Well that didn’t take long. Putin makes Obama look completely like a clown by reeling back the lifeline he tossed to him on Syria:
Go here to PJ Tatler to read the rest. I doubt if there has ever been an American president as inept at foreign policy as our Nobel Peace Prize laureate. He is even worse than Carter, and I never expected to write those words about any American president.
[…] Pro-life Passion – B. Jones Parable of Vineyard Workers: Divine Mercy in Action – G. Garnica, CS Obama is Charlie Brown to Putin’s Lucy – Donald R. McClarey JD, TAC Family-Friendly Populism – God and Caesar Science Can’t Hug […]
OK, so if the Bumbler in Chief is Charlie Brown, and Comrade Putin is Lucy . . . who’s going to be the big fat guy and where do we get one?
Here’s a commentary on last night’s speech from “National Review” online:
http://nationalreview.com/corner/358176/weak-late-jim-talent
Posted on the “Corner” blog.
More on this:
http://hotair.com/archives/2013/09/11/reviews-in-for-obama-speech-incoherent-disingenuous-nothing-new/
[…] American Catholic got it just right. […]
Honestly, this is pretty petty. I’m no Obama supporter, but I can’t understand WHY anyone/everyone even CARES about Syria. Syria was never a US ally, nor was it any threat to major US interests in the region. It has a VERY notable, sizeable and historically important Christian minority which is the ONLY thing ANY Catholic (i.e. true Christian) should be concerned about. Frankly, I hope Obama does keep on “bumblng” if it means inaction in a conflict that the US should absolutely keep out of (save providing humanitarian aid to our Christian brethren) and NOT by ANY means helping the Mohammedan terrorists there!
“Honestly, this is pretty petty.”
No, this is pretty descriptive of what has happened.
“but I can’t understand WHY anyone/everyone even CARES about Syria.”
No doubt quite a few Syrians would disagree with you.
“Syria was never a US ally, nor was it any threat to major US interests in the region.”
Syria was actually our ally in the Gulf War, but your overall point is correct.
“(save providing humanitarian aid to our Christian brethren)”
How can we do that effectively so long as the civil war grinds on and the body count mounts? Once again I do not think we should intervene, but no intervention means that our ability to help any Syrians, Christian or not, is extremely limited.
“It has a VERY notable, sizeable and historically important Christian minority which is the ONLY thing ANY Catholic (i.e. true Christian) should be concerned about.”
What, me be concerned about those wretched Samaritans? I do not believe we should get involved in Syria, but that quite a few innocent Syrians, and not just the Christians, are being slaughtered is something that should bother all of us. That we can’t do something effective about it, because the contending major factions are all bad, is the sad reality of the situation.
How can we do that effectively so long as the civil war grinds on and the body count mounts?
We do what we always do: we work through Catholic charities (of which there are MANY operating in the region; including Syria). I would recommend Aid to the Church in Need. Although they do not have it currently listed, I can assure you they do have a mission in Syria which has been instrumental here.
And I guess my comment about the post being petty stands: if you are not for intervention, wouldn’t it be a better idea to take on this topic from a different angle, rather than poking a dog? It’s like saying, “Well, he’s a wimp. I don’t want him to do anything anyway, but he’s still a wimp.” What possible charitable good can come from such a tact?
As an orthodox/Traditional Catholic, I’m alarmed at several of like-minded websites taking this tone not only with Obama, but with the Jesuits as well. Yes, they didn’t speak out against Obama’s pro-abortion stance.
(CONT…sorry, my son sat on my lap/hit submit before I could finish the thought)
But still, when the Jesuits finally DID speak out against Obama’s recent proposals on military intervention in Syria (which will HARM the Christian communities further, as it did in Iraq) the traditional communities thumbed their noses at the Jesuits and said “yeah, yeah! where were you when we needed you!? too little/too late”. I personally never side with the heretic, nor with the Mohammedan; regardless of the cause or convenience as a justification. However, on this issue, where there are many MANY human CHRISTIAN lives at stake, I think it’s best to underscore and reassure those in power when they are making the correct decision/course of action, rather than take an opportunity to snipe.
That’s all.
Cardinal Richelieu, speaking of the Thirty Year’s War, said that the wars of religion in Europe would only end when those who were willing to die for the cause had been given every opportunity to do so.
War is a great evil, but it can bring lasting peace, when it ends in a crushing victory or mutual exhaustion. Outside intervention, as often as not, fails to address the underlying causes, arrests the process and allows each side to regroup and rearm.
“We do what we always do: we work through Catholic charities”
Which is almost totally ineffective in the midst of a civil war of this magnitude and does not get to the root of the problem. Such aid is praiseworthy, but people should not delude themselves that it is anything but a bandage that is being placed as a patient dies of a thousand wound.
“wouldn’t it be a better idea to take on this topic from a different angle, rather than poking a dog?”
No, because the level of ineptitude and folly displayed by Obama emboldens our enemies, makes a major war more likely and encourages bad actors like Assad and Putin.
“What possible charitable good can come from such a tact?”
That more people can see what happens when the American people, through ignorance, indifference and greed, puts a man like Obama at the helm of this Republic.
“Jesuits finally DID speak out”
Considering the slavish worship, and I use the term advisedly, that most Jesuits in this country have tendered to Obama, my reaction to any opposition they might have to any of their policies would be, “Who did you think he was?”
“I personally never side with the heretic, nor with the Mohammedan; regardless of the cause or convenience as a justification”
Christ took a much broader view than you do. All men are brothers as He taught. Sometimes we have to oppose our brothers when they are in the wrong, but His parable of the Good Samaritan is quite clear that all of humanity is bound together under God, and we are expected to remember this always.
“Cardinal Richelieu, speaking of the Thirty Year’s War, said that the wars of religion in Europe would only end when those who were willing to die for the cause had been given every opportunity to do so.”
If there is a God, Richelieu will have much to answer for. If there is not, he lived a successful life. -attributed to Pope Urban VIII
Donald R McClarey
We can only hope that the Cardinal profited from the guidance of his spiritual director (and founder of the French Intelligence Service) the Capuchin, Përe Joseph du Tremblay. Tremblay’s “Introduction to the spiritual life by an easy method of prayer” is an adaptation of St Igantius Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises to the Franciscan spirituality. Published in 1616, the « Introduction à la vie spirituelle par une facile méthode d’oraison » has never been out of print.
“Which is almost totally ineffective in the midst of a civil war of this magnitude”
Do you have any proof AT ALL here? No? Moving on…
“Christ took a much broader view than you do”
LOL, I have found very little “Christ-like” in your posts, so I’m not really receptive on your opinion on my view vis-a-vis the teachings of Our Lord and Savior. I never said all men aren’t brothers. However, Our Lord was very specific on to whom His mission was based. He performed miracles to gentiles and Samaritans as an exception…not the rule. My number 1 concern is the Christians in need. Your agenda is clearly secular in nature.
Qualis Rex
But St Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, says, “Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of the faith. ” (Gal 6:10)
“Do you have any proof AT ALL here? No? Moving on…”
Don’t be obtuse when you suddenly realize you have an indefensible position.
“LOL, I have found very little “Christ-like” in your posts,”
LOL, attacking someone’s religious faith when you once again have nothing to defend your position. Time to dust off the Bible on your shelf and read the New Testament again, with special emphasis on the parable of the Good Samaritan, the woman at the well, and the centurion’s servant. To give you time to do so, I am banning you from this site. Have fun finding other venues to spread your “unique” perspective on Catholicism.
I feel like we are missing the resident Russophile’s take on this. Paging Bonchamps…