The Occasional Observer

The Dark Commenteer has weighed in, as Darkly and Commenty as usual:

The biggest problem in this country is a fundamental one: the rampant run of liberalism and following pussificaton of the United States has crippled our strength and status. It's like a national case of AIDS that we are wasting away from.

You can see these principles on the domestic level as well as international. Basic law enforcement policy is that when planning an arrest you bring an overwhelming number of officers, as heavily armed as possible. If you are going after one perp, bring 8 men. Going after 5? Bring 50, all with shotguns and rifles. However, we frequently see civil rights groups whining that this is a violation of the criminal's rights because he had no choice but to surrender in the face of such odds. As if we're supposed to get into one-on-one shootouts to give the a fighting chance. These mass arrests are "terrifying to the victim" and are traumatic experiences that scar them.

This ridiculous argument is the same reason that we face problems in international conflicts. The whole point of working your way up to superpower status is so that you can do things your way. Instead, we are forced (in part by pressure from our own citizenry) to fight a "fair fight" against these savages around the world.

What will happen if we actually end up at war with China, the only other legitimate superpower in the world? Are we to assume that they will fight fair? Or do we just roll over when they bring the hurt?

We want to be seen as the "good guys" in the world forum so we cave to everyone else's rules and demands. However, we are still hated by basically everyone, and in addition no one respects us anymore. And why should they? How can you have any respect for someone who will not stand up for themselves. I would rather be feared and openly disliked if I am respected, as opposed to being the laughing stock and having people pretend to get along with me but despising me and not taking anything I say seriously.

So I take it you don't have a problem with the "disproportionate" use of force in Lebanon? Can't believe "pussification" made it through spell check. I usually try to go with language that's a bit more formal, but hey, sometimes you've just got to make your point, eh, D.C.?