Lieberman and Kyl join neocons to form Committee for Present Danger III

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63067-2004Jul19.html

The Present Danger

By Joe Lieberman and Jon Kyl

Tuesday, July 20, 2004; Page A17

<> The terrorists in Iraq and beyond will never beat us militarily. But they can defeat us politically if they succeed in their strategy to terrorize, demoralize and divide America and its allies.

The liberation of Iraq has important implications for the region and for the broader war on terrorism. The leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties have so far stood firm in their commitment to finish the job in Iraq and to fight to victory the war on terrorism. But that bipartisan consensus is coming under growing public pressure and could fray in the months ahead. Although the tide is turning in the war on terrorism, a political undertow in this country could wash out our recent gains. We must not let this happen. To make sure it doesn't, we are relaunching today the Committee on the Present Danger, a group of citizens of diverse political persuasions who will work to sustain and strengthen bipartisan support for the war on terrorism in Iraq and beyond.

The Committee on the Present Danger was first formed at the dawn of the Cold War in 1950 to educate Americans about the growing threat of Soviet communism. Democratic senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson of Washington state revitalized the group in the mid-'70s; this time it was focused on working for a stronger stance toward the Soviets and the increased defense spending necessary to carry out that policy.

In this third incarnation, we intend to focus the committee on the present danger our generation faces: international terrorism from Islamic extremists and the outlaw states that either harbor or support them. The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks awoke all Americans to the capabilities and brutality of our new enemy, but today too many people are insufficiently aware of our enemy's evil worldwide designs, which include waging jihad against all Americans and reestablishing a totalitarian religious empire in the Middle East. The past struggle against communism was, in some ways, different from the current war against Islamist terrorism. But America's freedom and security, which each has aimed to undermine, are exactly the same. The national and international solidarity needed to prevail over both enemies is also the same. In fact, the world war against Islamic terrorism is the test of our time.

__________________

Other founding members are said to include William Kristol, Stephen Hayes, Michael Rubin, Clifford May, Ambassor Mark Ginsberg, and Christopher Hitchens.

Looks as if the neocons may be concerned that Bush will cut and run in Iraq, leaving their vision of "democratizing" the Middle East unrealized.

[nodictators]

1. Lieberman IS a neocon PNACer

The terrorists in Iraq and beyond will never beat us militarily. But they can defeat us politically if they succeed in their strategy to terrorize, demoralize and divide America and its allies.

Isn't that exactly what Bush is doing?

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. There is going to be more of this type stuff

With the Republicans playing the fear machine, more Democrats will try to carve out nuches for themselves on the Center Right. This is one problem I have with Kerry - Edwards running too fast toward the Center, it plays into this.

I urge DU members to check out and support Wesley Clark's PAC; WesPAC. Foreign policy concerns aren't going away and CLark knows it, but there is no one else in the Democratic Party better able to knowledgably address them in both a pragmatic and progressive context than Wes Clark. We have to ensure that his voice continues to rise above Dino's like Lieberman. (Plus of course Clark is using WesPAC to campaing for Democrats acrss the country). Here's the link (and a quote): http://www.wespac2004.com/#home

"The United States is a 225-year rolling revolution. We are the embodiment of the Enlightenment. If we're true to those principles, then it's a foreign policy of generosity, humility, engagement, and force where needed. But as a last resort." -- General Wesley Clark"

[flpoljunkie]

3. Lieberman notes 2 more members of CPD: James Woolsey, Jeanne Kirkpatrick

Not surprising these two are members of The Committee for Present Danger III.

[yellowcanine]

4. Sounds like a neocon right wing outfit. I doubt that Scoop Jackson would

feel comfortable with that bunch today.

[Inland]

5. Bush HAS cut and run

He just left our troops behind.

[Beetwasher]

6. Has Lieberman Endorsed Kerry Yet?

Anyone know?

[Hell Hath No Fury]

7. Yeegads...

"The Committee on the Present Danger was first formed at the dawn of the Cold War in 1950 to educate Americans about the growing threat of Soviet communism."

And we all remember how well THAT turned out -- Joe McCarthy, the Hollywood Ten, pink-listing, the "Commie-under-every-bed" Red scare...

Kristol as a founder -- well, we now see what the next move of the Neocons are now that Bush et al has fumbled the play. They are clearly creating the next neocon information wave designed to scare the public in a way that will enable them to continue with their agenda without the dangers the American people getting in the way with their questioning and protesting.

We are seeing the Red scare reborn as the Brown scare.

Here we go again. Are you now or have you ever been.....

[Tom Rinaldo]

8. More from Clark (Please support WesPAC...)

"You will determine whether rage or reason guides the United States in the struggle to come.

You will choose whether we are known for revenge or compassion.

You will choose whether we, too, will kill in the name of God, or whether in His Name, we can find a higher civilization and a better means of settling our differences."

----U.S. 4 Star General Wesley Clark

WesPAC: http://www.wespac2004.com/#home

[Crunchy Frog]

9. Thank God Lieberman didn't get the nomination.

There is no way in Hell that I would have been able to vote for him.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

10. Now I'm beginning to wonder...

if Lieberman wasn't a PNACer all along. The only way we've been able to know who is a PNACer is if they were signatories to the various PNAC documents. But minus a signature, we have no idea who is a supporter of the group and/or its philosophy.

Lieberman's 100% devotion to the war in Iraq and further action against ME "terrorists" makes me think he is a PNAC sleeper.

[IndianaGreen]

11. Compare PNAC to PPI

the only difference between their imperialist visions is that the former uses the word "conservative" while the latter uses "progressive."

Newspeak dictionary

blackwhite- The ability to accept whatever "truth" the party puts out, no matter how absurd it may be. Orwell described it as "...loyal willingness to say black is white when party discipline demands this. It also means the ability to believe that black is white, and more, to know black is white, and forget that one has ever believed the contrary."

crimestop - Orwell's definition: "The faculty of stopping short, as though by instinct, at the threshold of any dangerous thought. It includes the power of not grasping analogies, of failing to perceive logical errors, of misunderstanding the simplest arguments if they are inimical to Ingsoc, and of being bored or repelled by any train of thought which is capable of leading in a heretical direction. In short....protective stupidity."

http://www.newspeakdictionary.com/

[PurityOfEssence]

12. Dear Joe: we are not Israel

Please figure this out, and either represent the citizens of this country or find a new job.

[FightinNewDem]

15. No anti-semitism here, right?

No, there are absolutely no anti-semitic overtones to this post. No sir, none whatsoever.

[LiberalFighter]

13. They are the present danger!!

[flpoljunkie]

14. CPD III ran full page ad today in Washington Post. Here is their website.

http://www.fightingterror.org/

This is what Josh Marshall of http://www.talkingpointsmemo had to say on the subject today.

I'd thought of writing a post on the newly-re-formed Committee on the Present Danger, which took out a full-page ad today in the Washington Post to announce its new mission. But I held back because a mocking effort seemed almost too obvious.

You know, like, "Why did they refound the Committee on the Present Danger?" "Because no one had come up with a list yet of the people most responsible for the Iraq mess, so why not?"

In any case, you get the idea.

Now, I got the URL from the Post ad and went to the website and was looking around the membership list. And on the list of the founding members there's a blurb from each one of them describing the war on terror -- usually with a rhetorical mix of Winston Churchill and Conan the Barbarian.

more...

[FredScuttle]

16. Looks like the Committee on the Present Danger needed some (wait for it)

Joementum!

[LimpingLib]

17. Over 3/4 of nations torture their own people.

And anytime some organization trys to point that out hoping the light of day cause a serious effort in congress to eliminate it , the group gets belittled.

We need to confront the right wing on this phony "terror threat" by offering a war of our own a "War On Torture" by using the bullypulpit , diplomatic pressue , and heck Id even support with $$$ (and moral support)"terrorists" in foreign lands to try and put pressure on their governments.

Terrorism is almot none-existant when you compare American(,USo) lives lost to terror compared to 1000 other causes of death of which each kills more Americans(,United States of)by 2-1000 fold.And its amazing how little terrorism we have considering all the hateful things our leaders do in our countrys name.

Regardless, I fear governments abuses of power not some fringe lunatics who looses his marbels and explodes something. Id accept a 9/11 every year in trade for governments (including our own) ending the practice of inflicting pain on individuals.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

18. Their membership...

Senator Jon Kyl
Honorary Co-Chairman

Senator Joseph Lieberman
Honorary Co-Chairman

The Hon. R. James Woolsey
Co-chairman
Director of Central Intelligence, 1993–1995

The Hon. Kenneth Adelman
Director, US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, 1983–87

Walter Berns

Peter Brookes
Senior Fellow, the Heritage Foundation

Gregory Canavan, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow, Scientific Advisor Los Alamos National Laboratory

The Hon. Henry Cooper
Director, Strategic Defense Iniative, 1990–93

Jacquelyn K. Davis, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President, Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis, Inc.
President, National Security Planning Associates, Inc.


Midge Decter
Former Director, Committee for the Free World

Rachel Ehrenfeld, Ph.D.
Director, American Center for Democracy

The Hon. Richard Fairbanks
Counselor, Center for Strategic and International Studies Special Negotiator for the Middle East Peace Process, 1982–84

Frank Gaffney
Founder and President, Center for Security Policy

Jeffrey Gayner
Chairman, Council for America

Jeffrey Gedmin

Victor Hanson, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution

Jerome M. Hauer

Peter R. Huessy
Senior Defense Associate, National Defense University Foundation

The Hon. Max M. Kampelman
Ambassador to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, 1980–83

The Hon. Jack Kemp

The Hon. Jeane Kirkpatrick
US Ambassador to the United Nations, 1981–85

Charles M. Kupperman, Ph.D.
Vice President, Strategic Integration and Operations, Missile Defense Systems
The Boeing Company

The Hon. Dave McCurdy
Member of Congress, 1981–95
Chairman, House Intelligence Committee

The Hon. Edwin Meese III
US Attorney General, 1985–88

Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi

Joshua Muravchik, Ph.D.
Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute

Laurie Mylroie, Ph.D.
American Enterprise Institute

Mark Palmer
Ambassador to Hungary, 1986–1990
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, 1982–1986

Robert L. Pfaltzgraff, Ph.D.

Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of International Security Studies
The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University

James A. Phillips
Research Fellow
Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for International Studies
The Heritage Foundation

Danielle Pletka
Vice President, Foreign & Defense Policy Studies, AEI

Norman Podhoretz
Former Editor, Commentary

The Hon. Peter Rosenblatt
Ambassador to the Negotiations on the Future Political Status of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, 1977–81

Nina Rosenwald
Council on Foreign Relations
Board of Directors, American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)

Michael Rubin, Ph.D.
Consultant to the US Department of Defense, 2002–04

Sol W. Sanders
Former International Editor, BusinessWeek

The Hon. Stephen J. Solarz
Member, US House of Representatives, 1975–93

James Strock
Senior Fellow, Pacific Research Institute
Life Member, Council on Foreign Relations

William Van Cleave, Ph.D.
Professor, Southwest Missouri State University
Director, Center for Defense and Strategic Studies
Senior Defense Advisor, 1979–81

Ben Wattenberg
Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

The Hon. Dov S. Zakheim, Ph.D.
Under Secretary of Defense, 1985–87



Wow, reps from the American Enterprise Institute, AIPAC, Heritage Foundation, CIA, Council for America -- what an interesting mix of people and mutual objectives.

The new Cold War is born....