Foreign policy architects could benefit from studying Winnie the Pooh and Star Wars, according to a Barack Obama adviser who is set to attend a meeting of the Democratic candidate’s national security work group Wednesday.
Richard Danzig, former Navy secretary under President Clinton, drew several creative and unusual analogies to explain the challenges America faces overseas during a foreign policy conference in Washington, D.C., last week, according to an article in the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph.
In arguing that the country should back off a policy that causes too much pain, Danzig said, “”Winnie the Pooh seems to me to be a fundamental text on national security.”
The fact the guy worked for Clinton explains a lot. The fact he now works for Obama, should scare the crap out of you.
Our enemies talk about ending Western Civilization and killing anyone who does not fall into line.
And we’re in the middle of an election year talking about f*$cking Winnie the Pooh!!!
Thanks to Michelle Malkin and others who have linked to the image and sent tons of traffic this way.
Good blog.
presumably osama bin laden is the hefferlump, i guess that’s the logical analogy. a terrified pooh (america) tries to trap the hefferlump and ends up getting stuck in his own trap (ie endless wars in the middle east). but what does tigger represent? a nuclear iran?
we need some enlightening quotes from danzig.
And people are seriously considering electing this clown into office?
Maybe we just need to get together with the terrorists and have a big group hug? That should make everything okay. Kiss and make up … yeah.
You know, when Obama came on the scene as a potential candidate, I did see it as progress for our nation and decided to pay close attention to his campaign, hopeful that he would be a good choice for our country. However, the more I learn about him the more I think that placing him in office would more closely resemble a suicide attempt for our country rather than any form of true hope for America. I cannot in good conscience elect a man who isn’t even smarter than a fifth grader - even an 11 year old knows how many states are united under our nation. Can you really be fit for the presidency when you don’t even know something as basic as that about the country you hope to lead?
Wow that is scary. What does he suggest we learn from Pooh?
Wow. Are you guys seriously put off by this? Never forget our enemies, but for a moment, realize we have allies who are willing to throw lives and our national security away at the drop of a hat.
Using a creative reference to get a difficult point across isn’t anything new. Its even been done using Winnie the Pooh before, in an excellent book on Taoism.
That’s because cartoon animals speak to people like you, Dan. They have no place in global affairs and American foreign policy unless it’s being taught to primary school kids - but it does not surprise that something like this came from where it did.
“people like you”, care to clarify, if you can?
Are you familiar with Winnie the Pooh, other than the fact that someone made a cartoon character out of the original story? If the analogy is to avoid being like Tigger and rushing into things violently without forethought, then its a lesson our government has yet to take to heart no matter how many times we as a nation learn it.
What speaks to me is reason, and I don’t get put off when someone dresses that reason up in an accessible analogy.
I don’t see the connection between Winnie the Pooh and foreign policy myself but I can’t dismiss it outright. Maybe Eeyore, the perpetually grumpy donkey, represents disaffected Arab youth who sometimes turn to terrorism. (No offense intended to Arab youth.)
The connections to Star Wars are easier to see. The Star Wars saga has a lot to say about the creation of an empire, the struggle for power, and questions of good and evil. Yes it’s also about lightsabers, podracers, and Jar Jar Binks. But if you can get past some of the sci-fi elements, you can find deeper messages.
Maybe his cabinet will be made up from the elites friends of his, you know William Ayers and the others!
http://goodtimepolitics.com/2008/05/17/the-new-radical-elites-party/
Really Dan? Wow. ok.
“People like you” is meant to define those people who benefit from the use of creative references when discussing foreign policy.
When some of us think of foreign policy we think of all the times we were away from home for long periods of time never sure what the next day might bring.
I guess the difference is based on our life experiences and those of our family.
I hear Obama plans to have his hand on a Winnie the Pooh book when he takes the oath of office. As they say, if the Pooh fits, swear it.
http://images.yuku.com/image/jpeg/ddf1574f70ad8f8e61a9a25dcb806e9959b9a06.peg