The Voice of Reason?

When Pat Buchanan is portraying the voice of reason on TV, you know you're in Cloud CuckooLand. You're through the looking glass, over the rainbow, you've passed through Neverland and landed on the other side.

But there he is, on MSNBC. His schtick has always included less-than-absolute support for Israel, and he's been accepted into the club despite this. But, as on every other issue (where he usually is seriously Out To Lunch) he's a pretty lonely voice these days.

In fact, if Democrats have their way (and Republicans would be happy about it as well) you might just have seen the last of ol' Pat on the living room box. America has officially become a secondary factor in its own National Security considerations.

Look. I can sort of understand turning our news into propaganda when we're the ones at war. I can even understand the use of American news and entertainment to sell policies the government wants to pursue, but can't because of political opposition. (FDR used the movies in this way.) But when two other countries are at war, and only one side can be heard – then the media is playing with fire.

I think reporters understand this. I think that's why CNN just broadcast a serious interview with Jerry Jenkins (Tim LaHaye's right-hand nutjob) about whether we're at the end of the world.

We are certainly at the end of an era.

The fact is this war is not going well. If we're to be true friends to Israel, then at some point we have to acknowledge this fact, and help Israel out of the mess it has made. We're like an addict's enabling roommate right now.  At some point you have to say no more coke, no more smart bombs. Enough. 

We're not doing this. And in the end this failure is going to hurt Israel. As our refusal to accept the truth about Iraq has hurt us.

This is how Great Powers die. They refuse to turn back until it's too late.

They say, "We can't afford to lose," and lose anyway. This is what happened to the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. It's what happened to Hitler after he invaded Russia. It's what happened to Japan after attacking Pearl Harbor. It's the Somme.

Finding what you can afford to lose, and accepting reality, is the beginning of wisdom.