Obama To Arm Syrian Rebels: Does Anyone Remember The Sequester?

Never mind whether it’s a good idea to go along with old-man John “get off my lawn” McCain and arm the Syrian “rebels,” I ask, can we afford it? I mean, remember “the sequester” cuts? It was the across-the-board cuts to all kinds of government programs including defense. This was what we got instead of a sensible budget deal. It’s also what we got instead of tax increases above the rather minimal tax increase for top income earners that happened at the beginning of the year. Because why raise taxes on those who can afford to pay more taxes when you can just fuck the poor instead.

• • •

CHART: Fear Of Terrorism Makes People Irrational – Terrorism Fatalities vs. Firearm Homicides

Due to Homeland Security - photo by Thomas HawkAmerica is a country that prides itself on bravery and strength, but we have an irrational fear of terrorism in the post-9/11 years. You are more likely to die in a car accident, a fall, or even drown, than die in a terrorist incident. In some cases, many thousands of times more likely. But while we made no rash or illogical decisions regarding automobile deaths, we have done exactly that in response to terrorism. In addition to car accidents, falls and drownings, you are also more likely to be murdered by firearm than murdered by terrorist attack. And while car accidents, falls and drownings are accidents, murder by gun is no accident, and that makes it a good statistic to compare to terrorism.

• • •

Poll: When It Comes To Drones, Most Americans Say ‘Fight Them Over There’

A new Gallup poll shows a strong majority of Americans (65%) support drone “airstrikes in other countries against suspected terrorists.” President George W. Bush was wrong about a lot of things, but he tapped into a sentiment that many Americans feel (right or wrong), that they would rather take out perceived enemies on foreign soil. Bush famously said we would fight the terrorist “over there” so we don’t have to fight them “over here.” And who wouldn’t want their enemies vanquished in some far away land, out of sight, out of mind? As for collateral damage — well, we are at war, right? A one-state war against a tactic, not a nation or an army, but that’s just semantics, right?

• • •

Iraq War: 42 Percent Of Americans Like Being Lied To

Ten years have passed since the start of the Iraq war. In that time, thousands of U.S. service members died, and potentially hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens lost their lives. In this decade of war, tens of thousands of Iraq war veterans have suffered physical and mental disabilities, and many will continue to deal with these issues for the rest of their lives. A war of choice, based on a lie, has now cost us over $2 trillion. And the cost is only going to continue to rise with the medical needs of Iraq war veterans for many more decades to come.

• • •

McCain’s Benghazi Hypocrisy

John McCain asks David Gregory on Meet the Press if he cares about four dead Americans. And why did McCain ask this question? Because Gregory dared to question McCain’s objection to Chuck Hagel for Secretary of Defense. See, McCain wants answers on Benghazi. He thinks there’s a cover up. When Gregory dared asked McCain to explain what’s being covered up, that’s when McCain invoked his “four dead Americans” rebuke. But John McCain has displayed incredible hypocrisy and bad faith when it comes to his search for answers about Benghazi.

• • •