The perils of carpe diem

Thu, 10/29/2009 - 4:32pm

By Peter Feaver

The mounting criticism of the Karzai family has got me thinking the same thing that Tom Ricks is thinking: When President Obama looks at Karzai does he see Diem? I am hoping he sees Maliki.

Diem was the leader of South Vietnam who famously frustrated President Kennedy (and before him, President Eisenhower, and before him the French). He enjoyed more legitimacy than any other South Vietnamese leader did in the early 1960s, but he ran a corrupt and somewhat ineffective government. He also got embroiled in sectarian conflicts with the Buddhists that further split South Vietnamese society. The American advisory and support commitment seemed to be handicapped by Diem's weakness and Kennedy perceived the American effort to be slowly collapsing. In response, Kennedy ramped up the pressure on Diem to do more, but Diem seemed only capable of doing less. Finally, Kennedy took a fateful step and authorized U.S. acquiescence in a coup to depose Diem, which transpired in early November 1963. During the course of the coup, Diem was assassinated.  

What came after Diem, however, was worse: years of political paralysis caused by successive coups. With each new political crisis, the South Vietnamese government got progressively weaker, and the need for greater U.S. involvement to stave off a catastrophic defeat got progressively stronger. Looking back on the matter in later years, the Johnson team concluded that toppling Diem had been a severe blunder, a pivot point in the gradual American slide into quagmire.

As it happens, the Bush team confronted its own "Diem" question in Iraq in 2006. The new Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki presided over a fledgling Iraqi government that suffered from some of the same weaknesses: corruption, ineffective governance, and debilitating sectarian squabbles. As President Bush wrestled with how to reverse the negative trajectory in Iraq, one nagging question seemed decisive: Is Prime Minister Maliki part of the problem or part of the solution? Bush even dispatched National Security Advisor Hadley to Baghdad to take his own soundings on this question. Hadley's memo was leaked to the New York Times so you can read his assessment yourself.  

While the option never had serious proponents within the administration, some arm-chair strategists outside of government even advocated the "Diem option" in Iraq: somehow replacing Maliki with some other Iraqi leader who would, it was hoped, prove more to our liking. President Bush decisively rejected such talk and instead authorized a series of efforts to bolster the Maliki government -- steps collectively called the "bet on Maliki" option. Since then, there has been plenty in Iraqi governance to complain about, but I think most people would agree that the two and half years since the surge in Iraq have gone better than the two and half years after the coup that deposed Diem.

President Obama and his advisors seem to be wrestling with this fundamental issue in Afghanistan and the optics and the body language seem more oriented towards Diem rather than Maliki. Of course, the analogies are not perfect and the Afghan situation must be evaluated on its own terms. But Obama would also be well-advised to reflect on the historical record and the dangers of undermining even frustratingly weak and corrupt allies when there are not obviously better alternatives ready to take their place -- and when American efforts to install a new leader might inspire resentment rather than support among the people he would ostensibly govern.

STF/AFP/Getty Images

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Memo TO: Peter

by ItOnlyStandsToReason on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 6:11pm

Memo
TO: Peter Feaver
FROM: An Outside Observer
SUBJECT: Administration Orientation Towards Karzai

The "fundamental issue" you mention has been raised and decided - oh, about a month ago. It was during the summer that rumors circulated about White House and State Department aides discussing whether to seek replacements for Karzai. In the past weeks, the dismissal of Galbraith, comments from SecState Clinton, and other subtle signs show that the administration has decided to work with Karzai as far as it can, conditional on necessary minimal standards such as run-off elections.

You should get out more often.

Maliki doesn't have a

by jsinaiko on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 6:16pm

Maliki doesn't have a dope-dealing CIA agent brother. Maliki runs a nominal government both in and outside of Baghdad. The Iraqi elections were more or less fair.

Mr. Feaver's arguments aren't convincing.

Carping

by boredwell on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 9:41pm

America has long history of working with leaders less savory than Captain Jack Sparrow Karzai et frere. Hey, we helped put Pinochet in power in Chile and he stayed for 25 repressive years! The Foggy Bottom crowd certainly is aware that even if Karzai were to lose the reach of his personal syndicate would more than likely remain entrenched. Much like toppling Sadaam, as tyrannical as he was he succeeded in stabilizing a fractious country although through fear and intimidation. The tradition of staying with the devil you know is revered because the road less traveled is oftentimes a path that winds through hell.

I CAN CREATE 15 MILLION JOBS ALMOST OVER NIGHT in America..

by Harry Dingey on Sun, 11/01/2009 - 5:37pm

I CAN CREATE 15 MILLION JOBS ALMOST OVER NIGHT in America.. If America Pulls out of NAFTA and WTO..

I will bet anyone one million dollars to a donut that I can create 15 Million JOBS if I was President. America would instantly kick into overdrive and you would see more Jobs created than Americans could fill almost over night.

The American people have been screwed for the last 80 years and they do not even have a clue of what is happening.

All the Democrat or the Republican Congress/people and Presidents for the last 80 years in Washington D.C. of both parties do not care about America or the American People.

Most of the American Politicians have been either been bought off by the wealthy Council on Foreign Relations (CFR PARTY) or they just sit on their hands and go along to get along.

The CFR Party was founded by JP MORGAN , Paul Warburg (Jew), John D. Rockefeller (Jew), three super wealthy CFR members back in 1921 with the specific Goal to control the American people by buying control of all means of communication to control and generate public support to advance the CFR Party agenda. With control of the people they could now buy off and elect these American Politicians of both parties to carry out their CFR PARTY agenda.

That is exactly why the American Government is shipping all the American Manufacturing Plants off shore to China as fast as they can in the last 16 years. You are watching the largest transfer of wealth is the history of the world (from America to China). The American Federal Government is serving up the USA to China on a silver Platter.

Then the America workers will all get their wish and they can start competing against the Chinese workers for that $2/day job. Since they all love that International trade so well.

At some point American workers will be required to compete with the Chinese workers for Slave Labor $2/day jobs. Every American regardless how much money you have will be affected in one way or another because a lowering tide will automatically lower all boats.

I think we are in the about the 8th inning right now.

If you think I am wrong I have only two questions for you to think about.

Why would AMERICA the most Wealthiest, the most Advanced, the most Strongest Country in the entire World, want to enter into NAFTA and the WTO and want to try to compete with third world Countries where the Workers are forced to work for Slave labor wages at $2/day?

There can only be one out come. All of the American International Manufacturers will be forced to move all of our great Factories and Technology off shore to Communist CHINA.

The American People has no choice in the matter either the USA pulls out of NAFTA and the WTO or at some point our country will just sink into the Abyss. You absolutely cannot have a complete Economic Recovery without Creating Good High Paying Jobs. Flipping Hamburgers at McDonald’s and working as a store clerk at Wal-mart will not do the trick.

I heard today on the news that the President Obama is going to share America’s top nuclear secretes with China?

A country that has no Manufacturing base is called a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY. That is exactly where America is headed.

Once all the high paying manufacturing jobs are sent off shore to China. Please tell me where the America government will collect tax revenues to support our way of Life?

The CFR PARTY Global International Trade policy will end up driving America into total Bankruptcy, that is exactly what is happening right now. When the America people finally figure this out what is really happening it will be too late to stop it.

You want me to tell you why I already know this is the long term Plan.

If I was The President I would create at least 15 million Jobs in America almost over night.

Why don’t President Obama create those 15 million JOBS right now as the USA desperately needs additional Jobs?

My answer is because President Obama is a card-carrying member of the CFR Party and they have a concerted plan to redistribute all the American People’s wealth to all of the Third World Countries.

It is called enslaving the American workers and the total destruction of America as we know it. If you beat the American Worker down far enough he will be ready to accept anything you offer to feed his family.

All of you people who have money in the Bank and well fix and you love this International Trade, just wait till you lose everything then tell me about how smart you was.

Back to my Question:

How I would create 15 million jobs almost over night?

There is one thing the America Government has total Control over and that is WHERE and WHO will produce all of the products the American people buy and use on a daily basis.

I would PULL OUT OF NAFTA and the WTO and close the doors to the American Consumer Market (the biggest consumer market in the world) and I would tell the entire world if they want sell their Products in America they must build their products in America. This is exactly what China does.

I know all of you American people have been told for 80 years that protectionist will hurt the USA even more because all other countries around the world will stop buying American made products and the USA will lose a lot more American JOBS than they will ever gain.

That my friend is just not true.

How can anyone make that statement without at least evaluating the Export and Import numbers?

Normally that answer is true. But, the American International trade deficit has grown so super huge in the last 16 years (and still growing); that if America just stops exporting anything and just produces the items we use on a daily bases that we are now importing, we can create 15 million additional new jobs almost instantly.

In fact I do not really care if the rest of the world buys even one penny of American made Products from America. If America just manufactures all of the products we use on a daily bases right here in America, we will create an additional 15 Million Jobs automatically.

Also, the USA yearly National Budget Deficit will automatically be lowered by $760 Billion because that Trade Deficit Money will not be transfer off shore to China like now. The Federal Government will get a huge boost in Tax Revenues from the 15 million American high paying Jobs.

The American Government must understand they can not continue to allow sending all the high paying American JOBS off shore to Mexico, India, China and Japan and still have enough JOBS to support the American way of life.

YOU CAN NOT GIVE SOMETHING AWAY AND STILL HAVE IT. . . .

Right now all of them 15 Million Jobs I am talking about have all been moved off shore to China, Mexico and Japan, Germany, India. They are producing all of those goods and are shipping it back to America to supple our daily needs.

Then when this very same goods is imported back into the America, the American Government who is broke, must borrow money from China and Japan to buy the very products that should have been produce right here in America in the first place.

This is Equivalent to our Stupid American Government forcing the American workers to sit on his Hands and then tell China to produce all of the goods America consumes and then when the goods is imported back into America the Federal Government is broke and are forced to borrow money from China and Japan to purchase all of this goods we are using on a daily bases.

This has got to the most stupid damn bunch in Washington or are they just conspiring to bankrupt and destroy America?

If you think I am wrong. You can goggle it and check it out for yourself. Then go to “youtube.com” and do some key word searches and listen to some of the videos and do your own research on the web.

I CAN CREATE 15 MILLION JOBS ALMOST OVER NIGHT right here in America ! ! !

Here is my Job creation Computations:

America Imported in 2006 mainly from China, Mexico, Japan and India well over $760 Billion Dollars more than we exported in 2006.

The $760 billion dollar import number that I am quoting includes Oil Imports which is something that America cannot change over night therefore must be subtracted out of total import number. The total U.S. crude oil imported during 2006 amounted to: $309.4 billion dollars of crude oil in 2006.

So, $760 billion minus $309.4 billion = $450.6 billion dollars worth of Manufactured Goods that could have and should have been produced right here in America.

Based on conventional wisdom in job creation, if you take $450.6 billion dollars worth of imported goods / $30 billion to create one million jobs = 15.02 million jobs would be automatically created almost over night.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Now because some of you people still do not get it I am going to recalculate the cost of the Trade Deficit in just Jobs.

So please do not tell me the stock CFR PARTY answer: “YEA, but look at all of the EXPORTS JOBS the USA will LOSE.”

The American people have been BRAIN WASHED by the CFR PARTY into believes in that GLOBALIZATION is in the best interest of USA. I think they are trying to destroy the USA because that will be the final outcome.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Total USA Imports in 2006:
----------------------------------
$ 2,211.7 billion ------ (This includes Crude Oil)
$ 309.4 billion less --- (Spent on Imported Crude Oil)
--------------------------------------------------
$ 1,902.3 billion / 30 billion=63.41 million jobs from Import. ==================================================

Total USA Exports in 2006:
----------------------------------
$ 1,451.7 Billion / 30 billion=48.39 million jobs from Export.

If USA Pulls out of NAFTA and WTO right now:

USA could possibly lose 48.39 million Jobs from EXPORTS.

However, I am sure many countries will still export many items from the USA because they will be forced too. That would create even more jobs gained than I have estimated.

USA would absolutely gain 63.41 million Jobs from IMPORTS.

So, 63.41 minus 48.39 = 15.02 million NET JOBS GAIN.

My calculation means an ABSOLUTE 15.02 million Jobs gained if the rest of the world did not buy one penny of USA EXPORTS.

But, instead the Washington Politicians with all their Infinite Wisdom elected to move all of that manufactured goods off shore to China. Even as America has up-ward of 16% unemployment rate and climbing.

Then to make things even worse the Federal Government must borrow money from China and Japan to purchase back these very products as they are being brought back into America.

I think we are witnessing the Federal Government in the process of transferring all the America Assets off shore to Communist China on a silver platter.

The CFR PARTY goal is to turn America into a Communistic “North America Union” state consisting of Mexico, USA and Canada. The CFR are in total control of the American Government and have been for well over 80 years.

Why would the American Government sit on their hands and watch as all the Manufacturing Base and all our high Technology are being shipped off shore to a Communistic Country like China?

Make no mistake about it China is still a Communistic Country.

We are handing all of the American Military Defenses and our entire manufacturing base over to China on a silver platter.

Please tell me; “What the HELL are we going to do if we get into a War with Russia and China”?

I guess we’ll just concede the War without firing a shot like Poland did to Hitler during World War II. It looks like we would have been better off too have lost World War II to Hitler, at least we would not be forced to work for $2/day slave labor.

They must be stopped or one day America will wakeup under total Control of China Government.

This is so sad because we had it all and our Federal Government just transfers everything we own off shore to China, Mexico and India.

Have you ever asked yourself?

Why is it “when we elect a President from a different party and he always looks and acts almost identical as the last President”?
>>>>>>>>>>

It really makes no difference who you vote for President as you will still end up getting the same party and it is called the “CFR PARTY”.

If you think I am crazy go Goggle it on “youtube.com”.

The American people have absolutely nothing to say about it.

You will never take back your country with the Ballot Box. I personally think it will require an all out Civil War. At some point the American People will say ENOUGH is ENOUGH and that is when all hell is going to break lose.

The Presidential Elections have been predetermined by the CFR PARTY since 1921.

Why is it every Presidential Candidates of both the Democrat and Republican Parties are always all members of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) which is controlled by the most wealthiest Jews in the world.

The “CFR Party” has tons of money so they figured out in 1921, if you want the President of the USA to be a card-carrying member of the “CFR Party”; they simply BUY OFF all the Presidential Candidates of both the Democrat and Republican Parties before the election even starts. The CFR Party System has worked very well for 80 years.

Where is Joseph McCarthy when you really need him?

All of these politicians should be tried for treason and every penny of their ill-gotten wealth from all of these lobbyists confiscated and returned back to the U.S. Treasury.

This has to be a Concerted Conspiracy because most of these politicians hold Major Educational Degrees from some of the best colleges in America.

I worked as Industrial Engineer working as an Expert in Industrial Relocation, Manufacturing Efficiency & Engineering, Industrial Economy Analysis, etc. for Rockwell International. Most of my adult life was spent studying the very things of which I am posting about. So, please trust me I know exactly what I am talking about because that was my job for 30 years.

Here is the Main Problem in America.

The American People keep thinking their Representatives in Washington are looking after your interest and will always solve problems and do whatever is best for America and the American People.

Wrong!!!

If you do not listen to me then you are part of the problem too. If you think I am wrong go Goggle it and check it out. Then go to youtube.com and do key word searches and listen to the videos. Start doing your own research.

This is about Presidents and congress of both Democrat and Republican Representatives in Washington who have turned the operation of running the Federal Government entirely over to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR PARTY).

This is also why Israel always gets exactly whatever they want from America. America has been helping Israel in every way possible even to the point of using borrowed money to support them.

Then the CFR Party members must lay awake at night trying to think of ways to totally destroy the American Government and the American way of life and render the American people homeless.

Add an amendment to eliminate all forms of “affirmative action” in every school, college and all other organizations in America.

Add an amendment to eliminate the American Electoral College System.

Add an amendment that Federal Elected Offices must have a majority of the total vote to win Office.

Add an amendment for Term Limits on all Federal Congressional Offices.

Add an amendment to abolish the Federal Reserve System because the America Treasury should be printing all money under the direction of the American Congress.

Add an amendment to put America back on the Gold Standard.

Repeal the State Home Land Security Act.

Build a Concrete Wall 15 feet high and 3 feet wide on our Southern Border and topped off with razor wire.

Rescind the Anchor Baby Law back to its original inception.

Any Illegal Aliens caught on American Soil would be given a mandatory 20 year prison sentence. Then watch them all run south back home.

Bring home all America Soldiers all over the world and shut down all of the Foreign Military Bases. We are not going to be the policeman to the rest of the world.

Add an amendment to make Lobbyist Illegal with a Mandatory 20-year prison sentence.

Appoint Ron Paul as Secretary of Treasury and very close adviser.

Appoint Lou Dobbs as Secretary of State.

Then have new 2008 elections all over again for every office in the Federal Government.

Is there no end to the ruthlessness of the most Super Wealthiest People in the World?

SO MOTE IT BE. . . . .

Do you truly want to help straighten out the United States Government now? Then, copy and post this article everyplace on the Internet you can post.

The American People have a right to know exactly who runs our Federal Government.

BY: Harry Dingey

Have a good day my friends.

Carpe diem means living life

by RockyS on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 11:20pm

Carpe diem means living life to the fullest. When a sudden expense comes along, like a flat tire or being foolish enough to bet on Detroit, it drains your wallet and your mental reserves, and some cash today might do the trick to turn things around. Of course, cash today doesn't mean you can just have someone print money for you. (Well, unless you work for a Wall Street firm and you have buddies at the Federal Reserve. Then it happens!) If need some cash today, there are lenders that can get you money now easily, without the hassle common to banks. You can get cash today with a payday loan – but remember, like any other financial tool you have to use it sparingly, cautiously, and responsibly.