Our Own Neville Chamberlain

Once again, Sen. John Kerry is leading the appeasement lobby for the Middle East. According to the failed presidential candidate, "I think it's important to talk...but you don't give up your principles and you don't make deals that are against your larger interest." The talk in this instance is referring to those most pro-American of countries, Syria and Iran. Yes, Iran -- the same Iran who'd rather lob a nuke at Israel than sit down and "talk" with Jews. What exactly is he proposing we discuss with Mr. Whackjob? How the U.S. could completely sell out our only true ally in the region, or how about preventing Israel from participating in the Iraq Study Group's recommendations? Wow, those both seem like great suggestions to me. What I don’t hear is anything substantive coming from Senator Kerry, but then again, that’s no different from the entire 2004 presidential campaign. Democrats are quick to criticize, yet scared or unable to provide any concrete plans, other than say we need a new direction. Is the situation in Iraq a losing cause? It is if the administration fails to implement strategies leading to victory but instead opts for short-term solutions.
Kerry’s remarks come on the heels of Kofi Annan’s comments echoing the same sentiments. "Bush should talk to these two [Iraq and Syria] countries," the UN chief said to France Radio International (anyone else snickering now?), "but I have no idea about what form the discussion will take." That’s akin to a marriage counselor accepting a warring couple as clients, then telling them they’ll have to choose how they want to communicate during therapy. It’s amazing the UN accomplished anything productive the last 10 years with that kind of decisive leadership. Kind of leaves you scratching your head, doesn’t it? Given the UN’s track record in recent years, there’s nowhere to go but up with the new Secretary-General.
All this posturing lends credence to the liberals’ theory that the word is always mightier than the sword. I’m not advocating another Operation Rolling Thunder, but I think it’s pretty clear that America is not going to be able to talk its way out of the Iraq "situation." Trying to negotiate with opponents who are either overt (Iran) or covert (Syria) antagonists is not going to work. The U.S. is the Great Satan to these people. Read the Koran; it’s convert or die, and there is no middle ground. The appeasers from the American left are consistent in their assumption that we bring our own woes upon us and it’s up to the government to show the world we can change, admit our faults, and play nice. The machismo inherent in Islam regards weakness as behavior to be reviled. They understand strength, and expect as much in confrontations. With a new political party in power, I hope the Democrats recognize the same and move to protect America’s interests. Theodore Roosevelt’s big stick and soft speech would serve well in these times.