Even the media is lost

Like many of my fellow compatriots on the web, I found myself torn between two distinctly different emotions when reading the Iraq study groups recommendations, one, from all out laughter and the other exclaiming to anyone within distance, “What the hell did they just say!”

Today, I find that I am not the only person within this great country to have experienced dichotomy while reading the report on Iraq, there are more of us, my stars, there is even a member of the media that felt the same. Perhaps, because some have accused them of being a snake in the grass that and old desert adage applies to them as well, if there is one, there are always more close by luring under rocks and in the shade.

This morning, while reading a few headlines in my newsreader I came across one that peaked my interest. “Half Baked: A Look at a Few of the Recommendations of the Iraq Study Group” with the byline, Aaron Goldstein (12/07/06)

I need to make a comment before I proceed; clicking on the link to Aaron Goldstein shows an interesting pedigree in journalism. He began his career as a member of the socialist New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP). Since 09/11, Aaron has reconsidered his ideological inclinations and has become a Republican as well as authoring a few books, which can be found in the link. Interesting background and that makes his insight even more reason for one to salivate over a member of the feared fifth estate actually disagreeing with their peers.

Mr. Goldstein begins his article by saying, “I’ve not read the report of the Iraq Study Group in its entirety so I cannot comment on it wholly. However, based on what I have read my confidence has not been inspired”

After a few statements he openly comments on one specific paragraph in the report. Then makes a direct quote from it, “When reading some of the passages in the report I had to bite my tongue to keep from bursting into laughter. Consider this gem:”

“The Study Group recognizes that U.S. relationships with Iran and Syria involve difficult issues that must be resolved…The United States has diplomatic, economic, and military disincentives available in approaches to both Iran and Syria. However, the United States should also consider incentives to try and engage them successfully, much as it did successfully with Libya.”

I absolutely loved Mr. Goldstein’s follow up to the quote from the report; “I suppose this is in reference to Libya’s disclosure and surrender of its weapons of mass destruction program. The end of Libya’s WMD program had nothing to do with American diplomacy and everything to do with the willingness to use American military strength in ousting fellow Arab dictator Saddam Hussein. Colonel Qadaffi was shaking in his boots and it wasn’t because he danced the night away with Madeline Albright.”

This gentlemen is a keeper and I bookmarked it in hopes that his other articles will be as well as this one was. The article is quite long and well worth reading through.

But, wait, that is not all, there is still more to be found, another reporter saying the report does not make sense, nor will it ever as long as James Baker is involved within the program. This one is from the Mideast on Target, under a section called, The Daily Tid Bit and titled, “Israel Faces A 1938 Czechoslovakia Scenario Under Baker Report”, byline simply as, “Administrator”. The actual article the headline is refereeing to is the one that calls everything into question. This article is reprinted from an email and it titled, “America Be Wary, Baker-The-Deal-Maker is Back, Yoram Ettinger, Ynet, Dec. 7, 2006”

The firs two paragraphs places everything into a very neat perspective:

“Jim Baker’s abysmal track record in diplomacy – in contrast to his impressive business and political track record – suggests that the implementation of his “Iraq Study Group” recommendations would benefit anti-US rogue regimes and harm pro-US moderate elements.

In 1990, the Texan Deal Maker lured Assad into the anti-Saddam Coalition, following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. He overlooked Assad’s leadership role in international terrorism, showered the Butcher of Hama with international legitimacy, alluded to potential US assistance to Syria, and gave Assad a free hand in Lebanon. In response to Baker’s “Pragmatism”, Assad refrained from assisting the US war on Saddam, but completed Syrian occupation of Lebanon, massacred thousands of Lebanese and violently replaced an anti-Syrian Christian Administration with a pro-Syrian puppet Administration in Beirut. The ripple effects of Baker’s “Pragmatism” still reverberate in crumbling Lebanon.”

One thing is for certain, the Iraq report is clearly based on pure speculation, the fact that the findings would actually work, if placed into affect on a line-by-line basis is yet more speculation.

Personally, I feel the entire report is nothing but pure political bovine excrement and the sad truth and reality of this situation is President Bush is being pressured into doing exactly the opposite of what should be done in this quagmire. The obvious solution is simple, attack on all sides and all into all countries presently supporting terrorist activities and put an end to the Middle East mess that will continue to haunt us forever.