The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend

Usually attributed as an old Arab proverb, The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend is more than just an axiom of warfare, but of the philosophy of politics as well. Or, more accurately, as the philosophy of politics as warfare. It is a philosophy seen throughout history.

During our own Revolutionary War, the French had little reason to love the American Colonies. Those colonies had contributed mightily to the defeat of the French during the French and Indian War, just a few years before. Still, when the colonies revolted against Britain, the traditional and perennial enemy of France, the French became our staunchest allies; instrumental in our obtaining independence from England. The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend

During World War II, it became prudent for the United States to ally itself with Joseph Stalin against Adolph Hitler. By the 1940s this country had ample evidence that Stalin was a ruthless and brutal dictator. Still, it was determined, that Hitler was a greater threat to civilization, and so Russia became an American ally.

Now, in hindsight (or Hinzsight if you will) we know Stalin to be a monster every bit as evil as Hitler. That Stalin would eventually enslave all of Eastern Europe, and murder more than 50 million of his own people, was an unforeseen and unfortunate consequence of that alliance. The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend

When the Ayatollah Khamenei led the Iranian revolution and began his attempted to expand Iranian hegemony over the Mideast, it became prudent to support Saddam Hussein as a buffer to that Iranian influence. The resulting Iraqi-Iranian War temporarily curbed the Iranian ambitions. American policy did not, at that time, anticipate that Hussein would murder hundreds of thousand of his own people, and become as great, if not a greater threat, to stability throughout the region. The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend

And so we come to the 2008 Presidential Election. The Democrat Primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama provided a veritable Cornucopia of mirth and schaudenfraud for Republicans as the two candidates, through their surrogates and 527s, tore each other apart, while maintaining a facade of party unity.

The primary is now over, and Barack Obama emerged as the Democrat standard-bearer. Now, the Hillary supporters are expected to return to the Democat fold, and support their party's nominee. A significant portion have decide instead, to support John McCain. The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend.

Republican and Conservative websites have become flooded with "disaffected" Hillary supporters who now proclaim their fealty to John McCain. Many of them, I am sure, are the "moderates" that McCain has been courting throughout the campaign. Many are Hillary supporters, angry that the nomination was stolen from her, eager to work for an Obama defeat.

Their support is not for the election of John McCain, but for the defeat of Barack Obama. They do not support issues near and dear to John McCain.

They seek a McCain presidency, in order to deny that office to Obama, in order to facilitate a Hillary victory in 2012!

Many of these new-found McCain supporters, in explaining their oppostion to Obama, cite:

A. His inexperience in international politics and seemingly naive attitudes toward, and friendliness toward America's enemies.

B. His questionable associations with friends, supporters, advisors and neighbors of dubious character and integrity, who hate this country, and all it stands for.

C. His Socialist, and perhaps even Marxist views concerning government's role in a command economy, and his antipathy to those private institutions that make that economy work.

Ironically, if these "disaffected" Hillary supporters were honest with themselves, they would find that those same arguments can, and have been used, against Hillary. She is every bit the inexperienced leftist with questionable associations that is Obama. So, clearly, their arguments against Obama are nothing more than strawman arguments to ingratiate themselves with their new-found Republican allies. Still, The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend

Websites that have for months pummeled Obama, while singing the praises of Hillary, are still pummeling Obama. While a few now sing the praises of McCain, most pay mere lipservice to the Republican candidate, instead focusing on the unacceptable nature of Obama. A perusal of reader comments finds a common thread: Elect John McCain, so that Hillary can defeat him in 2012!

It is possible that these Hillary supporters recognize that Obama policies would be a disaster for America, and his presidency would usher in Carter II, resulting in a Repubican landslide in 2012. More likely, since there is so little difference in the politics of the two, they believe that 2012 would result in an Obama second term, effectively putting the presidency out of reach of Hillary in 2016.

While Hillary will publically campaign for Obama, projecting an image of party unity, behind the scenes her 527s and supporters will do whatever they can to facilitate his defeat. Democrats Against Obama and Democrats.org might be open in their support for Hillary over Obama, others present themselves as opposing Obama on qualifications, and supporting McCain. With these stealth sites, it is the reader comments below the articles that reveal their real agenda.

Whatever their motivations, The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend. Democrats might well do what Republicans cannot do. Democrats might well elect John McCain as the next President of the United States.