(Human) Nature Abhors A Vacuum

Obama-bashing in the Times:

Power Vacuum in Middle East Lifts Militants

By BEN HUBBARD, ROBERT F. WORTH and MICHAEL R. GORDON

BEIRUT, Lebanon — The images of recent days have an eerie familiarity, as if the horrors of the past decade were being played back: masked gunmen recapturing the Iraqi cities of Falluja and Ramadi, where so many American soldiers died fighting them. Car bombs exploding amid the elegance of downtown Beirut. The charnel house of Syria’s worsening civil war.

But for all its echoes, the bloodshed that has engulfed Iraq, Lebanon and Syria in the past two weeks exposes something new and destabilizing: the emergence of a post-American Middle East in which no broker has the power, or the will, to contain the region’s sectarian hatreds.

Amid this vacuum, fanatical Islamists have flourished in both Iraq and Syria under the banner of Al Qaeda, as the two countries’ conflicts amplify each other and foster ever-deeper radicalism. Behind much of it is the bitter rivalry of two great oil powers, Iran and Saudi Arabia, whose rulers — claiming to represent Shiite and Sunni Islam, respectively — cynically deploy a sectarian agenda that makes almost any sort of accommodation a heresy.

Early on Team Obama pushes out a straw man in their defense:

The Obama administration defends its record of engagement in the region, pointing to its efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis and the Palestinian dispute, but acknowledges that there are limits. “It’s not in America’s interests to have troops in the middle of every conflict in the Middle East, or to be permanently involved in open-ended wars in the Middle East,” Benjamin J. Rhodes, a White House deputy national security adviser, said in an email on Saturday.

Since we can't be everywhere, we have settled for nowhere. Uh huh.

Deep in the story we get something like criticism of Team Obama:

For all the attention paid to Syria over the past three years, Iraq’s slow disintegration also offers a vivid glimpse of the region’s bloody sectarian dynamic. In March 2012, Anthony Blinken, who is now President Obama’s deputy national security adviser, gave a speech echoing the White House’s rosy view of Iraq’s prospects after the withdrawal of American forces.

Iraq, Mr. Blinken said, was “less violent, more democratic and more prosperous” than “at any time in recent history.”

But the Iraqi prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, was already pursuing an aggressive campaign against Sunni political figures that infuriated Iraq’s Sunni minority. Those sectarian policies and the absence of American ground and air forces gave Al Qaeda in Iraq, a local Sunni insurgency that had become a spent force, a golden opportunity to rebuild its reputation as a champion of the Sunnis both in Iraq and in neighboring Syria. Violence in Iraq grew steadily over the following year.

If the US had a Secretary of State during this time period she (he?) remains unnamed.

Comments

[Ignatz]

There seems to be an Isely Bros vacuum here today, a song the Human Beinz covered, sort of.
A little fun for a Sunday.

[Danube on iPad]

"If the US had a Secretary of State during this time period she (he?) remains unnamed."

But the president's party is eager to nominate her for the presidency. Demonstrated incompetence and failure mean nothing at all: she is Hillary.

[narciso]

we're in the best of all possible hands;

http://www.breitbart.com/InstaBlog/2014/01/05/Kerry-s-Buffoonish-Vietnam-Analogy-to-Israeli-Palestinian-Conflict

[bgates]

Amid this vacuum, fanatical Islamists have flourished in both Iraq and Syria under the banner of Al Qaeda

That is new. One thing I remember for sure about the Bush presidency was that al Qaeda had nothing whatsoever to do with Iraq.

The Obama administration defends its record of engagement in the region, pointing to its efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis

And the other thing I remember is that Iran never evinced the slightest hint of a desire to manufacture nuclear weapons while Bush was president.

Behind much of it is the bitter rivalry of two great oil powers, Iran and Saudi Arabia

Another unforced error by the Obama administration! When Bush was president, violence in the Middle East was reliably domestic, and it never occurred to regional powers to extend their influence by fomenting violence across a border.

[Captain Hate]

Despite some of my often stated disagreements with GWB, I'll always be grateful for him sparing the country the stain of having ManBearPig or Reporting for Doody as President.

[bgates]

If the US had a Secretary of State during this time period she (he?) remains unnamed.

I suppose it's too much to hope that the press decides to sacrifice Obama to protect the movement (as newly incarnated in Hillary), and Obama retaliates by leaking all the dirt he has on her.

Or even better, since we know what contempt he has for the press while they're lapdogs, imagine what he'd do to them if they ever turned on him.

[peter]

bg @ 2:10; we can only hope

[NKonIPad]

Of course I know of 'The Times' of London, but what is this NY Times?
The Legacy Media is truly shameless. Everything about Obummer is a lie and a fraud, but the Middle East is particularly shambolic... It is built on the 2 enormous lies of 1. The Palestinian question the the cause of all problems and 2. US military defenestration of the Taliban and Sadam, made everything worse. BTW who needs and uses these 2 lies most? The Mullahs, and Obummerloves the Mullahs. This NYT says Obummer peaceably 'resolved' the Mullah Nuke? In a sense, by letting the Mullahs do as they please; violently crush a popular rebellion and get out of sanctions while they finish their nuke. A complete debacle for US interests.

[trouble with a Curveball.]

" as if the horrors of the past decade ..."

Stopped right there, then this loomed large...

"Amid this vacuum.." Fallujah refills of airy competence must be revisited to reverse Pentagon Sequestration and talks of downsizing a government agency require another Surge of support.

Now about that Social Security thingee.

[trouble with a Curveball.]

" requiring another...."

[JIB]

Charlie Strong is the new Head Coach at Texas.

Another 'Gator made good - well, ex'Gator coach that is.

[MarkO]

Obama lost Iraq.

Hillary lost everything else.

[matt]

We had the peace in Iraq, but Afghanistan was Obama's "good war". He has botched both.

[JIB]

Bengals looking sloppy. Never seen Dalton running around so much. The Bolts have decided to blitz him til he gives up the ball and he did.

[Captain Hate]

It's bad enough that Tampa Bay signed Lovie Smith at all; but to do so before any of the top assistant coaches are available to be interviewed is just a failure at all levels.

[mad jack]

Hope Bgates @ 2:10 comes to pass.

Two of the greatest choking dog teams of all time currently in action. Hard to predict which will end up with the most puke on their cleats in the end.

[JIB]

mad jack,

Looks the Bengals get to puke first.

[balls to the wall.]

"imagine what he'd do to them if they ever turned on him."

he hails from a Matriarchy, so the only turning is by cheek.

[mad jack]

Chargers lineman giving victory sign before they score. Karma alert.

[Danube on iPad]

"Two of the greatest choking dog teams of all time currently in action."

But one of them no longer has to carry around an anvil named Schottenheimer or Turner.

[mad jack]

My thoughts are with you DOT but a field goal only in that spot is not a good sign.

[JIB]

Marvin Davis is on the road to 0-5 in playoff games.

Andy Dalton aka Raggedy Andy can't read the Bolts defense. Simple as that.

[Captain Hate]

The Bolts have done about the absolute minimum with Dalton's gifts.

[JIB]

Its all over but the cryin' (which never stops with the Bengals). That Pagano guy did a much better job in the film room than Chuckies brother did that's for sure.

[mad jack]

Lewis is the 2nd longest tenured coach in the nfl after the hoodie. I know why the hoodie is still coaching. Not sure why Lewis is still around.

[NKonIPad]

Mad Jack-- marvin is realistic, he sells his coaching services cheap-- and the BengWads get what they pay for.

[Captain Hate]

Mike Brown refuses to fire Marvin when he still owes him money. On one side of Ahia, you have an owner who fires a head coach who never had a chance with all the injuries and on the other you have the son of a legend who has accomplished very little. Outstanding ownership imo.

[JIB]

For all you in the midwest and northeast giving us the finger lately:

Forecast lowest wind chills Tuesday morning: #Tallahassee 8°, #PanamaCity 12°, @CityofDothan 2°, @CityofAlbanyGA 2°, @CityofValdosta 6°.

[mad jack]

Not a good week for Ohio football.

[clarice]

bgates--brilliant, as usual.

[Ignatz]

I LOVE that kid that knocks the burger out of TO's hands.

[Beasts of England]

Dothan with a wind chill of 2° degrees? 12°for PCB? Nuts!

Low tomorrow night for me is 3°. Wind not included. Also nuts.

[Beasts of England]

Speaking of Ahia, I just got a text from the 330 area code. I'm positive in real life, I know no one from Ohio.

[peter]

LUN, quotations of 2013

[JIB]

Yikes!

The last 4 teams to play against Philly in their home opener have gone on to win the Super Bowl.

REMINDER: It was the Chargers this year.

From Fox Sports Tweet.

[Beasts of England]

5° in Green Bay. That's too cold to duck hunt. Quack!

[JIB]

The only thing missing in Green Bay is a rednosed reindeer.

[NKonIPad]

If it drops 7degrees F during the game itvwill be the second coldest evah at Lambeau.

[soul patcher]

Bgates; Pure genius.

[narciso]

It's as if the last 30 years doesn't apply;

http://www.realclearworld.com/2014/01/05/the_continuing_evolution_of_al-qaeda_30_154701.html

[Danube on iPad]

I forsee a long day for Green Bay. I may not be awake at the end.

[narciso]

Well possibly, but I've learned to rule a team out, too early;

'you ask for miracles' theo;

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=63397

what's the Yiddish word, that applies from the other thread

[Comanche Voter]

Well hell, our two imposters flying under false flags as "Secretary of State" both took a tip from the top of the ticket.
They were "present"--but not much else.

[The Duck of Death]

" That's too cold to duck hunt. Quack!"

That's fucking Cold Duck dude.

[Miss Marple]

Report from central Indiana:

30,000 without power in Indianapolis.

My sister lost a huge limb off her major tree due to snow weight.

County has declared a snow emergency.

Governor Pence has called out the National Guard to rescue stranded (and stupid) motorists in 20 counties, including mine.

Chili was an excellent choice for dinner.

[Stephanie lots of surprises in the BCS bowls]

Chili last night for dinner. Leftover chili and hot dogs for dinner tonight.

And peach cobbler. YUM

They just issued a winter weather advisory for our county. EEK.

[jimmyk]

what's the Yiddish word, that applies from the other thread

If I remember the other time you asked, I could only think of "verkakte," which more or less means "f'd up," (more literally, s***ty).

[JIB]

Is Fubar Yiddish?

Hard to believe that in this day and age a QB in the NFL can just run wily-nily over these defenses. Wussy boys.

[narciso]

So explain Boston, where the Russians handed us the tip'

http://therightscoop.com/peter-king-maybe-hundreds-of-new-yorkers-dying-wouldnt-bother-rand-paul/

[JIB]

Peter King. Long Island's biggest embarrassment since Amy Fisher and Joey Buttafoccu.

[cathyf]

JIB, FUBAR is an acronym, so it should be all capitals (f-ed up beyond all recognition) I thought it was military?

[Stephanie lots of surprises in the BCS bowls]

My fave acronym is DILLIGAS. Saw it on a 60-70 ft boat in the Keys. Perfect.

[Soul Patcher]

"Is Fubar Yiddish?"

If so, then 'Merican is also schtupp.

[JIB]

cathyf,

Only for civvies does it have to be capitals. Did you think Gus is the author?:) My first plane was called Fubar. Not all capitals etiher.

[Jim Rhoads f/k/a vnjagvet]

I believe it is military, Cathy as is SNAFU (Situation Normal All F'd Up).

I like to think that those of us who spent significant time in the military were inoculated from believing that the answer to any let alone all ills is moar and bigger gubbmint.

[narciso]

Each culture has it's own vulgarism, that suggests
remarkable level of ineptitude ranging to criminal negligence,

[Frau Deprimiert]

WHERE IS GUS??????

[narciso]

He shows up later at night;

Even when he is on your side, the instinct is to slap down Lurch'

http://weaselzippers.us/?p=166685

[Guggenheim Gus]

"WHERE IS GUS??????"

I dunno Frau Derp Derp.

Will I do?

[Account Deleted]

It's rather dishonest to treat the failure cascade of the Clinton/Obama Arab Spring as a series of discrete events. Everything stems from the lies and broken promises initiated when the idiotic progressive fantasy of tweeting up a revolution on the cheap was promulgated by two clowns who couldn't plan a one car parade.

When BOzo broke his promise to the Egyptian generals and couldn't cover his alligator mouth bribes due to his tweety-bird ass, the Russians stepped in and AQ perked right up.

What a shocker - progressive's lies causing massive slaughter. Who could ever have guessed?

[Frau Deprimiert]

jimmyk - let me be the first today to call Jon F'n an A.K.

[Beaver Man Gus]

"when the idiotic progressive fantasy of tweeting up a revolution on the cheap was promulgated by two clowns who couldn't plan a one car parade."

If you mean Bush/Cheney you are accidentally correct, except that they couldn't plan a trip to the crapper, much less a one car parade.

[narciso]

Yes, Rick it's turtles all the way down, the Speech at Al Azhar, a short trip from the Citadel,
where Qutb gave his last breath, was the first wrong move, that and the Nourouz letter, to Ahmadinejad, and the promise to close the pen for wayward Salafi at Gitmo, yadda yadda,

[Jeff Dobbs]

Nature abhors a vacuum?

I hear it detests hair dryers too.

Afterall, vacuums suck and hair dryers blow.

[Ignatz]

The 49ers may be playing just well enough to lose.

[JIB]

CH will appreciate that the NFL will honor its best players, coaches and teams in February on NFL TV hosted by Alec Baldwin.

Says it all about the NFL doesn't it?

The Kluwe kid from the Vikings won't be there, I guess.

[narciso]

Facepalm with an Old One, they really don't care he's an obnoxious jackalope.

[Jim Rhoads f/k/a vnjagvet]

Alec Baldwin? The foul-mouthed "liberal" Ahole who announces the NY Philharmonic broadcasts? Just right guy for Goodell and the GE suits. And precisely the wrong guy for the average real NFL fan who will stay away from that program in droves.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Q: What do Presdient Obama and Alec Baldwin have in common?

A: An obsession over what's in your wallet.

[Ignatz]

Wow. He really does have his picture next to the word in the dicktionary;

smug

adjective \ˈsməg\

: having or showing the annoying quality of people who feel very pleased or satisfied with their abilities, achievements, etc.

[Captain Hate]

The Kluwe kid from the Vikings won't be there, I guess.

The homos in my book group don't seem to find him particularly sympathetic.

On the Alec Baldwin thing, I have no idea who makes these decisions. Goodell seems to actively court these dimwitted things; remember he was actively discouraging any club letting Rush have a partial ownership share.

[Beaver Man Gus]

"having or showing the annoying quality of people who feel very pleased or satisfied with their abilities, achievements, etc."

How about smug self-righteousness?

[Captain Hate]

The 49ers may be playing just well enough to lose.

I don't dislike either team but having the Niner fanbase being upset would at least mildly amuse me.

[narciso]

Well Maliki was going to stick up for Syria, he spent the last decade of his exile there, so that's a given, they never seem to know these things or care about the import,

The ISIL doesm't really wear well, they are Zarquawi's team after all, who provoked the Awakening, with their interference, Nusra is much the same way, terror with a dollop of charity,

[Danube on iPad]

I love seeing Jim Harbaugh lose, but right now if they make aother seven yards or so he'll win. Too bad that kid couldn't make the pick.

[windansea]

boom

49ers

[Jeff Dobbs]

Phil Dawson went to my high school.

[narciso]

or Kaboom as the Ewok would say;

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2014/01/05/gregory-lets-his-slip-show-obamacare-unravels-oops-not-bad-way

[bgates]

Tough weekend for the home crowd to sit out in bad weather.

[JIB]

Green Bay had no defense. They let Kapaernick run all over them for the not the first time. Hard to believe they didn't have enough time to prepare for that. Packers didn't deserve to win.

[Jim Rhoads f/k/a vnjagvet]

All four away teams won in the wild card games. I suspect that is not the norm, but am too lazy to check. All games decided by three points or less but SD/Cinnzi.

IMO, the weather played no part in any outcome. Today, the officials seemed to me to do a good job as well.

[JIB]

Time for an early bed. Frederick goes back to school tomorrow.

Goede nacht. Slaap lekker. Tots morgen.

Suddenly a Panthers fan. Also the Bolts.

[Janet]

Q: What do Presdient Obama and Alec Baldwin have in common?

A: An obsession over what's in your wallet.

That's good, hit!

[Captain Hate]

As a frequent critic of the zebras and the rules they are forced to interpret, I thought they did an outstanding job of not calling pass interference throughout the Green Bay game and just let both defenses play. It didn't benefit either team because called it straight for both. I thought they missed a blatant hold on the play where Rogers remarkably escaped the grasp of the defense, but it turned out not to matter.

Despite Goodell and all the bad actors of the league, the players bail them out, year after year.

[Beaver Man Gus]

"An obsession over what's in your wallet."

Like your voter ID.

[narciso]

Well they aren't any smarter across the channel, that's reassuring right?

http://weaselzippers.us/?p=166661

[narciso]

Well all we want is a good game, that is the point of the exercise, he said rhetorically,

[Ignatz]

2 Corinthians 5:21

[DrJ]

The San Diego Padres say Hall of Fame broadcaster Jerry Coleman, a former major league ballplayer whose pro career was interrupted by two wars, has died after a brief illness. He was 89.

[Beaver Man Gus]

you might want to reconsider this supporter of law breaking.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-live/2014/01/rand-backs-snowden-bashes-clapper-180571.html

[Beaver Man Gus]

HIS righteousness is not a Disneyland annual or perpetual pass for ones sense of self-righteous rectitude. It's a pass on your imperfection, which is beyond your control. That portion of yourself, under your control is still subject to the Law of Talents.

So gfy in humility.

[narciso]

they could pretend not to loath this country at every turn, or is that too much;

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/01/figures-member-of-democrat-de-blasios-team-receives-award-from-communist-party-usa/

[Ignatz]

-- It's a pass on your imperfection,.--

No. That's grace.
His righteousness is the imputation of His blameless justification to the believer.

You confuse people knowing lots more than you and pointing out your colossal ignorance with self righteousness, when they're really only trying to help you realize how ignorant you are.

Ingratitude and foul mouthed insolence is their reward.

[Jeff Dobbs]

RACIST!

LeBron James, four-time MVP, one of the most recognizable celebrities in the world, was asked for ID at a hotel bar.

Expecting a black man to have an id?

Who was the bartender, Bull Connor?

[Ignatz]

Sorry, should have been "No. That's mercy."

[DrJ]

Ignatz,

What you write about Dana may be so, but I doubt he could pass the basic college Composition course. One that teaches how abbreviations are written, subject-verb agreement, the dative and genitive cases, and (*horror*) the subjunctives.

May be he could pass it at Pitzer, but there's no way he could do that at any good school.

Without expression the ideas are meaningless.

Such as they are.

[Beaver Man Gus]

And where is your 'mercy'?

He who is shown mercy, receives mercy. You do understand that principle as one of responsibility?. There's no such thing as grace without repentance, and that involves giving more than lip service.

[Beaver Man Gus]

"Such as they are."

Spoken like a genuine bureaucrat, living on gubmint grants, biting the hand that feeds.\\

Lack of principle. Good Pharisee.

[Beasts of England]

Not to mention the JOM Style Guide favorite: pluperfect!

[narciso]

Autarchy does not lead to fortune, instead quite the contrary;

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303370904579296352951436072?mod=trending_now_2