Sunday, December 10, 2006
Steyn Weighs in on the ISG Report
Mark Steyn is perhaps too ready to hurl insulting epithets, but he sees the flaws in the ISG report very, very clearly. My favorite part:
Oh, but lest you think there are no minimum admission criteria to James Baker's "Support Group," relax, it's a very restricted membership: Arabs, Persians, Chinese commies, French obstructionists, Russian assassination squads. But no Jews. Even though Israel is the only country to be required to make specific concessions -- return the Golan Heights, etc. Indeed, insofar as this document has any novelty value, it's in the Frankenstein-meets-the-Wolfman sense of a boffo convergence of hit franchises: a Vietnam bug-out, but with the Jews as the designated fall guys. Wow. That's what Hollywood would call "high concept."
My two cents is never give up the Golan, never, never, never, never. First to prevent Syria from a topographical advantage in any future war and second to honor the nearly superhuman courage and skill of the IDF soldiers (and there weren't very many of them) who stormed the heights and took it from the Syrians on June 9-10, 1967. You might as well ask us to give back Ohio to the Chippewa and Kickapoo Indians.
Oh, but lest you think there are no minimum admission criteria to James Baker's "Support Group," relax, it's a very restricted membership: Arabs, Persians, Chinese commies, French obstructionists, Russian assassination squads. But no Jews. Even though Israel is the only country to be required to make specific concessions -- return the Golan Heights, etc. Indeed, insofar as this document has any novelty value, it's in the Frankenstein-meets-the-Wolfman sense of a boffo convergence of hit franchises: a Vietnam bug-out, but with the Jews as the designated fall guys. Wow. That's what Hollywood would call "high concept."
My two cents is never give up the Golan, never, never, never, never. First to prevent Syria from a topographical advantage in any future war and second to honor the nearly superhuman courage and skill of the IDF soldiers (and there weren't very many of them) who stormed the heights and took it from the Syrians on June 9-10, 1967. You might as well ask us to give back Ohio to the Chippewa and Kickapoo Indians.
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 9:25 AM 
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Rog,
I agree wholeheartedly about the Golan Heights. I think of them as Israel's Guantanomo Bay, only w/ more topograhical strategic importance.
On the other hand giving Ohio back to Native Americans is an idea that deserves consideration. The Kickapoos, however, were indigenous to Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, w/ a brans=ch in Coahuila, Mexico, so we can't very well give Ohio to them.
Also, although they lived in Ohio to an extent, the major populacee of the Chippawas were further north in Ontario, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
So we need to give Ohio back to the Eries and the Delawares although to avoid the awkwardness of giving Ohio to Delaware we can call them the Lenni Lennap which is what I think they called themselves.
Regards,
T
I agree wholeheartedly about the Golan Heights. I think of them as Israel's Guantanomo Bay, only w/ more topograhical strategic importance.
On the other hand giving Ohio back to Native Americans is an idea that deserves consideration. The Kickapoos, however, were indigenous to Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, w/ a brans=ch in Coahuila, Mexico, so we can't very well give Ohio to them.
Also, although they lived in Ohio to an extent, the major populacee of the Chippawas were further north in Ontario, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
So we need to give Ohio back to the Eries and the Delawares although to avoid the awkwardness of giving Ohio to Delaware we can call them the Lenni Lennap which is what I think they called themselves.
Regards,
T
# posted by 
: 10:15 AM
: 10:15 AM
"Even though Israel is the only country to be required to make specific concessions"
Patently false. You'll see there are a laundry list of concessions that Syria must make in order to receive their prize.
Patently false. You'll see there are a laundry list of concessions that Syria must make in order to receive their prize.
The Kickapoos are indigenous to those other states because we kicked them out of Ohio. Agree about the Deleware. I should have mentioned them. Miamis?
Mike, it's a slow read but I slogging through. So far it meanders between the bloody obvious to the worst pie in the sky wish list. I fear the near total lack of military service might have fatally flawed it (Chuck Robb was I believe a captain in Viet Nam). I'll try to post tomorrow before the thing is placed on the dusty shelf by everyone and forgotten.
Mike, it's a slow read but I slogging through. So far it meanders between the bloody obvious to the worst pie in the sky wish list. I fear the near total lack of military service might have fatally flawed it (Chuck Robb was I believe a captain in Viet Nam). I'll try to post tomorrow before the thing is placed on the dusty shelf by everyone and forgotten.
Baker was a Marine LT for two years between graduating college in 1952 and going to law school in 1954. He did not go to Korea, which was the only war ongoing. So the briefness of the service and it's lack of combat make it perhaps too easy to forget. But thanks for the correction.
OK Baker and Robb were junior officers in the Marines for short times. Robb did do two tours in Viet Nam and won the bronze star, so his service carries a little more weight.
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OK Baker and Robb were junior officers in the Marines for short times. Robb did do two tours in Viet Nam and won the bronze star, so his service carries a little more weight.
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