As the U.S. military keeps up the fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, here’s a question: Does the U.S. government need a Department of Peace? “The United States has to take steps to overcome violence,” wrote Kansas City Star columnist Lewis W. Diuguid. “The first step is for Congress to pass and President Barack Obama to sign legislation creating a Cabinet Department of Peace. It would provide people with examples of best practices in solving all conflicts through nonviolent means.”
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115 Comments
Ministry of Love?
Ministry of Peace?
I’m telling, it’s 1984 all over again.
Yeah, sure – Department of Peace
Department of Homeland Insecurties
Department of Spending
Or maybe O’BAMA could annoint Czars…
Oh wait…
A good idea. We have a defense department. Let’s do things to make this sorry country WORTH defending.
It used to be the Department of War.
Now it’s the Department of Defense.
Perhaps we should go back to the original terminology. Just so people realize what we’re getting ourselves into.
Bluejay sings:
“Let’s do things to make this sorry country WORTH defending.”
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Being done, Lewis. It’s called diplomacy. The State Dept is in charge of that.
But gazing through my magic computer at the morning breath faces out there, I’m thinking we need a Dept of Better Hygiene.
#
American_Way
Posted October 3, 2009 at 8:02 am | Permalink
Bluejay sings:
“Let’s do things to make this sorry country WORTH defending.”
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
_____________________
I’ll add a Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm to that comment myself.
I think we have a nation worth defending.
But eight years of neoCON arrogance weakened our case for it.
Unilateral, unprovoked war against Iraq was the act of a middle-school bully. Dressing up as a fighter pilot and landing on an aircraft carrier with a “Mission Accomplished” banner was the act of a strutting peacock. Declaring Iraqi oil would pay for the war was the act of a congenital liar.
Why isn’t this country worth defending now?
“Freebird1971″ –
I think it is.
And in no small part it’s due to President Obama’s sober, thoughtful, and even humble acknowledgment of the nation’s past offenses.
You know about making amends to those you have wronged. Takes some time sometimes, doesn’t it?
Freebird1971, maybe you could ask BlueJay what he meant by “sorry country” when you have lunch with him.
Maybe by “sorry country” he meant the president was busy apologizing all the time.
Yes it does,while I don’t agree with everything Obama has done nor have I been in agreement with any other president in my lifetime 100% as long as they get this country back on the road to greatness without out eroding personl liberities any farther than they have been,then I say go for it but dont expect me to sit back and and say nothing if I don’t agree.
“Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ”
Grunt if ya don’t know the words.
Outlander,
I’m a lower tier blogger and not worthy of an audience.
Just picked up the new Skynyrd cd ,before the insults start there is a song on it that everyone should take a listen to its called “That Aint My America” pretty thought provoking.
Unilateral, unprovoked war against Iraq was the act of a middle-school bully.
MH,
Another thing we agree on,damn whats going on here?
“Does the U.S. government need a Department of Peace?”
Well here’s an idea. Vastly expand and fund the Peace corps and make the head of it a Cabinet level post. Imagine a President asking the Cabinet first about peaceful options in dealing with other nations.
Dumb idea. At a time of growing debt due to huge deficits (and they would be huge no matter who was in control of the oval office or Congress), we do not need a vanity cabinet level department, particularly one as redundant as a Department of Peace.
I agree with outlander on this one.
We already have a Department of Peace. It’s called the Department of State.
“Imagine a President asking the Cabinet first about peaceful options in dealing with other nations.”
Yeah, a President already usually does that. And he asks that question of the Secretary of State.
Gut the waste in the Defense Department.
“Gut the waste in the Defense Department.”
That would be nice, particularly since we have the paradoxical situation of the Defense Department getting budgetary spending even they don’t want.
The Defense Department is used to justify the most stupid pork. If the stimulus bill had been what it should have been, we at least would have gotten more “pork” that would have purchased value that actually would have contributed to the infrastructure of a new and improved economy. Instead, we have congresscritters making deals to build and create things the Defense Department itself says it doesn’t need.
Don’t think a redundant “Department of Peace” will help sort out that mess, however.
“Freebird1971″ notes –
“MH,
Another thing we agree on,damn whats going on here?”
It’s because neither you nor I are zealots to a political philosophy.
I have you pegged as a traditional conservative. A Nancy Kassebaum/Bob Dole conservative who would be ridden out on a rail by today’s Repubic Party for being a “RINO.”
When I refer to “CONs,” it rarely involves you. CONs are a different breed; against anything that makes them cranky and willing to go off on fits of hyperbole with Marxist/Fascist rhetoric that simply makes no sense. I generally don’t see that in your posts.
Gut the waste in welfare
Mh,
Yeah,I’m pretty conservative but refuse to march in lock step with ANY political ideaolgy which I know chaps some peoples azz,but that garbage is on their side of the street not mine.
I think our primary mission should be peace and helping our own people. I have no interest in the destruction of people and things in the interest of American commerce.
Bluejay you don’t like Wichita, you don’t like Kansas, and you don’t like the United States.
You don’t like anything about your life.
What does this say about you, your character, and really your posts?
American_Way
Posted October 3, 2009 at 10:54 am | Permalink
Bluejay you don’t like Wichita, you don’t like Kansas, and you don’t like the United States.
You don’t like anything about your life.
What does this say about you, your character, and really your posts?
——————————————–
I’m pretty sure most people with any reasoning power know the answer to the question.
That I’m a better and more concerned citizen than you?
Freebird, I think you have it figured out but thought I’d help.
Monkeyhawk is among a few posters here who cannot post original thoughts, are not brave enough to post their opinions, or simply are incapable of carrying on a discussion which involves multiple views – without getting personal.
He is concerned with the WHO, not the content.
I think you were all over this last night with your reference to the SBR (Supreme Blog Ruler) and the LTB (Lower Tier Blogger).
It boils down to the old saying:
Great Minds Discuss Ideas;
Average Minds Discuss Events;
Small Minds Discuss People
Discussing “people” involves all the name-calling, put downs, attacks, belittling, interruptions, and putting everyone into little boxes in their minds.
BlueJay
Posted October 3, 2009 at 11:01 am | Permalink
That I’m a better and more concerned citizen than you?
————————————
By whose standards other than your own?
It usually involves people who are very insecure in their person. It is their way of self-defense when they feel their delicate ego’s threatened.
They believe this very blog “means” something. And it is important to their electronic “NIC” where everyone is positioned in relationship to themselves.
Very clear here.
Freebird1971
Posted October 3, 2009 at 11:09 am | Permalink
BlueJay
Posted October 3, 2009 at 11:01 am | Permalink
That I’m a better and more concerned citizen than you?
————————————
By whose standards other than your own?
——————————–
BJ forgot to mention that he is also a Higher Tiered Blogger.
“he is also a Higher Tiered Blogger”
Does that make him/her responsible for enforcing
the Proper Blog Etiquette (PBE)?
American_Way
Posted October 3, 2009 at 11:10 am | Permalink
It usually involves people who are very insecure in their person. It is their way of self-defense when they feel their delicate ego’s threatened.
They believe this very blog “means” something.
————————
Which explains why BJ panicked when the blog was down, and was sending emails everywhere!
Yeah I finally relegated Bluejay’s email to the Junk Mail Spam catcher….
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky,1
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same.
There’s a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one,
And they’re all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.
- Malvina Reynolds
God damn.
Really?
The insanity of this place…
Some posters here have to put us all into little boxes in their minds…..
“The insanity of this place…”
http://www.filestube.com/0b1a0441c444f1fd03ea/details.html
Didn’t Obama say Give War A Chance?
He wants to wait and see how things go in Afghanistan, then he wants to wait and think about it.
Before he Gives Peace a Chance, he wants to Give War a Chance.
“Didn’t Obama say Give War A Chance?”
As a presidental candidate, Barack Obama repeatedly said he would reinforce the U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Now, as commander-in-chief, however, Obama has thus far failed to heed the request of Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, to send more troops to that country.
In July 2008, then-candidate Obama told CNN, “We allowed the Taliban and Al Qaeda to regenerate itself when we had them on the ropes. That was a big mistake, and it’s one I’m going to correct when I’m president.”
On Mar. 27, 2009, Obama announced “I want the American people to understand that we have a clear and focused goal to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat Al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan and to prevent their return to either country in the future,”
When Obama was campaigning throughout 2007 and 2008, first against fellow Democratic candidates, and then against Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), he said multiple times that the conflict in Afghanistan was a war we “have to win,” that it should be prioritized over Iraq, and that he would redeploy at least two brigades to the country often called the “graveyard of empires.”
Aug. 1, 2007, Obama was already talking about the redeployment he would order as president: “Our troops have fought valiantly there [Afghanistan], but Iraq has deprived them of the support they need — and deserve. … As president, I would deploy at least two additional brigades to Afghanistan to re-enforce our counterterrorism operations and support NATO’s efforts against the Taliban.”
On July 8, 2008 he said he thought Afghanistan was more central to the security of the United States than Iraq. “If another attack on our homeland comes, it will likely come from the same region where 9/11 was planned,” said Obama. “And yet today, we have five times more troops in Iraq than Afghanistan.”
On July 20, 2008, Obama took a trip to Afghanistan and told Lara Logan of CBS: “For at least a year now, I have called for two additional brigades, perhaps three.” He also told Logan he believed “this has to be our central focus, the central front, on our battle against terrorism”
“Our troops and our NATO allies are performing heroically in Afghanistan, but I have argued for years that we lack the resources to finish the job because of our commitment to Iraq,” Obama said.
“And that’s why, as president, I will make the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban the top priority that it should be. This is a war that we have to win,” the Democratic nominee said.
First presidential debate, moderated by Jim Lehrer “We took our eye off Afghanistan,” said Obama. “We took our eye off the folks who perpetrated 9/11.”
He also told “CBS Evening News” host Katie Couric that the United States had “failed to seriously go after Al Qaeda over the last five years, because of the distraction of Iraq” and that “we are now seeing the consequences of that in Afghanistan.”
On Jan. 14 of this year, a week before being sworn in as president, Obama again told Couric that the United States “took our eye off the ball,” and that “our real focus has to be on Afghanistan, the border regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan . . . [t]hat’s my number one priority as president of the United States
Despite those comments, Obama recently indicated he may not give McChrystal the 40,000 troops the top military authority in Afghanistan says he needs for success, at least until he is satisfied that the “right strategy” is in place, and apparently in place of the “new comprehensive strategy” he outlined in March
#
American_Way
Posted October 3, 2009 at 11:10 am | Permalink
It usually involves people who are very insecure in their person. It is their way of self-defense when they feel their delicate ego’s threatened.
They believe this very blog “means” something. And it is important to their electronic “NIC” where everyone is positioned in relationship to themselves.
Very clear here.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Classic…
Very clear, indeed.
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/e91637e778.jpg
“[t]hat’s my number one priority as president of the United States”
Right after getting the Olympics in Shy town.
More Insanity in Afghanistan, Afghan Cop Kills TWO American Soldiers
Afghan Policeman Kills Two U.S. Soldiers
Saturday, October 03, 2009
KABUL — An Afghan official says a policeman conducting a joint operation with U.S. soldiers opened fire on the Americans, killing two of them.
The U.S. military said two American troops were killed in a firefight in Wardak on Friday, but provided no other details.
A third U.S. service member died Friday of wounds from a bomb attack in Wardak the day before.
Shahidullah Shahid, spokesman for the Wardak provincial governor, said Saturday the policeman fired on the Americans, killing two and injuring two before escaping. He did not give a reason for the shooting.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,559524,00.html?test=latestnews
=========================================
Obama Stop The Killing!
=========================================
“American_Way” whines about –
“…your reference to the SBR (Supreme Blog Ruler) and the LTB (Lower Tier Blogger). “
Really?
That was me?
Perhaps you can site those posts.
Then again, perhaps you cannot.
I know which way to bet.
“site” should be “cite”
But you know that.
“Monkeyhawk is among a few posters here who cannot post original thoughts, are not brave enough to post their opinions, or simply are incapable of carrying on a discussion which involves multiple views – without getting personal.”
If you really believe this, then you haven’t been paying attention.
You read the snark, and skip the content. Monkeyhawk does a much better job than you do of “carrying on a discussion which involves multiple views”, he just distinguishes those who he dismisses as CONS from those who can broadly be labeled as conservatives. Seriously, look back upthread, and tell me how the content of Monkeyhawk’s posts even remotely justify your claim that Monkeyhawk “cannot post original thoughts, [is] not brave enough to post [his] opinions”?
http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2009/10/give-peace-a-chance-%e2%80%94-and-a-bureaucracy/#comment-675305
And by the way, this whole “carrying on a discussion” thing? It’s not a conservative problem either. Jim Johnson, while I dismiss some of his posts as spam trollish, also frequently does pull off “carrying on a discussion”.
Monkeyhawk.
Those words you quoted were not addressed “TO” you. You cut and paste them out of a post I made to Freebird.
I cannot help you with your lack of reading comprehension. That said, it must have had an impact on why you post what you post.
Freebird,
Add Agnatha to that list of trollish behavior posters. No content. More concerned with posters than content.
Just because you are paranoid, doesn’t mean that someone isn’t out to get you.
Kill the Education Department.
Didn’t used to be one and everything was just fine.
Now all they do is spend tax dollars and screw things up.
“Add Agnatha to that list of trollish behavior posters. No content. More concerned with posters than content.”
Uh huh.
I invite anyone to look at my posting history and decide for themselves whether AmWay’s claim is true.
Go ahead and try to dismiss my posts to you as simply an “attack on a poster” rather than as a discussion of content. Either you don’t get it, or you don’t want to.
JimJohnson
Posted October 3, 2009 at 12:41 pm | Permalink
Just because you are paranoid, doesn’t mean that someone isn’t out to get you.
———————-
BTW, that was directed to YOU.
YOU know who you are!
Speaking of lack of content:
“Peace offers a better way. But the United States has to take steps to overcome violence. The first step is for Congress to pass and President Barack Obama to sign legislation creating a cabinet Department of Peace. It would provide people with examples of best practices in solving all conflicts through nonviolent means.
“Like alcoholics and drug addicts, we need a 12-step program toward overcoming violence. The first step is recognizing that we have a problem.”
From Diuguid’s editorial, which doesn’t even discuss a hypothetical Department of Peace except as an afterthought.
How a hypothetical Department of Peace is supposed to change the culture of violence he sees in this country is not at all clear to me.
#
Freebird1971
Posted October 3, 2009 at 10:22 am | Permalink
I’m a lower tier blogger and not worthy of an audience.
_________________________
XXX is the oldest continuous running nic on this blog. I have seniority!
Do I get to be top tier?
XXX is senior to me, in more ways than one.
I’d say he is top tier. Not sure if that qualifies him as SBR, as I wasn’t around at the beginning..
XXX
Posted October 3, 2009 at 1:01 pm | Permalink
#
Freebird1971
Posted October 3, 2009 at 10:22 am | Permalink
I’m a lower tier blogger and not worthy of an audience.
_________________________
XXX is the oldest continuous running nic on this blog. I have seniority!
Do I get to be top tier?
———————————–
You will have to clear that with Blue Jay,but I don’t expect he will give up his position without a fight.
And yes, I am guilty of posting with the small minds.
But darn it they suck me in!
Thanks for the kind words, “Agnatha” –
But I really don’t need ‘em.
There’s far more CON inanity on WE Blog than I can keep up with (what with my days dedicated to keeping the tencil on the toad). But I try to snark in between other duties.
CONs hate my snarks because I cut too close to the nerve.
It’s okay.
It’s borderline sadistic sometimes, I admit, but it’s fun. Especially on weekends when there’s no Rush O’Hannity for them to parrot.
MH,
How do you keep your tencil on the toad? Mine keeps falling off
“The first step is for Congress to pass and President Barack Obama to sign legislation creating a Cabinet Department of Peace.”
===============================================
Something tells me that a New Cabinet Department will not be able to change human nature and bring peace and heaven to Earth.
You think a new Cabinet, and maybe a bunch of new laws would have stopped gang bangers from using fists and feet and clubs to beat the 16-year-old student to death?
Maybe that new Cabinet and a few more laws would have stopped the man and woman from beating at KFC employee for being ‘too slow’?
Maybe we need to just better educate people, show them the light and the right path to good living. Why soon, we will have utopia here on Earth!
——————————————————————————————–
http://www.breitbart.tv/graphic-video-shows-beating-death-of-chicago-honors-student/
Albert, 16, was walking home from school Thursday when he was beaten to death in a fight between two rival groups outside a community center. Four teens were charged Monday in the slaying.
———————————————————————————————
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,559580,00.html?test=latestnews
Police: Massachusetts Couple Beats Man at KFC Over Slow Order
———————————————————————————————
MH thinks rather highly of himself. So why the nic-switching?
“American_Way” –
I know quality when I see it.
Chicago to Buy PEACE, $25,000 per Gang Banger:
For Chicago, a sharp rise in violent student deaths over the past three school years – most from shootings off school property – have been a tragedy and an embarrassment.
Before 2006, an average of 10-15 students were fatally shot each year. That climbed to 24 fatal shootings in the 2006-07 school year, 23 deaths and 211 shootings in the 2007-08 school year and 34 deaths and 290 shootings last school year.
This month, the city announced a $30 million project that targets 1,200 high school pupils identified as most at risk to become victims of gun violence, giving them full-time mentors and part-time jobs to keep them off the streets.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/09/28/national/main5347991.shtml
Chicago! Chicago! One He11 of a Town!
You switch nics because you know quality?
Quality in the new NIC and lack of confidence in the old?
Your snarks make me laugh BTW.
http://www.breitbart.tv/graphic-video-shows-beating-death-of-chicago-honors-student/
Albert, 16, was walking home from school Thursday when he was beaten to death in a fight between two rival groups outside a community center. Four teens were charged Monday in the slaying.
——————————————-
BTW, they blur-out that part of the video that shows the gang banger swinging several times, using a chunk of wood, repeatedly smashing the brains out of the 16-year-old has he lay on the concrete.
Other people on the street continue walking by, as if this is no big deal, likely a daily occurence in Chicago, where America’s finest live.
“American_Way” admits –
“Your snarks make me laugh….”
That’s what they’re for.
Thanks!
Glad to be of service.
I’ll bet two of them walking by was mh & bj
“FORD1ST” –
I’ll take that bet.
Now.
Pay up.
I’LL ONLY PAY WHAT YOU ARE WORTH.
A BIG “O”
Piker.
You know us “Independent’s”
I think Obama should appoint a Czar of Peace immediately, to give the cons some more whining material. They do so love it.
Other people on the street continue walking by, as if this is no big deal, likely a daily occurence in Chicago, where America’s finest live.
Our boys are safe in Afghanistan than in Chicago, thanks for making my point.
Police: Massachusetts Couple Beats Man at KFC Over Slow Order
Our boys are safer in Afghanistan than working at KFC, you’re a treasure trove today!
Maybe there should be an Afghan War Czar,then maybe some descions could be made.
Amazing isn’t it Phantom?
Chicago has almost as many murders as if the Afghan war is being fought right there where Obama spent so much time organizing the place.
The Party of No has spoken!
It doesn’t matter what our president does, according to the Con/Republicans it is wrong!
Listen to the Generals regarding Afghanistan? Wrong.
Don’t listen to the Generals? Wrong, again.
Try to bailout the economy? Wrong.
Economy in failure? You should have done something.
Healthcare system in failure? You should have done nothing or you should have done something – we can’t decide.
And the list goes on………………………
Oh please DO list the things that Obama has done right, so far:
Waiting………
WS, And your side is different how?
“Obama wants to take ALL our guns away!”
Our president has never suggested anything like that.
“But that is what he wants to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Show some evidence.
“I don’t need evidence, I know that’s what he is going to do!!!”
How do you know that is factual?
“Sean O’Rushbeck told me!!!!!!”
Okay, end of conversation.
He is THE president not MY president I’ve never had a president he has only been the president.
“WS, And your side is different how?”
The Democrats are TRYING to resolve both the War of Choice on Iraq and the conflict in Afghanistan/Pakistan. Also, they TRYING to address the Healthcare issue and TRYING to level the playing field between the haves and have-nots in this country. They are also TRYING to reinstate the environmental controls rolled back during the Bush years. Further, they are TRYING to reestablish the moral high ground in foreign affairs that the United States used to hold.
Other than that, not a GD thing.
Oh so you are saying Bush deserved criticism and YOUR president doesn’t?
Democrats, you have the House, Senate, and White House! YOU are Responsible for YOUR OWN FAILURES!
Blaming the tiny minority Republican Party for your failures, and trying to label them as the Party of No, says much about your own Party.
You Dems, who whine about the Party of NO, are rapidly turning your party into the Party of Whiners, Cry-Babies, and Wimps who are Not Accountable or Responsible for Your Own Inactions.
“not MY president”
Barack Obama is MY President – if that offends you – well that is just too f’ing bad.
Barack Hussein Obama is my President.
If you don’t like that, Free, campaign for the candidate of your choice in 2012.
Good luck getting Sarah elected.
Clark, looks like a lot of Trying and not a lot of Doing.
But give yourself an E for effort, if that makes you feel better.
Well WS if my questioning of your choice of words offends,then that is something you will have to deal with. I’m actually hoping for a viable 3rd party and if one appears I will work my azz off to put BOTH parties out of power.
“A-MEN ” TO THAT
WS,
I asked you a direct question in hopes of getting a civil answer. But guess I was expecting too much
“Well WS if my questioning of your choice of words offends,then that is something you will have to deal with”
Lookin’ for a fight again, Free? I am not walking away.
You seem to be constantly looking for a physical confrontation, so what should I think?
You want to do the man to man, face to face thing?
Well, name the time and place.
What has Obama done right?
–Troops pulled out of Iraq? Nope, still dying. SSDD.
–Afghanistan any better? Nope, worse even. More Americans getting killed every day.
–Unemployment better? Nope, it’s far worse.
–Deficit better? Nope, it’s far worse.
–National Debt better? Nope, far worse.
–Housing better? Nope, no job, no dinero. No dinero, no casa.
–Banks, Insurance Companies, Car Makers all better? Nope, far worse after being bailed out and controlled by Obama.
–Healthcare fixed? Nope. Democrats still whining and crying fighting the people in town hall meetings, fighting among themselves, and blaming Republicans for everything.
–Global warming cured? No, but not caused or cured by man anyway. Cap & Tax was proposed and Obama talked nice in several speeches, but didn’t actually DO anything. Nuthin done.
–Social Security fixed? Nope, in fact the bankrupt date is now earlier then ever.
–Medicare fixed? Nope, in fact the bankrupt date is now earlier then ever.
–Pakistan better? Hardly. Taliban surge almost took capital. Shakier then ever.
–N.Korea better? Nope. SSDD.
–Iran better? Nope, worse even. Closer to the BOOM then ever!
–Olympics in the US? Nope, Obama failed to bring the Olympics to his home town.
But don’t worry Obama, Clark says you are trying really hard not to Eff-up. You just can’t help yourself! What do you expect from a Community Organizer?
(And Remember, METRICS = STRATEGY.)
“I asked you a direct question in hopes of getting a civil answer.”
Here’s your civil answer: I have time and patience to deal with anyone that truly WANTS to be civil and to state their position with facts, not distortion or Rush O’Hannity positions.
Are you in or are you out?
WSClark
Posted October 3, 2009 at 6:29 pm | Permalink
“Well WS if my questioning of your choice of words offends,then that is something you will have to deal with”
Lookin’ for a fight again, Free? I am not walking away.
You seem to be constantly looking for a physical confrontation, so what should I think?
You want to do the man to man, face to face thing?
Well, name the time and place.
======================================
And the 12-year old emerges. Go find BJ, he should still be outside playing until it gets dark.
WS,
I’m in, I am open to listening to your points of view in a face to face,hell I’ll even buy you a drink.
If you’re all done with the kindergarten war, maybe we ought to get around to commenting on the actual thread.
Quite a few years ago, a Peace Acadamy was proposed, and the idea gained some currency for a while. The idea being that it would train professional diplomats to replace the political appointees that fill many of the chairs in our embassies. Might end up saving the country a considerable amount of embarassment, a godawful lot of money and maybe even some lives if we knew how to negotiate instead of just bomb. After witnessing the Iraq debacle, it might be time to try that out! Remember that friends may come and go, but enemies stick around for a hell of a long time.
“I’m in, I am open to listening to your points of view in a face to face,hell I’ll even buy you a drink.”
I’ll buy my own, thanks. Tomorrow 12:30, you name the place, with a patio, please, I am a smoker.
This is no BS – name the place, I’ll be there. Old Town is fine with me.
Could it be later, babysitting the grandson but later in the afternoon would be ok if it works for you
WSClark
Posted October 3, 2009 at 6:18 pm | Permalink
Barack Obama is MY President
—————————–
O’BAMA isn’t anyone’s personal President.
He fills a position called the President of the United States.
Not President of misdirected, misguided, leftists of the United States. :)
Well WS we have at least one thing in common,I’m also a smoker.
Jed
Posted October 3, 2009 at 6:38 pm | Permalink
Quite a few years ago, a Peace Acadamy was proposed
====================
They tried that on Star Trek, all of the Ambassadors end up dieng.
What would the Peace Academy teach, the Chamberlin Approach?
French Surrendor Tactics?
Native American Peacepipe Smoking Tactics?
Aztec Peace Negotiation Process?
Inca Friendly Welcoming Technique for Attacking Parties?
Help me remember some other Peaceful Approaches used to Gain Peace.
How about that Chicagoland Self-Defense from Gangs technique?
Klaatu
Barada
Nikto
“Well WS we have at least one thing in common,I’m also a smoker.”
E-mail me at WSClark52@gmail.com. I am a reasonable man, so that shouldn’t be an issue – I would like to hear your POV, so I will listen and contribute.
I need to get the smoker going at about 11:00 AM, but I will be free from 12:30 to 2:00 or thereabouts.
I am looking forward to meeting you, Free, and hopefully sharing our views in a civil manner.
The Peace Ministry, could be just a few blocks from the UN, say at the base where the Twin World Trade Center Towers once stood.
Could be pretty flowers painted all over the building.
I’ll be in touch as soon as my grandson leaves,can’t pass up the chance to spend time with him. Does the Old Chicago in Old Town have a patio?
Jim,
They could put it next to the Uneployment Insurance Company office, wait bad idea,no can seem to find the Insurance company’s office.
“I’ll be in touch as soon as my grandson leaves,can’t pass up the chance to spend time with him.”
I am out of here for the night, Free, so I’ll check the e-mail in the morning.
I was thinking of the patio at the pub North of Old Town – I’ll get the addy in the AM.
I’ll be in touch in the morning.
Good,I’m going to kick back and watch some footabll.
reggie,
“They tried that on Star Trek, all of the Ambassadors end up dieng.
I’m glad you think Star Trek is a reality show. Must be really comforting. And if you’re that much into technology, you might learn to love spell-check too.
Now THIS is a classic spam troll post, but, I am feeding it anyway.
Why? I dunno. Can’t sleep, I guess.
“–Troops pulled out of Iraq? Nope, still dying. SSDD.”
Actually, Iraq still seems to be relatively stable (can’t credit or blame Obama for that, but things still seem to be proceeding), and the latest news is that we will be withdrawing troops.
“–Afghanistan any better? Nope, worse even. More Americans getting killed every day.”
It’s a mess and according to all reports that’s a fact. Of course, it was already a mess before Obama took over. The fact is, neither the previous administration nor this one seems to be willing to say what this war is, a war against Wahhabist Islamism (not Islam, Islamism), not just the Taliban or Al Queda.
“–Unemployment better? Nope, it’s far worse.”
It’s worse, and the trajectory according to economists was that it was going to get worse, regardless of who was president at the time. The latest report was a disappointment, to be sure, but to say that the job loss was due to Obama’s policies is simply ludicrous.
“–National Debt better? Nope, far worse.”
According to non-ideological sources, the debt and deficit would have been equally bad no matter who was in the White House.
“–Housing better? Nope, no job, no dinero. No dinero, no casa.”
The fall in housing occurred well before this president took office, and actually some improvement has been noted.
“–Banks, Insurance Companies, Car Makers all better? Nope, far worse after being bailed out and controlled by Obama.”
Uhm, most of the banks who got the bail outs are actually doing well, and what crisis among the insurance companies are you yammering about? As for the car makers, that’s going to take awhile, but at least we still have car makers.
“–Healthcare fixed? Nope. Democrats still whining and crying fighting the people in town hall meetings, fighting among themselves, and blaming Republicans for everything.”
Yeah, right. The Republicans have been the party of NO and nothing else on this issue, and the meaningful debate has been between two factions of Democrats. The issue’s not done yet.
“–Global warming cured? No, but not caused or cured by man anyway. Cap & Tax was proposed and Obama talked nice in several speeches, but didn’t actually DO anything. Nuthin’ done.”
Clearly, you are illiterate on this issue. Objective evidence controlled for ideological bias supports the hypothesis that human activity has caused temperature increases, despite the amount of noise, net, and print pollution from the misguided coalition and libertarian right. What’s more, global warming can’t be “cured” (except by some massive unanticipated natural climate shift, and if that happens we will be having major problems anyway), but it can be slowed.
“–Social Security fixed? Nope, in fact the bankrupt date is now earlier then ever.
“–Medicare fixed? Nope, in fact the bankrupt date is now earlier then ever.”
I haven’t seen hardly anyone willing to make the difficult decisions on these, although the Obama Administration actually made some noteworthy proposals (of course, the Republicans immediately jumped on them, see their response to proposals to cut Medicare Advantage, never mind the fact that the CBO they so love to quote on other issues actually indicated that fiscally that was a sound idea).
“–Pakistan better? Hardly. Taliban surge almost took capital. Shakier then ever.”
Uhm, yeah? That was Pakistan’s fault. To the extent that it was “our” fault, the seeds of this situation most certainly occurred during the previous administration (remember when the assassination of Banazir Bhutto and the fall of Musharraf occurred?).
“–N.Korea better? Nope. SSDD.”
Actually, keep up. They’ve been backing down.
“–Iran better? Nope, worse even. Closer to the BOOM then ever!”
Yeah, and even the French have turned against them. Also, for 100, this action by the United States contributed to the rise of Iran in the near east.
What was the invasion of Iraq, Alex?
Ding ding ding ding ding! That is correct.
“–Olympics in the US? Nope, Obama failed to bring the Olympics to his home town.”
I figured it would be Rio, and really, it should be.
“Quite a few years ago, a Peace Acadamy was proposed, and the idea gained some currency for a while. The idea being that it would train professional diplomats to replace the political appointees that fill many of the chairs in our embassies.”
IN other words, reforming our State Department.
And we “need” a Department of Peace, why?
“And we need’ a Department of Peace, why?”
General question by the way. Jed didn’t argue that we did need such a department. But I am curious as to whether someone can advance an argument for one. Diuguid (pronounced “Do Good”?) certainly didn’t.