tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post6608970824968014949..comments2024-03-28T10:49:14.510-05:00Comments on Horizons: Struggling with fearNancy LeTourneauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-46693433668327225242012-03-01T15:30:48.338-06:002012-03-01T15:30:48.338-06:00For me this isn't about Sullivan. He was merel...For me this isn't about Sullivan. He was merely the vehicle who happened to say what has grown into a pretty significant concern for me and many others.Nancy LeTourneauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-31535993389293673392012-03-01T14:21:28.607-06:002012-03-01T14:21:28.607-06:00You know what is playing in the back of Andrew Sul...You know what is playing in the back of Andrew Sullivan's head? A receding hairline and that's it. I take nothing he says to heart anymore. Besides, isn't he blubbing over Breitbart's death?LACnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-20509289927574328672012-03-01T14:03:09.276-06:002012-03-01T14:03:09.276-06:00I don't believe this is as big a deal as it se...I don't believe this is as big a deal as it seems right now.<br /><br />Firstly I'm sure PBO will tell Netanyahu in the strongest terms that he better not attack Iran.<br /><br />Secondly Bibi is not an idiot and won't attack if he doesn't have a good chance of succeeding, which almost all the military experts say he doesn't.<br /><br />If the attack fails then that is basically the end of Bibi's political career and the president can then get credit for supporting Israel in their time of need (as Iran will certainly look to retaliate).<br /><br />However if it succeeds then PBO will get some of the credit since it happened on his watch and any successful Iranian retaliatory attack of the U.S. will be blamed on Israel.<br /> <br /><br />I don't see a problem either way.<br /><br />What Netanyahu is trying to do is to bluff PBO into carrying out or providing massive support for the attack.<br /><br />That's not going to work.<br /><br />The more you hear about Israel going it alone the lower the likelihood of it actually happening.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-26194033384253253812012-03-01T11:53:15.582-06:002012-03-01T11:53:15.582-06:00Thanks Tien. I think we need some rational convers...Thanks Tien. I think we need some rational conversation about this.<br /><br />The other thing your comment made me realize that we can do about this is to pre-emptively frame what's going on here. There is NO need to bomb Iran. Anyone who suggests that is playing with even worse fire than the Republicans did during the debt ceiling crisis they created.Nancy LeTourneauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12614317154146836694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7163441833245663827.post-89136815852228613452012-03-01T11:40:11.895-06:002012-03-01T11:40:11.895-06:00I think it is perfectly natural to play out fear s...I think it is perfectly natural to play out fear scenarios in our minds in an attempt to 'prepare' ourselves for the worst. I'm not going to look to Andrew Sullivan for guidance on this, though. He's wrong too often.<br />I don't know anything about Israeli politics, but Netanyahu is just a man. I would suggest that he is a frightened man who sees his world crumbling down around him and is reacting the only way he knows how: badly. He's used to his neocon buddies propping him up and siding with him--protecting him from his own paranoia. <br />I'm with you on this, Smartypants. There is no one more qualified to deal with this maniac than our President and his State Department. If Israel goes off the rails, there is nothing we personally can do about it, except keep our heads and wits about us and not get caught up in the frenzy. Whatever happens, the person for the job is on the job.Tien Lenoreply@blogger.com