A number of Tea Party Senators spent the weekend in Pakistan and Afghanistan, as part of a delegation led by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R – KY). The trip is seen by many as more about internal GOP politicking than foreign relations.
This is because consumate hawk and status quo Republican McConnell is keen to drive a wedge between Senate Republicans with ties to the Tea Party, particularly as so many of them believed they were elected to change policy and rein in deficit spending.
McConnell invited Sens. Marco Rubio (R – FL), Pat Toomey (R – PA), Ron Johnson (R – WI) and Kelly Ayotte (R – NH), but did not invite two of the more staunchly Tea Party members, Rand Paul (R – KY) and Mike Lee (R – UT).
On the visit they met with Gen. David Petraeus as well as a number of top Afghan and Pakistani officials. McConnell has been a long-time fan of the Afghan War and announced today that there is an “overwhelming likelihood of success” in the disastrous conflict.
And Americans would know more about the "disaster" that is Afghanistan if Antiwar and other alt.
publications would do follow up reports on the deaths of US soldiers there. All six of the "NATO" soldiers killed last Wednesday, Jan. 12, have been identified as US soldiers but Antiwar, Democracy Now, and as always the entire corporate press is content to keep that information secret. I know the corporate press has an agenda to support and extend the war in Afghanistan. What I cannot understand is the motivation behind keeping that important information hidden at Antiwar..
Looks like he's mostly bought by financials/lawyers. http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cy...
Looks like he's mostly bought by financials/lawyers. http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cy...
It is to be wondered if these dog and pony shows are as effective as advertised in rearranging politicians' ways of thinking, or whether the trips are merely Pavlovian reinforcement conditioning for people who have already drunk the Kool-Aid. The fact that McConnell excluded the two Tea Party senators who seem to be the most committed to opposing the Empire confirms the latter.
As for McConnell's ludicrous optimism regarding the “overwhelming likelihood of success,” it is telling that he is willing to flush the US economy down the toilet for the perquisite of lording it over the Afghans.
"…flush the US economy down the toilet for the perquisite of lording it over the Afghans…" And THAT is what really mystifies me. Why would they continue down this path once it became overwhelmingly obvious that success is not an option? Surely they can see the financial disaster that is forming around us. Surely…
“overwhelming likelihood of success” == It's twice as good as tomorrow
Yeah, I was struck by that phrasing too. LOL!
Our servicemen should be protecting OUR borders, airports and seaports not everyone else's! Inspect everything that comes into the US at the person or company bringing it in paying any costs!!!
Another fine analysis/synthesis by Jason Ditz. Jason cuts across many political lines well worth reading.
I'm not worried that triple-chin McConnell is going to be able to split the TPers…'cause BCB (Batshit Crazy Bachman) is going to gather the chicks around her when they return and tell them they should remember that to forget what got them elected would be unAmerikan – and since BCB is on the House Intelligence Committee, well, she should know.
That chin is really strange. I wonder if he is afraid to go outside the week before Thanksgiving.
McConnell is a disgrace to Kentucky. We can only hope that the good people of KY send him packing at his next election.
Hopefully the Afghan rebels will give them some news to take home with them.
Coming soon & certain to make the NY Times best seller list!!
"A Memoir of My First Political Junket" by Congressman Ukipa Heap
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Afganistan was never a threat to the United States. Iraq was never a threat to the United States. They never were and never will be. Our government lied, and now we have young men and women in war – six and seven tours. This is insane.
Stop the lie. End this war – Now.