Comments on: Who’s Not Giving Up on Romney?

By: djf

djf — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 00:21:00 +0000

The “contradiction” Mr. Callahan identifies between two “neocon narratives” does not exist. In the first place, no one is asserting that Iran will definitely “nuke” Israel as soon as it gets nuclear capability; the more likely danger is that nuclear capability will enable Iran to attack Israel in more conventional ways while chilling Israel’s will to defend itself for fear of triggering a nuclear conflict. (Nuclear capability would also enable Iran to threaten the West, e.g., by closing the Gulf Hormuz.) Secondly, Iran hides its support of terrorism (are you questioning that they do support terrorism?) to minimize the cost it pays for doing so (in terms of sanctions, etc.); past performance of the US and other Western countries show that Iran it has little reason to fear any sort of “retaliation” from them as long as it keeps the level of harm below the 9/11 level. In the unlikely event Iran actually fears any retaliation (other than from Israel) for its sponsorship of terrorism, having nuclear capability would further reduce such fears.

A lot of the discussion of the Iran issue seems to be premised on the notion that the choices are (1) launching a military attack or (2) continuing on the wishy-washy path taken up till now by the current US administration (and before it by the previous administration). Contrary to this view, knowledgeable observers I have read (e.g. Barry Rubin at PJ Media) opine that the US could be doing much more against Iran, WITHOUT launching a military attack. For example, we now agree to exempt such nice countries as Russia and China from cooperating with the sanctions that are in place. Obviously, to really get tough with Iran would hurt the business interests of other countries, and would complicate our relations with those other countries. Obama’s refusal to take such steps suggests that he is not really serious about stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear capability.

Finally, Mr. Callahn expresses faith that “most Iranians” wish to live, overlooking the fact that the relevant actor is not an amorphous group comprising “most Iranians,” but the oligarchic and unaccountable government of Iran (the elected president, good or bad, has little power).

By: Robert Cheeks

Robert Cheeks — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 03:17:14 +0000

Gene, and please keep in mind that I love your work at Voegelin View, but I might, respectfully suggest the point you’re not focusing on is the degree of derailment among our perverse Islamic friends.
I might suggest that your arguing as if our Islamic friend’s thinking represents reason grounded on a certain noesis. And, that simply isn’t the case.

By: Gene Callahan

Gene Callahan — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:30:07 +0000

Robert, I don’t have “faith” in that regime. But I also think that most Iranians, like most human beings, wish to live and would not, with the first nuke, attack a country with a 200-1 advantage in firepower.

Note how two neocon narratives about Iran run directly counter to each other:
1) Iran has been a covert sponsor of terrorist, being careful to work secretly behind the scenes so they won’t face retaliation; and
2) Iran is totally nuts, and will cheerfully nuke Israel because they don’t give a hoot about retaliation.

By: Pete Spiliakos

Pete Spiliakos — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 22:09:40 +0000

Apparently you include among the Obama administration among the “paranoid.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/president-obamas-2012-address-to-un-general-assembly-full-text/2012/09/25/70bc1fce-071d-11e2-afff-d6c7f20a83bf_print.html

Maybe when you find yourself on the same side as the Iranian regime and across from Secretary Clinton regarding Iran’s intentions, maybe you might want to rethink which side the “paranoid” are on (if any – could be a reasonable disagreement.) But you also seem to be under the impression that a President’s impact on abortion policy evaporates when their term expires.

So I guess you still have Jill Stein.

By: Robert Cheeks

Robert Cheeks — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 18:29:32 +0000

Gene, I’m really, really impressed with your trust of the Iranian Islamic regime.

By: Gene Callahan

Gene Callahan — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 10:41:46 +0000

“Apparently one pro-life Christian isn’t so concerned about a nuclear strike on Israel.”

No, apparently one pro-life Christian does not buy into the paranoid belief that a country that does not yet have a single nuclear weapon and has pledged it won’t acquire them is a nuclear threat to a country that has a couple of hundred nukes already.

By: Pseudoplotinus

Pseudoplotinus — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 15:05:17 +0000

Carl, an apt observation. As I took Peter’s use of the word “hate” as an ellipses for, among other things, an irresponsible opportunism on the part of the Obama administration to exploit the economic crisis as a means of advancing an alternative (and economically costly) agenda
having nothing to do with the economic crisis at hand. Unintentionally allowing Joseph to invoke the word “hate” as a liberal trope directed at a caricature of conservatives as incoherently angry by nature.

A good way to improve the quality of discourse among the different sides we have represented here would be to choose our language carefully, and to listen carefully. And to avoid the temptation of building straw men as convenient obstacles to truly understanding eachother.

By: Peter Lawler

Peter Lawler — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:06:54 +0000

cj, got the book. thanks.

By: Carl Eric Scott

Carl Eric Scott — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:04:50 +0000

CJ, I’m pretty sure our copy has already arrived, and only awaits my birthday for unveiling.

Joseph, I’m sure after looking over your (otherwise astute) comment, you’d agree that you and Peter should be using another word besides “hatred” here. “Passion,” perhaps?

By: CJ Wolfe

CJ Wolfe — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 14:39:59 +0000

Here’s something to cheer you up, Peter: on October 1st an Arkansas publisher releases “Escape Velocity: A Charles Portis Miscellany”. It’s Portis’ first book out in 20 years and contains “almost everything Portis has written outside the novels,” including a 3-act play. It’s probably got enough material for at least another TRUE GRIT STUDIES post.

http://www.amazon.com/Escape-Velocity-Charles-Portis-Miscellany/dp/1935106503

http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2012/sep/30/portable-charles-portis-20120930/