Also see John Perry Barlow’s piece
http://windycitymike.com/2003/02/28/sympathy-for-the-devil/ on Cheney, who funnily enough was Nixon’s chief of staff…

Some say that Nixon got his madman theory from Syngman Rhee
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syngman_Rhee

The thing is, Nixon’s theory made a twisted sort of sense when we were talking about MAD between two giant states, even if in practice it caused all sorts of problems. It makes no sense whatsoever when talking about a conflict between one small but militarily powerful state and a terrorist organisation. If you (Israel) persuade the terrorists that you are mad, then clearly they have no incentive to renounce violence because you are not a rational negotiating partner. If we (America) can’t afford to trust the word of a madman, why should Hizbollah?

The trouble is that Hezbollah know that it is just an act like the little routine that Mel Gibson used to do in Lethal Weapon to demonstrate he was short of a few marbles. It was an act within an act and Hezbollah aren’t dumb. According to the war nerd:

And Hezbollah has great soldiers. That’s one reason I can’t help liking them. They’re some of the most underrated soldiers on earth facing what I consider the most overrated military force on earth, the IDF. The Israelis have been coasting on their reputation for a long time, but way back in Gulf War I it was clear they made their record like a Don King fighter, padding their Win column against a bunch of bums. When I saw those pitiful Arab “soldiers” crawling toward US camera crews on their hands and knees to surrender, the first thing that went through my head was, “Whoa, so that’s the kind of opponent the Israelis have been showboating against? Well Hell, my high school marching band could’ve beaten those Arab chickenshits!”

I’m not alone in that conclusion either. One of the top US commanders in GW I called the IDF “a bunch of arrogant pricks who wouldn’t last ten minutes on a European battlefield.” Well, that bit about a “European battlefield” is another sad case of our NATO obsession, but the point is, the IDF doesn’t deserve its rep. It did once, back in 1948 and during Suez, when it was manned by double-tough survivors of the European Jews who were determined to show up the book-nerd stereotype by kicking ass from Haifa to Damascus. Those dudes were truly tough.

Read the whole piece and then you might understand why the Israeli army chief of staff, General Dan Halutz collapsed. He knows that he is fucked.

Retardo, that link is for the Prez throwing out the first ball in a T-ball game. That’s why we are losing in Iraq, not why Israel is losing in Lebanon.

I wondered why it was formatted funny on Billmon’s post, but didnt click through. Oh well, it’s removed now.

Retardo, that link is for the Prez throwing out the first ball in a T-ball game.

Can’t you see what Retardo is doing? He’s drawing a parallel between the “crazy boss” theory and that scene in Bull Durham where Kevin Costner tells Tim Robbins to intentionally hit the Bull to scare the batter. It’s really quite insightful.

And really shouldn’t it say that the President is throwing the ONLY pitch in a T-ball game, as opposed to the first pitch?

That’s true, that scene is a good metaphor for the “Crazy Cowboy” model of diplomacy.
I think this Durham line sums up Bush well:
Millie: Well, he fucks like he pitches – sorta all over the place.
On second thought, maybe it suits Clinton better.

And really shouldn’t it say that the President is throwing the ONLY pitch in a T-ball game, as opposed to the first pitch?

Wait, wait … he’s throwing the ball in a T-Ball game? I think I see the problem.

Nice. The illogic is so strong it’s skewed the thread.

Tag! You’re it!

I wonder: Did it work now?

Fuck. Now I have Bob Seeger in my head. It’ll be there all day, just like Hasselhoff’s version of “Hooked on a Feeling” was yesterday.

God damn you, Retardo. And if not God, than something else that has the power to torment. Like leprechauns.