Category: foreign policy
Excuse me, would you stop hating us, please? Thanks!

I was watching the news this morning, like I do everyday. And, I caught General David Petraeus as he addressed a House appropriations subcommittee — voicing his concern about recent insurgent “homicide” bombings in Iraq. Gen. Patraeus warned that the progress in Iraq is still “fragile and reversible.” Then, in the background, I saw something a bit peculiar. A small sign rose from the small crowd of spectators, just over the general’s right shoulder. It said “FUND DIPLOMACY, NOT WAR.” Is it sinful to want to punch a stranger in the mouth? Forgive me, Lord.

Why are there so many people that want us to be a weak, pansy-France country that is just asking to be attacked? I don’t get it, what’s the purpose of being “liked” by spineless countries, when terrorist groups pose the greatest threat to our peace? I doubt that Al Qaeda is shaking in their boots because they saw Obama kissing Hugo Chavez square on the keister. They’re probably laughing at us.

Then you have this crap about “waterboarding.” There are actually some folks that still think that it was wrong that we waterboarded Khalid Shaikh Mohammed (9/11 mastermind). Of course, we were able to get information that thwarted future attacks and saved American lives. But, apparently to some people, waterboarding is “torture.” Do you think having your fingers cut off, being electrocuted, having your legs broken, and having water "poured in your face" are all equally, torture? Give me a break. If waterboarding is so “cruel” and despicable, then why do we use it on our own soldiers like Colonel Oliver North? He was routinely waterboarded in military training, and you don’t see him suing the government, do you?

I want my country back. I like the idea that the world fears the wrath of the United States. What’s wrong with that? Do these idiot libtards really think that our enemies will say, “well, we were going to implement a terrorist attack on America, but now that they have become so ‘nice,’ we just can’t follow through with it. LIFE TO AMERICA!” Come on, really? I can’t even fathom what goes on in the anti-war hippie's mind. I know what doesn’t, though — rational thought, reasoning and logic.

“Fund Diplomacy Not War.” What does that mean, anyway? When you were in school, did you know any bullies? How many blokes made peace by walking up to the bully and saying, “excuse me Mr. Bully, but can we just talk this out?” None. Bullies are bullies by definition. They want what they want and have no concern for the people in their way.

So, I suggest we gather up all of the anti-war hippies and send them over to the Middle East, armed with BFF necklaces and copies of “We Are the World.” Then, we would really witness the power of diplomacy.

 
Gaffes of international proportions

This will be short.

All ideology aside, I am embarrassed to be an American right now. Obama ran his campaign partially under the new paradigm of "mending international fences."

Well, this past week has left us with egg on our faces. First, Obama blatantly snubbed Prime Minister Gordon Brown from the United Kingdom. Not to mention that Obama had already returned a 9/11 gift from the UK.

On Friday, March 6, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with a "reset button" gift that was incorrectly inscribed with a word that had a completely different meaning than what was  supposedly "intended."


Clinton
: "I would like to present you with a little gift that represents what President Obama and Vice President Biden and I have been saying and that is: 'We want to reset our relationship and so we will do it together.'"

Clinton, laughing, added, "We worked hard to get the right Russian word. Do you think we got it?" she asked Lavrov.

"You got it wrong," Lavrov said." Both diplomats laughed. "It should be "perezagruzka" (the Russian word for reset,) Lavrov said. "This says 'peregruzka,' which means 'overcharged.'"

As if that were not enough, Clinton tried to save face after the press-conference with some words that simply made her to look as if she were "fishing" for a valid connotation of the incorrect word:

Clinton: "In a way, the word that's on the button turns out to be also true," Clinton said. "We are resetting, and because we are resetting, the minister and I have an overload of work."


It doesn't  matter to me which U.S. administration would carelessly make Americans look this stupid, I would be just as humiliated. We look extremely idiotic in the eyes of the international community because of these negligent actions.

 
Congress’ ‘Jubilee’ Act gives dictators a reason to celebrate

Congress is planning on using your money to pay the debts of foreign dictators.

You read that right. This week the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on HR 2634 — the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation — which will unconditionally erase billions in debt run up by African dictators.

Despite existing foreign aid programs, like the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, which establish strict eligibility conditions for American aid and debt relief, the Jubilee Act eliminates accountability standards and does nothing to prevent the rulers of corrupt developing nations from continuing to line their own pockets.

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