(1) Two important points in these two Bibi tweets.
Pt 1: The US has "other ways of expressing its influence in the area."
Pt 2. Nothing stops Israel from taking whatever self defense actions needed.
So, all will be well. No need for alarm. #TwoWaysToWin, actually several.
Pt 1: The US has "other ways of expressing its influence in the area."
Pt 2. Nothing stops Israel from taking whatever self defense actions needed.
So, all will be well. No need for alarm. #TwoWaysToWin, actually several.
(2) Bibi's other tweet. So far these two tweets have had very few retweets.
It always amuses me when the beltway completely loses its shit for 24 hours, when all they had to do was a bit of ordinary research to find the real story. Lulz.
It always amuses me when the beltway completely loses its shit for 24 hours, when all they had to do was a bit of ordinary research to find the real story. Lulz.
(3) I vehemently oppose both the Democrats' national security policy AND the moronic isolationism of the Rand Paul/Steve Bannon wings of our side of the political spectrum.
Obviously, Trump is no longer a Bannonist on national security, THANK GOD!
Obviously, Trump is no longer a Bannonist on national security, THANK GOD!
(4) Out of all the wars that Obama started or in other cases wrecked for 8 years, Syria at this point is arguably the most dispensable for the US.
I'm not worried about the proposed withdrawal in the slightest. Israel has had the situation well in hand for nearly two years.
I'm not worried about the proposed withdrawal in the slightest. Israel has had the situation well in hand for nearly two years.
(5) Israel has been neutralizing the Syria-based Iranian forces and Iran-backed forces since Trump took office in January 2017. The US has focused more on the same players in Iraq and elsewhere.
If US-UK-FR air strikes are needed again, withdrawing troops makes no difference.
If US-UK-FR air strikes are needed again, withdrawing troops makes no difference.
(6) The 3 allies have plenty of regional capability that is within range of Syrian targets. I am certain that if Trump had credible information that the number of ISIS fighters in Syria could not be addressed by US partners (eg Israel), he wouldn't withdraw the troops.
(7) Far more important for the policy debate within the US right now, is what to do about terrorists & Iran's malign influence in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Qatar, Turkey, Lebanon, Yemen, and several African countries. I'd rather hear the Syria pundits' views on those threats.
(8) I've spent the past few weeks bingeing on military history docos from WWI, WWII, & subsequent conflicts. It's fascinating, and highly relevant to the present day.
I believe we must keep faith with the work of those who came before us. Our enemy is a shapeshifter.
I believe we must keep faith with the work of those who came before us. Our enemy is a shapeshifter.
(9) Islamic National Socialism is the ideology that has outsmarted us for generations, now. It morphs into communist expansionism, the PLO, Al Qaeda, ISIS, the IRA, ETA, Hamas, and Hezbollah. It will morph into another form eventually.
Are we going to do what it takes to win?
Are we going to do what it takes to win?
(10) We all accept that the US cannot be everywhere. Choices have to be made. When the time is right an ally or group of allies can take over the lead in a given conflict. What we must not continue doing is walking away from a conflict just bc it is icky. That's the wrong lesson.
(11) Eisenhower & Kennedy each had a rational, workable plan for stopping Communist expansion through Asia, when it had reached Vietnam.
It was Johnson who completely messed up that country, leading the American public to learn the wrong lesson from that decade.
It was Johnson who completely messed up that country, leading the American public to learn the wrong lesson from that decade.
(12) The lesson I draw from US involvement in the Vietnam War is not that a potential quagmire must be avoided at all costs. It's that when you go in to defend your vital interests, you better give it everything and stay the course.
Johnson didn't are about US interests at all.
Johnson didn't are about US interests at all.
(13) From his first day in office, Johnson was blinded by his selfish ambitions in domestic policy. He thought he didn't have to make nat'l security his top priority, or even a high priority. He didn't actually care if Communism spread to South Vietnam, or elsewhere.
(14) In 1964, Communist expansionism, assisted by domestic players, was the number one threat to US national security (after a nuclear bomb detonation.)
In 2018, it's international terrorism. (And some of them have nukes.)
In 2018, it's international terrorism. (And some of them have nukes.)
(15) If a competent, ethical President had been in office on November 24, 1964, US involvement in Vietnam would have succeeded, and quickly.
Of course, Islamic National Socialist terrorism was attacking the US long before 9/11/01, but that's the day most of us woke up to it.
Of course, Islamic National Socialist terrorism was attacking the US long before 9/11/01, but that's the day most of us woke up to it.
(16) There are two seminal works explaining this phenomenon: @FieldOfFight by national hero @GenFlynn, and Gander, by his friend saulmontes-bradley.com.
I will never forget my thoughts and feelings on 9/12/01. None of us should forget them.
I will never forget my thoughts and feelings on 9/12/01. None of us should forget them.
(17) Because of the time zone difference, the mid morning of 9/11/01 was the early hours of 9/12/01 here in NZ. Color photos of the twin towers being attacked made the front page of our morning newspapers.
I realized that if I was able to enlist in the military, I would have.
I realized that if I was able to enlist in the military, I would have.
(18) If we'd learned the lessons from Pearl Harbor, where almost as many people were murdered as they were on 9/11, there wouldn't have been a 9/11, or a Vietnam War.
The lesson: The only way to have peace is #PeaceThroughStrength.
The lesson: The only way to have peace is #PeaceThroughStrength.
(19) Yes, I'm concerned that a number of ISIS fighters are still in Syria. Frankly, they're all over the world. Look at how many thousand people are on the terrorist watch list in each European country. Look at how many attacks in the US are being thwarted by the rank & file FBI.
(20) Almost all current FBI staff are heroes, bc they work diligently every day to prevent crime, including the next Pearl Harbor or 9/11. We never see how many lives would have been lost if they hadn't thwarted these attacks.
Comey & co placed that work at grave risk.
Comey & co placed that work at grave risk.
(21) Knowing Trump's values on national security, honed by years of studying military and other history, I don't believe for one moment that he'd withdraw the troops from Syria without a better way to see the goals achieved.
He understands the lessons of the past.
He understands the lessons of the past.
(22) Every person who is attacking this decision, whether from the Democrat side, the Rand Paul wing, or the Steve Bannon wing, is ill-informed about contemporary strategies/capabilities, and the national security lessons of the past century.
I just ignore their ramblings.
I just ignore their ramblings.
(23) Not interested in muh Russia, muh WMDs, muh NWO talk. Tell it to someone who cares.
I believe Trump's decision is an excellent one, and I look forward to the naysayers having to admit that in due course.
Meanwhile, I need some more popcorn. And cowbell.
END
I believe Trump's decision is an excellent one, and I look forward to the naysayers having to admit that in due course.
Meanwhile, I need some more popcorn. And cowbell.
END
