Monday, October 20, 2008
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What the Cuban Missile Crisis Can Teach Us About Barack Obama
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Posted by:
Matt Lewis at
4:51 PM
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Joe Biden's warning that Barack Obama's election will precipitate an international crisis included these words:
"It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy." While Kennedy is fondly remembered today, it should be noted that during his presidency, America came closer than we have ever come to nuclear war.
As Michael Dobbs implies in his new book, "One Minute to Midnight," the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred -- at least partly -- because of Kennedy's previous mishandling of a summit meeting with Khruschev (remember how Obama wants to meet with everyone without pre-conditions?):
"Their single summit meeting -- in Vienna, in June 1961 -- had been a brutal experience for Kennedy. Khruschev had treated him like a little boy, lecturing him on American misdeeds, threatening to take over West Berlin, and boasting about the inevitable triumph of Communism." ... It's not hard to imagine Ahmadenijad schooling Obama like this. Dobbs goes on to write,
"... 'Roughest thing in my life,' Kennedy had told James Reston of The New York Times, after it was all over, 'He just beat the hell out of me.' Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was contemptuous of his boss's performance. 'Khruschev scared the poor little fellow dead,' he told his cronies."
... It's not hard to imagine Joe Biden saying (or at least, thinking) the very same thing of Obama.
Dobbs adds,
"As Kennedy later confessed to Reston, his superpower rival had no doubt concluded that "I'm inexperienced. Probably thinks I'm stupid. Maybe most important, he thinks I have no guts."
...Yes, it's true, foreign leaders pay attention to which leaders they deem to be weak and/or inexperienced. They size-up their adversaries, and determine whether or not they can take the next step. In this instance, Kennedy's perceived weakness and inexperience emboldened Khruschev.
And while Kennedy's inexperience fortunately did not result in a nuclear war, it did lead us to the brink of nuclear war -- a situation which would never have occurred if Eisenhower had been in office -- or if Nixon had succeeded him...
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Pull out of Iraq !
Perhaps the U.S. should pull out of Chicago !
Body count: In the last six months:292 killed (murdered) in Chicago; 221 killed in Iraq
Chicago....
Who Runs it? Senators: Barack Obama & Dick Durbin, Rep: Jesse Jackson Jr., Illinois Gov: Rod Blogojevich, Illinois House leader Mike Madigan, Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan (daughter of Mike), Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley (son of Mayor Richard J.Daley)
Our leadership in Illinois ....all Democrats.
Thank you for the combat zone in Chicago. Of course, they're all blaming each other!
Can't blame Republicans; they're aren't any!
State pension fund $44 Billion in debt, worst in country. Cook County ( Chicago ) sales tax 10.25% highest in country. (Look 'em up if you want). Chicago school system rated one of the worst in the country. This is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois.
And he's gonna "fix" Washington politics for us? Wake Up America ! |
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No one seems to remember that Kennedy did NOT back down the Russians over the missiles in Cuba issue. The Russians initiated the confrontation because the U.S. had a listening station in Turkey. Khruschev agreed to remove missiles from Cuba IF Kennedy dismantled the outpost in Turkey. Kennedy knuckled under and agreed. But that's not what the pro-Kennedy press reported then, or now. Kennedy was weak when he took office, he was weak during the missile crisis. |
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the old saying, "there's none so blind as those who will not see." and the blind these days are the Obamabots.
I remember the missile crisis also, our first baby was two months old, we were watching t.v. in our living room, scared she may not live to be the wife and mother she is now. My husband's
reserve status was upgraded to active reserves a year earlier and we fully expected him to be called up to active duty when this crisis occured. Given that he'd been upgraded earlier, I wonder if there were briefings then about what was afoot in Oct.'62.
I thought Biden was just being his goofy self but now that I think about it, I don't think so, I do think he was warning us in a round about way. Isn't it odd, he's not been campaigning since? Too many unanswered questions for Obama's comfort.
Re: Obama's National Security Force..that's enough to send chills down the backs of every
patriotic American. He'd need his own private S.S. to counter the military, I don't believe the military we have would follow his orders to
attack their own people but his S.S. would. |
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The thug dictators of the world in Russia, Iran, Venezuela, China, et al are all WETTING THEIR PANTS in EAGER ANTICIPATION of an Obama presidency you can bank on that!!!!
They see a weak loser who can be rolled with one hand.
There are only THREE parties who are brief quarterly on the strategic status of the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) or remnant of the old Soviet Union re: the Pacific Northwest. Those are the National Command Authority (Pres. Vice Pres. and Sec. Def.), Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the GOVERNOR OF ALASKA!!!! NO other governor is kept informed on Russian activities including sea, air and strategic missile deployments within range of their state.
The FIRST LINE of defense against any attack across the Bering Strait or over the pole is Alaska's National Guard which maintains and operates our first line missile defenses.
WHY haven't you heard this before? Because Palin can keep her mouth shut!! It's not classified info but not the sort of thing you normally spread about. The constant mockery of the Barracuda warrants a little tactical support.
-Ray
NRA Life Member
Go 'Cuda, GO!! |
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Sound Familiar?
Obama a Castro Wanna Be?
He has a Great Start!
Castro: he combined health care and education, so children of all social and economic classes would be
able to receive adequate health care
The government today is in charge of all educational institutions.
Castro eliminated all private and religious educational institutions
He created free-of-charge education for all
The lifestyle of the average Cuban citizen was greatly altered. The primary beliefs of communism include that the working class is in charge of the government, privately owned property is illegal, the money of the country should be given in equivalent amounts to all citizens, and the government runs the lifestyle of its country’s residents. Education is also an important part of Cuba’s Communist government. As Castro had hoped for, these changes did have impressive short-term effects for Cuba. Serious illness and economic hardship were almost nonexistent and Cuba had the greatest number of teachers and doctors in that area of the Caribbean within ten years of the onset of Communism (Jervis 2). Cuba seemed to be looking toward a brighter future with Castro in charge.
However, other unpopular policies were enacted. Castro eliminated elections and freedom of the press, imprisoned political opponents, and made religion a thing to be ashamed of |
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Isn't that what hitler had? I believe they called them the Waffen SS.
Why hasn't anyone called him on that?
This clown is dangerous folks. |
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I hear ya. Keep in mind that these guys are teammates and any action will be coordinated. Remember the China hostage situation early in Bush's term? There's a reason its forgotten - Bush handled it correctly. |
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....has another aneurysm. |
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..Hugo Chavez has his eye on Cuba.
There are any number of wolves circling the camp, waiting to go in for the kill if a Little Lamb takes office.
No doubt the candidates got some kind of security briefing which has Biden facing reality. Your question is a good one: Why was he talking about it--saying supporters will be unhappy.
Does this mean war is inevitable as wolves attack the Lamb--and the anti-war Barack will be forced to respond with force? Or does it mean that we will be challenged and Barack will "courageously" stand down?
Biden's implication indicates that whatever Barack will be forced to do to meet the "challenge" is going to make supporters unsupportive.
Why not just elect a man who is not so likely to be "challenged." |
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and he won't stop if he scores. Europeans swooning over Obama are going to get a serious reality check. McCain sees KGB in Putin's eyes - that's the guy you want in there. We're up the creek if the Community Organizer wins. |
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It would make sense if the win was already in the bag. If McCain was doing the gaffes Biden's been getting away with - he'd be accused of having dementia. |
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..the greatest covenant-keeper. |
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..I finished it.
The preceding is a post on another blog by "Retired Geek." I had all but forgotten the weird "Security Force" idea that Obama threw out there in July. It never came up again in the debates--and McCain never mentioned it either.
Talk about "lurching." I recall BClinton lurching from one thing to another. Remeber his "Covenant with America" theme he floated out there for sometime....trying to get the religious vote, I guess.
And, as I recall, Clinton was the greatest at covenant-keeping anyway.
IMO, Barack and Biden are the goofy thinkers in this election. Somebody needs to ask BO if he still intends to introduce the "Security Force." |
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Obama's Personal 'O' Security Force
Obama's National Security Force
"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set," he said. "We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded."
Barack Obama Speech July 2, 2008 Colorado Springs CO
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If I could get each of you to think just 30 seconds about this.
Barack Obama said: 'civilian national security force'.
Civilian - Would MOT include military or other Law Enforcement agencies.
National - Would NOT recognize State Boundaries.
Security - Security for what?
Force - This word usually denotes power and authority.
Why does Barack Obama want a Civilian Security Force?
1) Just as powerful as the Military.
2) Just as strong as the Military.
3) Just as well funded as the Military.
What will Barack Obama have this 'Civilian National Security Force' do?
Help in hurricanes or other disasters? - we already have the state National guard.
Some have said 'The National Guard is in Iraq and Afghanistan' but Barack Obama plans to have them home less than halfway through the Obama administration.
If America ignores this threat of an Obama personal 'Security Force' - I believe America is doomed |
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I was thinking just last week that McCain would have been likely to go ahead with the invasion of Cuba, triggering a Russian nuclear strike, while Obama would be more likely to follow the path that Kennedy wisely took seeking a diplomatic solution.
Do all of you honestly think that McCain won't knee-jerk his way into a bad situation? Bluster is just as bad as nervousness in dealing with foreign leaders. McCain can't even run a campaign that stays focused, how is he going to run a country and deal with Iran, Afghanistan/Pakistan, etc.?
I have been severely disappointed in McCain the last few months as he lurched from strategy to strategy in reactive fashion to the Dems methodical campaign and picked a PTA-level intellect for VP. You think Kennedy was schooled? How do you think Ahmadinejad would treat Pres. Palin if anything happened to McCain?
Obama has the cooler head and I will reluctantly vote for him, because McCain has proven himself unqualified temperamentally. |
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I have been saying the same thing Biden just said (when he was being honest - let's remember he thought no press were present and that is the only time most politicians are honest) - Obama will be a disaster waiting to happen on the world stage.
Putin is drooling, Chavez is drooling, all the bad apples in this world are with the hope he is elected.
Thems the facts. |
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On your 1st point #3 - are these the same intelligence agencies that said Saddam had WMDs? Do you beleive that these same intelligence agencies were right when they said Saddam had WMDs? Since Saddam had WMDs, according to these intelligence agencies, do you beleive the war on Saddam was justified? Are you a closet Neocon?
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saying for months..This guy is manifestly un-qualified to be POTUS.
I served on a destroyer during the Cuban missile crisis, to say that tensions were high wouldn't come close, the area around Cuba looked like a scene from Victory at Sea. Kennedy was clueless, they overflew the Soviets with U2's and one was chased back into Alaska, had it been shot down, we would have had WW3 with nukes. My wife later said she and the other wives never expected to see any of us again.
Kennedy at least had served in the Navy, obama has zero military experience whereas McCain is a Naval Academy graduate and the Naval War College, actual combat time and squadron leadership. We won't have to worry about anyone "testing his mettle", they wouldn't dare.
The Iranians led by abadabanutjob kidnapped our hostages when carter was in and held them for 444 days because carter was a wuss, they released them right after Reagan was sworn in because they feared him. The same crazy now declares he will get a nuke and eradicate Israel, who is better prepared to stop him? Obama?
Our enemies cannot be reasoned with because they are fanatics, better that they fear us, it's the only thing they understand.
Anyone who would risk another 9/11 while bambi gets his on the job training is certifiable. |
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I always said that Joe Biden is an interesting and likeable politician - warts and all. However the more he talks, the less I take him seriously. I wouldn't know if he's on the level or not as it counters logic and commonsense. I feel I'm required to second guess him every step of the way. Not very assuring for a man who would or could be President. |
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Barack Obama comes from a radical, anti-American background - to trust him as POTUS - is frightening.
Joe Biden has been wrong on most decision he has made while in the US Senate. He is out of control - puffed up by his feeling of importance - he has developed an even more serious case of flapping lip disease. Joe Biden could start WWIII all by himself in one afternoon.
WHAT IS AMERICA THINKING???
People - the amount of money Obama has collected during this election season is suspect - we do not even know the source of much of it.
WAKE UP!!!
McCain/Palin 2008!!! |
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Obama and Biden are scary. They both have no sense of what is appropriate to say about foreign affairs and our relationships.
JFK made bad choices, he was inexperienced as Obama. |
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Obama acts as if America were beloved throughout the world until GWB took office and will be again as soon as Barack's the beloved Leader of the World.
I was in Chile in the early '60's. Communism/liberation theology was roaring, with the professors/students and the poor in an unholy alliance. Pictures of Krushchev, Che, Castro and Mao were everywhere as Allende fought to win the 1964 election.
Allende's rhetoric was precisely the same as Obama's Oprah tour speeches--class warfare and false promises. Tho young and idealistic, I thought who would be stupidly naive enough to believe this caca?
Graffiti covered every wall: Cuba si; yanquis no. And "Death to the yanqui pig in Washington" (JFK, a Dem, BTW). Sadly, the mantra, chanted by university students in endless strikes-to-march, came to pass while I was there.
America has been hated for a long, long time--ironically by the same people who now love Obama.
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The Soviets realized that a nuclear showdown with the US would lead to mutual destruction.
These jihadists are pure evil and WANT to bring mutual destruction. They WILL use the frickin' bomb if they get one.
It can't be said enough in these next two weeks: Obama is totally UNqualified to be President. Period.
McCain/Palin '08
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I was five years old and living in New Orleans at the time. My dad worked for Chrysler Missile at the Michaud Plant. At that time it was a large assembly plant for the Redstone Rockets (they helped to boost our first astronauts into space). I think the space shuttle rockets are still built there. Cuba wasn't very far away. I think we were at the highest DEFCON level at that time too.
My mom has told me it was the scariest time of her life (and she was in high school during WWII when Roosevelt died, and said people were worried about Truman). She said there were rumors they were going to close off the city, etc.
She's 81 now, and Biden's comments were the first thing she told me about when I called her today.
I'm glad Biden brought it up, we need reminding how fragile sometimes our way of life is. |
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Has anyone heard if Biden has tried to backpedal on this one yet today? I haven't heard anything yet. |
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Vote for a Hero that cares about this country and AMERICANS!
Don't Vote for Someone who Loves only Himself and His associations!
Vote for somebody who wants to keep this Country Free Of Socialism
Don't Vote for Somebody who desires Socialism Control
Vote For somebody who has a record of actually participating in Government
And not just Voting Present!
Don't for somebody who didn't show up or just voted Present.
Vote for someone who cares about the American Peoples Voice
Don't vote for someone who wants to Stop Free Speech,
because it isn't all positive about him.
Vote for a man who knows his country shouldn't be accused of Racism
Don't vote for someone who bases his whole strategy on Making all White Americans appear Racist
Vote for somebody who doesn't trash and kick his country to Foreign Countries
Don't vote for someone Who Chastises our Allies and Praises Our Enemies.
John Mccain is for Americans
Obama is for Obama
The continued statements by Obama about Spreading the Wealth and America being a Wealthy Nation,
should be something to be Ashamed of!
Obama should go to Kenya and help Odingo!
After all that is where his father was From
After all his mother married someone from Kenya
Why not go help your people there Obama? I am sure
you would be welcomed with open arms.
We don't need your Socialist Views
We are Not Ashamed of being FREE Americans.
We Love this Country, you kick every chance you get!
Mccain/Palin 08
Vote for a real American! |
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"It's not hard to imagine Ahmadenijad schooling Obama like this."
Well it is, actually, for several reasons:
(1) It's "Ahmadinejad".
(2) The president of Iran, unlike Khruschev, has no nuclear weapons.
(3) Unlike the Soviets, he has no plans to secure nukes- according to the unanimous verdict of 16 intelligence agencies.
(3) Iran, one of the most peaceable and non-imperialist countries in the world, has no intention of invading, conquering or otherwise taking over the USA. Unlike Cuba, Iran is thousands of miles from here and is no big power's client.
(4) Ahmadinejad has no control over Iran's foreign policy and military anyway. The mullahs keep hold of that.
(5) Even for Obama, setting up a meeting with Ahmadinejad would take some time while tempers cool. (Perhaps Ollie North could be brought back as fixer.) Pres. A faces an election next summer which on current indications he will lose, because of his domestic ineptitude-- like the GOP.
Still, he's the best bogeyman the neocons, israel lobbyists and their Townhall dupes and war-cheerleaders have got... but what a pitiful one.
http://www.campaignforliberty.com |
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This is quite a coincidence that the Cuban Missile Crisis would be brought up, subtly tying Obama to Castro........
Obama and Castro have a lot in common.....
Obama attended the Trinity United Church for 20 years..........
The "Black Liberation Theology" was taught there by Rev. Wright (yeah that one...the hater)...
The "Black Liberation Theology" surfaced in the late 1960s, about the same time as the Black Panthers, SDS (Students for a Democratic Society), Weather Underground, and other very radical associations.......
"Black Liberation Theology" has its roots in the "Liberation Theology"......
"Liberation Theology" was founded in the 1950s in Central and South America....
This theology was used by Fidel Castro and Che' Guevarra to overthrow the Cuban government in 1959.......
Here we sit almost 50 years later and the Cuban people are still under the strict rule of that brutal dictatorship........
YOU draw your own conclusions.......
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This is a prime example of inexperience blinking at the controls.This debacle made us look weak and vulnerable as we abandoned our allies a few miles off our shores.This was the beginning of the appearance of weakness ,something we never really shed.A weakness proven time and time again by dem presidents as with Carter the Cuban boat lift and the Tehran hostage situation also Clinton's non action on the Mogadishu embarrassment.Our enemies know our history better than us and are banking on an Obama victory,so be ready this is the one foreign affair situation where Joe Biden might actually be right on. |
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Matt,
Great minds think alike! I had just posted a similar article at The Drum and Cannon, then came across yours. I linked back to it.
Good article, provides a lot of background filler for mine, which deals more with the election issue.
The unfortunate part of all of this is that Americans don't care.
I clearly remember that weekend in 1962, traveling to Fort Collins to see my fiance, and thinking that we may not live to see Monday. It was truly frightening. |
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Sound Familiar?
Castro:
he combined health care and education, so children of all social and economic classes would be
able to receive adequate health care
The government today is in charge of all educational institutions.
Castro eliminated all private and religious educational institutions
He created free-of-charge education for all
The lifestyle of the average Cuban citizen was greatly altered. The primary beliefs of communism include that the working class is in charge of the government, privately owned property is illegal, the money of the country should be given in equivalent amounts to all citizens, and the government runs the lifestyle of its country’s residents. Education is also an important part of Cuba’s Communist government. As Castro had hoped for, these changes did have impressive short-term effects for Cuba. Serious illness and economic hardship were almost nonexistent and Cuba had the greatest number of teachers and doctors in that area of the Caribbean within ten years of the onset of Communism (Jervis 2). Cuba seemed to be looking toward a brighter future with Castro in charge.
However, other unpopular policies were enacted. Castro eliminated elections and freedom of the press, imprisoned political opponents, and made religion a thing to be ashamed of (Jervis 2). Castro then
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