Bellicose politicians push questionable 'values'
Many of the most prominent pro-war US politicians gathered this weekend in Washington, DC at what is called the Values Voters Summit. The list of speakers included Michele Bachmann, Paul Ryan, Rick Santorum, Eric Cantor, Allen West, Oliver North, Mike Huckabee and Glenn Beck – all of whom have a record of supporting aggressive US war-making overseas. Past speakers have included John McCain, James Dobson, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney – again, all very pro-war. One of the breakout sessions this Saturday was led by Lt Gen (ret) William G Boykin, a former Delta Force commander, and was entitled ‘Israel, Iran and the Future of Western Civilization.’ The synopsis of the presentation, according to the 2012 Values Voters Summit’s website reads like Likud Party and Neo-con propaganda:
The tiny nation Israel is surrounded by large Arab states that are hostile to Israel’s existence. Iran is on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon, and, if successful, will target Israel for annihilation. Israel is America’s greatest ally in the Middle East. But U.S. policies towards Israel have not always supported Israel. The battle line for the survival of Western Civilization runs through Israel. America must provide its full and unreserved support for Israel. This breakout will discuss the strategic nature of Israel, and its role in the Middle East, America, and in the future of Western Civilization.
We have discussed at length on SNN several of the false statements which make up the above breakout session synopsis. See here, here, here, here and here.
Another breakout session led by Nonie Darwish, who is listed as the founder of a group called Arabs for Israel, and notorious Neo-con propagandist Frank Gaffney was entitled ‘Understanding Radical Islam 101.’ The synopsis of this session essentially denies the concept of blow-back and the notion that half a century of US intervention in the Middle East, including multiple invasions and occupations as well as the permanent stationing of many thousands of US troops in the region, had anything to do with the attacks on 11 September 2001. This flies in the face of reason itself, not to mention the CIA’s own reports, the writings of CIA analyst Michael Scheuer or statements from Osama bin Laden himself about his motivations. The synopsis reads:
Since 9-11, blaming the victim has been a popular media and left-wing pursuit. Somehow, argue America-haters, we brought the violence upon ourselves. But when the blood of thousands of Americans spilt that day joined other victims of terrorist acts from around the world it became paramount to understand the radical mindset and worldview affecting us all. Political correctness is no protection against terrorist acts. Gary Bauer’s American Values presents “Radical Islam 101″ to provide a framework for understanding the worldview behind the violence.
Thankfully, only a portion of the summit focused on foreign policy and war. Other topics included repealing Obamacare, defending capitalism and promoting Christian activism in politics. However, the entirety of the foreign policy-related aspects of the 2012 Values Voters Summit was completely in line with the Neo-conservative world-view, a perspective that is alien to traditional conservatism and Jeffersonian principles.
If you have the stomach and patience to deal with a great deal of bellicose rhetoric and gross distortions, below are links to the transcripts of the speeches of a few of the leading figures at the summit:
Also see: Conservatives deceived, The rise of the Neo-cons, A few words on the Neo-conservatives, Condi’s Neo-con speech at the GOP convention, Neo-cons to honour their own in Tampa, Bill Kristol brags about purge of dissenters in GOP, Mitt Romney & the Neo-cons, Why Neo-cons idolise Lincoln & despise decentralised government and Neo-con David Horowitz attack patriots.
“Iran is on the verge of obtaining a nuclear weapon, and, if successful, will target Israel for annihilation. ”
I wonder if these so called “Values Voters” are familiar with the 9th commandment:
Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Apparently not, Anti-Federalist. If so, then they obviously value other things higher than this commandment.