…and as I stated previously I have no argument with Obama and his leadership.

But I shall keep swimming in the water – you never know I may attempt the deepest oceans any moment now.

Now, the Pakistanis who’ve lost hundreds to Obma’s Predator strikes inside a sovereign nation (that’s an act of war, btw) might not fall into that majority support and goodwill…but they don’t really count, do they? And i’m sure that none of that has anything to do with destabilizing Pakistan…how could it with Obama being such an uncynical, intelligent man of good will. The Pakistanis are probably comforted by Obama being surrounded by the best intelligence and analysts in the world…so good that they manage to blow up three weddings for every “Al Queada” suspect.

It was said that the British AfPak policy during the Great Game was the result of “half-hearted Imperialists and uninformed Liberals”. Funny how history repeats itself, no?

No worries, i understand that you don’t really want a dialogue but to be made to feel better about Obama. Best not to look too deeply at matters and things will be fine.

If you have no faith at all in Obama and his people then I cannot even begin a dialogue with you. Until Obama actually does something that causes a breach of trust/faith with regard to his legitimate mandate then he will continue to have the majority support and goodwill (and how important that is right now when making judgement calls on our modern day Goliath) worldwide.

Elaine, if you’re going to take it on faith then there’s no reason for me to argue with you because information (current or historical) and rationality have nothing to do with it. However, the “best analysts, information, etc.” is something of a stretch. This is the same structure that couldn’t see the fall of the USSR coming, couldn’t see 9/11 coming, convinced America that Iraq had WMD, and a list along these lines that could keep me typing all day long.

But i’m sure that President Obama is happy to have you support for the Long War. Leaders always appreciate unquestioning subjects who don’t bother with facts.

Your article is excellent – no doubt.

However, Obama has access to the best intelligence, the most up to date information, the best technology, the best analysts available…and is in charge of American National Security. You and the media do not know what he/they know. I take Obama’s stewardship of National/Western Security on trust – he was legitimately voted in and he has popular worldwide support. As he (O) is neither stupid, ignorant or cynical I think his judgement cannot be sullied at this stage of the game.

Nukes is the number 1 security concern even if not mentioned. Sure, if your local backwoodsman living in the mountains is throwing stones, killing women and stopping progress only in his little area and is contained then National/World Security issues for every other country are not really an issue.

…but backwoodsmen multiply and pass on their idiotic/dangerous views and get into politics all the time.

Wonder how the Bush is doing…

Besides, the military-industrial-executive decision complex that Jeff wrote about wants you to be terrified of the Taliban (a term so broad in media usage as to be useless) and the idea of them getting Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. If you fear it, you’ll accept them doing “whatever’s necessary” to keep you safe…which means permanent war half way around the world.

Besides that, the Taliban have – traditionally – shown little interest in anything outside of Afghanistan. (and the Pashtun provinces of Pakistan) The connection between the Taliban and the bogeymen we call Al Queada has always been tenuous…right back to the Soviet War. Moreover, the haven that the Taliban (a somewhat different Taliban than we’re currently fighting) gave to bin Laden is also more complicated than the standard media narrative.

You’ll be better served by taking what Jeff says so humorously very seriously and assuming that what you get from “the media” is a pack of MIC serving lies. Some portions of the US government do not change with an election…

I didn’t get around to mentioning it in this article, but Team Obama’s Bananastan strategy doesn’t say jack about nukes, so my point about the chess club and its plans is, I think, still valid.

Now I don’t want him back.