic in its part in the perpetuation of war in all its forms…overt and covert of which their are many variations. This has been gone on far too long in its benefits to the Military-Industrial-Complex. Is the foreign policy of the United States necessarky to keep the M-I-C in business and people at work and the many bases and other military installation in perpetuity.

]]> By: hidflect http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/perpetual/comment-page-1/#comment-8749 hidflect Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:58:17 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/blog/?page_id=2078#comment-8749 As a liberal (can't afford Birkenstock sandals but I'm saving up...) I'm pleasantly surprised how often I agree with The A.C. Maybe this is what real conservatism is all about. As a liberal (can’t afford Birkenstock sandals but I’m saving up…) I’m pleasantly surprised how often I agree with The A.C. Maybe this is what real conservatism is all about.

]]> By: Perpetual War for Perpetual War « Dr Nasir Khan http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/perpetual/comment-page-1/#comment-8739 Perpetual War for Perpetual War « Dr Nasir Khan Mon, 10 Aug 2009 07:50:09 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/blog/?page_id=2078#comment-8739 [...] Jeff Huber | The American Conservative, Aug 8, [...] [...] Jeff Huber | The American Conservative, Aug 8, [...]

]]> By: Jaime http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/perpetual/comment-page-1/#comment-8733 Jaime Mon, 10 Aug 2009 02:46:34 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/blog/?page_id=2078#comment-8733 "...all they have to do is sit back and watch us collapse under the weight of our own stupidity." You're damn right, and it'll be fun for the rest of the world to watch how the arrogant, ignorant and criminal US becomes a second-class power. Then, don't expect sympathy. “…all they have to do is sit back and watch us collapse under the weight of our own stupidity.” You’re damn right, and it’ll be fun for the rest of the world to watch how the arrogant, ignorant and criminal US becomes a second-class power. Then, don’t expect sympathy.

]]> By: Sullly http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/perpetual/comment-page-1/#comment-8730 Sullly Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:58:58 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/blog/?page_id=2078#comment-8730 I do too, Jeff. The "saving face" and "we have to at least fix the mess" sentiments are pretty powerful, though. I do too, Jeff. The “saving face” and “we have to at least fix the mess” sentiments are pretty powerful, though.

]]> By: Charlie http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/perpetual/comment-page-1/#comment-8722 Charlie Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:13:08 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/blog/?page_id=2078#comment-8722 All of those who support the 2010-11 Defense Authorization bill of $636 billion are complicit in these ongoing wars. You can't have overseas wars without the money from Congress. All of those who support the 2010-11 Defense Authorization bill of $636 billion are complicit in these ongoing wars.

You can’t have overseas wars without the money from Congress.

]]> By: Jeff Huber http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/perpetual/comment-page-1/#comment-8721 Jeff Huber Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:06:18 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/blog/?page_id=2078#comment-8721 Willy, Butler is another excellent source of wisdom on the subject of war. Sully, I hope the reversal comes sooner than later. Jeff Willy,

Butler is another excellent source of wisdom on the subject of war.

Sully,

I hope the reversal comes sooner than later.

Jeff

]]> By: Llad http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/perpetual/comment-page-1/#comment-8719 Llad Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:44:32 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/blog/?page_id=2078#comment-8719 As more and more of our young soldiers come home with crippling wounds or in body bags, the military-industrial complex smiles. Economic recession be damned , the American Empire rolls on, As more and more of our young soldiers come home with crippling wounds or in body bags, the military-industrial complex smiles.

Economic recession be damned , the American Empire rolls on,

]]> By: Sullly http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/perpetual/comment-page-1/#comment-8717 Sullly Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:57:04 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/blog/?page_id=2078#comment-8717 We don't have a real plan. No one in the military can tell us what we're still doing over there, especially when we don't have any money to do it. They don't think beyond the numbers from power point briefs. It's all one self-licking ice cream cone. After all, it's only 4,000+ US troops dead, and we can just print more money. As soon our wars become "President Obama's Wars" completely and not "President Bush's Wars," there will arise some significant opposition, and that will begin our reversal of this whole neocon disaster. We don’t have a real plan. No one in the military can tell us what we’re still doing over there, especially when we don’t have any money to do it. They don’t think beyond the numbers from power point briefs. It’s all one self-licking ice cream cone. After all, it’s only 4,000+ US troops dead, and we can just print more money.

As soon our wars become “President Obama’s Wars” completely and not “President Bush’s Wars,” there will arise some significant opposition, and that will begin our reversal of this whole neocon disaster.

]]> By: Marc Liggin, CCCO http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/perpetual/comment-page-1/#comment-8712 Marc Liggin, CCCO Sun, 09 Aug 2009 15:35:19 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/blog/?page_id=2078#comment-8712 Jeff, Instead of studying Machiavelli, how about my pal Smedley Butler? War is, indeed, a racket. http://www.objector.org/War_is_a_Racket.html Jeff,

Instead of studying Machiavelli, how about my pal Smedley Butler?

War is, indeed, a racket.

http://www.objector.org/War_is_a_Racket.html

]]> By: willymack http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/perpetual/comment-page-1/#comment-8711 willymack Sun, 09 Aug 2009 15:23:15 +0000 http://www.amconmag.com/blog/?page_id=2078#comment-8711 War is a racket, and those who foment, promote, and incite them are racketeers, and the ONLY people who profit from them. The rest of us get to suffer or die. Politicians have gone the way of preachers, who over generations have set themselves up as direct pipelines to imaginary friends in the sky, and therefore above scrutiny or criticism. Both politicians and preachers have allied themselves with pathologically greedy criminals, who, in a sane world, would be shut up in asylums for the criminally insane. In other words, the loonies are running the asylum War is a racket, and those who foment, promote, and incite them are racketeers, and the ONLY people who profit from them. The rest of us get to suffer or die.
Politicians have gone the way of preachers, who over generations have set themselves up as direct pipelines to imaginary friends in the sky, and therefore above scrutiny or criticism.
Both politicians and preachers have allied themselves with pathologically greedy criminals, who, in a sane world, would be shut up in asylums for the criminally insane.
In other words, the loonies are running the asylum

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