Let’s not have this ever again…

Since Big Guy didn’t bother to copyright his ISIS/ISIL speech, David Cameron decided to use it when he addressed the citizens of the United (temporarily) Kingdom following the beheading of British hostage David Haines.

BHO: “ISIL is not ‘Islamic.’ No religion condones the killing of innocents, and the vast majority of ISIL’s victims have been Muslim,”

DC: “They boast of their brutality. They claim to do this in the name of Islam. That is nonsense. Islam is a religion of peace. They are not Muslims, they are monsters.”

BHO: “Our objective is clear: We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counter-terrorism strategy.”

DC: "Step by step, we must drive back, dismantle and ultimately destroy Isil and what it stands for."

BHO: “As I have said before, these American forces will not have a combat mission –- we will not get dragged into another ground war in Iraq.” 

DC: The Prime Minister said that "we have to confront this menace", Mr. Cameron added that this will not involve direct British involvement in fighting.

So far then, we can confirm that both Britain and the United States are engaged in some type of counter-terrorism effort against ISIS and/or ISIL. Butt we still don’t know if we are actually at war. Or not.

Despite the conflicting messages I’m going to say “NO WAR” since Big Guy went golfing again this weekend. And as everyone knows, the Commander in Chief never goes golfing during a war.

 

Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pith and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action.–Soft you now!

William Shakespeare, Hamlet
The soliloquy continues…

 

Let’s not have this ever again…

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How’s that “Opposite World” Working Out For You?

When your entire foreign policy has been based on asking “what would Bush do?” and pursuing the opposite, the recent turn of events must be fundamentally unsettling.

One of them knows what the other doesn’t

Mr. Obama’s fixation on not being Bush is the only thing the Obama team knows or understands. It is also keeping them from being able (or willing) to admit the truth about a world spiraling out of control. No matter who is standing behind a podium these days, you get the distinct feeling that no one in our federal government knows what’s happening, and all their energy is spent trying to keep their stunning ignorance a secret. - Tammy Bruce

And it makes it difficult to clearly formulate a convincing new War/No War policy. After all, when you’ve been on record as many times as Big Guy saying he was elected to “end wars, not start them” it’s hard to eat all those opposite words in one serving.

Like, for example, in 2007 when junior Senator Barack Obama blamed Congress for giving the president the power to wage war that he later abused:

“The American people weren’t just failed by a president, they were failed by much of Washington. By a media that too often reported spin instead of facts… And, most of all by Congress, a co-equal branch of government, that voted to give the president the power to wage war that he uses to this day. Without that vote, there would be no war.”

Of course, you don’t have to eat them yourself when the New York Times is willing to do it for you:

The White House believes that Congress’s 2002 authorization of the Iraq war — and not just the 2001 authorization to fight Al Qaeda — provides a legal justification for President Obama’s air campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the Obama administration said Friday.

The White House has not issued a formal analysis of its legal thinking, but the disclosure adds to an evolving public understanding of its theory about the basis for the strikes against ISIS.

When the bombing began in August, Mr. Obama’s letters to Congress cited his constitutional powers as commander in chief. On Wednesday, Mr. Obama said he already had legal authority for the campaign, but would welcome specific congressional approval, too, and administration officials for the first time cited the 2001 authorization to use military force against those responsible for the 9/11 attacks for the campaign.

Well bless his heart, Barry has discovered that “Opposite World” doesn’t always actually work in what we call the “real world.”

After years of an Obama foreign policy that existed simply to be the opposite of whatever Mr. Bush did or would do, Islamist terrorism and Middle East turmoil have exploded. As Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has noted, the Islamic State is “a force and a dimension that the world has never seen before.”

The left, led by Mr. Obama and his sycophantic supporters, truly believed all the world’s ills were the result of America’s arrogance and intrusion. (snip)

Instead, we are seeing the opposite. Islamist terrorism has increased; with our absence, Iraq has fallen apart; with Mr. Obama’s promised retreat, Afghanistan is in turmoil. The isolationist weakness telegraphed by Mr. Obama to the world has, shall we say, not ushered in “peace in our time.”

In the midst of the chaos now sweeping over the Middle East and knocking at the door of Eastern Europe, there is one critical revelation: The rotten fruit of Mr. Obama’s Anti-Bush doctrine has proved that America has never been the problem. Instead, it has everything to do with a sociopathic commitment by Islamist savages to the notion of a worldwide Islamic caliphate. -Tammy Bruce

Okay, now you’ve gone too far: of course America is the problem.

And I have proof that we are living in opposite world:

From the front, jail garb:

From the rear: blonde princess-in-waiting:

h/t: American Digest

And yes people, fairy tales really can come true…

Just remember, every fairy tale has a “fairy” and one man’s fairy tale is another man’s nightmare:

The problem of becoming president with pre-conceived ideas is, the world always has a different plan. Presidents are presented with unique and usually unexpected sets of circumstances to which they must respond. This is why it’s a good thing to elect people to office who articulate a specific overall vision (beyond “hope and change”) and make clear a set of principles that can then be applied in a specific way to whatever unique crisis may present itself. - Tammy Bruce

Linked By: Larwyn’s Linx on Doug Ross@Journal, and Raptor Ruthy on Israeli-Arab Conflict Board, and BlogsLucianneLoves, and Free Republic, Thanks!

Cross-Posted on Patriot Action Network

To War Or Not To War

To War Or Not To War – with apologies to Shakespeare’s Hamlet

To war, or not to war: that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous opponents,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand un-natural shocks
Their flesh is heir to, ’tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish’d. To kill, to die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there’s the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come

h/t LambsLettuce

I know some of you may object to me modifying the words of the great writer William Shakespeare, butt I figure, if Big Guy can change the Constitution, also written by great men:

and the entire junior staff around here can change the meaning of words at will:

Instapundit suggests that Kerry doesn't want to call it a war because we might lose it. I actually think it's because the administration is delusional and mistakes its ability to rename things via clever word games for material reality. Which is far more troubling than simple cowardice or deceit. Certainly nothing Kerry has said in his new gig argues that he has a robust sense of reality testing.

I think I should be able to play around with a little soliloquy on the meaning of life. So again I ask: to war or not to war? Isn’t that really the question?

Please stand by for the definitive answer;

Barry will get back to you just as  soon as he’s done waffling.  

Hey guys, can’t I just eat my waffle?

We’ll get back to you as soon as our overnights are in.

Linked By: Larwyn’s Linx on Doug Ross@Journal, and Chillin the most on Ace of Spades HQ, and BlogsLucianneLoves, and Free Republic, Thanks!

Cross-Posted on Patriot Action Network

MOTUS Twilight Nocturne Lounge #5: Then The Morning Comes!

Welcome to another evening at MOTUS’ Twilight Nocturne Lounge. If you’re a regular you know how it works. If you’re new here grab a seat and just nod at Little Mo – he’s the bartender - when you need a drink; he always knows what you want.

Our featured cocktail this evening is a  Tequila Sunrise, straight up or on the rocks:

Ice cubes,

1 ½ ounces tequila,

4 ½ ounces orange juice,

1 ½ teaspoons grenadine syrup.

 

Pour the tequila and orange juice into the glass, with or without ice. Slowly pour grenadine over a bar spoon into the center of the drink. Garnish with a lime slice, or an orange slice, and a maraschino cherry.

 

Done; let the morning come.

We’re changing the tempo up a bit tonight, with a little Rock & Roll.  First on stage, the Millennial sensation, Smash Mouth, with their hit “Then The Morning Comes” because it seems somehow appropriate:

"Then The Morning Comes": Smash Mouth

Paint the town
Take a bow

Thank everybody
You're gonna’ do it again
You are the few, the proud
You are the antibody
Mind soul, and zen

And the world's a stage

 
And the world's a faze
And the end is near

So push rewind

 
Just in time
Thank anybody
You're gonna’ do it again

The way the you walk

It's just the way that you talk
Like it ain't no thing

 
And every single day is just a fling

Then the morning comes

Take your knocks
Shake them off
Duck everybody
You're gonna’ take them again

You are your foe
Your friend
You are the paparazzi
You are the tragedian

And the world's a craze
And the world's a faze
And the end is near

So push rewind
Just in time
Thank anybody
You're gonna’ do it again

The way the you walk
It's just the way that you talk
Like it ain't no thing

And every single day is just a fling
And when it comes it moves so slow

 
Kinda’ like it's saying I told you so
Looking back before she goes
Tomorrow's gonna’ hurt

And the world's a stage

And the world's a faze
And the end is near

 

So push rewind
Just in time
Thank anybody
It's just the way that you walk

It's just the way that you talk
Like it ain't no thing

 

And every single day is just a fling

Then the morning comes!

 

 

Unfortunately we’ll be the ones with the hangover. Butt it will be worth it he’s “Gone, Girl” and we get a new dawn.

 

So then, to close out the evening and officially start the weekend, we’re gonna’ mellow down easy with another Tequila Sunrise. Little Mo’s mixing yours right now. If you need another, well, you know, just nod.

“Tequila Sunrise”: The Eagles

PS: did I mention that you can order your Tequila Sunrises as Jello shots? Supplies are limited, so place your orders early.

 

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Cross-Posted and Featured on Patriot Action Network

How Many Times Do I Have to Explain “Kinetic Military Action” to You Dopes?

Q. When is a war not a war?

A. When it is a “fairly significant counter-terrorist operation” (according to Jean Carré) rather than a “war per se” (according to Josh Earnest); when our State Department rejects the “notion” of us engaging in a “war” on terrorism” (according to Marie Harf) and when the Commander in Chief says that the group calling itself the “Islamic State” is neither Islamic…nor a state; ipso fatso, we can’t declare war on it.

And while we’re at it, perhaps someone can get to the bottom of this mystery too: who forgot to order the White House yard crew to cut the grass on the South Lawn for yesterday’s moment of silence on the National Day of Remembrance and Service?

Ankle high grass is really more appropriate for putting a herd out to pasture.

It’s not like 9-11 occurs on a different day every year. Although I suppose the crew may have assumed that the “remembrance” part had diminished in importance now that 9-11 is really more about “giving back.” By putting playground equipment together, or something:

President Barack Obama uses a ratchet wrench as he helps build a playground while participating in a service project at the Inspired Teaching School, a high-performing public charter school in northeast Washington, DC, to commemorate the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance:

Don’t strain yourself, BO! We’ve still got a “fairly significant counter-terrorist operation” to execute when you’re done here.

 

“KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to the bold goal of bringing balanced and active play into the daily lives of all children, particularly those growing up in poverty in America. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open or improve nearly 16,000 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers and served 7.4 million children.”

“KaBoom!” - really? You couldn’t find a less appropriately named non-profit to promote for our “September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance?”

I leave it up to you kids to sort this out, as I am going to be busy today getting the MOTUS Twilight Nocturne Lounge ready for this evening’s special event. Whoever used it last apparently left it not only in a mess, butt in serious need of restocking.

See you tonight: Happy Hour begins promptly at 5:00 EDT.

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Cross-Posted on Patriot Action Network

I Wonder What the Half-Life of ISIL is?

UPDATED

Lights! Cameras! Action!

EEEEWWWW! Is this the best we can do!?! And what the heck is wrong with his eyes? It looks like somebody plugged some marbles into his eye sockets. And those horns! (h/t Abenaki) – where the heck did they come from - and why didn’t I see them from my vantage point!? That’s just creepy, and somewhat inscrutable; just like the speech itself.

Just as with our last great Democratic President, the import of this event depends on what the meaning of IS is; specifically, on what the meaning of the IS in ISIS  is– all we know for sure is that it doesn’t mean “Islamic State.”

While you’re still pondering that imponderable, allow me to summarize BHO’s 4-part strategery, as developed and conveyed to him by his highly experienced staff of former chauffeurs:

1) air strikes, like in Somalia and Yemen because that’s working out so well, 2) find some Arab allies (good luck with that), 3) try to get the Sunnis “on message” (good luck with that) and 4) rebuild the Iraq army (again).

Oh, and we’re going to mobilize the international community. Because…community! And that’s what community organizers do.

To quote a highly trained drunk-blogger: “Poor Mesopotamia.”

So, in closing, let me assure you that  ISIS is just a bunch of thugs with no vision. No wait…isn’t that us? It’s all a bit confusing. Butt I do know this much:

Our objective is clear: We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy.

Just ram that objective of yours into a clear plastic binder and we’ll have ourselves a real plan. Because unless you’re a Republican, keeping stuff in binders is a perfectly good idea.

I wonder what the half life on ISIL is? Because that “degrading” destruction really can’t come too soon.

 

UPDATE: 8:46AM

Never, never, never, never, never forget.

Or give up.

“If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.” - Sun Tzu

Linked By: Larwyn’s Linx on Doug Ross@Journal, and Key West Reader on HotAir, and Chillin the most on Ace of Spades HQ, and BlogsLucianneLoves, and Free Republic, Thanks!

Cross-Posted on Patriot Action Network

Harsh Words and a Little Presidential Stompy Foot

Hoo-wee! This is shaping up to be a very long, hard week. We started with F. Chuck on Meet the Press:

Care to enjoy one of those special Oval Office cigars? Sure Chief! Don’t mind if I do…

And tonight, the handlers have decided that Barry will finally Face the Nation and present something that will have to pass for a thought on the existential threat presented by ISIS. Don’t expect anything too definitive, like condemnation of the Evil Empire, butt I understand there will be harsh words followed by some presidential stompy foot.

You have displeased me. Harsh letter to follow.

And you can tell the poll numbers on this issue are huge, as we’re doing the Read during prime time:

WASHINGTON — President Obama will address the nation at 9 p.m. on Wednesday about how the United States plans to confront the threat from the Sunni extremist group, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. [note: BHO likes to call it “ISIL” to divert your eyes from his failed strategery in Syria.]

In the speech, Mr. Obama will lay out a strategy for “degrading and ultimately destroying the terrorist group,” Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said in a statement. [note: since the JV team has been promoted to full Varsity, our plan for treating ISIS/L as a “managable problem” has veered off course into far more sinister straits.]

The decision to schedule the address during prime time, from the state floor of the White House, underscores the gravity of the challenge from ISIS. [note: See! I told you that they couldn’t run around slashing off heads without a public outcry, followed up by presidential indignation.]

And then the NYT groupies reporters could restrain themselves no further; they go to bat for their homey:

A year after opposition in Congress thwarted plans for missile strikes in Syria, the White House is again putting the issue of military force in the Middle East before a skeptical Congress and a war-weary public.

If it weren’t for that inconvenient, do-nothing Congress the “tide of war” would have “receded” by now, just as the Won calculated it would, and we could all go golfing.

As it is, look for the announcement of a sterile war with no boots on the ground just a bunch of drone strikes and missile launchers blowing the smithereens out of everything.

Meanwhile, Jean Carré will be in Tel Aviv, explaining why Israel can’t launch missiles and send drones into the Gaza strip.

See that red line? Watch me straddle it like a pro!

So hang in there, troops. After all, it is hump day and I promise: Little Mo and I will be hosting a gathering in the MOTUS Twilight Nocturne Lounge on Friday evening. Be sure to drop by to wash off all of this week’s accumulated slime with a libation of your choice…be that a Shirley (or Sherman)Temple or a martini.

I have to run now, I’m responsible for making sure the carpet on the state floor is vacuumed, the woodwork dusted and everything is in it’s proper place for the Big Read tonight. Maybe if you watch you’ll catch a glimpse of me, reflecting Barry, gazing out at you, gazing back at him.

“I love you, bro!” “Yeah, I love you back!”

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