The spread of ISIS is terrifying. I hope they can be defeated. I understand how emotionally people are tempted to suppress their doubts about the US recommitting itself to a massive military buildup in Iraq, and possibly Syria, in order to defeat these fighters. Besides, many of us still HOPE Barack Obama might be able to succeed as president and hate to be seen as giving comfort to the enemy. By which I mean, the Republicans. (I only half-jest.) So here are two VERY SMART people, Jon Stewart and US Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Powers. Powers is awfully darn close in her thinking to the Neo-Conservatives who launched the damn series of wars against Muslim countries under the Bush 2 administration. But her language has a slightly more sophisticated gloss on it. She likes to speak of humanitarian interventionism rather than use the grab the oil language of Dick Cheney and the earlier bunch. Jon Stewart does a good job of gently pressing her for an answer: Why is it going to work out better this time? And, Isnt this multi-national coalition mostly a fiction, with the US military carrying most of the load? And if the threat is so existential, should the other nations of the region organize themselves to fight this without relying upon US leadership? Powers IS smart and is given a fair chance. But she relies upon glib platitudes and evasions. She has no convincing answers to Jons questions. This may be the best 5 minutes you could spend if you want to give our growing war as worthy of your attention.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 22:31:35 +0000
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