Posted on 11/17/2005 8:22:10 PM PST by smoothsailing
How To Lose A War: The Sequel
By Oliver North
November 18, 2005
Since October of 2001, our FOX News "War Stories" unit has been documenting the remarkable young Americans fighting the Global War on Terror. We have covered thousands of them on the decks of ships in the Persian Gulf, on combat patrols in the shadow of the Hindu Kush, in gunfights along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates and gone to hospitals in Iraq, Germany and the U.S. with the wounded. Throughout, there has been a common bond among these "warriors of Sept. 11" -- a steadfast resolve that they could win the war. Now, for the first time since I accompanied the initial U.S. combat units heading into Kandahar, Afghanistan, I'm hearing something different -- a loss of confidence in the final outcome.
Over the course of the last ten days, I've met with scores of those I'd previously covered overseas. These soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen and Marines are now in "stateside" assignments at Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg, N.C., at Miramar Air Station in California, at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and here in Hawaii. Many of them expect to be back in the fight -- some of them soon. But recent reversals -- not on the battlefield but in Washington -- have caused nearly all of those I talked to on this trip to question whether we are suddenly in danger of losing the war they have been fighting.
This sudden loss of assurance in our fighting forces has nothing to do with casualty figures, troop levels, the leaders prosecuting the war in the field or new acts of terror by a ruthless enemy. Rather, the anxieties I'm now hearing from those I have covered in combat come in questions like: "Do you think that they are going to pull us out before we've finished the mission?" and "Will we abandon Iraq like we abandoned Vietnam?" Interestingly, not one of the thousands of young Americans I have covered in Iraq or Afghanistan has ever asked about or commented upon pre-war intelligence.
For more than two years the so-called mainstream media, the far left and some in Congress have been making trite comparisons between Vietnam and Iraq. Having spent a significant amount of time in both conflicts, about the only parallels I have seen in the two wars have been that bullets still wound and kill, and spilled blood is still red. But another common thread now ties the two hostilities together -- political cowardice in Washington, D.C.
On Tuesday this week, with the Commander in Chief traveling in Asia, the Democrat leadership in the U.S. Senate introduced a proposal that would have set a fixed date for withdrawing American troops from Iraq. The measure was defeated 58 to 40, but an amended version, setting 2006 as a "period of significant transition creating conditions for the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq," passed by an overwhelming 79-19 margin.
Though the White House and some Republican lawmakers sounded the trumpets of victory for defeating the Democrats' hard-and-fast timetable, the message to the troops is clear: No matter where we stand in the war on terror -- if the Senate has its way, we're "pulling out" in 2006. Abu Musab al Zarqawi's "al Qaeda in Iraq" terrorist organization immediately claimed victory and exhorted his followers to "hold on." Officials in Iraq's interim government, intent on providing a secure election on Dec. 15, were publicly muted in response to the votes, expressing hopes in an official statement that "Iraqi security forces are becoming increasingly effective." Americans in uniform -- both in-theatre and at home -- were stunned.
Major General William Webster, commanding the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq said that "setting a date would mean that the 221 soldiers I've lost this year, that their lives will have been lost in vain." A U.S. Marine colonel, recently returned from Iraq, called it "a formula for disaster." And universally those I have met with here in Hawaii, from the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division to the 1st Marine Brigade, to the sailors of the fleet, to the wounded at Tripler Army Hospital -- all expressed anger and frustration with statements like:
"We've fought well." "We're helping to create a democracy." "Don't they want us to win?"
That's a valid question. Even Senate Republicans don't seem to know what they want. As the "World's Greatest Deliberative Body" was exploring how to set a "date certain" for withdrawing troops without setting a certain date, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said, "Americans do not cut and run, Americans do not abandon their commitments and Americans do not abandon their friends." But he voted for the measure anyway.
About the only ones in Washington who seem to know what they want are the leaders of the Democrat party. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who voted for war in 2002, waited until President Bush was overseas meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan to proclaim that, "Democrats and Republicans acknowledged that staying the course is not the way to go." He then summed it all up by adding, "This is a vote of no confidence on the Bush-administration policy in Iraq."
William Jefferson Blythe Clinton knows what this is all about. Though the Clinton administration had advocated the overthrow of Saddam in 1998, he told a university audience in Dubai this week that the Iraq war was "a big mistake." Like former President Jimmy Carter, Mr. Clinton apparently no longer feels bound by the affront to our troops or the traditional protocols that once governed political discourse while overseas.
In the House, Pennsylvania's John Murtha, an influential Democrat who voted in favor of Iraq war in 2002, called for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops saying, "it is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf region."
The GOP leadership, senior administration officials and the president need to dramatically alter the debate. They need to go to Iraq -- talk to the troops and reassure them that we will stay there long enough to get the job done and not one second longer. Notwithstanding the "peace in our time" appeasement sentiment sweeping through our capital, it's not too late. Republicans need to realize that wining the war in Iraq is the only issue that really matters right now. It is more important than Medicare, the next Supreme Court justice, foreign trade deals or tax reform. If we lose the war -- and we could -- none of these things will matter.
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COPYRIGHT 2005 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
And we will remember, I can assure you.
Honestly, is it really best to sell out your country for a few measly votes?
Shouldn't we learn from our mistakes from the past and not keep repeating them because it might be the popular thing to do?
"We"ll see what tomorrow brings."
Tomorrow will bring the same cool, calm and rational carriage that you showed them today. Stay the course and don't let them get to you..u have us(wink). We are going to get through this..let's just support our troops and Free Republic. Nobody else is getting my money or my time anytime soon. Hang in there.
I agree... the SEDITIONISTS must be stopped.
God help me if I'm wrong, but I believe if the Democrats pull this off there will be Civil War in the U.S. The people of the United States will not abide another Viet Nam brought about by spineless politicians. Mark my words, this is very serious business when the people in charge put their interest above our posterity. This will not stand a second time.
If our Roman Senate decides to back stab our troops and remove their funding, perhaps we the people can fund the troops ourselves. Heck, we might even get some contributions from the Jordanians, Kurds and Israeli's. Perhaps our military needs a paypal account. Here is a good paypal email address for em, kickterroristbut@usmilitary.iraq .
Thanks. You know how much that helps.
There is a time when the peasants need to march on the castle with pitchforks and torches.
Thanks for the ping!
I'm with you and I'm pissed. Let's hope it won't come to that.
"If this occurs while a dimwit is President,"
What kind of a low-life are you referring to the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES in such a manner?
If you think you can do better than GWB has done the last few months with all the obstacles and everything he's had on his plate then why don't YOU run for the oval office and see if you can do better?
Granted he could have been in front of the camera's speaking to the nation more often but he's barely had a chance to breath with all the disasters coming one after the other and all the lies the left SOB's have been feeding everyone at every chance they get.
These weasels had this planned for the second he left the country which is evident by their non-stop rush to get in front of the camera's aided by their buddy's the MSM.
Reid is not their leader IMHO. He's only a puppet. He's getting his orders from the despicable duo, the clinton's , who in turn are getting their orders straight from the Kremlin, and if the two of them and some of their partners in crime aren't brought to task soon this will be a communist country which has been clinton's aim since way back in the 60's..
I'm so angry I'm crying with temper at what they're doing to the moral of our brave troops and each one of the SOB's in DC will hear about it first thing in the morning when I call them and let my feelings be known. Every single one of them, left and right of the aisle.
We all have to stop moaning and groaning about what's happening and together figure out what we can do to STOP THEM.
<<< This will not stand a second time.>>>
It's sad to admit, but YES,IT WILL. And the MSM will see to it...
Unless we defeat this BS NOW, and expose the Liberal cabal for the liars they have become, this may ALREADY be lost...
North's comments give me pause.... WE have let our troops down, by not DEMANDING that Libs/DEMS stand for America First. The Media won't help, for them, it's STILL all about losing in 2000.....
Instead of Americans standing up and saying what the REAL JFK said,
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
We have Cindy's "This country isn't worth dying for!"...
"There is a time when the peasants need to march on the castle with pitchforks and torches."
lol..it might come to that yet, but let's leave the pichforks and torches at home. You know what would be cool though? If this time(when liberals are trying their best to lose a war)..the conservatives and patriots MARCH ON THE WASHINGTON MALL in the MILLIONS to protest QUITTING A WAR WE ARE WINNING..or as Jim said tonight..WE HAVE ALREADY WON!!
PSST..i think he is saying that if a dimwitt(democrat wins the next election)..slow down there tiger...lol
<<< the conservatives and patriots MARCH ON THE WASHINGTON MALL in the MILLIONS to protest QUITTING A WAR WE ARE WINNING>>>
Won't happen...
We have families, jobs, businesses, so the street protesting is left to the government supported, union-paid, parent-paid types...
Look at the DC loon rally...
Free buses from Universities all over the Northeast to inflate the crowd with college students looking for a free weekend in DC.....
Marine_Uncle,I know what you mean about the difficulty.One thing about Free Republic that keeps me coming back is the sense of pride and purpose among many freepers.
American pride,American purpose, the qualities we share.
Here we can re-inforce those traits with others we may never meet.For me it adds a dimension to my life that would have been impossible years ago.
My real life away from here is filled with such experiences.I have been fortunate in my friendships and blessed with a fine family.
And to know that I am not exceptional,but others all across this great country have similar lives as me,is reassuring.
I have great faith in my fellow Americans,but I am too old to be naive. Activism has become part of my life.I am much more active in my community than I used to be.I take time to write letters to the editor, to seek out the local veterans, to make sure the politicians know I'm here and watching.
Free Republic has been an asset, and I actually recharge my batteries here so i can go out again tomorrow and slay more dragons.
This may have been posted before but just in case for those who haven't seen it here it is again :
October 16th 2002
Joint Resolution
To authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq
http://www.c-span.org/resources/pdf/hjres114.pdf
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