Why didn’t the scheme work and why will it continue to fail? I believe that Drum has the answer.

The publication “The Christian Century” began around 1900, for the upcoming century would be one of brotherly love and virtue, mankind having matured beyond the barbarism of war and revolution- or so it was thought. As we (should) already know, just because the USA vs USSR cold war ended, we should not assume significant military conflicts have ended. Choosing to defend ourselves by isolationism worked when we were isolated. But that was quite a while ago.

Really? “Everyone” knows no such thing. I recommend you read some history of the various world wars and our own civil war. It’s been “three whole years” and we haven’t yet turned Iraq into a Jeffersonian democracy. Wow!

Psy, we still have troops in Korea, Germany and even a small contingent in Japan, among other locations around the world. In all due respect, I don’t believe the defeatest attitude you’ve expressed is helpful or will result in anything but an ultimate precipitous withdrawal from Iraq from which America won’t recover for thirty years, if then.

Surely no one will trust us for decades. Are you quite ready for the “killing fields” of Iraq? Your attitude will inevitably lead there.

The nerve. I mean, the Democrats have run one of the cleanest, most honest, non-partisan and above-board campaigns in history, eschewing personal attacks and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with America in time of war — and Bush goes and does this

They certainly aren’t coordinated about it. Not in this way.

The nerve. I mean, the Democrats have run one of the cleanest, most honest, non-partisan and above-board campaigns in history, eschewing personal attacks and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with America in time of war — and Bush goes and does this. It’s enough to make one think of McCarthy or Hitler or Nero or one of those dead old white guys!

This isn’t an equivocation because everyone knows (now, finally) that Iraq is a sinking ship and, as Billmon says, “sinking ships can have only one course — straight down.”

just when you think it can’t get any more ridiculous.the man is a joke.
Comment by jim — October 22, 2006 @ 9:51 am

I honestly believe he is clinically delusional.
Comment by michael — October 22, 2006 @ 9:52 am

Bill Clinton must have been the one saying it.
Comment by normalasf — October 22, 2006 @ 9:54 am

He is speaking to the “Dummys” who believe that idiot. Wow
Comment by Heynow — October 22, 2006 @ 9:55 am

I would suggest that these folks do not “get it” as Pat does and clearly explained by Harry Arthur. While I agree that it often appears the WH does a poor job explaining itself, at the same time I don’t think those folks would “get it” even after reading Harry’s explanation. For one thing it would appear that President Bush actually has points to make, and that obviously can’t be true. Even if he made “Churchillian” quotes on a daily basis how many of those do you think would appear?

I have heard the President say many times that he “listens to his generals” as to what they want and think they need, that he will give them whatever they need, that the tactics are being constantly reevaluated and adjustments/changes are made. Whether he clarified his comments as Harry suggests and it didn’t make news coverage or not, I don’t know. When I heard his press conference a week or two ago one morning it seemed pretty clear what the plan was and why.

Churchill knew he needed to rally a country in a desperate situation. President Bush’s task is to convince a “microwave instant and convenient” public that some things are not convenient but still worthwhile.

One thing that I think is ridiculous is to hear people talk about the need for the Iraqi people and government to “take more of a stake” in their future. They may have specific things in mind, but millions of people have voted at the risk of their lives- something probably only a very small number in the US would do tomorrow if necessary, and even low-level officials and their families are at risk for participating in the government. But the more talk there is in the US of planning a pull-out date because of the unpopularity of the war the more popular support in Iraq will (at least appear to) wane.

When Democrats had control of Congress in the 70’s after Watergate, the US failed to keep its commitment to S. Vietnam that was involved in the peace agreement with N. Vietnam. Hence S. Vietnam fell and 100,000’s suffered under the communists. If I lived in Iraq and thought the possibility of a US pullout was increasing it would make it harder to work for the new government- the more prominent now the bigger target later. (Besides, we already did this once to Iraq after GW I).