Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The Obama Doctrine: Redefining A Call To Arms

It's time to Break It Down!

For weeks now the crisis in Libya has hovered near the top of America’s headline news.  The conflict, a civil war by most assessments, frequently leads regular news casts, and is featured consistently in crawls on 24-Hour news stations such as CNN.

For the past 10 days, since the initiation of the no-fly zone,” the great hue and cry has been for President Obama to explain himself, and to define and defend his actions and America’s role.  Republicans, have demanded an accounting, several Democrats have expressed concerns, and much of the media has served as an enormous echo chamber, repeating the talking points of the various bases for dissatisfaction.

At the crux of this growing debate the central issue for many seems to be, “Why are we not taking unilateral control of the situation, by whatever means necessary?”

In short, our nation has a history of policing the globe.  Many of our current political leaders are clearly invested in the notion of “Act now; ask questions later…if at all.”  As a result, many of the nations of the world expect us, and to be honest, when their vital interests are on the line, want us, to continue to do so.  At the same time, many of our leaders, accustomed as they are to this role, can fathom no other way.

Therefore, when this President insists on gathering information, coalescing allies, and structuring a role for the United States commensurate with our less than vital interests, he and his efforts are met with utter disparagement and outright disdain.              

With that preamble serving as a backdrop, President Obama took the stage and spoke to the nation on Monday evening.  From the National Defense University in Washington, DC, the President talked Libya.  In outlining what he would achieve through his comments, he committed to explain:

  • What he said we would do
  • What we have done
  • What we will do now
  • Why this matters (or should, to Americans)
President Obama framed in the clearest way possible, what was a stake; the ruthless slaughter of Libyan citizens by 40-year dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, intent on remaining in power.  Given this impending annihilation, the President articulated our moral obligation this way:

"To brush aside America’s responsibility as a leader and — more profoundly — our responsibilities to our fellow human beings under such circumstances would have been a betrayal of who we are. Some nations may be able to turn a blind eye to atrocities in other countries. The United States of America is different. And as President, I refused to wait for the images of slaughter and mass graves before taking action.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/52107.html#ixzz1I3CljS9a

With so much at stake, the President and his Administration began to put in place the key elements that have come to define America’s approach to this conflict.  While his approach has certainly been controversial, it has also been thoughtfully conceived, and methodically executed.  It entails a number of measures, including:

  • Evacuated the American embassy
  • Facilitated the exit of all Americans who sought American assistance.
  • Froze more than $33 billion of the Gaddafi regime’s assets.
  • Joined with other nations at the United Nations Security Council, we broadened sanctions
  • Imposed an arms embargo
  • Created a framework for Gaddafi and those around him to be held accountable for their crimes
  • Made it clear that Gaddafi had lost the confidence of his people and the legitimacy to lead, and said that he needed to step down from power.
  • Ordered warships into the Mediterranean
  • Led an effort with our allies at the United Nations Security Council to pass an historic resolution to authorize a no-fly zone to stop the regime’s attacks from the air
  • Authorized all necessary measures to protect the Libyan people, including military action to stop the killing and enforce U.N Resolution 1973
What have these actions led to?  In effect, the pivotal moment starts now.  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (familiarly NATO) takes command of enforcement of the arms embargo and the no-fly zone today.  This means our allies and partners are scheduled to assume the lead responsibility for maintaining pressure on Gaddafi’s remaining forces.

If this transition comes to pass, the US will engage in maintaining a supporting role.  In this capacity, the US would provide:

  • Intelligence
  • Logistical support
  • Search & rescue assistance
  • Capabilities to jam communications
  • Provide assistance to Libyans who need food and medical care
  • Safeguard the $33 billion in frozen assets so that it is available to the Libyan people.
Significant by-products of this reduced involvement is tamps down the risks to American soldiers, and the costs to our taxpayers.  This fact reflects the President’s effort to craft an effective, but balanced strategy to deal with the conflict in Libya.

Since America’s vital interests are not at stake in Libya, why is American involvement critical to Operation Odyssey Dawn?  The President detailed several reasons that compelled America to act.  They include:

  • America has an important strategic interest in preventing Gaddafi from overrunning those who oppose him.
  • massacre would have driven thousands of additional refugees across Libya’s borders, putting enormous strains on the peaceful –- yet fragile -– transitions in Egypt and Tunisia.
  • The democratic impulses that are dawning across the region would be eclipsed by the darkest form of dictatorship, as repressive leaders concluded that violence is the best strategy to cling to power.
  • The writ of the United Nations Security Council would have been shown to be little more than empty words, crippling that institution’s future credibility to uphold global peace and security.
  • While I will never minimize the costs involved in military action, I am convinced that a failure to act in Libya would have carried a far greater price for America.
The overarching debate questioning the President’s approach to resolving this war has unfolded on two antithetical tracks; one arguing against intervention in Libya; the other, proposing that we broaden our military mission to include deposing Gaddafi.  Mr. Obama defended his tack, and noted that his assignment of US forces carries both a United Nations (U.N.) mandate as well as international support.  In addition, the Libyan opposition requested our involvement on the current scale.  If we were to attempt to overthrow Gaddafi by force:

  • Our coalition would splinter
  • We would likely have to put troops on the ground
  • We would increase the risk of killing many civilians from the air
  • The dangers faced by our troops would be far greater
  • Our share of the costs would spiral
The President reminded Americans that the scenario of moving to oust a despot is a precise replica of our Iraq experience; an outcome we cannot afford to repeat in Libya.

In placing the matter in perspective the President reminded that in just one month, the United States has:
  • Worked with our international partners to mobilize a broad coalition
  • Secured an international mandate to protect civilians
  • Stopped an advancing army
  • Prevented a massacre
  • Established a no-fly zone with our allies and partners.
By comparison, this rapid military and diplomatic response was compared to the Bosnian brutality of the 1990’s, when it took the international community more than a year to intervene.  The US took the above steps in 31 days.  This contrast sheds a most informative light on the bogus handwringing and second-guessing about how long it took the Obama Administration to act.

In further clarifying the Administration's actions, the President underscored that the US accomplished these objectives consistent with his initial pledge to the American people at the outset of military operations, that:

  • America’s role would be limited
  • We would not put ground troops into Libya
  • We would focus our unique capabilities on the front end of the operation
  • We would transfer responsibility to our allies and partners.
In response to claims and suggestions that Mr. Obama has shown a lack of resolve in dealing with this matter, he demonstrated again his unwillingness to be bullied into moving hastily and irrationally to make war.  At the same time, as Commander-in-Chief of the most advanced military power the world has ever known, the President stated, in unequivocal terms, his position on deploying our armed forces:     

“I’ve made it clear that I will never hesitate to use our military swiftly, decisively, and unilaterally when necessary to defend our people, our homeland, our allies and our core interests.”

The whole idea of an Obama Doctrine is a media contrivance; often as not a synonym for lazy journalism.  The world is far too complex for any one statement of even any single group of statements to define the views of the POTUS.  But for the purpose of this post, and from a military slant, Monday night’s speech serves as an exemplar of "The Obama Doctrine: Redefining A Call To Arms!”  One can conclude that while Mr. Obama is a President who views force as a last resort, he will use it, but only after deep reflection and only under circumstances that he feels give him no other choice.  He distanced himself from both Bill Clinton’s Bosnia and George W. Bush’s Iraq; he charted his own course.  Ultimately, that is a good thing.  Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/52107.html#ixzz1I3G8VPq7

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:










Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Operation Odessey Dawn: No American Boots on the Ground...Yet!

It's time to Break It Down!

Two weeks ago I wrote a post about America’s Next War. Though cynics may have casually labeled that assertion alarmist hyperbole then, welcome to the future! The United Nations (U.N.) Security Council approved a resolution last Thursday, designed to achieve several objectives, including:

Protect civilians

Ban travel

Freeze assets

Embargo arms

Invoke a no-fly zone

The rebels in Libya solicited support to aid their efforts to overthrow Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and his Regime, for several weeks. The League of Arab States and the African Union, two regional alliances, were among numerous groups advocating direct involvement by the United States, specifically and especially in creating a no-fly zone, which would prevent the Gaddafi Regime from bombing the people of Libya.

A number of factions in American also lobbied intently for President Obama to intervene. There was a particularly keen and persistent castigation of the Administration by several prominent, prospective candidates for the 2012 GOP Presidential nomination. I will leave you to draw your own inferences about whether this was a self-serving tactic, designed to enhance their individual profiles, or a mere coincidence, based on their otherwise legitimate ideological differences with the President.

Be that as it may, when the U.N. Security Council approved Resolution 1973 (2011), it represented a fundamental shift in America’s role in what many have characterized as Libya’s Civil War. The resolution passed on a 10-0 vote, with five members abstaining. The members voting in favor of the resolution were:

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Colombia

France (Permanent)

Gabon

Lebanon

Nigeria

Portugal

South Africa

United Kingdom (Permanent)

United States (Permanent)

Those members abstaining were:

Brazil

China (Permanent)

Germany

India

Russian Federation (Permanent)

In effect, Operation Odyssey Dawn was born with that vote. While the most talked about feature of the resolution, before and after its adoption is the inimitable “no-fly zone,” the action includes several other elements, as enumerated earlier. Of course, the main purpose of this post is to point out the logic vacuum that exists in some corners, pertaining to the Operation. The concept of the no-fly zone was frequently bandied about as though it were a cure-all, and as if it were a kind of discreet action that could be implemented without preceding steps, or subsequent outcomes. It is neither.

In simplistic terms, invoking and enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya means Coalition air craft fly overhead and ensure that Libyan planes can no longer take off and initiate raids on Libyan rebels. The concept sounds simple enough, when framed that way. There is a basic problem with that description; it leaves out key information. In order for Coalition forces to fly over Libya in relative safety, the Allies had to first disable Libyan artillery and air craft. This entailed executing precision bombing strikes in areas where munitions and planes were maintained. Naturally, the odds that this equipment is stored in isolation of people are slim and none.

Put another way, we are at war! You don’t think so? Turn the tables; think of Pearl Harbor. When a nation or nations use military implements to attack another nation, it is war, regardless of whether it’s called that.

There have been reports that the Arab League, whose members emphatically urged the US to join the fray, recoiled at the attacks which cleared the way for the no-fly zone. Not surprisingly, whereas much of the negative internal political dissonance revolved around concerns that President Obama should have acted more swiftly and decisively to aid the rebels, in the aftermath of America assisting Coalition efforts to stage the no-fly zone over Libya, dissent persists from both sides of the Aisle.

GOP Senators Rick Santorum, PA, Marco Rubio, FL, and John McCain, AZ, have all expressed their opposition to the way President Obama and his Administration have responded to events in Libya. No to be outdone by his Republican colleagues, Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich, OH, went so far in panning Mr. Obama's actions, as to suggest the President may be culpable of an “impeachable offense.”

Mr. Kucinich, of course, opposed the action from the start. While I don’t view his current position as tenable, it is at least consistent. On the other hand, some of the Republicans who complained about America’s lack of involvement are now adroitly repositioning their arguments to find fault with actions they previously supported. Self-serving political opportunism; you decide! As for the members of the Arab League, they seem to have revisited and tweaked their shrill notes of opposition. Still, it needs to be reiterated, all of this seeming inconsistency and confusion is part of the dysfunction inherent in real life war. This is not video gaming, and there are no do-overs.

Death and casualties are both unavoidable and irrevocable aspects of war. That line should become the recurring refrain of every leader and legislative body considering initiating acts of war, much as Dorothy repeated “No place like home,” as she transitioned form Oz, back to Kansas. It may never prevent a war; but then again, it just might.

Finally, General Carter Ham, top Commander of American forces in the Libyan conflict insists that the impetus of this mission is to protect civilians. He pronounced the initial phase of the Operation, disabling Libya’s ability to effectively attack Coalition forces, successful. “Operation Odyssey Dawn: No American Boots on the Ground…Yet!” Yet is the operative word here. President Obama has expressed confidence that America will be able to hand over responsibility for maintaining the Coalition effort in days; not weeks, or longer.

At this juncture, that sounds overly optimistic. Colonel Gaddafi has remained openly defiant, and promises not to submit. With a mission aimed neither at Regime Change, nor targeting The Leader, continuing to protect civilians successfully sounds like a protracted engagement. We will see.

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WY02a_E3sw

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/Video-Libya-UN-Security-Council-Votes-In-Favour-Of-A-No-Fly-Zone/Article/201103315954268

http://www.un.org/sc/members.asp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRScYQ_BLIs

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7360170n

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZLkwbeROa0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOMHvdZE5G0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlUdvYyr7ok&feature=watch_response

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12562504

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/03/22/obama.libya.policy.defense/

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014572662_apltobamawarandpeace.html

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Gibson-opposes-Obama-on-Libya-1246505.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Santorum

http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/65740/will-opposition-to-libya-attacks-hurt-obamas-2012-campaign/

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/03/15/mccain-lieberman-urge-obama-to-recognize-libyan-opposition/

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-22/obama-has-no-doubt-u-s-can-hand-libyan-command-to-international-force.html

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2011/sc10200.doc.htm#Resolution

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_League

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Union

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_states_of_the_African_Union

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/03/17/seeks-resolution-authorizing-wide-range-strikes-libya/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Ham

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

America's Game: Locked & Loaded!

It's time to Break It Down!

The 2011 Super Bowl; in the vault, this year’s Pro Bowl; history; the National Football League (NFL) Draft, source for new talent; right around the corner, yet, for now, the topic uppermost on the minds of football fans across the nation and around the world is “The Lockout.” While college Basketball owns the rights to the term March Madness, Trademarked, I’m sure, NFL owners and players may want to at least borrow the moniker until they can resolve their current impasse. Talk about killing the goose that laid the golden egg, nothing screams insanity more than a work stoppage in America’s Game.

In full disclosure, it is important for me to say, I am neither an avid, nor knowledgeable football fan. Having put that in the forefront, please know that it’s possible my opinion will be devoid of what you may consider fundamental understanding of the game and its infrastructure. I own that caveat and invite you, as always, to feel free to share you own point of view in the comments section of the blog.

At the core, this is a disagreement between NFL owners and NFL players. The source of the disagreement is revenue sharing. Briefly stated, there is a $9 Billion pool of money that will be split, ultimately, between the 32 Franchise owners and the players.

There are two basic premises that punctuate the respective positions of each side. The owners, citing reduced profitability, have asked the players to accept a decrease in their share of the revenue pot, dropping back to 2009 levels. The players, in turn, have asked the owners to open their books...completely.

Now there are certainly other points of contention, but those represent the stakes in the ground. The owners contend they have offered compromises that would permit the players to see records for the past 5 years, and argue that the players have declined, refused to compromise, and have not bargained in good faith. The players counter the owners have been planning a Lockout all along, and have borrowed and/or saved to ensure that they have a contingency fund that will sustain their organizations through a 2011 Work Stoppage.

In their finer moments, both the owners and players have accused the other side of lying. It goes down hill after that. This past Friday, the National Football League Players’ Association (NFLPA) decertified. That action resulted in the organization ceasing to operate as a union, and enabled players to sue the owners. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expired midnight Friday; the owners locked out the players Saturday, marking the first NFL work stoppage since 1987. The players have asked for an injunction against the lockout. A hearing to consider this request has been scheduled for April 6th in Minneapolis. It is anticipated injunctive relief will be granted, which means the doors would be opened, and teams would operate by 2010 rules.

In the interim, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is investigating a charge by the NFL that the NFLPA decertification is a sham, merely designed to delay negotiations. If the NLRB finds for the NFL, it could still take action against the NFLPA, despite its decertification.

Meanwhile, in addition to the compromise on opening the teams’ books, the owners’ offer included:

• Maintaining the 16 regular-season games and four preseason games for at least two years, with any switch to 18 games down the road being negotiable.

• Instituting a rookie wage scale through which money saved would be paid to veterans and retired players.

• Creating new year-round health and safety rules.

• Establishing a fund for retired players, with $82 million contributed by the owners over the next two years.

Financial disclosure of audited profitability information that is not even shared with NFL clubs. That was proposed by the NFL last week, and rejected by the union, which began insisting in May 2009 on a complete look at the books of each of the 32 clubs.

Many fans and a multitude of casual observers have characterized this tête-à-tête as a classic battle between billionaires and millionaires. Particularly in the midst of an environment dominated by employee dislocation, and economic turmoil, it is difficult to muster the energy or emotional traction to take sides in this seemingly senseless battle. Fans are hard pressed to stay engaged, while the non-vested have already embraced firmly the Rhett Butler position; “Frankly, my dear, I don’t…

I don’t know any NFL owners, and only a few players and former players.  I have not had the occasion to discuss the state of the game recently, with any of the players I know. However, in formulating my best estimation, I believe there will be football in 2011. It’s a shame it appears litigation rather than negotiation will be required to make that assessment a reality. Why has it come to this? In my humble opinion, “America’s Game: Locked & Loaded,” is the scenario we are faced with because:

1. The owners are so loaded, they can afford a season without football, and absorb the economic consequences

2. The players are so locked into their position, they are willing to go all out to make their points, which seem to be:

a. the owners are so loaded, they can afford a season without football, and absorb the economic consequences

b. If the owners are that well off, they do not need the money they are trying to take off the table

In summary, this is a clash of Titans. The interests, investment, and enjoyment of fans appear to be secondary considerations…if that high. Fans should take stock; not just fans of the grid iron. It is worth noting that 2011 has the potential to be the year of the CBA Triple Crown, as the Agreements for Basketball and Baseball also expire this year. You may want to consider installing seat belts on your couch; it could be a bumpy sports year.

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NFL_franchise_owners

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League_Players_Association

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2011/03/21/110321ta_talk_surowiecki

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6215282

http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/n-f-l-lockout-q-a/

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6215317

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/nfl-lockout-new-collective-bargaining-agreement-players-league-031211

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/nfl-lockout-new-collective-bargaining-agreement-players-league-031211

http://www.nfllockout.com/

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nfl_housing_plan_owners_get_the_keys_fans_get_the_bills/2011/03/15/ABVOyCY_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/11/nfl-lockout-nearly-certain-union-decertifies_n_834772.html

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/03/11/2131076/nfl-players-face-expiration-of.html

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6205936

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

America's Next War?

It's time to Break It Down!

The year was 1969 and the Vietnam War roiled, and spilled its carnage daily on our TV screens during the Evening and Nightly News reports. With that rough and tumble backdrop, Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong wrote a song for the Temptations called “War.” The song, really written for the ages, would later be covered by Edwin Starr. His version was heavily promoted instead of the Tempts’, because Motown was reluctant to agitate their more conservative audience/fans. The song would become Starr’s greatest hit and one of the most powerful protest songs ever, eventually being covered by a host of artists, including:

Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen

Tom Jones

The Jam

D.O.A.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood


Lyre Lyre Hearts on Fire

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

Laibach

Ugly Rumors


Pearl Jam

Maria Muldaur

Jackie Chan & Chris Tucker in Rush Hour 1, 2, and 3

Jack Black

The plot thickens. Over the past two years we have heard a range of divergent voices posit that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now rightly the province of President Obama. At the same time these voices consistently deliver searing commentary in response to Mr. Obama’s suggestion that America’s involvement in military actions should have defined limits, including pre-established start and end dates, these usually angry, always loud voices maintain the administration has no overarching vision for ending the two wars that serve as budget busters in a time of great economic distress in America.

Fast forward to and consider the contemporary Libyan conflict. As much as Liberals and Conservatives alike have characterized the current state as undesirable, for patently different reasons, it seems, almost inexplicably, that proponents of both ideologies are all but baiting President Obama to initiate unilateral military action in Libya. In other words, they are prompting him to pronounce a Declaration of War!

This much is clear; as much as some scape-goating, blame shifting, fact bending types assign responsibility for Iraq and Afghanistan to Mr. Obama, if and when he decides to order a No-Fly Zone over Libyan Air Space, President Obama will become indelibly linked to “The War in Libya.” After all, if the President unilaterally issues such an edict, it will mean, in effect, American planes will patrol the skies over Libya and shoot down Libyan Fighter Jets, should they take flight. As I write, let me be clear, it is not to oppose assisting Libyan citizens being set upon by a ruthless dictator. Rather it is to remind the nattering nabobs just how America the Beautiful; Home of the Free and Land of the Brave, continues to find itself knee deep in foreign conflict.

American citizens, politicians, commentators, and ideologues, as well as some segments of various aggrieved nations frequently and fervently call for our intervention. Unfortunately, after we acquiesce and comply, as a result of apparent popular demand, an amazingly widespread case of chronic amnesia seems to ensue.

President Obama is wise to act in a thoughtful and measured way. In the first week of the conflict, American citizens were still in Libya. With the 1979 American hostage conflict in Iran serving as a compelling object lesson, it was appropriate for the United States to negotiate the exit of most Americans before taking action that was sure to be deemed by Muammar Gaddafi and his Regime as hostile. If you followed the script, you know, once Americans were flown and ferried away, the President invoked a tougher stand, immediately freezing Libyan assets.

Another popular tactic supported by a host of Obama critics is arming the opposition. Of course Afghanistan stands out as the historical stake in the ground symbolizing the fallacy of this move. America and its allies are still sorting out just who comprises the Libyan rebels. What they know is, after we armed Afghani rebels, we ended up getting fired on by the very arms we provided.

A key element of the Administration’s tack is to ensure that the United States is not seen by the Arab World as bullying another Arab State, and carrying out business as usual. The President, the U.N., and our allies may yet coalesce and jointly support a No-Fly Zone, arming the rebels, and other measures to oust General Gaddafi. But until then, it would be helpful for the members of the erstwhile Loyal Opposition, read that the GOP-Tea Party, to act, or at least speak more responsibly about the Libyan conflict.

In some cases, it is pure political flackery and opportunism; in others, simple irresponsibility. As one potential Republican Presidential Candidate, Mike Huckabee, former Arkasas Governor, noted, in the same interview in which he had just flayed the President, “You have to be careful” and base decisions based on good intelligence, which he conceded he did not have as a private citizen. What an interesting dichotomy

In stark contrast, to the din attacking President Obama's position, GOP Senator Richard Lugar, Indiana, argued this week that the cinflict in Libya has devolved into a Civil War, and as such is a local conflict in which the United States has no place.  This is by no means the most popular opinion in the prevailing marketplace of ideas.  It does however present clear evidence not every segment ofthe American political spectrum has bought into the idea that the United States needs to lead the way in putting down the Libyan conflict. 

In an ideal world, it would be as likely that an influential leader would invoke, and fully execute a Confirmation of Peace as it is that one will issue “A Declaration of War!” Of course, as we know, all too well, this is not that world. Still, each of us has a vital part to play in being the change we want to see in the world in which we live. Just remember; when American pilots enforce a No-Fly Zone, it will not be the neatly scripted scenario of a Video game sequence. It will be a gruesome act of War in which people will die; possible, perhaps even likely, some Americans. That is how war unfolds. Edwin Starr sang a powerful song protesting a conflict that took place more than 40 years ago. Yet, Whitfield and Strong’s poignant lyrics are as keenly resonant today as they were in 1969. Are you ready for “America’s Next War?

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Whitfield

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett_Strong

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Temptations

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Starr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX7V6FAoTLc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b82Czp2suqM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_(Edwin_Starr_song)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War

http://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/07/sen-lugar-on-libya-i-believe-its-a-civil-war/

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/world/middleeast/08policy.html

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/27/senators-criticize-obama-over-libya/

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-turn/2011/03/if_not_in_libya_when_would_oba.html

http://www.npr.org/2011/03/07/134322475/libyan-rebels-try-to-regroup-after-setback

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2011/02/26/gop-white-house-hopefuls-need-to-get-real-about-libya-egypt-and/

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503543_162-20040583-503543.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CBSNewsPolls+(CBS+News%3A+Opinion%3A+CBS+News+Polls)

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Birtherhood: The Big Lie That Just Will Not Die

It's time to Break It Down!

It is not unusual for a fringe element to catch the imagination of the uninformed, the lazy, and/or those with a malevolent agenda. In fact, it is to be expected. Consequently, when a group of individual clearly fits into one of the preceding categories, what often sounds like lunacy can be dismissed…easily! However, when an erstwhile responsible party puts forth some variation of the fallacious notions commonly held by questionable sources, one is apt to be left to wonder, what is the point; where did that come from?

This past Monday, former Arkansas Governor, GOP Presidential hopeful, and Fox News commentator, Mike Huckabee entered this arena. While being interviewed by WOR radio host Steve Malzberg, Governor Huckabee, in responding to a question about where he stood on the Birther Movement, delivered an extensive, layered, and nuanced response that indicated he believed President was raised in Kenya. In a recent Fox News Poll, Huckabee was cited as the front-runner among Republican hopefuls for the 2012 Presidential Campaign.

Like Bill Clinton, one of his predecessors as Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee was born in Hope, Arkansas. He was The Natural State’s 44th Governor; the same enumeration as President Obama in the Oval Office. Mr. Huckabee, an alumnus of Ouachita Baptist University is an ordained minister, and was a candidate for the GOP Nomination in 2008. In his interview with Mr. Malzberg, Governor Huckabee stated that he disagreed with virtually position President Obama has taken.

In an interesting twist on Birtherhood, Mr. Huckabee’s response to Malzberg, who framed the question like a dyed-in-the-wool Birther, seemed to be a concession that he believed Mr. Obama was born in Hawaii. He added that if he had not been the Clintons, whom he knows, and whom he knows thoroughly researched the question, would have revealed it. Then he went on to say of President Obama:

“I would love to know more, but what I know is troubling enough. And one thing that I do know is his having grown up in Kenya, his view of the Brits, for example’s very different than the average American.

The Governor continued by noting that President Obama’s perspective was shaped by being raised in Kenya, by Kenyans.

In adding depth to his response, the Governor underscored his points by explaining that President Obama’s 2009 decision to remove a bust of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill from the Oval Office was an affront to the citizens of Britain.

“The bust of Winston Churchill, a great insult to the British, but then if you think about it, his perspective as growing up in Kenya with a Kenyan father and grandfather; he probably grew up hearing that the British were a bunch of imperialists who persecuted his grandfather.”

In one final flourish, in a reference to Hussein Onyango Obama, the President’s paternal grandfather, who was detained in a 1952 uprising against British rule, Governor Huckabee said childhood stories of the Mau Mau rebellion would lead President Obama to want to remove from the Oval Office the bust of Churchill, who ordered a crackdown against that uprising.

In an inexplicable fit of coincidence, he did not note that President Obama replaced the Oval Office fixture with a bust of one of his American hero’s, President Abraham Lincoln, or that the Churchill bust was relocated to the White House residence.

Of course, conventional wisdom, as well as the historical record both quite clearly enunciate the facts associated with the key questions here. Responsible media and a plethora of fact checking apparatuses have stated, frequently and consistently, Barack Obama:

• Was born in Hawaii in 1961

• Is an American citizen

• Met his father, Barack Obama, Sr., only once, briefly; hardly knew him

• Never met his Kenyan grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama

• Did not visit Kenya until 1987; 8 years after his grandfather’s death

• Was raised by his Kansas-born mother, Ann Dunham, Ph.D., and his maternal grandparents, Stanley and Madelyn Dunham, principally in Hawaii

• Spend 5 years (from age 5-10) in Indonesia while growing up his mother, Ann Dunham, and stepfather Lolo Soetoro

• Is Christian; not Muslim

• Has never subscribed to Islam

• Posted a copy of his birth certificate on his website during his Presidential Campaign

All in all, Governor Huckabee’s newly acquired take sounds eerily similar to an old take by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich. In September, 2010, Mr. Gingrich, also thought to be a prospective 2012 GOP Presidential candidate, accused President Obama of operating with from a Kenyan, Anti-Colonial Worldview (which I blogged about at the time). As I noted 6 months ago, the genesis of Mr. Gingrich’s ruminations seemed to be a postulation put forth by conservative author and speaker, D’nesh D’Souza.

So why ascribe newly acquired to Governor Huckabee’s position? In the past, the Governor has consistently asserted that the Birther argument is a waste of time, and moreover, the province of the fringe element. That he now seems poised to join the movement is interesting to say the least. What could account for such an about-face?

At the outset, I offered 3 typical bases for spreading ridiculously mythical misinformation, such as this:

1. To be uninformed

2. Laziness

3. Malevolence

Mr. Huckabee, by most assessments qualifies as a reasonably educated and intelligent man. He has spent the last several years navigating the American political stratosphere, and is currently considered among the Republican Party’s Most Likely to Succeed in the quest for the 2012 GOP Presidential Nomination. Uninformed? I don't think so.

The Governor has worked tirelessly and smartly to earn his early front-runner status. His position is one almost impossible to come by without an energetic, if not tireless work ethic. Lazy? No way.

It has often been said, “Politics makes strange bed fellows.” Another oft repeated truism is “All is fair in love and war;” politics is a blood sport that many equate with war. From this vantage point, it appears Mr. Huckabee has decided if he is going to compete with the Republican field, which may include the likes of Mr. Gingrich, and have a chance to win, he must resort to a wider array of devices, including bending, misstating, and omitting facts. Malevolence; check; we have a winner!

In an attempt to walk-back the statements, Hogan Gidley, director of Mr. Huckabee’s political action committee, said, “Governor Huckabee simply “misspoke;” he meant to say the president was raised in Indonesia, and he believes the Mr. Obama was born in Hawaii. Of course, none of that explained the Governor’s allusion to Mr. Obama’s grandfather and the Mau Mau uprising.

The 2012 Campaign season is in its infancy. However, one thing is already crystal clear; tricknology is alive, well, and sure to be in full-force. It will be incumbent upon all truth-seekers to remain vigilant. Today, thinking people are confronted by Birtherhood: The Big Lie That Just Will Not Die! Rest assured, tomorrow, next week, and for the coming 21 months, the proverbial “Hits will keep on coming.”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Huckabee

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouachita_Baptist_University

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Malzberg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WOR_(AM)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_theticket/20110301/ts_yblog_theticket/huckabee-falsely-claims-obama-was-raised-in-kenya

http://www.wor710.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=5190131

http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/021111_2012_election_web.pdf

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/mar/01/us-huckabee-obama/

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/01/huckabee-questions-obama-birth-certificate-claims-he-was-raised-in-kenya/

http://www.examiner.com/pop-culture-in-hartford/huckabee-questions-obama-s-birth-certificate-and-says-he-was-raised-kenya

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newt_Gingrich

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinesh_D'Souza

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/03/mike-huckabee-falsely-suggests-obama-grew-up-in-kenya.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill