Comments on: Gen. David Petraeus: Appeaser? http://donklephant.com/2008/05/22/gen-david-petraeus-appeaser/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:12:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Jon Kay http://donklephant.com/2008/05/22/gen-david-petraeus-appeaser/#comment-408032 Jon Kay Fri, 23 May 2008 06:57:43 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=5752#comment-408032 Er, Jimmy, I think the word "appeasement" doesn't quite mean what you think it does. Appeasement would be agreeing to do whatever Iran wants us to do or looking the other way to keep the peace. Er, Jimmy, I think the word “appeasement” doesn’t quite mean what you think it does.

Appeasement would be agreeing to do whatever Iran wants us to do or looking the other way to keep the peace.

]]> By: C Stanley http://donklephant.com/2008/05/22/gen-david-petraeus-appeaser/#comment-407972 C Stanley Thu, 22 May 2008 16:28:16 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=5752#comment-407972 His statements only conflict with the Bush administration's policies when you contort them. Of course he believes diplomatic resolution of problems is better than war- if he didn't, then that would be newsworthy. No one in their right mind thinks that war is preferrable to diplomacy- but what's absurd is to think that every problem can be solved diplomatically if we just show goodwill. His statements only conflict with the Bush administration’s policies when you contort them. Of course he believes diplomatic resolution of problems is better than war- if he didn’t, then that would be newsworthy. No one in their right mind thinks that war is preferrable to diplomacy- but what’s absurd is to think that every problem can be solved diplomatically if we just show goodwill.

]]> By: Jimmy the Dhimmi http://donklephant.com/2008/05/22/gen-david-petraeus-appeaser/#comment-407971 Jimmy the Dhimmi Thu, 22 May 2008 16:15:31 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=5752#comment-407971 <blockquote>"...engage by use of the whole of government, developing further leverage..."</blockquote> How do you gain "leverage" by apeasement? The whole point of appeasement is that you lose leverage as a gesture of good will. Pressure, sanctions, and other diplomatic means to isolate or weaken the regime will give you leverage. Patraeus kows that Iranian weapons are being used to kill his men. I doubt he advocates giving away concessions that would further empower Iran in the region in order to get them to stop.

“…engage by use of the whole of government, developing further leverage…”

How do you gain “leverage” by apeasement? The whole point of appeasement is that you lose leverage as a gesture of good will. Pressure, sanctions, and other diplomatic means to isolate or weaken the regime will give you leverage. Patraeus kows that Iranian weapons are being used to kill his men. I doubt he advocates giving away concessions that would further empower Iran in the region in order to get them to stop.

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