Recapitulating Threads on the Recent War, the Politics Involved, and War in General:
(Musings of your humble servant at
Rerum Novarum)
The following thread
{1} is intended to outline in chronological order (from oldest to newest) a significant number of the threads posted to
Rerum Novarum on the subject of war and war in general. While there are others in the archives of this weblog than these which are being posted, what is noted here is intended to show the broad outlines of the position of your web host on war in general and the war on terror (including the Iraq war) in particular.{2} Nonetheless, without further ado, let us get to it...
Tying Together Some Strands Viz. "Just War" Theory, Etc. (circa October 22, 2002)
Though this was not the first
Rerum Novarum war post, it was nonetheless the one where your host first began explicitly noting some of the factors he was considering which were fundamental to the issue in question. The threads previous to this one were mainly public reflections on some of the several internal hurdles still in place at that time.{3}
Nonetheless, by the point of this post, your host with the benefit of hindsight sees the outlines of his realist perspective in this subject beginning to take a discernable shape -though admittedly more musing was needed before a definite position on the matter was to emerge.
Why I Am Becoming A Reluctant Hawk (circa January 25, 2003)
At the time of the above post, significant reflection had been given on the subject of the proposed invasion of Iraq by US forces. However, there were still a few hurdles to clear before this writer could support it without qualms. One of those was a review of the
actual postitions of the United Nations on this matter in the form of their own resolutions. The UN's history of talking tough and doing nothing was by this time the stuff of legends. Nonetheless, the aforementioned review was taking place prior to the posting of the above thread. It would be completed in the days prior to then-Secretary of State Colin Powell's address to the UN.
Why Those Who Hold Out For Peaceful Solutions With Iraq Are Wrong (circa February 9, 2003)
At the time of the above post, all the threads were tied together in this writer's mind and all that was needed was a systematic exposition on the position that had taken shape. The readers can note that what was
not focused on in the above post was any mention of Secretary Powell's "evidences" to the UN. Nor for that matter was the subject of WMD's mentioned except briefly in passing.
This is an important facet to consider because WMD's and whether they were there or not was
never a fundamental constituent to your host's position on whether or not the United States should involve itself militarily in Iraq. And for those reasons, when various other commentators waffled on the aforementioned subjects -or at times made an aboutface as a result of aparent evidential controversions in those areas- We at
Rerum Novarum were able to stand solidly in favour of the war option being utilized in Iraq.
Why I Disagree With the Pope on the War and Remain a Faithful Catholic (circa February 14, 2003)
The above post was viewed as a necessary complement to the previous thread outlining the war in Iraq position of your weblog host. (Because some
very irresponsible Catholic commentators were positing the fallacious notion that there was a binding nature to the apparent position of Pope John Paul II on the war in Iraq; ergo seemed appropriate to Us to dispense in short order with that noxious prevarication before the outset of the upcoming conflict.)
On Possible New Ultramontanism With Lane Core Jr. (circa March 18, 2003)
The above post was posted in the days prior to the war. We sensed (much as Lane Core Jr. did) that several of those who were in favour of the pope's position were engaging in a modern form of
Neo-Ultramontanism in trying to present their view as the only viable (or only "truly Catholic" one).{4} The latter needed to be nipped in the bud for the sake of the truth on the subject in question not being blurred by those who imprudently sought to dogmatize their particular positions on that issue.
Taking The JunkYard BLOG To Task on the Iraq War and the Vatican (circa March 23, 2003)
The above post was blogged to correct another extreme viewpoint on the war subject as it pertained to a properly Catholic assessment of the situation. Essentially, just as some had erred to one extreme (in dogmatizing the pope's personal opinion on the war's conformity to just war criteria as binding on Catholics), others had erred to the extreme of presuming that the pope's position against the Iraq was bereft of principles altogether. It was the latter extreme to which the above thread sought to dispatch with. At the same time though, it was viewed as necessary to point to the freedom that Catholics did (and do) have with regards to the subject of the war in Iraq and the prudence (or lack thereof) of that military action.
Iwo Jima Tribute and Some Points of Reflection on War in General (circa March 26, 2003)
The above post contains some reflections on the early stages of the conflict which were posted to provide some historical context for many critics who demonstrated a serious lacuna in that area.
War Musings on Possible Media Sedition (circa March 29, 2003)
The above post was intended to outline how many of those so-called "protestors" would have been viewed in the years when the US Sedition Act had the force of law. Basically, the letter and the spirit of that law were violated by many from the fringe of the antiwar movement: the intention of the above post was to make this quite clear.
The So-called "Bush Regime" and the "Free Tibet" Hypocrisy of the Braindead Communists and Their Sympathizers Progressives (circa April 13, 2003)
The above post intended to deal with the hypocrisy of certain antiwar activists (particularly so-called "progressives") on the subjects of the Iraq war and "freeing Tibet."
On JYB, Props for the Pope, Societal Problems, Etc. (circa April 13, 2003)
The above post contains a brief outline of the pope's predominent approach to combatting societal problems and a hermeneutical key to understanding the pope's war
weltanschauung. Basically, the argument being advanced here was that the pope's analysis of the factors that create monsters like Hussein, Jong II, and others was not to be dismissed lightly just because his assessment of the Iraq war and its prudence or lack thereof might have some serious problems to it.{5}
On "Rights" and "Free Speech" Part I (circa June 27, 2003)
The above post was a response to someone who tried to posit a kind of "equivalence" between certain positions where such arguments were subject to no small number of problems. The war subject is covered very briefly in this post but what is noted is of no small significance.
"Lie to Me" Dept. (circa July 11, 2003)
The above post deals with the hypocrisy and blatant double standards of the Democratic party on the entire WMD issue: a subject that would be revisited in greater detail later on in other posts to
Rerum Novarum.
The Canard of Conservatives Being "Opposed to Progress" (circa July 25, 2003)
The above post encapsulated a musing from your humble servant at the Libertarian
Samizdata weblog circa October of 2002. (Which was found amongst drafts in his notebook and deemed appropriate for weblog posting at the time it was posted.) What is noted there highlights (in retrospect) a lot of the problems with the
weltanschauung of the bulk of those who were opposed to US actions in Iraq.
"JunkYard Blog" Dept. (circa August 29, 2003)
The above post contained fourteen parts -seven of which pertain (or pertained) to the war on terror and various points which undermine the position of the extremist antiwar contingent.
Briefly on the War and "Manifest Destiny" Philosophies (circa September 15, 2003)
The above post contained a brief reminder post for those who were heavy war supporters to not go beyond the intention of fighting the war on terror militarily into philosophies of "manifest destiny." (Which some seemed to be doing.)
A Public Service Announcement for the Soldiers in Iraq (circa November 01, 2003)
The purpose of the above post was an unambiguous reaffirmation of this writer's support for the troops.
Briefly on Colonel Muammar Khadafi's Situation (circa December 22, 2003)
The above post was intended to point out that Khadafi was only persuaded to do the right thing under the threat of military action being taken against him. Eighteen years between President Reagan's bombing of Lybia and President Bush's invasion of Iraq did
nothing to persuade Khadafi to bring his nation into the family of man. But the threat of military action was the true deterring factor in persuading Khadafi to back down: a strong affirmation of President Reagan's "Peace Through Strength" philosophy of dealing with totalitarian dictators.
On David Kay and His Testimony (circa January 30, 2004)
The above post pointed out what David Kay actually said versus what the irresponsible MSM (and certain antiwar toadies who had frequent recourse to the latter in their public screeds) sought to contort David Kay's words to say.
On the Pope, Moral Principles, the UN, and Stephen Hand (circa February 05, 2004)
The purpose of the above post was to cover four different threads at once which were to a certain extent connected. It was also the first public acknowledgement on the part of
Rerum Novarum pertaining to an unfortunate (but growing) trend with a friend of this writer.{6}
John F-word Kerry's Voting Record Revisited (circa March 12, 2004)
The purpose of the above post was to provide a template for assessing Senator Kerry on several significant election subjects. As far as the war subject goes, it is the 0-24 trackrecord on
War and Peace on the part of Senator Kerry that pertains to the purpose of this current post.
On Al Queda, Spain, John Kerry, Etc. (circa March 15, 2004)
The above post covered some very discomforting information pertaining to many of those who were (and are) opposed to the involvement of the United States military in Iraq and the war on terror.
More on John Kerry, Spain, Terrorism, Etc. (circa March 20, 2004)
The purpose of the above post was to continue along the lines of thought from a previous posting. Though it was a followup to the previous post on "Al Queda, Spain, John Kerry, Etc", it also contained some additional information worth reviewing.{7}
Rerum Novarum Pays Tribute to Pat Tillman (circa April 28, 2004)
The above post was a bit of a tribute to a great man who made the ultimate sacrifice.
On Nick Berg and the Animals Who Killed Him (circa May 12, 2004)
The above post was dyspeptic thread of sorts providing an analysis of the enemies we are facing in the war on terror. There is also a bit of chastizing the extremists in the antiwar movement for their illogical idiocies and how they would (if followed) seal our defeat.
Briefly on the Iraqi Prison Scandal (circa May 15, 2004)
The above post deals with why so many of those who kvetch about Abu Ghirab were (and are) hypocritical in their attempt to moralize on this subject matter. (And frankly why Abu Ghirab -while not commendable- nonetheless was not the big deal that many in the media sought to make it out to be.)
Briefly on the UN and Their Latest Abomination (circa June 9, 2004)
The above post contains yet another reason why the UN should be shut down and fumigated.
On Paul Johnson and the Worthless Human Debris Who Murdered Him (circa June 18, 2004)
The above post was a followup to the Nick Berg post -and in some respects was an even more strident chastizing of those who continue to miss the forest for the trees.{8}
Miscellaneous Musings on the Media and the Humanizing of Formal Enemies --An Audio Post (circa July 27, 2004)
The above thread is to an audiopost where the dangerous trends in the media coverage of formal enemies in the war on terror -and why continuing that thrend would virtually guarantee an Islamo-fascist victory in the war on terror- are briefly enunciated.
On Democrat Lies and WMD's (circa August 04, 2004)
The above post serves as a reminder of what the Democratic leaders said about WMD's and Saddam Hussein prior to March of 2003. (And why those same people claiming that "Bush lied about WMD's" are a bunch of lying frauds bereft of credibility on this subject.)
More on President Bush and Arguments For His Re-Election (circa August 04, 2004)
The above post deals with arguments for President Bush's re-election from a liberal columnist who -though he admits to despising Bush personally- has the capability of seeing the forest for the trees a lot better than most of his ideological allies.
More on Democrat Lies and WMD's (circa August 5, 2004)
The above post is a sequel to the first thread on Democrat lies and also includes a timeline on the progress of that conflict for the sake of providing some badly-needed historical perspective for the extremists of the antiwar outlook.
On the War, Moral and Constitutional Principles, "Supporting the Troops", Etc. With SecretAgentMan (circa August 20, 2004)
The above post is a systematical defense of the war in Iraq against one of the very few intelligent interlocutors opposed to the war on principle.{9}
More on Extreme Ideologues (circa August 31, 2004)
The above post deals with the subject of finding weapons in Iraq -and highlights why those who were singing a "no WMD's" chorus were revealing their own facile understanding of history and postwar locating of weapons.
On the Media's Treatment of the Breslin Hostage Situation --An Audio Post (circa September 1, 2004)
The above thread is...well...somewhat of a livid rant on the part of this writer to put it mildly.
On the Breslin Hostage Situation and its Aftermath (circa September 3, 2004)
The above post was a recapitulation of the pathetic excuse for "reasoning" that permeates the outlook of the most vocal of the lunatic antiwar contingent.
Briefly on the Founding Fathers and Propagandistic Uses of Their Words (circa September 5, 2004)
The above post was frankly intended as a direct refutation of Stephen Hand for his shameless abuse of the words of some of the Founding Fathers to defend an extremist antiwar position.{10}
A September 11th Confutation of Extremist Liberal Canards Viz. the War on Terror (circa September 11, 2004)
The above post was a dismantling of various canards commonly paraded about by those with an obvious hatred of President Bush, the military efforts in Iraq, and the war on terror in general using the lenses of history (in this case WW II) to point out why those who fail to learn from history will consign themselves to repeating it (cf. Santayana).
On the False Notion of "Equal Weight" Catholic Voting Issues (circa September 14, 2004)
The above post set forth to deal with the false notion (circulated even by some Catholics who pride themselves on being "party to the living magisterium alone") that all voting issues were of equal weight for Catholics.
The Iraq/Al Queda Connection, WMD's, Etc. (circa September 18, 2004)
The above post is another admonishing of those who were too quick to try and render a verdict on WMD's in Iraq. Oh, and for those who think that issue has been resolved, the above post points out why this issue is not as simplistic as most in the MSM (not to mention the antiwar zealots) would like it to be.
Miscellaneous Musings on War and Disarmarment --Part I of an Audio Post (circa September 19, 2004)
Miscellaneous Musings on War and Disarmarment --Part II of an Audio Post (circa September 19, 2004)
The above two threads deal with the core flaw in the
weltanschauung of the antiwar/gun control/"nuclear freeze" crowd and why their approach is logical and actual suicide. Included in the above threads are examples from both the distant and recent past of where the gun control/antiwar crowd's approach were utilized with horrendous (and predictable) results.
Miscellaneous Reflections on the Most Recent Beheadings and the War on Terror --Part I of an Audio Posting (circa September 22, 2004)
Miscellaneous Reflections on the Most Recent Beheadings and the War on Terror --Part II of an Audio Posting (circa September 22, 2004)
The above two threads deal with (i) the manner whereby the war on terror was (and is) being dealt with in the media, (ii) the seditious behaviour of the so-called "progressivists" and the so-called "antiwar activists" in their disgraceful attempts to undermine a sitting president during wartime, (iii) the strengths and weaknesses of the
blogosphere and the alternative media, and (iv) other related subject matter.
Briefly on the Vatican Diplomatic Corps and the War in Iraq (circa September 27, 2004)
The above post was directed towards those Catholics whose approach to the Vatican Diplomatic Corps shows a serious unfamiliarity with history. In this case, it was again Stephen Hand whom this writer had explicitly in mind in writing the above thread.
"Carthago Delenda Est" — What about Now? (circa September 28, 2004)
The above posting was a guest editorial on the war on terror by Charles M. de Nunzio. Though the posting of a guest editorial to
Rerum Novarum is not contingent upon this writer's concurrence with the material posted; nonetheless, with this posting it seems appropriate to note for the record that We at
Rerum Novarum to a large extent concur with what Charles had to say.
Briefly on Hanoi John Kerry, the First Debate, and What President Bush Needs to Do in the Second Debate (circa October 08, 2004)
The above post pointed out a key reason why Senator John Kerry would have made a horrible commander in chief.
Miscellaneous Threads For Viewing (circa October 18, 2004)
The above post includes a number of articles from other writers which are (to put it mildly) quite critical of the lunatic antiwar fringe protestors types.
"Anybody But Bush" Dept. (circa October 27, 2004)
The above post contains some more articles for voters to consider but also some commentary from your humble servant on his own ambivalence about President Bush being re-elected.
"Orwellian Doublespeak" Dept. (circa November 11, 2004)
The above post dealt with yet some more ignorant canards from the gallary of foaming-at-the-mouth Bush haters.
"My Kingdom For a Viable Third Party" Dept. (circa November 11, 2004)
The above post sets forth a proposed revamping of the third party concept to make it truly viable in the future as an alternative to the Republicans and the Democrats.
"Post-Election Potpourri" Dept. (circa November 20, 2004)
The above post interacts rather irenically with a self-styled "progressivist" who is far saner than so many of his contemporaries on the election and why things went as they did.
Musings on the Election and its Aftermath (circa November 24, 2004)
The above post provides the kind of analysis of the election and its aftermath that you are unlikely to find anywhere else. (The war subject is touched on slightly in the above thread.)
"JunkYard BLOG" Dept. (circa November 30, 2004)
In the above post, eight of the ten threads apply either directly or by logical extension to Iraq, national security, the war on terror, and the imprudence of listening to Europe on anything of significance.
Points to Ponder on the United Nations (circa December 07, 2004)
The above post contains a summation of the UN that mirrors what this writer has long thought about that institution. (In light of how the UN factors into the war on terror, this thread can be considered a "war thread" insomuch as the position this writer takes on the UN amounts to as much.)
Miscellaneous Thoughts on the 9/11 Commission, the Bush Administration Appointees, and Two Examples of Blatant So-Called "Progressivist" Double Standards --An Audio Post (circa December 07, 2004)
The above post deals with a plethora of issues -some of which pertain to the war subject (ala a discussion on the 9/11 Commission and its recommendations).
Miscellaneous Notes on the Upcoming Inaugural, Recent Comments From President Bush About WMD's, and the Reform of Social Security --An Audio Post (circa January 17, 2005)
The above post involves a whole cornucopia of subjects which are opposed to those of the so-called "antiwar activists" -including a reaffirmation of the war position as enunciated at
Rerum Novarum on February 9, 2003.
On Victor Davis Hanson, Donald Rumsfeld, and Why History is Not on the Side of the AntiWar So-Called "Activists" (circa January 19, 2005)
The above post is pretty clear on where this writer stands on the war subject and so-called "antiwar activists" who delude themselves into thinking they are on the side of history in this conflict.
On the Inaugural Speech, The President's Use of the Word "Freedom", and Self-Styled "Progressivist" Reactions Thereof --An Audio Post (circa January 21, 2005)
The above thread dispatches in audiopost form with the common pseudo-"progressivist" shibboleth of "freedom" and outlines why their appeal to being "promoters of freedom" is a facade.{11}
Political Potpourri (circa January 26, 2005)
The above post contains three threads that are solidly set against the position of so-called "antiwar activists" and the "anybody but Bush" crowd -one of which is a pretty good parody admittedly. But all three are worth a read by those interested in the "war on terror" and "war in Iraq" subjects.
Briefly on Iwo Jima at the Sixtieth Anniversary (circa February 25, 2005)
The above post is another
perspective thread for those who continue to kvetch about the toll of lives in the military actions of Iraq and Afghanistan without seeing the bigger picture involved.
"JunkYard BLOG" Dept. (circa March 11, 2005)
In the above post, seven of the ten items directly pertain to the subjects of the war in Iraq, national security, Al Queda, "progress" in the war on terror, and the face of evil: none of which are to the benefit of those who believe that the Islamo-fascists can be "negotiated" with in light of the pitiful trackrecord of the past thirty odd years of trying to do just that.
Briefly on Iraq, WMD's, and Another Pseudo-"Progressivist" War Dogma Bites the Dust (circa March 14, 2005)
The above post contains some logistical "sixteen penny nails" for the coffins of the "Bush Lied" and "No WMD's" canards are supplied in the above post.
Notes:
{1} For the first time in the history of Rerum Novarum, a thread has been "backposted." The thread you are about to read was compiled little by little in spare moments starting around November of 2004 shortly after the election. The descriptions of each of the threads were written mostly in early to mid March except for two of them which were written on the day this thread was posted. (Though many of them were adjusted slightly on the day of posting as well.) It did not seem appropriate to post this thread either shortly after Easter, during the Terri Schiavo tragedy, or at the time of the death of the pope except in the following backdated format -essentially the date on which this post was started was left in the timestamp rather than being moved forward or pasted to a fresh "compose post" thread as is the standard approach for material posted some time after it was written. One of the purposes for this thread being compiled will manifest itself after the election of a new pope. Until then, that is all that this writer will say on the matter. [ISM 04/05/05 5:33pm ]
{2} The Afghanistan war preceded
Rerum Novarum and (unlike the Iraq war) was supported without any degree of intellectual struggle whatsoever on the part of your weblog host.
{3} Including a reflection on the horror of war often overlooked by many who were itching a bit too much to go to war in Iraq in late 2002.
{4} Neo-Ultramontanism was a movement of the nineteenth century that held that the pope was virtually infallible in everything he says. This position was rejected by the First Vatican Council. Nonetheless, many Catholics opposed to the war in Iraq were showing signs of Neo-Ultramontanism in their publicly stated views on the war and giving the pope's presumed position on the matter an unwarranted dogmatization. On this point as it pertained to the war issue, one of the personages that your host had in mind was his friend Stephen Hand of TCR.
{5} For the record, this writer agreed with the pope's overall analysis and even with the pope taking the position he took for tactical reasons.
{6} Though this writer had Stephen in mind to some extent all along, it was in later months (after February 2004) when subsequent public statements by the latter really began to be matters for concern.
{7} Including a revisitation of some of the pointers which were set down by this writer in his February 2003 defense of the military intervention in Iraq by the United States and other coalition forces.
{8} Viz. the nature of the war on terror and what drives the enemy that we are facing.
{9} This is a rare commodity among the contingent of those opposed to the war in Iraq unfortunately.
{10} The present writer decided at the last minute to not mention Stephen by name in the above post; however for those who wondered whom it was directed at, they now have their answer.
[Update: Since Mr. Hand has given this writer many reasons to wonder if he has any original ideas of his own, it was looked into sometime after this post was put up and discovered that the same kinds of pathetic arguments and abuse of the Founding Father's words were utilized by Patrick J. Buchanan - ISM 7/07/05 6:29pm]
{11} In light of the war on terror and our involvement in the Middle East in two recent wars, this thread pertains to the war subject as contents of the post make clear.
