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Syrian opposition misses unilateralist cowboy George W. Bush.

They're not the only ones.

By: Moe Lane (Diary)  |  December 21st, 2011 at 04:30 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

At least, that’s the impression that one gets from the fairly unambiguous picture found below:

Obama’s procrastination kills us:
We miss Bush’s audacity. The world
is better with America’s Republicans
Occuped Kafranbel 16 12 2011

Kafranbel is a town in northern Syria which has been one of the centers of peaceful protests for most of 2011; and the photo looks legitimate. It’s often the custom to immediately assume a photo’s been altered – and for good reason – but check out the images below:

(taken from the :20 point in the YouTube video below)

…or…

(from this article)

…and, if nothing else will convince you, there’s this:

…which is another video capture (:18) from this YouTube:

 

So I think that it’s fairly safe to say that this is a real sign, and that it represents a real attitude among Syrian dissidents and rebels. And that’s not really surprising, either. Say what you like about President George W Bush, but when it came to smiting the forces of evil he had a very laudable tendency to hit hard, hit often, and leave impact craters behind. It would appear that that these tendencies are better appreciated by people being shot at by regime thugs than they are by American and European antiwar liberals.

Shocking, that.

Moe Lane

PS: You know what might help this Syrian situation? A no-fly zone. Certainly the Syrian opposition agrees with Governor Perry that one would be a great thing to have. They’re even offering to cover the costs of an intervention:

Even if all of this is merely an inspired propaganda campaign designed to target American sensibilities, if that sign doesn’t embarrass you at least a little then I really don’t know what to say to you.

Moe Lane (crosspost)

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COMMENTS

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  • From ME to You

    who was going to bring peace to the world, stop the ice caps from shinking and get the ocean levels to go down???

    Or something along those lines!
    Here’s to one and done!

  • http://www.changeforrickperry.org louisianapatriette

    that he got the Nobel Peace Prize. Just for getting elected.

    Wonder if the next Republican president will get the Peace Prize? I’m not holding my breath.

  • Wubbies World

    …. however, most ordinary Americans with a sense of decency will be shamed by it.

    As that famous billboard in Minnesota stated with a picture of George W Bush, “Miss Me Yet?”

    The people of Syria obviously do.

  • ayrnieu

    Eastern Europeans and Chinese and Koreans and Vietnamese all abandoned to Communism by Democrats (in the last case, finally by a Democratic Congress’s betrayal of Nixon’s terms.)

    _Prodigal Soldiers_ is a great book about the US military’s transition from the Vietnam-era to the Gulf War-era, focusing on the young officers of Vietnam who became the Gulf War’s generals. The poignant highlight of the book is a general entering a strategy session prior to the Gulf War, expecting to hear a number of horrifying Vietnam-era cliches, and instead hearing that Baghdad’s to be bombed on day one.

    It’s only very recently that I realized that this book could’ve been summarized thus: “Some officers fought under Democrats; later, they fought under a Republican.”

  • sanderson13

    If thousands or millions of Syrians hold up similar signs, does that mean we have any business in their affairs?

    These signs don’t make me ashamed at all — they simply make me more sympathetic to the Syrians.

  • http://www.timothy-bladel.com/ center77

    so I am going just say this to you now, I am using some of the information you provided on my blog as well as a paper I am doing for school, which I will cite you in both. Thank you, I love this.

  • romansdaughter

    Fascinating and all of this could have been avoided. Yeah Obama where is the peace? What a joke the Nobel peace prize was. Yeah I knew they would be crying for Bush before too long. The whole Middle East and North Africa is becoming very unpeaceful. Obama will be back playing another round of golf.

  • tomatin

    What we should start a war in Syria now?

    This is Paul gets more conservatives to listen to his cause. Paul goes way too far, but it would be dumb dumb dumb to intervene in Syria for this rag tag bunch.

    Who the heck is Perry going to protect with his NFZ?

  • ayrnieu

    So there’s that. It’s not an appeal to invade Syria.

    Also: why would ‘starting a war’ in Syria be so awful? Because it’d be a ‘quagmire’? Because we’d have to stay there for decades, reinstate the draft, and eventually get chased out? There are, between “build military bases in every country in the world” and “bring every troop home”, other options. Say, Operation Urgent Fury. Or Operation Desert Storm. Or the Reagan Doctrine. Just saying.

  • lizzie

    of not enough facts. and verify. I collect maps and atlases, and have studied the history to some extent.
    Idlib is a northern Syrian city, and province, in the heart of a majority Syriac Christian area, but Kafr Anbel is a Sunni Arab nameplace designation for this town in Idlib province.

    Syriac Christians are aligned with President Assad’s Alawites, as are the Circassian (Sunni) minority. Pres Assad’s coalition is mostly fighting the Sunni opposition, who certainly have real outrage. Just to confuse everyone, the Free Syria ‘army’ is headed by a Colonel Assad, and I have no idea of his confessional status.

    Ataturk expelled ethnic Greek and Syriac Christians from Turkey in the 1920′s, and many died during the brutal expulsion.

    Lest anyone forget, most Iraqi refugees were Christians, and maybe 400,000 are still refugees in Syria. No one much pays attention to this collateral damage from Bush43′s Iraq war. Baathists may be cruel dictators, but these ancient Christian communities had (in Iraq), and still have (in Syria) freedom of worship and as much freedom from political persecution as anyone who did not get politically active.

    The NFZ that has been under consideration was to protect humanitarian relief corridors, and some border area refuges/camps, and to keep Pres Assad from land mining even more borders.

    No one can deal with Syria without also considering the Iraqi Sunni tension, and, as usual, Turkey’s neo-Ottoman yearnings. Turkey almost fought a war with Syria in the 1980′s over Hatay province. Turkey certainly does not want Syria’s Kurds to make any attempt to ‘secede’ and join Iraqi Kurdistan – and Kirkuk is the most likely location for the next Iraqi civil war.

    World War One never really ended – just a very long frozen by artificial borders ‘peace’.

    Obam’s procrastination is due to the difficulty in following what the Saudi and Turk Sunnis are trying to achieve – a Sunni Crescent to contain the Shi’a Crescent from Iran through Syria to Lebanon.
    A devilish choice,

    (The Druse are another minority who have managed to stay out of it by nominal alignment with the Alawites)

    Ah, the complexity that one Youtube sign can mask…

    my suggestion is to keep your eyes on the Circassians, and the Kurds :)

  • tomatin

    Wow where have you been?

  • http://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com nathanalbright

    It was actually suggested by Syria’s Arab/Turkish neighbors. He just simply brought up the issue to our attention, as it had been circulating in international diplomatic channels for about ten days or so before that (and who knew that Perry was so savvy about diplomacy, right?). I would have no objection to America helping out if the Arab’s are happy to pay the bills, because I happen to agree with you that we don’t have the funds to overthrow every tinpot dictatorship across the world.

  • tomatin

    Mitt Romney says today.

    “If we knew at the time of our entry into Iraq that there were no weapons of mass destruction, if somehow we had been given that information, obviously we would not have gone in.”

    But four years ago Romney said.

    “It was the right decision to go into Iraq. I supported it at the time; I support it now.”

    So which is it because four years ago Romney knew they didn’t have allot of WMD.

    Really this slick pol will just say anything to get elected. Not one view of his is genuine.

  • http://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com nathanalbright

    …but this is just one more example of Romney’s “salmonstyle.”

  • tomatin

    This is exactly what he said.

    BLITZER: Governor Perry, why would you support a no-fly zone over Syria?

    PERRY: Obviously, that?s one of a multitude of ? of sanctions and actions that I think work very well from the standpoint of being able to pressure that regime, overt, covert, economic sanctions.

    I mean I think there are a number of ways. But when you put the no-fly zone above Syria, it obviously gives those dissidents and gives the military the opportunity to maybe disband, that want to get out of the situation that they?re in in Syria, as well.

    So I think if we?re serious about Iran ? and that?s what we?re really talking about here. We?re talking about Syria is a partner with Iran in exporting terrorism all across that part of the world and ? and around the globe.

    So if we?re serious about Iran, then we have to be serious about Syria, as well.

    So I think a no-fly zone is an option of one of a multitude of options that we should be using. And we should put them in place if we?re serious about Iran not getting the nuclear weapon.

  • pj2012

    “It seemed improbable that the best-known American propagandist for our enemies could be near the top of the pack in the Iowa contest, but there it is.” -DOROTHY RABINOWITZ

    “Ron Paul’s supporters are sure of one thing: Their candidate has always been consistent?a point Dr. Paul himself has been making with increasing frequency. It’s a thought that comes up with a certain inevitability now in those roundtables on the Republican field. One cable commentator genially instructed us last Friday, “You have to give Paul credit for sticking to his beliefs.”

    He was speaking, it’s hardly necessary to say, of a man who holds some noteworthy views in a candidate for the presidency of the United States. One who is the best-known of our homegrown propagandists for our chief enemies in the world. One who has made himself a leading spokesman for, and recycler of, the long and familiar litany of charges that point to the United States as a leading agent of evil and injustice, the militarist victimizer of millions who want only to live in peace.” Read full article here … http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204552304577112761003972028.html?mod=wsj_share_tweet

    I’ve always liked hearing/reading Dorothy’s opinions, and she always speaks highly of Rick Perry… which is an added plus in my book.

    Anyway… WHAT are the people in IOWA thinking??? Ron Paul… REALLY? This is NOT someone who should be allowed anywhere near the oval office period! What makes Ron Paul any different than “God d? America” Rev. Jeremiah Wright? Nothing, their views of America are completely the same… as the lovely Dr. Paul believes the 9/11 terror assault was only a case of victims seeking justice, as with Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s sermon… “America’s chickens coming home to roost.”

    And so now at long last the vetting begins for Ron Paul… with only 13 days left until they caucus in Iowa… heaven help us all.

  • http://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com nathanalbright

    …if you read the article above the Syrian opposition is willing to pay for it. But he’s not the first person to suggest it, except that he is the first person in the United States to pick up on a serious proposal that had been floating around elsewhere and until then ignored in the US. I’d give him credit for talking about it and willingness to consider forceful action short of invasion. I happen to like a robust foreign policy, especially if others are willing to pay for it.

  • BigRedConservative

    .

  • http://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com nathanalbright

    …it’s happened to me before.

  • Dave_A

    The ‘right’ position is ‘If we knew we would not find any WMD in Iraq, we would not have based the case for invasion so heavily on that justification’….

    And even that is MMQBing – in 2003 the international consensus, among intel agencies from both the pro and con side of taking action, was that Saddam had and was attempting to expand a WMD program, and that he was in violation of the 1991 cease fire…

    The two sides were ‘Do something about it’ and ‘let it slide’.

    There was no ‘Saddam is innocent’ side, other than Saddam himself.

  • Dave_A

    The price of inaction is generally higher in the long-run than the price of early confrontation.

    People aren’t stupid. It only takes a few ‘examples’ before they realize that certain behaviors won’t be tolerated…

    Weather it’s raiding the cookie jar, or shooting civilian protestors…

    It also only takes one or two flagrant examples of ‘getting away with it’ to encourage dozens more to try….

  • lizzie

    this morning. First salvo by Dorothy Rabinowitz. Saw her on Gigot’s weekend WSJ show on Fox on Dec 10, and Ms. Rabinowitz warned she would bring out much more if Paul gained traction. Was glad to see her NOT wading into the Jew-bashing of Paulbots, which tends to be in thinly disguised critiques of the Fed.Based on the headlines from right to left of center these days, looks like she has a lot of allies.

    Am glad Gary Johnson is now seeking Libertarian ballot line.
    Real Libertarians deserve a genuine voice, without all of Ron Paul’s “baggage” :)

    I wonder if the Iowa GOP is checking to see who has changed party registration to GOP this year in order to caucus for Ron Paul.

    not that this has anything to do with Syria.

    pj2012 – if Dorothy speaks highly of Rick Perry, it is because he has a serious multi-dimensional twenty+ year relationship with Israel that no other candidate comes close to. Mostly based on economic, trade, and technology, but Gov. Perry also wrote an official letter in May 2011 to AG Holder to insist on enforcement of the Neutrality Act, which Holder had to follow in stopping Bill Ayers’ USA boat in the 2nd Gaza flotilla. There was a team of Israeli lawyers working on maritime insurers to stop other ships from sailing – Perry knew the group, asked how he could help, and wrote one letter. No media fanfare.
    Moral courage.

  • lizzie

    this morning. First salvo by Dorothy Rabinowitz. Saw her on Gigot’s weekend WSJ show on Fox on Dec 10, and Ms. Rabinowitz warned she would bring out much more if Paul gained traction. Was glad to see her NOT wading into the Jew-bashing of Paulbots, which tends to be in thinly disguised critiques of the Fed.Based on the headlines from right to left of center these days, looks like she has a lot of allies.

    Am glad Gary Johnson is now seeking Libertarian ballot line.
    Real Libertarians deserve a genuine voice, without all of Ron Paul’s “baggage” :)

    I wonder if the Iowa GOP is checking to see who has changed party registration to GOP this year in order to caucus for Ron Paul.

    not that this has anything to do with Syria.

    pj2012 – if Dorothy speaks highly of Rick Perry, it is because he has a serious multi-dimensional twenty+ year relationship with Israel that no other candidate comes close to. Mostly based on economic, trade, and technology, but Gov. Perry also wrote an official letter in May 2011 to AG Holder to insist on enforcement of the Neutrality Act, which Holder had to follow in stopping Bill Ayers’ USA boat in the 2nd Gaza flotilla. There was a team of Israeli lawyers working on maritime insurers to stop other ships from sailing – Perry knew the group, asked how he could help, and wrote one letter. No media fanfare.
    Moral courage.

  • pj2012

    what happen… not sure how, but I mean this to post to the Ron Paul story… oh well.

  • http://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com nathanalbright

    I try to give the benefit of the doubt :D .

  • ayrnieu

    I don’t like to defend Paul on this site, but I will spare a word for Austrian Economics, So:

    No, these critiques are sincere. They’re not a vehicle for anything else. I guess the process goes “what? They want to abolish the Fed? B-but everything I know tells me that’s obviously a bad idea! So what could their _angle_ be…” And again, there’s no angle. They want to abolish the Fed; they don’t think it a bad idea at all. The stated position is the whole of the position. (Except for “audit the Fed”, which is manifestly “help me find some rope to hang you with”.)

    Incidentally, if you wanted to read up their position, the people to start with are Ludwig von Mises, Murray Rothbard, and (my favorite:) George Reisman. The Reisman for the clearest presentation of the economic theory, and the Rothbard for the most specifc attacks on the Fed. I don’t really list these names off with the expectation that you’ll go learn Austrian Economics, but so I can observe: all three of these people are Jewish. Of the non-Jewish names you’ll find – Hoppe,Kinsella, Block, to name a few – just read the first few paragraphs of any of their political writings; these are _not_ people whose pet issue is ‘the Jews’. You may well think them appalling for other reasons; it’s just not possible to read to them and think them appalling for this reason.

    This is the take-away: _flabbergastment_ in the face of a startling economic proposition is not a reason in itself to go around calling people anti-semites.

  • gekster

    If you say you can’t support RPs foriegn policy because it would be detrimental to the US, why do you support RP.

  • http://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com nathanalbright

    …from people like Gary North, and what I’ve read deeply concerns me. It’s one thing to want to hack away at our unacceptably large government, but to do so without building up local institutions like families and communities so that they can pick up the slack and avoid condemning people who are poor and suffering to starvation and misery is immensely cruel. So far what I’ve read about Austrian Economics seems to desire to take away legitimate protections of workers and ordinary people and let businesses and the wealthy and powerful do what they want without limitation, and that’s not very appealing personally. I’d be much more comfortable with sanctions from families, churches, and local communities that kept excesses in line.

  • ayrnieu

    But not of economics. Or rather, “but there’s a mountain in that direction!” is not a useful complaint to direct at your compass. If you want to go north — well, there’s north. Actually moving in that direction may be a matter of some strategy, but it shouldn’t be a compassless debate about which way north ought to be.

    Anyway, the more Americans that Obama drives into dependency, the more that this criticism will be raised against all of us. On Monday twelve-year-olds are granted free internet access, and on Tuesday Republicans are savaged: “how can you _even think_ of consigning _the children_ to the wrong side of the _digital divide_.”

  • http://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com nathanalbright

    …and really, I’m more of a strategically minded person anyway. Austrian economics may be “good in theory” but so is solar power. It’s the practice that gets tricky, and all the writing of weighty tomes can’t hide the fact that in practice the people who tend to promote your theory are a bunch of libertine wackos who want to exploit the world, and that’s not something I feel comfortable with.

    On a larger scale, I think we all would agree that we have a goal and an endpoint of liberty, but the real problem (at least for me) isn’t the goal but how to get there. Indeed, we have a culture of dependency that is growing ever worse, and in order to achieve that goal in a political mandate where a popular mandate is necessary requires some delicacy (and I’m concerned our Republicans don’t know how to play this game very well). It requires that we move gradually to get people to have “skin” in the game, increase personal responsibility and support an infrastructure that restores the constitutional balance to the state and works to build up local institutions and families as well. At that point, once the other institutions are being build up, we can then hack at the overgrown national government without being savage or cruel to the ordinary people upon whose support we rely on to obtain electoral majorities.