Not Quite Center

The “values vote” has recently been hands-down in the Republican camp. But ongoing behavior by “conservative” values-touting politicians betrays a skin-deep-only belief in the values they extol.

Most recently, David Vitter, Republican Senator from Louisiana, was forced to publicize the fact that he had employed the services of the D.C. Madame. He said he had asked forgiveness of his wife and of God. There are a couple of ironies that accompany this revelation. (more…)

Things looked pretty ominous for al-Qaeda in 2003 and 2004. In the State of the Union speeches from those years and the infamous “Mission Accomplished” speech from May 2003, George W. Bush touted the military advances made on the organization that financed, planned and executed the attacks of September 11, 2001:

“All told, more than 3,000 suspected terrorists have been arrested in many countries. Many others have met a different fate. Let’s put it this way—they are no longer a problem to the United States and our friends and allies.”

“We have the terrorists on the run. We’re keeping them on the run. One by one, the terrorists are learning the meaning of American justice.”

“We’re tracking al Qaeda around the world, and nearly two-thirds of their known leaders have now been captured or killed.”

“[A]s of tonight, nearly one-half of al Qaeda’s senior operatives have been captured or killed.”
“As we fight this war, we will remember where it began—here, in our own country.”

It seems, however, that the Bush administration doesn’t remember how it began and who started it. (more…)

Iran has recently released a new document stating its position on its own national security. Here are some quotes: “[W]e will not hesitate to act alone, if necessary, to exercise our right of self-defense by acting preemptively against such [states or groups], to prevent them from doing harm against our people and our country.”

“[Iran] has long maintained the option of preemptive actions to counter a sufficient threat to our national security. The greater the threat, the greater is the risk of inaction—and the more compelling the case for taking anticipatory action to defend ourselves, even if uncertainty remains as to the time and place of the enemy’s attack. To forestall or prevent such hostile acts by our adversaries, [we] will, if necessary, act preemptively.”

“We will always proceed deliberately, weighing the consequences of our actions. . . . The purpose of our actions will always be to eliminate a specific threat to [us] or our allies and friends. The reasons for our actions will be clear, the force measured, and the cause just.”

The international community, including Israel, the U.S., and most delegates to the United Nations expressed outraged. (more…)

George W. Bush, July 4, 2007: “Victory in this struggle will require more patience, more courage, and more sacrifice. And we’ve lost some good men and women in this fight. And so on this 4th of July, we pause to remember the fallen — and the grieving families they have left behind. We hold them in our hearts, we lift them up in our prayers, and we pledge to honor their memory by finishing the work for which they have given their life.” (more…)