A good week for a good nation.
At RealClearPolitics.com on Thursday, Ben Shapiro made a brilliant point. It’s one you won’t see made anywhere in the “mainstream media.” (Will someone please explain to me why we keep using that term?)
FROM THE ARCHIVES: “How are these people “mainstream?”
In his article, Shapiro observes that in the same week the United States has waged war in Iran with precision, technological prowess and profound impact in a way that, as he says, “…looks like something written for a Hollywood script;” while also sending human beings into space farther from Earth than ever in the 65-year history of human spaceflight (which, as it happens, we will mark on Sunday, April 12).
In both cases, the United States made it look easy. In both cases, it’s anything but.
This, says Shapiro, is what a superpower looks like. He’s right.
On the Iran war front, the United States has clearly demonstrated a capacity to deliver offensive force with surgical precision and devastating consequence. We have shown that enemy forces and their malign leaders can be precisely tracked and eliminated. In this conflict, Iran had at its disposal air defense systems provided by Russia and China that are the very best non-U.S. defense systems in the world. Yet they proved nearly worthless when put to the test against the forces of the United States.
Such capability facilitates maximum military advantage with minimum impact on civilian lives. Don’t think that Putin and Xi haven’t noticed. They have.
America’s current military capability again illustrates something I have said for decades.
No nation in history has ever amassed more power and yet been so restrained in its use.
The United States if it chose to do so could dominate the world. That is precisely what powerful nation states have done for most of human history. But not so this country.
In its 250-year history, for all its admitted faults, imperfections and missteps, the United States to an astonishing degree has eschewed empire and conquest and has instead limited its use of its military power to the defense of peace.
And that bring us to the Artemis II circumlunar mission – the first manned lunar mission since Apollo 17 in December 1972. As I write this, the spacecraft with its four astronauts is on its way to a Pacific Ocean splashdown a little after seven o’clock Friday evening Texas time. Assuming a safe splashdown, the mission has been a massive success. The Orion spacecraft has been very nearly flawless. (The only real anomaly was in connection with the on-board toilet.)
In the 1960s, the race to the moon was between the United States, a nation rooted in individual liberty, and the Soviet Union, a nation rooted in authoritarianism and oppression. The U.S. won that race and the Soviet Union eventually collapsed. National prestige can shape a nation’s destiny.
Today, China replaces the Soviets in what is essentially the same contest. National prestige is again on the line and again plays the same role.
So, with all that in mind, Ben Shapiro is right. America has had a good week.
For the second time in my life this country is seeing what this country is capable of when we have good, confident and strong leadership in the White House. First Reagan, who restored our confidence, had the economy running like it was fueled on super high octane gasoline, and took down the Soviet Union.
Now we have Donald Trump, who will set up this nation for another generation of greatness, IF the democrats and the RINO’s do not undo all the good he has done.
The four year break with sleepy Joe at the helm was a blessing inn disguise. We got to see what Trump did in his first term, Biden runs us into the ground in his 4 years, and then Trump comes roaring back, this time with experience and time to assemble a team of true MAGA supporters.
Great article Paul. I simply hope my wife and I are around to watch one of two accomplishments in the Space Program. First the manned orbit of Mars; and second the USA stepping foot on the Red Planet.
I listen to Old Time Radio audio books and programs especially X-Minus One and Dimension X; which are fantastic. Interesting aspect of these 1950’s & 60’s science fiction programs are that it is now almost 100% science fact.
Now with AI and the advancements looming on the horizon; what will science fiction really look like?
Great Article Paul. After reading it, I can’t help but think of all the comments I’ve heard the last few days from the left and wonder, “Are they living on the same planet as me?” I find myself wondering what would they be saying if one of theirs was president. Of course, they haven’t had one since World War II. Lawrence O’ Donald’s put down of Pete Hegseft’s “No Man Left Behind” was one of the worst. I spent 21 years in the military and I’d take Pete over any secretary of defense I ever served under. Robert S. McNamara comes to mind. In case you don’t know what the “S” stands for, it’s “Strange.” Very Appropriate. As for Trump, I can overlook a lot of the things he says, but I can’t fault the results
Paul, Thank you for your “Good Week” post. What a great word to put out for your listeners. It was like, “having a great bowl of vegetable soup for lunch and someone picking out the okra or squash”. The okra and the squash (mad media) helps you focus on the beauty and the wonderfulness left in our great big American soup bowl.
What a blessing is our big American soup bowl. Let us enjoy and appreciate it all because we are sitting down for a great meal and everyday so important.
Thank you for helping us “people” see the importance of truth and knowledge in our news.
Oh, P.S. Don’t forget the cornbread.
Donald Trump is the best man for the job right now. If you look at his past, he has been consistent in his views and desires. We have come to find out he has also been mostly correct in those views and, thankfully for us, mostly efficient in executing his desires. The Democrats are always saying he has no plans, just destruction, and that we are against everything he does. They aren’t paying attention to him OR us. He does have plans and most of America loves them. We have suffered with feckless leadership since WWII, and haven’t won a war since. Someone has to drive the car, and it’s best to have somebody that knows where we’re going and how to get there. The greatest leaders in history have shared similarities and I consider Donald Trump to be on the list, and climbing up! I am simply at a loss for words to describe my disgust with the Democrats and the media. Their hatred for Trump, and obviously this country, is astonishing I hope we can manage to keep them throttled long enough to finish the job(s) we have going. I don’t really understand how they continue to get elected. Is it possible that the election system is as flawed as we have discovered the welfare system, the education department, the DOJ, and the Pentagon to be?