A Terrible Price To Pay

Click here to hear Governor Mike Huckabee's 30 second statement regarding what to do with ISIS & really all the other terrorists in the world.  Although this statement by Governor Huckabee was made several days before the beheading of American journalist Jim Foley it is the exact same sentiment that the governor made regarding all terrorists to Carol in Bluffton, SC in December 2007, the first time we met him.  In all of my study & contact with Governor Huckabee he has never wavered from this position regarding terrorists.

 

In summary, the governor said ISIS is a cancer that the U.S. either cuts out or the cancer kills us.  In the case of Jim Foley the cancer killed him by beheading.

 

Now the question is how do we accomplish what the governor said – cutting out this ISIS cancer?

 

The closest official thing we have regarding this matter is the Joint Congressional Resolution authorizing war against Iraq that was passed in October 2002 by the House 296 to 133 & by the Senate 77 to 23.  Very long time readers will remember this document was posted on RTE on November 16, 2005. 

 

The aforementioned Joint Congressional Resolution authorized the use of U.S. Armed forces in Iraq, found that Iraq posed a continuing threat to the national security of the U.S. & international peace, authorized the (unnamed) president to use U.S. Armed Forces pursuant to several United Nations Security Council Resolutions, & authorized the (unnamed) president to use the Armed Forces of the U.S. as he determines to be necessary & appropriate in order to defend the national security of the U.S. against the continuing threat posed by Iraq, & to enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.

 

As I pointed out @ the time of the post there were many points in the 2002 resolution that did not pertain to weapons of mass destruction in Iraq for why Congress authorized this use of force.  At the time I also asked did you want a congressman or senator representing you who thought we could afford to find out whether or not Saddam was a threat to our homeland with the twin towers lying in rubble @ the hands of people from Afghanistan who lived in caves.  This is a time sensitive question meaning to answer it properly you have to put yourself back in the timeframe of the fall of 2002 – not looking @ what happened afterward.

 

In summary, this authorization to use force no longer applies because it was specific to Iraq in 2002.

 

This leaves a vacuum that allows every elected representative to free lance – some say they would bomb ISIS today & others say they would do nothing.  Currently BO & every Member of Congress feel free to make any statement they want because they have no responsibility for the consequences of their statements since they all figure nothing will come of them.  As long as there is no terrorist attack in America their comments are all bluster.

 

Although BO used similar words as Governor Huckabee's in his press conference last Wednesday where he expressed outrage about Jim Foley's beheading he ultimately picks & chooses what principles & laws he wants to enforce.

 

But there is a solution to all of this.  If ISIS is an immediate & imminent threat to America it is up to Congress to determine & ultimately to declare War or authorize the use of force on the Islamic State as ISIS is now known.

 

It has been reported that hundreds of sleeper cell terrorist fighters from dozens of countries have joined ISIS – much like the marquis de Lafayette came to America when he was nineteen to fight for the American Revolution.  Many of these terrorist fighters are holders of European & American passports & have visa free access to the U.S.  Congress should determine if this is all hot air or if it is a national security threat to America & if so take appropriate action.  This is really why we have them there.

 

With one American beheaded by ISIS & several more held captive by the terrorist group the country should know where their elected representatives stand on the ISIS threat – whether it is big, small, or of no significance - to our citizens & strategic interests in the Middle East – especially to know about those elected reps up for reelection in November.

 

Now I am not looking for trouble but it seems a good chance trouble could very easily find us again.

 

But another problem starts if Congress unconditionally & unambiguously declares War or authorizes the use of force on the Islamic State because we will have a president being dragged into the conflict kicking & screaming with absolutely no experience & much more important no desire to proceed.  If, & it is a big if, we could get our allies to join our coalition against ISIS we would have the inept & disinterested leading a coalition of the unwilling – a team destined for defeat.

 

This is a terrible price to pay but some lessons do not come easily.  But it is one of the very few chances we have left to expose the evil & anti-American leadership that has presided over our country for over five & a half years.  The response to the ISIS threat to America is a chance for those dependent on government for their livelihoods to clearly see what they have been supporting & to take another look – & their doing this is about the only chance all of the rest of us have to turn BO's fundamental transformation of America around.