Lindsey Graham predicts an ‘American city in flames’ if Obama doesn’t go to war in Iraq

[DonViejo]

Source: Raw Story

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) warned on Sunday that militants in Iraq and Syria would attack the U.S. mainland if President Barack Obama did not immediately take military action to stop them.

“I think of an American city in flames because of the terrorists’ ability to operate in Syria and Iraq,” Graham told Fox News host Chris Wallace. “Mr. President, you have never once spoke directly to the America people about the threat we face from being attacked from Syria, now Iraq. What is your strategy to stop these people from attacking the homeland?” The senior senator from South Carolina recommended a “sustained air campaign in Syria and Iraq.”

“Are you saying we should go back to war in Iraq?” Wallace wondered.

“I’m saying that Iraq and Syria combined represent a direct threat to our homeland,” he explained. “His responsibility as president is to defend this nation. If he does not go on the offensive against ISIS, ISIL — whatever you want to call these guys — they are coming here!”

-snip-

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/08/10/lindsey-graham-american-city-in-flames-obama-war-iraq/

[bemildred]

1. It is sad to see such raw panic in one of our self-proclaimed "leaders". nt

[YvonneCa]

47. He's arguing for GWBs Preemptive War Policy...

...again. So is McCain.

[bemildred]

48. Yeah, the war hawks are desperate to get something going before the election.

I wonder why?

[YvonneCa]

49. :) Fear is how they win...

...elections. It's all they have to offer.

[CubicleGuy]

123. You'd think...

... that these people would eventually tire of living in a constant state of oppressive fear.

Be afraid. Be very afraid. In the US House of Representatives, no one can hear you think.

[YvonneCa]

124. It's a tool. Having the American people...

...afraid works for them. But Lindsey's not afraid...

[savannah43]

131. He's a tool to accomplish that end.

Lindsey and his group of Fox News "thinkers" underestimate many people who vote. Keep talking, Lindsey.

[SnakeEyes]

50. I don't see it as pre-emptive

rather interventionist. IS has already made the region hot.

[YvonneCa]

56. Bush did. It was his stated policy...

...after 9/11. Most Dems did not support it.

[kelliekat44]

117. I think he means that the militia in the US will set a city in flames if we don't go to war in Iraq.

Remember all those hard-core-gun-toting folks like at the Bundy ranch just waiting for an opportunity to battle their government? That is more likely than an attack from outside.

[montanacowboy]

2. Is the mushroom cloud back?

they never quit

[bvf]

82. "Mushroom cloud" is so last decade.

They need a new twist. This one's pretty stupid though.

[LoisB]

3. I cringe every time I see or hear the word "homeland".

[EEO]

7. Agreed. And "Senator Lindsey Graham."

He and McCain are whores for the military industrial complex.

[warrant46]

91. Comparing those 2 War Criminals to Sex Workers

Is like comparing Dinosaurs to Heads of cabbage.

[EEO]

92. How's that?

[warrant46]

96. Yikes

--- where do we go from here?

[EEO]

97. "Whore," as defined by Merriam-Webster...

1: a woman who engages in sexual acts for money : prostitute; also : a promiscuous or immoral woman
2: a male who engages in sexual acts for money
3: a venal or unscrupulous person

Number three is the one relevant to this discussion.

[Louisiana1976]

109. Definition three describes them to a tee.

[yurbud]

101. No kidding. They should change it to something less Nazi

[yurbud]

102. Like fatherland or mother America

[YOHABLO]

127. I agree. It sounds too much like der Fatherland. And all it's Nationalistic connotations.

[klyon]

132. me too

you got one more to go for 1000 posts

[Blue Idaho]

4. Can I tell you how much I hate the term "Homeland?"

Now, can I tell you how much I hate these shameless ChickenHawks falling all over themselves trying to get to the spotlight?

Welcome to fascist Amerika.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Just another senator trying to sell weapons

It seems like that's what most senators try to do nowadays, just sell arms or oil or coal or GMOs and keep some industry that pays him well on life support at our expense. They don't represent people any more.

[freshwest]

73. ^^^This^^^

[roamer65]

6. Iran will beat us to it.

They will not allow Jihadistanis anywhere near their border. I would not be surprised if an Iranian invasion is in the planning stages.

[madashelltoo]

8. Our cities are already in flames!

And, the United States Congress went on vacation with the gas can and matches.

[misterhighwasted]

10. This^ Precisley.

How in the world do we recover from the raping & pillaging of our own Nation?

I am out of possibilities.

[L0oniX]

32. Cities on Flame with

Rock and Roll.

[Botany]

9. No way because on 5/1/2003 w bush on the Aircraft Carrier said:

In this battle, we have fought for the cause of liberty and for the peace of the world. Our nation and our coalition are proud of this accomplishment, yet it is you, the members of the United States military, who achieved it. Your courage, your willingness to face danger for your country and for each other made this day possible.

Because of you our nation is more secure. Because of you the tyrant has fallen and Iraq is free.

snip

The liberation of Iraq is a crucial advance in the campaign against terror. We have removed an ally of Al Qaida and cut off a source of terrorist funding.

And this much is certain: No terrorist network will gain weapons of mass destruction from the Iraqi regime, because the regime is no more.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/05/01/bush.transcript/

[misterhighwasted]

11. Bush Family Mofia didn't give a shit about anything or anyone other than themselves.

They got what they wanted..from Big Daddy Prescot to Bush1, Bush2 & all the Rummys & Cheneys & war profiteers in their camp. Their long orchestrated Coup upon the USA has been successful.
What an effing mess.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

12. Grab your gun, you warmongering piece of shit.

Get moving, Lindsey. And when you get your face blown off, we'll name a telephone pole or an electrical substation after you. Until then, shut your fucking mouth.

(Edited to correct spelling)

[misterhighwasted]

16. I hope he reads your post.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

18. I wish he would.

But I think he is heavily invested in never listening to opinions like mine.

[easychoice]

26. I was thinkin about naming a Sani Can or fire hydrant,

and maybe just blow an arm and a leg off like my buddy.Then he could come home and commit suicide,like my buddy ...

[47of74]

88. How about an airport men's room?

Then when all the GOP Senators stop to make wide stances in the stalls they'll think of him.

[easychoice]

98. Good Idea 47

I'm easy...Something that truly represents the size of his I.Q. and the depth of his insight.

[gordianot]

27. I was thinking a sewage treatment facility or landfill.

In this case at least his name might be associated with something useful.

[George II]

36. Better yet, name a fire hydrant after him so we can let our dogs piss on him!

[butterfly77]

76. Kick&Recommended!

[sarge43]

78. Thank you

I'm so sicken by these vile "let's you and him fight" poltroons.

[SammyWinstonJack]

133. Just call him what he is, a pet rock....he's Mccain's pet rock.

[Xipe Totec]

13. With so many pants on fire it's a miracle Washington hasn't burned to the ground. nt

[aquart]

14. How much of his portfolio is Halliburton?

[tom_kelly]

15. I don't even think the dumb asses

will fall for "they'll come here" bullshit again.

[DallasNE]

17. Can The "Dirty Bomb Attack" Charge Be Far Behind?

And a plywood plane to deliver the goods. Quick, call "Curveball" to get your talking points Graham.

The Graham "sustained air campaign" goes even beyond Melvin Laird's "limited duration, protective reaction" carpet bombing campaigns in Vietnam. Indeed, Iraq looks more and more like Vietnam all of the time and isn't that a problem that we warned would happen. Install a puppet government, give them plenty of arms that fall into the hands of the other side as the troops won't fight. Yeah, we have seen this all before.

[Punkingal]

19. And he desperately hopes his prediction comes true....

So he can say "I told you so."

[kiranon]

90. Agree. n/t

[Uben]

20. Fear tactics from a wussy?

We've seen what their rhetoric causes....and costs! I think the whole world agrees Mr. Graham is a fucking idiot.

[The Wizard]

21. Since the "Gentleman" from South Carolina

has been wrong about everything else I feel safer now. Remember when he made his Repube bones impeaching Clinton over a stained blue dress. He was wrong then too.

[VA_Jill]

22. The only flames I see

are one flaming idiot running his mouth.

[TwilightGardener]

23. Like rust, they never sleep.

There is no conflict we shouldn't be up to our ears in, no amount of my hard earned dollars they won't consume in chasing monsters around the globe, no number of troops they won't station in dangerous places to get shredded by IED's.

[candelista]

25. +1.

[candelista]

24. They are creating a propaganda climate for another war.

By "they," I mean the politicians and the media. I haven't seen anything like this since...Syria.

[JackRiddler]

66. Or a 9/11.

[yurbud]

94. 9/11 set the bar pretty high for another attack to have any effect.

If it's not worse, most people will just see it as an unfortunate news story at most.

[JackRiddler]

99. So 400 people wouldn't do it for ya?

(That's irony, as if it needs to be pointed out.)

[yurbud]

100. Not just me, the general public

[JackRiddler]

105. There's no doubt of that, actually.

[Marrah_G]

35. As dispicable as Graham is, calling him "Miss" is offensive on a few levels.

[Paladin]

29. You first, Lindsey. (nt)

[gwheezie]

30. I slightly disagree that there is no threat

I think there is a threat that Isis recruits either from our country or Europe could make their way to our shores. I'm convinced however what the neocons propose is not the answer to keep us from an attack. We tried this already. Our prior strategery has not worked. The threat had spread beyond an individual country. This is a much different situation than bush had and he was still so wrong in his response.

I assume we are going to have more attacks here but doubt they would rise to 9/11 in the amount if people killed or damage.

[sarge43]

80. Possible, but hey life is threatening and you don't get out alive.

I'm far more worried about the crap in our food or running into some gun nut with a piece bigger than his penis stuck down his pants. I'm really worried about fear mongers trying to provoke us into doing something stupid ... again.

[gwheezie]

95. I agree with you

To say there is no threat at all is foolish. The only speculation I'm making is some guy with a shoe bomb in his underwear.
There are much bigger threats to the citizens of this country.

[L0oniX]

31. We don't want to wait for a fart cloud.

[doxydad]

33. Sooo...

Senator 'Butch=me-up' wants us to get deeeeeep into that nightmare again? And how will we pay for that?

[oldandhappy]

34. So much fear.

Wonder if he would survive if he knew the ISIS is not interested in flaming one of our cities. They got other fish to fry. And they seem to be doing it, sob.

[George II]

37. Interesting excerpt from Lindsay Graham's Wikipedia biography:

Graham joined the United States Air Force in 1982, and served on active duty until 1988. Following his departure he stayed in the military, joining the South Carolina Air National Guard[2] and the U.S. Air Force Reserve. During the Gulf War, he was recalled to active duty, serving as a Judge Advocate at McEntire Air National Guard Station in Eastover, South Carolina, where he helped brief departing pilots on the laws of war.[3] He later transferred from the Air National Guard to the Air Force Reserve.

In 1998, according to the Congressional daily newspaper The Hill, Graham was describing himself on his website as an Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran. In reality, he never left South Carolina. Graham responded "I have not told anybody I'm a combatant," he said. "I'm not a war hero, and never said I was. I never intended to lie. If I have lied about my military record, I'm not fit to serve in Congress," further noting that he "never deployed."

[Louisiana1976]

107. Senator Grahamocchio is a major liar.

[840high]

38. I don't take ISIS threaths lightly.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

42. Some people think wrestling is real too.

[SnakeEyes]

51. ISIS is slaughtering people

over 100K. They are beheading "infidels", beheading those that convert, beheading muslims that do not agree with them. They have captured regions of two countries. They are organized in terms of might, military strategy, weaponry, and willpower. I wouldn't trivialize them. They are the assholes that the last assholes in the WH claimed Al Qaeda to be.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

59. Yup, and all that has made them real popular with the locals....

It's one thing to take a place, it's another to hold it,...and it's still another to be accepted as the new authority instead of having your guys found in random dumpsters around town with their throats cut.

That's where Isis is headed.

[840high]

58. ISIS started as a

group of less than 1,000. Their numbers are incredible now. Recruiting through facebook and twitter - they have money. I repeat - I don't take their threats lightly.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

60. Where did they get the money?

[840high]

61. google ur question - lots of articles.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

67. Leading to McCain and his "freedom fighters".

[arcane1]

39. Are they gonna drive over here in trucks? Shame on him for fear-mongering.

[SnakeEyes]

52. While I agree with the general sentiment here

This is a dumb comment. As if it's the only way. It ignores what has occurred.

[arcane1]

55. It ignores nothing. That's like saying the Taliban could attack us.

The 9/11 attacks were carried out by civilians who did all their training right here in the USA. Graham wants to stir up that latent terror and use it to frighten you.

Terrorism, I believe it's called. I refuse to let them manipulate me.

Maybe McCain brought some of those guys back after his visit to Syria, and he's sent them to Georgia to train at whatever they call the School of the Americas nowadays.

[Iliyah]

40. Thats all the GOPers have is "fearmongering"

[Spitfire of ATJ]

41. So Lindsey, did you pitch in a few shekels to Isis like your buddy John?

[GeorgeGist]

43. Ooga Booga ...

moron.

[DeSwiss]

44. Idiot. n/t

[blkmusclmachine]

45. Terror Level is "Brown," for Bullshit

[SnakeEyes]

53. Please refrain from sexist comments on DU

[cyberswede]

54. That fear monger should be ashamed of himself. nt

[Thinkingabout]

57. They speak loud and do not deliver on the money.

[Thor_MN]

62. Fucking Moron...

Iraq had no, has no, will have no, zero, zip, nada ability to attack the US. If this idiot hasn't figured this out, why is ANYONE listening to him? He should be laughed out of office.

[KoKo]

63. One of the "Wired In" ....IDIOTS! Leading the Rest of America

into his "Clueless" small minions.....Who have "THE POWER."

WHEN will we Stand Up against this?

[indepat]

64. Senator Graham and those of his ilk pose a clear and present danger to the

United States imo. May they all be served just desserts in concert.

[JackRiddler]

65. Important preemptive propaganda work by the senator.

Long as he's written the story for whatever happens before anything happens, he can only win. In his peabrain, at least.

Kind of like Rumsfeld and Co. running around prior to 9/11 clucking about how the danger of a Pearl Harbor required massive increases in military spending. At the time they were demanding just the exact right remedy for it, too: space weapons!

[valerief]

68. Flaming Lindsey's on his terror rampage yet again. nt

[underpants]

79. Lindsey --- flames ??? (cue Jon Stewart)

Well oh myyyyyy....

[kentauros]

69. Only if you spontaneously combust, Lindsey.

That amount of hate would cause quite a large mushroom cloud

[tavernier]

70. How does he know that?????

As a United States Senator, if he has such information then he Damned WELL better be briefing the Commander in Chief as to who, what, when, where and why.

And if he doesn't have ANY information, then as a United States Senator, he should be aware of a duty to the citizens of this country who employ him, NOT to spread false rumor and panic.

What is wrong with those people in D.C.??? Did someone pour Drano into the drinking water?? It's like all of their brains have turned to swamp water.

[blackspade]

71. coo coo for cocoa puffs

Graham sounds like Palin now.

[freshwest]

72. Maybe Lindsey read this piece here:

ISIS Is Likely Receiving Funding From People Living In Countries Allied With The US



Allan Smith - Jun. 27, 2014

The Islamic State for Iraq and the Levant is mostly funded through criminal activity, such as the theft of a potential $425 million from a central bank in Mosul. But the group is also receiving private donations from wealthy Sunnis in American-allied Gulf nations such as Kuwait, Qatar, and, possibly, Saudi Arabia...

In Kuwait, donors have taken advantage of weak terror financing control laws to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars to various Syrian rebel groups, including ISIS, according to a December 2013 report by The Brookings Institution, which receives some funding from the government of Qatar...

When it comes to the U.S. reaction, Levitt said the Americans are working towards stopping the flow of cash, but that it's the local governments that will have the greater impact...

If ISIS continues to stockpile cash - enough to maintain its status as the wealthiest terrorist organization in the world - it's possible that they would they would have the means to engage in international terrorism, something that the group and its supporters are already threatening online.

"ISIS is more extreme than Al-Qaeda in many ways," Levitt said of possible future ISIS attacks outside Iraq and Syria. "If they accomplish their goals in Iraq and Syria, and are capable of doing so, I don’t doubt that they would."

http://www.businessinsider.com/isis-funding-us-allies-2014-6

Posted here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025357236#post26

Obama is acting on the situation in ways that Graham can't grasp. He doesn't need Lindsey's help. But if Graham is so concerned, he needs to come back from his vacation and get to work.

[IkeRepublican]

74. Go figure.

[Botany]

75. Lindsey Graham is about to give John Mccain a nice hot Benghazi

[Louisiana1976]

110. ....

[Vincent Merkel]

82. I have such a dirty mind

Look honey..I have unzipped for you baby ..now treat it right

[DeSwiss]

120. He was just asking for advice from a Pro.....

[Jester Messiah]

77. What a trembling little coward.

He represents his chickenhawk faction well.

[Vincent Merkel]

81. Lindsey ...Now don't get the vapors...you poor southern bell

Oh my Lindsey must have the vapors ..poor thing....funny how the media takes the word of guy who crashed 5 planes and on the first day of combat crashed a plane and was captured that is zero experiance to me and has the nickname from Viet Nam Vets as songbird ......and another with questionable credentials when it comes to war......my my Lindsey ..I see Myrtle Beach , Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet all in flames .....but the flames are just coming from all the BBQ down here ....really honey don't get your pink panties all in a twist now

[Robert24]

84. Can someone get Blanche an aspirin

[eppur_se_muova]

85. Sounds like Sarah Palin's not the only one dropping acid ... nt

[Dopers_Greed]

86. But he doesn't care that...

Multiple American cities are going to be underwater due to climate change?

[Louisiana1976]

111. Exactly.

[Liberal_from_va34]

87. Wow, talk about paranoia.

I'll ask the GOP once again: when did Iraq ever attack the US?

[wordpix]

89. where was he when Condi got the PDB about al Qaeda wanting to use planes

as bombs?

[yurbud]

93. that sounds more like a threat than a prediction. I hope someone is keeping an eye

on the neocons' friends in Saudi and other places that do their foreign policy dirty tricks to move public opinion.

[phleshdef]

103. This just makes me sick to my ASS.

Do they think we forgot the past 10 years ever happened? As cynical as I am about the average American's political judgment, I think this is one time we aren't fucking buying it.

[Live and Learn]

104. Hey Graham, I'd worry more about your economic and environmental policies driving

all of America in to flames if I were you. You (and your fellow oligarchs) are a much bigger threat to America than any other terrorists in the world.

[BlueMTexpat]

106. Lindsey Graham

[Jefferson23]

108. This is all they know how to do, RW calls for blood. n/t

[dhill926]

112. know something we don't?

ya traitorous piece of shit...

[Zambero]

113. That yellowcake thing, again???

Lindsey's rhetoric relies too heavily on Dubya's discarded (and discredited) neo-con cue cards. I for one prefer caution to engaging in multiple full-throttle wars at the slightest provocation.

[lonestarnot]

114. Cowards are entertaining if nothing else.

[elzenmahn]

115. Same warmongering as always...

...and with Iraq and Afghanistan still relatively fresh in people's minds, the tune is all too familiar and sordid to repeat over and over again.

But then, look at all of the profit to be made at wartime. On both sides. By too many corporate firms and businesses.

Perhaps this SOB would like to have his kids or grandkids serving in the next Middle Eastern "conflict". Oh, that's right - he's an elite. And a politician, at that - he and his are exempt from the "inconvenience" of putting on a uniform and serving. That's for the plebs - oh, excuse me.

[Cha]

116. K&R for how stupid lindsey graham's dire predictions are.. what a sad little man.. Benghazi!!111

[Sparhawk60]

118. Just Walk Away

"What is your strategy to stop these people from attacking the homeland?”

How about we just walk away? We stop bombing and killing their children, and they will have less reason to kill ours. I know walking away is not the ‘Manly ‘Merican” way, but let’s give it a shot. Heaven knows, 13 years of bombing has not helped.

[IronLionZion]

119. Remember when the Viet Cong and North Korea attacked US cities?

Yeah, me neither. Must have missed those along with the attacks from Laos and Cambodia. But surely Panama and Grenada must have attacked US cities? And Iraq must have attacked some US cities before as well.

I think about this every time someone tells me the US won the Vietnam war. #winningonlybysomeveryidioticdefinitionofwinning

[HoosierCowboy]

121. Let's hope it's Cleveland

During the 2016 RNC. As retaliation for the policies that he voted for and supported. Still does not understand the concept of "Blowback". A flash of nuclear lightning, a mushroom cloud, and Goober Heaven gets a whole new load of occupants.
We'd never be that lucky that the terrorists would do us such a big favor

[catbyte]

122. Asshat. That is all.

[JoePhilly]

125. He's praying for it to happen.

[onecaliberal]

126. Take up arms and head over there if you

Are so hell bent on defending your disastrous vote to invade a country who was perfectly fine before we completely destroyed it and killed a million people there. It's people like Graham, who
Represent everything wrong with America.

[tabasco]

128. Like the last time we had A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT?

[Lint Head]

129. I guess ISIS will board their submarines and battleships and head toward the US at any moment.

Maybe they will launch a space shuttle and attack us from space. Or they could just don skin diving suits and swim across....oh, never mind.

[The Wizard]

130. Lindsey Graham

and flaming in the same sentence will usually get a post sent to the jury here. So go ahead and flame me. The irony is too hot to handle. And I've about had it with the trolls here. Go for it trolls. Here's your bait.