Wednesday, January 21, 2009

The Justness of our Cause

From Obama's speech...."They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint."

Do you believe that our security "emanates from the justness of our cause"?

What about the rest of the statement? I'm hoping our enemies also use their 'qualities of humility and restraint' in planning dirty bombs or nuclear attacks here. But, of course, some people honestly don't believe in the promise of terror training camps or messages from Al Qaeda, either... 9/11, to some, is a rare event we should have known was coming and prevented it (apparently the Left feels Bush should have canceled all air travel forever because the message was unspecific but talked about airplanes, right?).

The line about security is troubling...........really, really naive.....and troubling.

z



59 comments:

Ducky's here said...

(apparently the Left feels Bush should have canceled all air travel forever because the message was unspecific but talked about airplanes, right?).

----------------------

Wrong, however we are curious that a policy of hardened cockpit doors, which would have prevented the worst of the tragedy, was never adopted even though it had been recommended.

The airlines decided it was "too expensive". So once again the "free market"(LMAO) fails us.

Z said...

No. Focus, Ducky.
The left blames Bush who "had information something would happen on airplane and did nothing" We've all heard this at least 100 times. He didn't prevent it from happening.
How did they propose that?
No flight numbers were given.
No passports published "These are the people and THAT's the day!"
How should they have stopped it?

Conditions on planes have been vastly improved and pilots are satisfied with that..sorry you have a problem with it. We don't work on knee-jerk "sounds wonderful" solutions.

Bush had little to say on it. I'm sure Obama's people will get right on that....no worries.

CJ said...

I simply have no idea what his majesty meant about the justness of our cause being our security. I can't put any clear meaning to the words at all. If he'd meant that God will protect us if we obey God, THAT I believe, but it doesn't sound like he meant that.

shoprat said...

Honorable intentions work with honorable enemies but not simple bullies and hatemongers. If they simply hate you on principle than there is nothing you do but defend yourself.

If possible so far as it is up to you be at peace with all men St. Paul (Romans 12: 18) Sadly it is not always up to us, especially when they simply want to kill us.

CJ said...

Or, if he meant "justness of our cause" as defined by our enemies, which I'm afraid is what he probably means, the man is a madman.

CJ said...

As shoprat said.

Rita Loca said...

People do not seem to understand the vulnerability of under estimating a vicious enemy.
Maybe it is because our modern society is such a protected, sterile place.
I say this because I have been 'pursued' by real predators, and I know I want a big weapon at all times...just in case. The jaguar could care less about 'the justness of my cause' and neither can the terrorists.
Very naive.

Ducky's here said...

I don't know, shoprat. The Syrians who live three doors up from me are pretty friendly. They don't seem to want to kill me.

Most of your enemies are in your mind.

Ducky's here said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ducky's here said...

Have you seen the peace loving videos of the Palestinians in Ft. Lauderdale? "nuke Israel" "Israel doesn't exist" "Go back to the ovens, you need bigger ovens". Yeah, really peaceful people.

--------------------------

What's that got to do with my neighbors, Mr. Strawman?

Ducky's here said...

Dear World:

We, the United States of America , your top-quality supplier of the ideals of liberty and democracy,
would like to apologize for our 2001-2008 interruption in service. The technical fault that led to this eight-year service outage has been located, and the software responsible was replaced November 4.
Early tests of the newly installed
program indicate that we are now operating correctly,the old software program was permanently removed on January 20. We apologize for any inconvenience
caused by the outage.
We look forward to resuming
full service and hope to improve in years to come. We thank you for your patience and understanding,


Sincerely,
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

CJ said...

As I understand it, Dr. Mengele was a very nice neighbor while he was in hiding. Probably even to Jews.

elmers brother said...

What's that got to do with my neighbors, Mr. Strawman?

what's your neighbors got to do with terrorists, Mr. Strawman?

Brooke said...

That speech was simply foolishness.

Chuck said...

Duck, your revered Clinton was actually warned more than a year before 9/11 about airplanes being used as weapons. Why didn't he do something? I won't even start on the whole bit about how he was offered Osama and refused him.

Ducky's here said...

My revered Clinton? Where did that come from?

Z said...

Ducky...are you nuts?

you HONESTLY feel that ALL OF US hate ALL Syrians or Iraqis or Iranians or all muslims?

WHAT? You're getting positively scary.

A better LETTER TO THE WORLD might read this way:

Dear World:

We, the United States of America , your top-quality supplier of the ideals of liberty and democracy,
would like to apologize that the man who helped you for the last 8 years is out of office and we have a man so obviously clueless.

We're hoping this four year interruption in the great service from America of helping AIDS in AFrica, removing a mad dictator from the world, fighting terrorists where they are instead of letting too many infiltrate all our countries, showing dignity and class at governmental gatherings, and so many other things will not make you or us suffer too badly.

Early tests of the newly installed
program indicate that we are now operating in a world where our being 'just' will turn terrorists away from hurting us. So, World..get 'just', and you can put away all those expensive anti-terror programs we've been helping you with.

We're so sorry that you won't be able to count on America anymore for the next four years. We are not sure that your people have quite realized the implications of THE ONE and how weak he is in so many areas, and we are praying you never have to find out what it will be without the America whose military and charity work have been that great light to all your cities.

We thank you for your patience and understanding and we ask for your prayers. We're facing a dangerous world with our hands and our brains tied behind our backs now. Wish us well.


Sincerely,
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

I.H.S. said...

Z, I know you may not like this comment, but I really didn't find what he said in that statement all that troubling to me.

To me he was speaking about our ability to restrain ourselves even in the midst of an unrestrained world, because with the power we have we could possibly do as we please; which would put the entire world against us.

A bully is hated by more than the persons they are bullying, but a strongman that shows temperance and justice with his power is loved and respected by many.

By no means does this mean we won't have enemies. We will always have enemies no matter how much we show compassion and restraint, but there does come a time when the truth of our abilities must be exercised effectively and concise.

So, Z let not heart be trouble, God takes care of His own no matter who's in power.

Blessings.

Anonymous said...

But Z, the UN will defend us all now!


BWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA

Z said...

I just spoke with some Eastern Europeans who immigrated here thirty years ago. They are devastated to think that what they escaped from is happening here in America, the country they hoped to keep them safe, where they were certain socialism wouldn't happen, where leaders didn't flip other politicians off in public, etc etc..... They're scared of the implications of Gitmo closing and the naivite exhibited in the inauguration speech, they're scared of seeing their success in this country taken from them in the way of taxes and big gov't programs when they'd finally made it, were going to be the first in their ancestry to leave something to their children. This is very sad.

Z said...

I'll be back later, I.H.S...I have plenty to say on that subject and I agree with much of what you wrote...but I believe we have to remember how significantly our enemy could hurt our country.

See you tonight...

Greywolfe said...

nope. I don't hate all of them. I don't even hate the one's I believe deserve to die, I just don't trust the ones that show their colors to those of terrorists.

CJ said...

If we haven't already DEMONSTRATED our customary restraint over the last eight years, it is scary to think what would be required to meet the qualifications for restraint. I'm not buying that implication that what we've done in Iraq is some kind of bullying.

CJ said...

It isn't ABOUT neighbors, individual Muslims, for pete's sake. It never has been. It's about the IDOLOGY of ISLAM which wants us all dead or in dhimmitude.

CJ said...

That's idEology.

Thomas Lawrence said...

"our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint."

Translation: you can do whatever you want to us (America) and we'll look the other way because we're the great satan and we deserve it all.

I see Ducky is still suffering the ravages of Bob Jonesophobia lol.

Anonymous said...

I don't know why we have police. My neighbors have never done anything that would get them arrested.

I don't know why we have wheel-chair ramps. My neighbors can walk just fine.

I don't know why we need universal health care. My neighbors are perfectly healthy.

Am I right? Back me up on this one, Ducky.

--Tio Bowser

elmers brother said...

No, I do not believe that, z. However, some of you do. Mr. "here comes war with magog" Greywolfe is exhibit 1.

it's because duhkkky never sticks around long enough to finish conversations e.g.

I told him my family financiallly supports an organization that builds wells, schools etc in Muslim countries

yet he still thinks that I just want to nuke 'em and let God sort 'em out.

the man (if indeed you could call him that) doesn't have the stomach or the spine to do more than just a hit and run.

elmers brother said...

No, I do not believe that, z. However, some of you do. Mr. "here comes war with magog" Greywolfe is exhibit 1.

Duhkkky wouldn't know who Magog is because Magog is not a part of the Sermon on the Mount.

Anonymous said...

I found the speech to be largely regurgitated pap. He shot down the only worthy part of the speech with his actions this morning where he suspended Gitmo trials.

Morgan

christian soldier said...

Bullies always rely on the advantage of terrorizing those who will not or cannot fight back ...
ex: Let's go back to the days when airline passengers were told not to fight back if hijacked...the 9/ll hijackers relied on that ruling...Thank God the passengers on one of the 4 planes were informed about the WTC and ACTED ...
Obama knows---believe me---

The question is -- are we willing to ACT if our founding documents such as the Constitution are mauled and our freedom is slowly taken away?
C-CS

Bloviating Zeppelin said...

SECURITY EMANATES FROM THE DECISIVENESS AND COURAGE OF OUR WARRIORS. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

BZ

Rick Allen said...

Z-
Good of you to bring this one up.
I'm trying, I'm really trying to cut this guy any slack possible. But I fear many good Christian friends and folks I know have, in my opinion, drank a little too much of the Obama cool-aid.

Tio and Bloviating Zepplin got it right... making different but clear common sense statements.

At best, I believe the man may be sincere in his belief that he can rescue America...resue her from what he perceives as the terrible damage done by Bush...something he kept alluding too in his speech, with Bush a few feet away.

Its like many of you have wisely stated in different ways.... he probably is a great father and husband and its nice he helped out at the soup kitchen the other day...(I'll bet everyone of you do that also from time to time WITHOUT making public show of it!)

Its simply this... He is dangerously naieve at best.... I suspect he, like most liberals, does NOT accept or believe in the harsh reality of incarnate EVIL!.... there is always some other explanation for why men program their children to blow themselves up in Jewish cafes or Christian churches...or fly airplanes into buildings.

Thus, he mocks men like Bush, at least indirectly, and all the brave men and women who have paid such a terrible price in confronting these evil empires of the past.

The military tribunals were the perfect and historically sound form of justice for these people at Gitmo. These are not bank robbers or even folks who killed someone out of rage or passion of the moment. These people were bent on mass murder on the scale of a Hitler and Stalin. Some have even publically stated so!

Obama's first day in office, seems to me, has been a disaster in the making and has sent the very signal to our enemies they wanted to hear.

Rick Allen said...

And I now realize I did not even address the question at hand...

... so like CJ and others, I am completely in the dark as to what the man meant by the 'justness of our cause being our security'? and thank you Bloviating Zepp and others for reminding us who to thank for our security... the goodness of God in Heaven and the millions of men and women who fought and died or were injured in the wars that we had to fight.

-----
this kind of Obama-silly talk upsets me because its simply wrong and ignorant in its content, it denies tribute to the real heros in our country, it deepens my suspicion that the man doesn't have a clue about the history of this country or even life on this planet!

Z said...

Since I.H.S. is the only person here who has a different slant on what I wrote (what Obama said) ...other than Ducky, but you've all tackled him well without me!...I'd like to address this to my friend I.H.S.:

Are you addressing more the quote about humility and restraint? Because I DO understand what you're saying there.......While I think we have shown MIGHTY restraint in what we've done (not hitting Iraq harder, which MIGHT have ended the war sooner, not hitting Iran, Syria, etc.), I think our islamist enemies don't RESPECT humility OR restraint. It's a VERY different mindset in the Middle East, especially with that bunch, and I think our intelligence isn't up to snuff on that...PRIDE, POWER...they are EVERYTHING. The PEOPLE of those areas might think we're nice to exercise restraint and humility, but not much; and our enemies will only USE it.

As for the comment about our JUST CAUSE keeping us safe.......I can NEVER understand that one....It's the most naive thing I can imagine telling our enemies.

Nothing we ARE is going to keep us safe, sadly..just or unjust; they want us hurt, they want Israel to disappear. We have to change that!! NO?

Z said...

will be back later..

ALL of you; great comments!!!

Average American said...

I think NObama, in his egotistical mind really does believe he has all the answers, but we know otherwise. He knows nothing about military life or values, he was never in the military. He knows not what it is like to be hard pressed to provide for a family, he's never been poor. He can't fathom what a real job entails, he's never had one. It's not just a lack of experience as concerns politics or being a leader or making executive decisions that is missing from his resume, its his inexperience in ANYTHING valuable that is so alarming. The ONLY hope I can cling to is that he is a fast enough learner to overcome his deficit background. I continue to pray that I am wrong, but I doubt it.

DaBlade said...

Z you seem to have struck a chord with this one! I have noticed something though...

Day one. No hurricanes. Coincidence?

Obviously, Katrina was another failure of the free markets.

Law and Order Teacher said...

And so it begins. Delaying the tribunals for 120 days is just the beginning. He'll cancel them if he can.

I am interested to see the food fight that is evolving over where to park the guests of the US in Gitmo. They're about as popular as nuclear waste or in Kennedy's case, wind farms. Around and around they go, where they will be dropped nobody knows.

This is not to mention the gargantuan costs of relocating them from a perfectly located prison. It gets really cold in Kansas. Their tootsies might freeze. I doubt they'll end up in Illinois. Or maybe we can put them in a cell with Blago.

Z said...

I want all the Gitmo guys delivered to the White House for housing.

Done!

I just wish someone at the WH these days would understand WHY we had them OFF our shores......I wish they'd understand THESE ARE VERY BAD GUYS! The left says they only hate us because we treat them badly!

They eat better than most Americans do and have free healthcare, etc etc...grrrr!!

Law and Order Teacher said...

Z,
BTW, I went to the Die Welt website. They had a very interesting article on the rise of the "new Marxists." It's worth a read. Thanks again, for the heads up.

Papa Frank said...

Don't be too hard on poor Obama......he was just saying what was on the teleprompter.

Anonymous said...

I like Larry T Durhan's translation.

I hate listening to politicians speak. So uninspiring. So ambiguous. Such a pansy.

Misfit410 said...

"The Syrians who live three doors up from me are pretty friendly. They don't seem to want to kill me."

I find that hard to believe, they may not want to destroy America, but everyone wants you dead Ducky.

I.H.S. said...

Z, first off I appreciate the tone in which you respond. You always especially in resonding to what I've said with respect, and I think that is very admirable.

Now, to attempt to answer you what you have asked me. Yes, maam I was adressing the quote, because I do agree with you that we have enemies that could care less about our ability to restrain ourselves and show great humility. That is why I said this,"...but there does come a time when the truth of our abilities must be exercised effectively and concise".

Finally, look at the the statement of "...just cause" this way, are you secure in the decision that was made to go into Iraq and Afghanistan? would you agree that we had just cause to go? This is what I think and believe he meant by having security in the justness of our cause.

I hope I answered you alright, and again like I've said some weeks ago on another one of your posts; I'm by no means an expert when it comes to politics.

Blessings.

Z said...

Misfit! TSK TSK. I don't want Ducky dead.

I.H.S.....Obama doesn't feel we were justified going into Iraq or Afghanistan. I see your point if I'm right that you're suggesting our 'just causes', fighting hard for what we think is right, will be our successes and keep us safe, but HE doesn't think they're 'just', so I'm not sure I follow you!

Am I correct in surmising that's what you mean? Instead of the naivite of obama's suggestion that 'if we are in the RIGHT, we are safe!'?

I like differences of opinion! I just don't like rudeness or belittling of conservatism here...like some commenters are want to do, I.H.S.

thanks so much.

Ducky's here said...

Well the let's finish the conversation, Elmo.

I don't know what countries you are digging wells in. Why not tell us.

But remember this about charity. Often it's there to make you feel good and little more.
You'll still get a woody over the Gaza attacks and still consider all Arab interests subservient to Israel's.

You'll support trashing Lebanon, what was once a true democracy and then start mouthing some fairy tale about bringing democracy to Iraq after you supported trashing the country for no good reason.

Any of us who have some humanity support charity but those with sense know it is not enough in itself to resolve issues.

Your on the far religious right, Elmo. Your goal is the fulfillment of the eschatological destruction of earth.
Your time is over. You've been told to move aside and stop the nonsense.

I.H.S. said...

Z, I would like to believe that he was speaking from the precepts of our founding principles and not so much his own ideas. he may not believe we were just to go over there, but IF he is honest with himself then he knows we were.

Z, hope isn't hope if you can touch it or see it; that's why I will HOPE that he is the president we need him to be.

Blessings.

elmers brother said...

Your on the far religious right, Elmo. Your goal is the fulfillment of the eschatological destruction of earth.
Your time is over. You've been told to move aside and stop the nonsense.

But remember this about charity. Often it's there to make you feel good and little more.


Since when duhkkky? Show me any statement where I have isssued such proclamations about the end times.

I have no idea when the eschatalogical destruction of the earth is...it may be in my lifetime...it might not be. If you knew anything about the Bible short of the Sermon on the Mount you'd know that Christ himself said no one knows the time nor the hour.

Until then I live my life with a short account both to God and to man.

I don't know what countries you are digging wells in. Why not tell us.

I financially support people who do duhkkky. I dug wells, built orphanages, schools and provided relief while I was in the service. I did it with a happy heart...not because it was my duty or because it felt good.

Any of us who have some humanity support charity but those with sense know it is not enough in itself to resolve issues.

What do you suggets duhkkky? A little chit chat with the terrorists? I suppose now you're going to suggest we find out Hamas' strategic goals.

I suggest a review of the conversation we had in which you displayed a disgusting lack of knowledge when it came to Pan Arabism and Pan Islamism...also as part of your class time I suggest a review of Hamas' website so that you can plan the next sit down for Hillary.

elmers brother said...

and duhkkky I didn't mention my support of a charity that works in Muslim nations because it feels good...I mention it because you think you can marginalize by stating that all conservatives think the same way.

We can play that game too duhkkky.

elmers brother said...

Any of us who have some humanity support charity but those with sense know it is not enough in itself to resolve issues.

Please provide a statment that I have made where I have ever suggested that charity was enough to resolve these very complicated issues.

Strawman Duhkkky.

JMK said...

GeeeeeZ, overall the inaugural address was a good beginning. It wasn't earth-shattering, and it wasn't pedestrian.

He had to walk a fine line between ebullience over the history of the occassion and the solemness of the times we're in...I think he hit that mark.

In the same speech he said, "They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint" he also said, "We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense. And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."

The latter line strikes a very strong tone on the WoT.

As I've said to others, I'll certainly criticize the policies that are wrong-headed/Left-wing, but I'm not going to worry much over the closing of Gitmo, so LONG as none of those mopes wind up here in the USA, which isn't going to happen.

I'm not going to worry much about Iraq either at this point.

The surge eradicated the last of the insurgency and the Iraqi government already controls most of its domestic security. At this point U.S. forces are largely involved in the re-building process (not really our job) and training Iraqi military and police.

Obama is inheriting a situation where he can afford to draw down on iraq and accelerate the military intervention in Afghanistan.

I'd save the energy for real problems, like calling a plan that's comprised of at least half welfare spending (in the form of an increased EITC) a "tax cut."

The across-the-board income tax rate cuts INCREASED tax revenues every year since their inception. The $500 "middle class tax cut" that the incoming administration is promising won't INCREASE tax revenues at all and will increase the already groaning national debt.

On the WoT, we have the NSA intercepts (even Obama ultimately supported the Bill that gave the telecom companies immunity), Bob Gates is in as SoD and Dennis Blair is in as DNI...there's not going to be much more than cosmetic change in the WoT.

Z said...

JMK....Blair disappoints; He wants Gitmo closed...BADLY

elmers brother said...

You've been told to move aside and stop the nonsense.

Are you referring to Obama's election duhkkky? it's hysteria. nothing more. The man has done nothing more than to get himself elected.

The ones who will fade are those like yourself duhkkky who have no moral courage or compass. Whose values change with the wind. The constant moral relativity couched in terms like 'progressive' and 'liberal'. That's what makes you dangerous duhkkky.

In fact I feel sorry for you. I think you're jealous. You wish you had moral clarity but instead you're mired in wishy washy politics and religion without relationship.

The only way you can justify your existence is to tear down the very thing you wish you had.

Move aside duhkkky? I don't think so.

Anonymous said...

A certain Vice president AL Gore had a lot to do with safety recommendations for aircraft.

Please, some people need to get their data straight.
ANd TOm Dachle's wife was a big time airliner lobbyist.


But, anyhow, hardened doors would not stop a terrorist attack.

Hardened laws aimed at stoping terrorists might have stopped terrorist attacks.

If only we just didn't fly planes, travel at all.
THAT would really reduce chances of attacks wouldn't it?




The comments from that speech are absolutely stupid.
I am sorry, but they are just plain old gobblety goop.


WVDOTTR

Z said...

"Hardened laws aimed at stoping terrorists might have stopped terrorist attacks."

Well put, WVDOTTR....exactly.

JMK said...

"JMK....Blair disappoints; He wants Gitmo closed...BADLY." (Z)
<
<
Blair's right. We weren't conducting the tribunals and we CAN'T allow ANY of these people to be heard in a U.S. court.

The best option, in my view, would be to return them to their home countries with "snitch" label...they may get some "justice" that way.

U.S. Special Forces DON'T take prisoners. Fast moving strike forces don't have provisions for prisoners, so it's an "everybody goes" (dies) situation, when they confront an enemy force.

Z said...

But, JMK...closing Gitmo, with Barack, is probably leading us to trials HERE, don't you think?

We should take no prisoners. It would have been a lot easier.
THEY sure don't.

You're so smart and such a good writer and so well informed that I hope your blog grows and grows; more people need to read you.

JMK said...

"...closing Gitmo, with Barack, is probably leading us to trials HERE, don't you think?" (Z)
<
<
Not necessarily and actually, I don't think so.

They aren't seeking, so much to try these goons, but to get other countries to take them.

I still like the idea of returning to their home countries and letting those places know that they cooperated with us.

They tend to have a more stramlined, if less rigorous standard of justice in those places.