
FREEDOM ISN"T FREE
With only a little over a week left before our August 19 “top two” primary votes due, we have some choices before us. Many have already decided and returned their mail-in ballots. Many others in the 3rd District are still contemplating between 4 candidates vying for one seat in the House of Representatives, now occupied by Brian Baird, seeking another term as our Representative.
Baird has been the darling of the Liberals up until he saw the light and switched his position on the Iraq Theater of the War on Terror. Once he decided the endeavor was worth finishing and announced it, the left turned on him, in spite of his being joined at the hip with the likes of Nancy Pelosi on other Liberal matters.
This move has left him facing three challengers, one anti-war Democrat, Cheryl Crist, an anti-war Libertarian running as a Republican, Michael Delavar and a strong conservative Republican, Christine Webb.
Two of these candidates will advance to the November General Election to determine who will be our Representative for the next two years.
Ms. Crist is really a long shot, so this race is in essence between Delavar and Webb to face Baird, who assuredly will win one of the top two positions in the primary and will be difficult to beat in November.
Ms. Webb has won the endorsement of the Republican Party over that of Mr. Delavar, leaving some with the impression that Delavar is a bit miffed over it. Delavar has stated he believes he missed the party endorsement over his,
“opposition to keeping U.S. troops as an occupying force on Muslim soil in Iraq, his criticism of the United Nations and insistence on having the U.S. out of the U.N. and his refusal to sign a pledge of support for John McCain, the presumptive nominee for President.”
Delavar, a staunch Ron Paul supporter, presents somewhat of an enigma for Washington States 3rd District GOP. While he presents some formidable conservative ideas on government and spending, much as does Webb, he is totally misled and completely misses the boat when it comes to the Iraq Theater of the War on Terror.
I have found that he tends to contradict himself in regards to the war as well. He joins with the anti-war left in labeling our Troops as an “occupying force” in Iraq. Yet, in excerpts of a debate with Christine Webb, placed on You Tube by Delavar, he states, “they are a sovereign nation, we have given them their sovereignty.”
Ms. Webb supports fighting terrorists overseas, where they are. Delavar says he supports “the appropriate, overwhelming and vicious response to any terrorist attack against the United States.” He also says, “I support hunting down Osama bin Laden and eliminating him.”
He goes on to say, “I will not support occupation for the sake of nation-building,” adding, “Occupation is the single greatest recruiter and motivator in the jihadist’s cause. While we occupy holy Muslim land, we will always have a highly motivated, patient terrorist threat.” He apparently has missed that many terrorist attacks by extremist Jihadists occurred years before any of our Troops were placed in the Middle East and that many were against nations that have no Troops in the Middle East, some opposing the U.S. Policy in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He also seems to have missed that several European nations that have no Troops in the Middle East have been facing a radical Jihadist threat for some time.
Totally baffling is when he says,
“Our very presence on holy Muslim soil fuels the fire of jihad against the United States and unites our enemies against us. We can and should pursue terrorists with the intent of retribution, but should not occupy Muslim lands.”
Just how does he propose we accomplish that? Fly the Troops over before breakfast and have them home before dinner? Sorry, Michael, but fighting war isn’t your typical “9 to 5 job.”
Dangerously close to an anti-Semitic comment, he states,
“Furthermore, if we pay attention to the declaration of war against us by al-Qaeda, we will notice that they fight us because of our continued support for regimes that oppress Muslims. We must stop giving taxpayer money in the form of aid and support to oppressive regimes.”
From the Fatwa issued by Al Qaeda in 1998, long after coalition forces ejected Iraq forces from Kuwait, at the request of Muslim governments, I might add, and before any actual forces were sent back into Iraq, we read,
“they come to annihilate what is left of this people and to humiliate their Muslim neighbors. Third, if the Americans’ aims behind these wars are religious and economic, the aim is also to serve the Jews’ petty state and divert attention from its occupation of Jerusalem and murder of Muslims there. The best proof of this is their eagerness to destroy Iraq, the strongest neighboring Arab state, and their endeavor to fragment all the states of the region such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Sudan into paper statelets and through their disunion and weakness to guarantee Israel’s survival and the continuation of the brutal crusade occupation of the Peninsula,”
and
“All these crimes and sins committed by the Americans are a clear declaration of war on God, his messenger, and Muslims.”
Again, missed by Delavar and Paul is that U.S. Troops were sent to the Middle East by request and permission of Muslim rulers. Also missed is that many terrorist attacks have been carried out against fellow Muslims by the radical Jihadists that demand all follow their twisted view of the Holy Qu’Ran.
When Delavar says, “We must stop giving taxpayer money in the form of aid and support to oppressive regimes,” is he falling for the anti-Semitic rhetoric from leftists that hate Israel, the only Democratic nation currently in the Middle East? I certainly hope not.
Where Delavar and Paul really miss the boat is in believing that the radical Jihadists hate us and attack us because we “occupy” their lands. Radical Islam, unlike the more moderate majority of Muslims, desire to impose their strict radical views on all “by the sword” if need be. Returning to Al Qaeda’s Fatwa, at the very beginning we read,
“Praise be to God, who revealed the Book, controls the clouds, defeats factionalism, and says in His Book: “But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the pagans wherever ye find them, seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war)”; and peace be upon our Prophet, Muhammad Bin-‘Abdallah, who said: I have been sent with the sword between my hands to ensure that no one but God is worshipped, God who put my livelihood under the shadow of my spear and who inflicts humiliation and scorn on those who disobey my orders.”
Along with that opening statement, the true underlying motivations was revealed long ago and has been disrupted by our taking he fight back to them, something terrorists did not expect since Bin Laden declared American Troops were but “paper tigers.”
Delavar advocates issuing Letters of Marque and Reprisal, outsourcing the fight against terrorists to mercenaries, in essence.
Delavar also is against amnesty for ILLEGAL immigrants and promises to “secure our borders,” but opposes the idea of building a border fence. He advocates stripping ILLEGALS of any benefits, but doesn’t seem to realize that terrorists also slip across the borders easily, if they desire. I agree with no benefits for ILLEGALS, but how do we “secure the borders” if no fences are to be built? Terrorists won’t come in to take advantage of benefits or hope for amnesty, but to do us harm. And, we can expect them to be well funded, not needing those benefits.
Michael claims to be a long time conservative Republican, but after the State Convention, his wife, Katja said, “We are trying to integrate with the Republican Party; they see it as a take-over,” lending credence to the thoughts of many Republicans that Ron Paul Libertarians are and have been plotting a takeover of the GOP since their party can’t seem to get up to speed.
The County Party has also seen this, as they state that Ron Paul Supporters have mounted 67 contests in PCO races, a volunteer position usually difficult to fill.
Lastly, at least for now, Christine Webb has clearly stated there isn’t enough scientific evidence to support the claim of manmade global warming. I am unable to find any definitive statement from Delavar addressing the notion of manmade global warming. I will be happy to amend this once the most ardent Ron Paul and Michael Delavar supporters come in to “set me straight,” again, if they would supply such a statement.
Like many of us, Delavar has opinions, some good, some not so good. He is no doubt an excellent pilot; a good father and I hear quite an accomplished ballroom dancer. That does not equal the experience Christine Webb would take with her to Congress.
Seats in the House are not equipped with training wheels.
I am afraid Delavars’ naiveté, should more Ron Paul worshippers who fell for him during the presidential primaries obtain office alongside anti-war Democrats, would result in fighting in our own streets, if not direct terrorists attacks in major cities, negating any fiscally conservative ideas.
As Michael asked me once in a personal email, “[has] the Republican party become the party of war?” No, Michael, we remain the party of liberty and freedom and see what price must be paid to have it.
My vote remains with Christine Webb.
UPDATE: Congratulations to Michael Delavar and his followers for winning the face-off with Brian Baird. Ya’ll waged an aggressive and effective campaign.
On a more personal note, Good Luck in the remaining months before November. So far you have had little real competition and pretty much an easy road. If the Dems take you serious, be prepared. You ain’t see nothin’ until you are up against the Democrat Attack Machine.