okay.. explain what he wants to do in foreign affairs in layman terms.. ( sometimes Ron Talks like he is John Adams reincarnate..and I have a hard time really getting a grasp on it.
okay.. explain what he wants to do in foreign affairs in layman terms.. ( sometimes Ron Talks like he is John Adams reincarnate..and I have a hard time really getting a grasp on it.
Ron Paul is and was the only person to understand,suggest and remind the American Public about the use, nature and purpose of
Letters of Marque and Reprisal.
It is in the Constitution, but not a great favorite of the Globalist Intervention Crowd.
For what it is worth.
Best regards,
Let's say JohnJacobH, Hazcat, and myself step off a jet back in 2001 in Kabul. We walk over to baggage and pick up a few rifles and head on down to the Khyber Pass intent on wackin' some Tallyban.
Well, you know, that is pretty much what H.Ross Perot did not too so terribly long ago.
In 1979, two EDS employees were taken hostage by the Iranian government. Perot directed a successful rescue mission composed of EDS employees and led by retired Green Beret Colonel Arthur “Bull” Simons. Perot himself went to Iran and entered the prison where his men were held. Ken Follett wrote a best selling novel, On Wings of Eagles, about the rescue. An NBC TV miniseries was later made from the book.
http://www.famoustexans.com/rossperot.htm (http://www.famoustexans.com/rossperot.htm)
Do not underestimate the power of a small band of dedicated operators. After all, just such a band of 19 blew up a few billion dollars of American real estate with little more than boxcutters for weapons on 09/11/01. Or so I am told.
Best regards,
For a quick primer:
http://www.progress.org/fold232.htm (http://www.progress.org/fold232.htm)
While in theory this sounds all well and good plus it's strait from the good ole constitution, but what are the pratical ramifications? Who would fullfill the letters? Blackwater type orgs? Private citizens? That is the sticky wicket. This was an answer to privateers or pirates, bascically small bands of brigands typically on the high seas, not the well armed, loosely organized terror operations of today. How would private citizens operate in a forgein country without the "big stick" of the US government? Let's say JohnJacobH, Hazcat, and myself step off a jet back in 2001 in Kabul. We walk over to baggage and pick up a few rifles and head on down to the Khyber Pass intent on wackin' some Tallyban. Not terribly effective. Now lets insert Blackwater. They have access to more weapons etc., but I wouldn't bet on spectacular results (I have been wrong before). Now lets remember reality. There were several groups of goat F-ers out in a field tending the loves of their lives... damn JDAM and a smoking crater. I may be a bit bias but I think the last approach is the right one. I guess I have a foot in the globalist intervetion crowd. Kinda like the guy in the last row house on the block helping the guy four houses down fight a fire: sooner or later it will be in my house as well.
From the article:
Since we have lost our confidence in the principles of liberty, self reliance, hard work and frugality, and instead took on empire building...
This is were Mr. Paul looses me and, I imagine, many others. I have lost no confidence in any of the above metioned priciples, again, as I imagine many other haven't. Doom! Dispair! I believe we should concentrate on attainable goals, and many of the others will fall into place. The first and easiest place is education. If you have kids, take them out of the public schools. They are indoctriation camps. Incourage relative and friends to do the same. Most of the leftist teaching today happens before a child is able to think for himself. If your child must be in a public school, take time to challege everything he is taught. It is called critical thinking and it is a dying art form. (And just a quick pet peeve: Empire building? If the US were empire building we wouldn't be the only superpower, we would be the only hemisphere. We give back territory after armed conflicts i.e. Japan, Cuba, et. al.)
Without starting my manifesto, I believe Mr. Paul and dyed-in-the-wool Libertarians have several good ideas in the domestic areana. However, when they step on to the world stage they loose a lot of credibility.
Thank you guys so much! Now THAT clears up a ton of stuff for me.
I really do have a hard time sometimes sifting through all the cornmeal to find the weavels. (my grandma used to say that ;) )
And I also don't have a lot of patience sometimes to take the time to do it either.
You guys all should be political teachers ..
hmmmm lets see...Down Range University...
Professors on staff:
Tombogan
Ericire
Brosometel
Twyacht
John Jacob
Scatology? ;DHazScat?
Haz is a professor alright.. but it isn't in the "politics room"..
;D ;D
Thank you guys so much! Now THAT clears up a ton of stuff for me.
I really do have a hard time sometimes sifting through all the cornmeal to find the weavels. (my grandma used to say that ;) )
And I also don't have a lot of patience sometimes to take the time to do it either.
Thanks. I am talking practicality and would rather pay for the fireworks. There is something nice about spontaneous explosion via the US Air Force. The effect of "shock and awe" is better received in the Arab world (a good read Saddam’s Secrets: How an Iraqi General Defied and Survived Saddam Hussein).
And equating Haz, you and I to the 9/11 fella's... well thems may be fightin' words.
All that aside, I detect a bit of, how to say, tin foil hat conspiracy in your tone (..."or so I am told."). Let a brotha know.
Down Range University...
Professors on staff:
Tombogan
Ericire
Brosometel
Twyacht
John Jacob
Methinks I detect a bit of, how to say, ad hominem in your tone for a mere statement of fact.
* I have been told*, is a simple truth. I must bring my knowledge and experience to bear on those details available for me to examine.
Now on the other hand,, from your point of view it seems you should pick a side and stick with it.
Either the only effective means of communication is from a large centrally organized well funded effort (shock and awe) or a small band of under-financed but highly dedicated gung ho operators can have an impact far beyond their relative strength. You can not have it both ways.
If shock and awe is only feasible option then the 19 plane hijackers had assistance far outside their publicized capabilities. That is no tin foil hat, that is simple deduction.
On the other hand if you, me and Hazcat were on Flight 93 and made a decision this atrocity would not happen on our watch regardless of the consequences to others on board, (including the chiiiildren-- and acted on that decision are we heros or just a slightly different set of wackos? Todd Beamer might not appreciate someone who referred to him as a tinfoil hat type if he were with us today.
Osama bin Laden issued a fatwah. If the United States refused to learn some manners in the Arab Tradition he would personally see to it some Arabs climb up our collective shoelace and bite us in the ankle. Hence September 11, 2001.
Ron Paul suggested what the CCW self defense community refers to as a PROPORTIONATE Response with his suggestion we match the fatwah with the Constitutionally permissible Letter of Marquee and Reprisal.
To wit(as an example):
This Administration has learned of a written threat (fatwah) against the United States from a group of unknown non-governmentally associated individuals. I have directed the Secretary of the Treasury to reserve a sum of $100,000,000 to be paid as a reward in increments or in total to those people who capture or kill any or all individuals acting in concert to carry out the terms and conditions of this fatwah against the United States or the citizens thereof.
Now if you wish to argue the merits of this approach, argue the merits, not the ad hominem tinfoil.
Best regards,
Methinks I detect a bit of, how to say, ad hominem in your tone for a mere statement of fact.
* I have been told*, is a simple truth. I must bring my knowledge and experience to bear on those details available for me to examine.
Now on the other hand,, from your point of view it seems you should pick a side and stick with it.
Either the only effective means of communication is from a large centrally organized well funded effort (shock and awe) or a small band of under-financed but highly dedicated gung ho operators can have an impact far beyond their relative strength. You can not have it both ways.
If shock and awe is only feasible option then the 19 plane hijackers had assistance far outside their publicized capabilities. That is no tin foil hat, that is simple deduction.
On the other hand if you, me and Hazcat were on Flight 93 and made a decision this atrocity would not happen on our watch regardless of the consequences to others on board, (including the chiiiildren-- and acted on that decision are we heros or just a slightly different set of wackos? Todd Beamer might not appreciate someone who referred to him as a tinfoil hat type if he were with us today.
Osama bin Laden issued a fatwah. If the United States refused to learn some manners in the Arab Tradition he would personally see to it some Arabs climb up our collective shoelace and bite us in the ankle. Hence September 11, 2001.
Ron Paul suggested what the CCW self defense community refers to as a PROPORTIONATE Response with his suggestion we match the fatwah with the Constitutionally permissible Letter of Marquee and Reprisal.
To wit(as an example):
This Administration has learned of a written threat (fatwah) against the United States from a group of unknown non-governmentally associated individuals. I have directed the Secretary of the Treasury to reserve a sum of $100,000,000 to be paid as a reward in increments or in total to those people who capture or kill any or all individuals acting in concert to carry out the terms and conditions of this fatwah against the United States or the citizens thereof.
Now if you wish to argue the merits of this approach, argue the merits, not the ad hominem tinfoil.
Best regards,
I read this statement, innocent enough. In a context of Ron Paul, I have to ask myself, "Why add the ...'Or so I am told?'" When added at the end of a factual statement, it would lead some readers to think that this may not be a fact, but a manufactured "truth". These were my thoughts: Hey, its a freeish country the last time I checked. Then my hamster started runnin' on his wheel and I added Ron Paul and truth and 9/11 and wha-la 9/11 truther! As stated before it is a freeish country and you have the right to be wrong (as I may be). This wasn't the main thrust of the thread so I mentioned it in passing in a silly light. (I have never seen a 9/11 truther in a tin foil hat, but there is a nice website if the need should arise http://www.ericisgreat.com/tinfoilhats/index.html (http://www.ericisgreat.com/tinfoilhats/index.html)) I, in no way, implied that Todd Beamer wore a tin foil hat. If that is the impression I gave, I am sorry my sense of written humor is lacking, but I digress.
M'ette-
Here is a good no nonsense run down on Ron Paul and where he stands on the issues (Its an easy and quick read):
http://www.issues2000.org/Ron_Paul.htm
Here are the highlights:
Ron Paul on Foreign Policy
* Can't spread our goodness through the barrel of a gun. (Feb 2008)
* We tax people to blow up bridges overseas then rebuild them. (Jan 2008)
* Cut off all foreign aid to Israel & to Arabs. (Dec 2007)
* Get out of South Korea and let two Koreas unify. (Dec 2007)
* Bush humble foreign policy was hijacked into nation-building. (Dec 2007)
* US must obey treaties human rights abroad. (Dec 2007)
* Focus on the Iraq war and foreign policy. (Dec 2007)
* Stop interfering with Latin America; talk & trade instead. (Dec 2007)
* Empires usually end by spending too much to maintain empire. (Dec 2007)
* Stronger national defense by changing our foreign policy. (Nov 2007)
* No constitutional or moral authority for US action in Darfur. (Sep 2007)
* Don't pressure Israel to give up land for promise of peace. (Sep 2007)
* Not US role to monitor eradication of legal slavery in Sudan. (Sep 2007)
* Avoid ratifying Law of the Sea Treaty. (Sep 2007)
* Right to spread our values, but wrong to spread by force. (Aug 2007)
* Interventionism perpetuated by politician's false patriotism. (Jun 2007)
* No foreign aid; no treaties that commit US to future wars. (Jun 2007)
* Our foreign policy is designed to protect our oil interests. (Jun 2007)
* Bush mistake: ran on humble foreign policy; now runs empire. (Jun 2007)
* Non-intervention is traditional American & Republican policy. (May 2007)
* Avoid double standard--follow international law. (Jun 2006)
* No nation-building; no world policeman; no pre-emptive war. (Jan 2006)
* UN membership leads to impractical military conflicts. (Feb 2003)
* Neutrality on Israel-Palestine; start by defunding both. (Dec 2001)
* Policy of non-intervention, neutrality, & independence. (Dec 1987)
* $140B to protect Europe creates competitive disadvantage. (Dec 1987)
* Foreign aid helps dictators, not the people of aided country. (Dec 1987)
* Voted NO on deterring foreign arms transfers to China. (Jul 2005)
* Voted NO on reforming the UN by restricting US funding. (Jun 2005)
* Voted YES on keeping Cuba travel ban until political prisoners released. (Jul 2001)
* Voted YES on withholding $244M in UN Back Payments until US seat restored. (May 2001)
* Voted NO on $156M to IMF for 3rd-world debt reduction. (Jul 2000)
* Voted NO on Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China. (May 2000)
* Voted NO on $15.2 billion for foreign operations. (Nov 1999)
* Allow Americans to travel to Cuba. (May 2000)
* Foreign aid often more harmful than helpful . (Dec 2000)
* Ban foreign aid to oil-producers who restrict production. (May 2001)
* Sponsored bill invalidating International Criminal Court. (Mar 2003)
* Sponsored bill to end the Cuban embargo. (Apr 2003)
* Sponsored resolution to withdraw from UNESCO. (Jun 2004)
Basically a total isolationist....... If he had been in charge back when Hitler was around, then Hitler would have ruled the world and Paul would have just sat back and watched.
----> He also thinks 9/11 was our fault:
*9/11 resulted from blasphemy of our bases in Saudi Arabia. (Dec 2007)
*Suicide terrorism stops when we stop intervening abroad. (Dec 2007)
*We don't need any troops abroad--they don't help our defense. (Dec 2007)
*Habeas corpus always applies, even to Guantanamo. (Dec 2007) (That means that all terrorists have the right to a day in a U.S. court - Innocent until proven guilty)
*Governments orchestrate fear to throw their weight around. (Jun 2007)
*Military aggressiveness weakens our national defense. (May 2007)
You said it a whole lot better than what I can.
I already posted about how Jeffersonian democracy didn't even work for Jefferson, but I have one question, if WE are not the worlds policeman then who CAN or would do the job ? Russia ? China ? I'm sure THEY would be impartial.
The concept of not being “the world’s policeman” and the theory of "isolationism" works about as well as theories on gun control, communism and time travel. There are some very bad people out there that want you to bow to east and pray five times a day. If someone doesn’t have the sand to stop their goat loving asses, they will be in your zip code with a raging hard-on to subjugate you to their religion and will.
Tell me how isolationism works with radical Islam? Who’s going to stop them? I am trying to think of when in history did an isolationist position ever work for anyone?
Paul and Barr are cheese eating surrender monkeys.