My Turn: Bernie Sanders is not a plausible commander-in-chief

[SecularMotion]

We are headed for a national security election.

After a year that brought us the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris, last fall’s bloody killing spree in that same city and the San Bernardino attacks, 29 percent of Americans cite terrorism as their top concern, a number that has risen by a factor of three in a year; an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll puts the number at 40 percent. About half as many say the economy is the No. 1 issue.

What’s more, it is impossible to predict what the next 10 months will look like. ISIS today is under real pressure. Its grip on the land it controls is loosening as Kurds in Syria and Iraq and the Iraqi army make slow inroads, supported by the U.S.-led coalition’s punishing air strikes. To maintain the impression among followers and potential recruits that it is damaging its enemies, the priority on “out of area” attacks like the ones in Paris and San Bernardino has gone up dramatically.

I have spent a good part of my adult life working in the government on these issues. I served as director for counterterrorism on the White House’s National Security Council staff in the late 1990s; in January 2000, I warned on the op-ed page of the New York Times that Osama bin Laden sought to carry out unprecedented catastrophic terror attacks against the United States, a theme I repeated in many venues over the next 18 months. From 2009 to 2012, I served as the coordinator for counterterrorism in the State Department.

http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/20789398-95/my-turn-bernie-sanders-is-not-a-plausible-commander-in-chief

[Live and Learn]

1. Obviously you would prefer someone that will ensure a war.

Another winning campaign strategy.

Can't do anything for the people, must go to war!

[BlueMTexpat]

9. As someone with a long, strong background in

diplomacy, fiercely anti-war myself, and knowing what it takes to be considered credible on the global stage, I support the OP.

Especially in this:

...

But I strongly believe that Hillary Clinton is the candidate best equipped to keep our country safe – and she will also make progress on redressing inequality and fixing our politics.

My conviction comes from working alongside her for nearly four years at the State Department. I saw close-up how she collaborated with the rest of the administration’s national security team to cripple al-Qaida. I know how deftly she managed one of the most difficult – but, for counterterrorism, essential – relationships we have with Pakistan after such events as our unilateral mission to kill bin Laden.

And I was astonished at how effectively she handled the delicate diplomacy – including with the Muslim-majority countries that need to be at the forefront of our efforts to defeat ISIS – required to create the institutional architecture for dealing with terrorism in this century by establishing the Global Counterterrorism Forum as a central body for helping other countries build their capabilities to defeat terrorists.

On the basis of those experiences, I know that a President Clinton will have the skills and insight to deal with the evolving terrorist threat. For example, she has the personal relationships in the Middle East and understands the thinking of our Arab partners, who are on the sidelines now in the struggle against extremism. She – alone among the current presidential aspirants – understands how to move them to action.

[Skidmore]

17. Precisely why I support

her as well. She has been on the ground doing the work of diplomacy and not just lobbing incendiaries in from the sidelines.

[orpupilofnature57]

54. So wasn't Dick Cheney, what did that get us ?

[BlueMTexpat]

60. +1000. eom

[Live and Learn]

21. She friggen voted to send our kids to die and kill innocent Iraqi's based on obvious lies that she

didn't even friggen bother to read (per her claim).

How the hell anyone can defend that vote is way beyond me!

As far as her having a personal relationship with Saudi Arabia, a country whose citizens were actually responsible for 9/11 and that treats women like 2nd class citizens, follow the friggen money.

[BlueMTexpat]

61. Thanks for your comment. eom

[SheilaT]

25. This is precisely why I'm horrified at the possibility

of her becoming Commander in Chief.

She's very eager for war. Enthusiastically bombs women and children. As for collateral damage, she's willing to return refugee children to the horrors they fled from.

Worse yet, she happily claims to be a "Christian". I keep on reading the part of the Old Testament that says Thou Shalt not Kill (and a Jewish friend has told me the original simply says No Kill) and I try to figure out what part of that makes it okay to bomb women and children.

[7962]

43. "Thou shall not kill" actually translates into "thou shall not murder"

And while The Hebrew Bible contains numerous prohibitions against unlawful killing, it also allows for justified killing in the context of warfare, capital punishment, and self-defense.

[SheilaT]

71. Yeah, that's what's so great about the Bible.

It can be used to justify anything at all.

And my Jewish friend says that the original Hebrew is a simple No Kill, with no distinction between justified, murder, whatever.

[7962]

73. Well, there is a big difference. Here are some links I found:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thou_shalt_not_kill

http://www.biblestudy.org/question/what-does-thou-shall-not-kill-mean.html

Its not hard for me to see the bible speak against just wantonly killing someone, but not prohibiting killing someone in a war or someone who killed a store clerk

[SheilaT]

74. While I do understand someone killing another person in self defense,

which tends to include combat situations, I am totally opposed to the death penalty.

[7962]

80. Which is fine. Its just not prohibited in the bible like so many insist.

But your opposition is just as valid as mine supporting it in the proper conditions. But I do think the law should be changed from what we have now

[mhatrw]

26. SCARY BROWN PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLANET!!!!

Yikes!!! Only Hillary can protect you from the scary brown hordes!!!

[beam me up scottie]

39. TERRA TERRA TERRA! NINE ELEVEN!!!

[bfealk]

42. She's not very good at it

Libya is a mess. She will just take us into more wars.

I'll take Bernie's judgement over Hillary's any day.

[7962]

44. Also remember Yemen was touted as a success story not long ago

now its a shit hole

[BlueMTexpat]

62. Thanks for your comment. eom

[nyabingi]

46. You can't be serious man

Hillary Clinton's State Department was one of the more murderous and scandalous there has ever been. She is responsible not only for the deaths of the American conspirators who were working with radical Islamists in Libya plotting the overthrow of Gaddafi, but she is also responsible for the mayhem that followed, mainly the ethnic cleansing and massacre of Black Libyans in Tawergha (whom Gaddafi had protected) and the many people who died at sea trying to flee the mess she pushed to create.

She is responsible for setting up shipping companies to send looted weaponry in Libya to Islamic extremists in Syria ad Iraq in order to try and do the same to Assad. Hillary has the blood of thousands (if not more on her hands) and I'm tired of hearing this neocon bullshit from right-wing think tanks and the "liberal" groupies who believe in this kind of "humanitarian intervention" (which is how the destruction of Libya was presented to the public).

Hillary is a clear and present threat to American security and indeed, the security of the whole world.

[Hiraeth]

47. Perhaps it is time for you to consider another career.

[BlueMTexpat]

63. Well, now I am retired.

At least, for the most part - although I keep getting asked to consult or teach - without even sending in a CV.

So those who actually know me in person seem to believe that I know what I'm doing.

[DFW]

72. Ah, but people who have never met you obviously know better!

(Don't they??)

[BlueMTexpat]

75. They certainly seem to think so!

[Armstead]

56. Results are what matter

The results haven't been so great

[BlueMTexpat]

66. Iran nuclear deal - sure no biggie!

Hillary set the works in motion. Kerry very ably closed the deal. It takes persons of like mind working together.

That's just one example ...

Please remember when you are railing in full spate against Hillary that she was Secretary of State - not Secretary of Defense. War is actually conducted by the military, not by the diplomats. There is a BIG difference.

The problem for too many is that not only does Hillary know what she's doing, she also happens to be a woman - and a woman who can face off with the guys, respond graciously and intelligently, and not back down. There's the rub indeed.

[loyalsister]

77. And yet, Hillary is proud to have the Iranians as an enemy

I wonder how that played with them or what they feel they can expect from a president "we came, we saw, he died?"

[BlueMTexpat]

79. Thank you for your comment. eom

[ErisDiscordia]

2. Not if you want to continue wars of imperial aggression, no

But I expect Bernie could handle an invasion. For one thing, he'd have the people behind him.

[beam me up scottie]

3. Let's compare their judgement on our country's biggest foreign policy blunder:

[daleanime]

6. + 1

[beam me up scottie]

8. ISIS would not exist if not for the war that Hillary promoted.

Now we're supposed to believe she can fix it?

[Live and Learn]

22. +10,000 nt

[restorefreedom]

33. this right the frick here ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ nt

[daleanime]

50. Exactly.....

And it's a mistake she seems willing to make again.

[SusanCalvin]

55. Excellent point. nt

[avaistheone1]

69. Every time I think of Hillary that vote is all I can think about...

Sorry more Hillary equals more disaster that our country can just not afford.

[Broward]

4. Wait, no Iraq War, no ISIS

and this guy says vote for Hillary. Freaking absurd.

[John Poet]

5. HILLARY is not a plausible commander-in-chief, since she

couldn't even be troubled to make sure her own email was secure.

[cali]

7. Hillary's judgment is terrible. Bernie's has been proven correct. Repeatedly

Fuck the mindless conventional "wisdom" reflected in this tired piece of shit op-ed.

[stonecutter357]

10. K&R!

[cali]

11. file under desperate Hillary toadies

Daniel Benjamin (born October 16, 1961) is an American diplomat and journalist, and was the Coordinator for Counterterrorism at the United States Department of State from 2009 to 2012, appointed by Secretary Clinton.[1] He is Director of the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College.[2]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Benjamin

Benjamin is a neocon hawk. And he's been spectacularly wrong on a number of issues.

[jfern]

12. ISIS wouldn't exist without foreign policy like Hillary's

[longship]

13. Blah, de-blah de-blah blah blah.

Blah blah blah de-blah de-blah de-blah!

Blah blah blah blah de-blah de-blah!!

Sometimes, during primary season, ridicule is the only thing called for.

Bernie, Hillary, O'Malley? I support Bernie in the primary, and will support the nominee in November.

All the rest of the bullshit here is nothing but blah blah de-blah de-blah, no matter who one supports.

DU utterly sucks these days.

[w4rma]

14. Fear elects Republicans, not Democrats. A campaign of fear won't win over fearful voters. (nt)

[tech3149]

31. That should be an OP

A true Democrat would appeal to our better angels rather than raising the specter of demons.

[bowens43]

15. you want trump handling this shit? that what you get if hillary is on the ticket

[restorefreedom]

34. another excellent point. nt

[RiverLover]

16. This is BS. Trump has 0 foreign policy experience. Bernie will whip his *ss. /nt

[democrank]

18. Once again, let`s take another look at who favored the Iraq War.

Hillary, like Dick Cheney ,has a lot of experience....but Bernie gets my vote because of judgment.

[left-of-center2012]

19. Hillary = Iraq and Libya

Need I say more?
OK
A no-fly zone in Syria, so we can shoot down Russian planes.
Clinton 'peace plan'.

[sarge43]

20. War is good for business

Connect the dots.

[restorefreedom]

35. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. nt

[Sheepshank]

59. Voting in favor of NRA policies kills contributes to 30,000 US deaths each year

And fear monger and selling guns is also incredible profitable. Why is this ignored?

[Nanjeanne]

23. Appointed by Clinton

Served under Clinton.

Writes article praising Clinton.

What a surprise.

Always consider the source.

[mhatrw]

24. Clinton crony security state salesman sells Clinton and the security state.

yawn

[EdwardBernays]

27. Jeez

So he worked in Bill's White House and was appointed the coordinator for counterterrorism by Hillary.

No bias though I'm sure.

Clinton shill shills for Clinton. Shocking.

[AllyCat]

28. Oh what will we do without endless war?

Why the poor widdle weapons makers will have a sad.

[Vattel]

29. "Sanders has presented no plan for defeating ISIS."

No one has a plan for defeating ISIS. Both Sanders and Clinton have rejected sending in ground troops, and both have supported Obama's use of air power. The biggest difference between Sanders and Clinton on this issue is that Sanders joins Obama in opposing Clinton's crazy idea that we should establish a no fly zone in Syria.

[DesertRat]

30. K&R

[NurseJackie]

32. I want more than fortune cookie foreign policy.

Hillary has clearly demonstrated a depth and understanding of complex issues that surpasses all others. She's the most qualified by miles and miles. I'll sleep better knowing she's in charge.

[RiverLover]

36. You want to Be Certain the US will continue to screw up, causing more damage & deaths

& more hatred against America. And for what? Oil Rights? Halliburton profits?

Fabulous.

[mhatrw]

49. Yes, Hillary's long career in military misadverturism makes her uniquely suited for

the role of destabilizer in chief.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

[cali]

52. Hillary is a neocon with terrible judgment.

[hedgehog]

37. Only Hillary has had the experience of flying into a war zone and landing under fire!

[pocoloco]

41. .....and taking her daughter with her!

duuuuuuuuuuh!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

38. Frankly, we need to grow some spine. We need spines 550 time stiffer. Yesterday if not sooner

Globally terrorisms deaths are less than 1 percent of traffic accident deaths.

In the US, that is even more skewed.


Globally:






US citizens abroad:







USA deaths 2014: 550 (FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY) times as many gun deaths. 1800 times as many vehicle deaths:



Statistics over the last 20 years (including the 2001 anomaly) would be essentially very similar.

[blackspade]

40. Ah the typical establishment view wheeled out again....

How many times is this now?

[Vinca]

45. Translation: let's kill some people.

[99Forever]

48. Warmongers and war-profiteers gotta beat the war drums.

Hillary is both. Yet another reason that the only reason she should EVER step foot into the White House again is because President Sanders invited her for a short visit.

[polly7]

58. Rec. nt.

[SidDithers]

51. DU rec...nt

Sid

[orpupilofnature57]

53. The only Honest person in the room is what your saying, or the rooms You've been a part to .

[Armstead]

57. Results matter. The world isn't in such great shape

[workinclasszero]

64. Bernie as CinC

The republicans could beat his *** in the general on this one issue alone not to mention all the other baggage he carries.

That's why republicans are helping Bernie as much as they can. They know he would be a pushover in the general.

[JRLeft]

65. You have to laugh at the fear crowd, this is the capital that Cenk was

talking about.

[cherokeeprogressive]

67. I had to rec this...

Just so's I could unrec it.

Then I yawned.

[MattSh]

68. This article is horseshit...

U.S.-led coalition’s punishing air strikes? ISIS was a direct outcome of US policy and the USA supports ISIS to this day. What terror group was not born and raised on money stolen from US taxpayers?

Any defeat of ISIS will be the direct result of Russian intervention. The USA isn't doing shit, but will be happy to claim credit to make it seem like they are doing something besides supporting ISIS 100%.

[Gothmog]

70. National security and foreign policy are going to be key issues in general election

[EdwardBernays]

76. This guy

got one job from Hillary and one job from Bill...

he's just a Clinton spokesman...

[The Wielding Truth]

78. First, get our own house in order.Then deal as an honest broker in the middle east.Bernie can do it!