Pat Buchanan has actively been attempting to destroy the Republican Party for around 14 years. He has provided primary opposition to otherwise good candidates, weakening them for the general election. He's constantly launching into tirades about the current leadership of the Republican party. In 2000, he ran a national general campaign under the Reform Party banner that nearly derailed GW Bush's victory (thank goodness Nader acquired slightly more votes). I do wish that my party were more conservative as a whole entity, but I am not going to destroy it in order to have a miraculous "rebuilding." We have disagreements over some issues, but debate is healthy. Lately, the debate has been between Paleocons who are isolationist in nature and Neocons who believe that American might should be used to make American and the world a safer place. I fall somewhere in the middle of this debate... a NeoPal if you will. While I would love it if America were able to withdraw its tentacles from the world and build gigantic national-monument style walls, keeping our society a self contained unit, I am also too much of a realist to believe that this could happen. I'd like to address Pat's article in WorldNetDaily today. On American TV, former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu says the ruination of Lebanon is Hezbollah's doing. But is it Hezbollah that is using U.S.-built F-16s, with precision-guided bombs and 155-mm artillery pieces to wreak death and devastation on Lebanon? No, Israel is doing this, with the blessing and without a peep of protest from President Bush. And we wonder why they hate us. Pat Buchanan, terrorist sympathizer. I never thought I'd see the day. Ahem... I'll assume you're ignoring the last 60 years for the purpose of your argument, Pat, and we can pretend you don't really know about the history of this conflict. Since you've answered your own rhetorical question, I'll spare my own. "Today, we are all Israelis!" brayed Ken Mehlman of the Republican National Committee to a gathering of Christians United for Israel. One wonders if these Christians care about what is happening to our Christian brethren in Lebanon and Gaza, who have had all power cut off by Israeli airstrikes, an outlawed form of collective punishment, that has left them with no sanitation, rotting food, impure water and days without light or electricity in the horrible heat of July. "Brayed" he says. So now, since Ken Mehlman has declared his support for Israeli self defense, he apparently is a jackass in the mind of Mr. Buchanan. Colorful language Pat, nice touch. Yes, we do care about our Christian brethren in Lebanon and Gaza. I pray that they may find their way to safety before the conflict reaches them. When you take a position in Beirut you understand there are huge risks associated with that position. Regarding an "outlawed form of collective punishment," I really would have liked to see a reference there Pat. It's not that I doubt the rule has been passed regarding international warfare somewhere down the line (and we all know how the terrorists always toe the line regarding Geneva), but at least cite something. So, aside from Pat's insinuation that American Christians who support Israel want to see Christians living in Lebanon and Gaza die a horrible filthy death, what are they doing in these purportedly squalid conditions? They are fleeing, with the help of the American military and State Department. Answer: It never did. But these neoconservatives care no more about the Constitution than they cared about the truth when they lied into war in Iraq. WOW! Write for Kos, MoveOn, or the Democratic Underground much, Pat? Any citations? Do you even CARE that you appear to be insane? What about America? Richard Armitage, who did four tours in Nam and knows a bit about war, says that, in its ability to attack Western targets, al-Qaida is the B Team, Hezbollah the A Team. If Bush bombs Iran, what prevents Hezbollah from launching retaliatory attacks inside the United States? Terrorists all play for one team, Mr. Buchanan... the "kill innocents and civilians intentionally to inflict horror and fear" team. Apparently, this has worked on you. Should we sit petrified in our bunkers, living in eternal fear of the next airliner screeching toward a skyscraper in a large American city? Do you choose to wait for this Pat? None of this is written in defense of Hamas, Hezbollah or Iran. I just thought it was funny he felt it necessary to include this line, as its own paragraph. Then, to kick off the very next paragraph: But none of them has attacked our country, nor has Syria... Huh, how about that, a defense of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran! You are correct in stating that they have not attacked us with their formal militaries Pat, to do so clearly appears ludicras to even Iran's crazy president. They do fund terror, harbor terrorists, call us the "Great Satan," and daily call for our fiery destruction. If that does not bother you, then so be it. The last superpower is impotent in this war because we have allowed Israel to dictate to whom we may and may not talk. I used to defend you against criticisms of being anti-Semitic. My, how far we have fallen. I regret those many defenses now. It could be the BDS causing you to write as you do. It appears to be a much lengthier lineage to this point, unfortunately. But all this carnage and destruction has only piqued the blood lust of the hairy-chested warriors at the Weekly Standard. Oh yes... all supporters of the War on Terror are bloodlusting, hairy chested silverbacks. Nice work in raising the context of the debate. But there is no evidence Iran has any tighter control over Hezbollah than we have over Israel, whose response to the capture of two soldiers had all the spontaneity of the Schlieffen Plan. I would imagine you're attempting to draw parallels between the Schlieffen Plan and Israel's latest attempt to defend itself by thoroughly routing Hezbollah. The Schlieffen Plan was neither spontaneous nor successful, it appears as though Israel's response to terrorist aggression has been both. I'm certain the Israelis had this plan on the books for some time, as the Schlieffen Plan was on the books for 9 years prior to implementation, but that is the only parallel I see. Aside, that is, from your flirtation with comparing the Israelis to the Nazis. ..again, Hezbollah attacked Israel, not us. And there is no solid proof Iran is in violation of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which it has signed, but Israel refuses to sign. Again, Buchanan defends Hezbollah and Iran (but not really according to his prior statement!), and this time adds a nice little jab at Israel. If Iran's nuclear program justifies war, why cannot the neocons make that case in the constitutional way, instead of prodding Bush to launch a Pearl Harbor attack? Do they fear they have no credibility left after pushing Bush into this bloody quagmire in Iraq that has cost almost 2,600 dead and 18,000 wounded Americans? No, Kenny boy, we are not "all Israelis." Some of us still think of ourselves as Americans, first, last and always And, no, Mr. Kristol, this is not "our war." It's your war. I can taste the venom in the air from this quotation. Pat Buchanan, if you can show us one constitutional violation that has occurred (a citation would have been nice here, but that doesn't appear to be his "thing"), it would be appreciated and valuable to the nation. Now, Americans are compared to Imperial Japan and its attack on Pearl Harbor. Seriously, with all of your "bloody quagmire" references you should consider writing for Kos, MoveOn, or the DU. Seriously... we're getting a little nervous with you in the room, Pat. I think of myself as an American first (clearly, based on my previous posts), but I also support Israel's right to self defense, as their actions today, tomorrow, and into the future will contribute to the continuing strength and saftey of democracies worldwide. It is not Bill Kristol's war, it is a war for the history and future of the world. My defenses of Pat Buchanan are finished. As a result of this article, my positive views of the Nixon and Reagan administrations have been tarnished. I'm sure that will pass... there was a time when Pat appeared to be sane, prior to about 1990, but it's still sad to see him degenerate into labeling and namecalling as his influence continues to diminish. Update (Same Day): Bill Kristol's article, It's Our War. What's happening in the Middle East, then, isn't just another chapter in the Arab-Israeli conflict. What's happening is an Islamist-Israeli war. You might even say this is part of the Islamist war on the West--but is India part of the West? Better to say that what's under attack is liberal democratic civilization, whose leading representative right now happens to be the United States. Bloodthirsty, hairy chested animal indeed! From VDH for NRO. Chucky Krauthammer weighs in. A great post on why this war falls under the Catholic "just war" doctrine. This one is for the "you claim to be a Christian, and since Jesus was a hippie, you should be too" crowd.