[jwalsh07]

There are, for example, members of Congress from both parties who feel estranged from this administration. They feel it does not listen to their ideas. But in this troubled hour, they are desperate to help. If but a call were made, they would burst forth with intelligent suggestions: about Iraq, about political tactics, about getting additional appropriations.

Are these the same fellows that sat idly by in 1996 when Usama bin Laden declared war on America?

And could they be the same fellows who sat idly by in 1998 when he once again declared war on America?

Would this be the same Congress that witnessed our soldiers be attacked aat Khobar Towers and did not declare war?

The same fine fellows full of good ideas and a willingness to do the tough work that was demanded when our sailors were killed on the USS Cole?

No thanks Mr Brooks, they had their chance. I'm sticking with Bush, Cheney and Rummy.

[Sam Cree]

Who is David Brooks?

[gilliam]

they learned and adapted

What was it that Clint Eastwood said in that movie where he played a Recon sgt?

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Some group of big-dreaming but foolhardy adventurers head out to eradicate some evil and to realize some golden future. They get halfway along their journey and find they are unprepared for the harsh reality they suddenly face. It's too late to turn back, so they reinvent their mission. They toss out illusions and adopt an almost desperate pragmatism. They never do realize the utopia they initially dreamed about, ...

A good description of most liberal programs.

[Gee Wally]

No other nation would have been hopeful enough to try to evangelize for democracy across the Middle East. No other nation would have been naïve enough to do it this badly. No other nation would be adaptable enough to recover from its own innocence and muddle its way to success, as I suspect we are about to do.

The thought underlying this paragraph quintessentially embodies the negativism that pervades the media. We don't want any bumps in the road; we don't want to have to persevere or sacrifice. It's the American 30 minute sitcom mentality. Let's get everything wrapped up nice and neat and get on to the next show.

Heaven help the world if these people had been around during World War II. Can you imagine the carping after Bataan and Corregidor, after the fall of Wake Island, after losing the Lexington in the Coral Sea, after the heavy losses in Ironbottom Sound, after the sinking of the destroyer that claimed the lives of the 5 Sullivan brothers. The character of this country has unquestionably changed for the worse. I seriously question whether the United States has the fortitude to persevere with the difficult tasks that lie ahead. We are about to find out in this election if the core of this country has gone so soft, has become so thoroughly rotted that we are unwilling to fight the battle against terrorism to the end. God help us.

[Paul_B]

Sure looks like Ted Rall's characterization of Brooks turning against the war was untrue. Good to learn. Another big demerit for Rall.

[McGavin999]

The problem is, nobody has ever written an operations manual for freeing a country of 25 million people who have lived under a dictator for 35 years. Had there been one, I'm sure we wouldn't have made mistakes. However, I think we're actually doing quite well. Remember, Japan wasn't ready for it's new government until 4 years after we got there.

[Unam Sanctam]

I see little evidence of good will from leading Democrats, e.g. Kennedy and Kerry, but rather an overwhelming desire to see Bush lose rather than to see America win.

[WOSG]

Hope begets disappointment, and we are now in a moment of disappointment when it comes to Iraq. During these shakeout moments, the naysayers get to gloat while the rest of us despair, lacerate ourselves, second-guess those in charge and look at things anew. But this very process of self-criticism is the precondition for the second wind, the grubbier, less illusioned effort that often enough leads to some acceptable outcome.

Brilliant analogy. I know the stock market. When fear is at a maximum, buy. Now is the time to buy stock in the success of Iraq - it will rise from here.