Fighting to win in Iraq [Stone Cold Must-Read With Revelations of Past Baker Failures]

Boston Globe ^ | Jeff Jacoby

[governsleastgovernsbest]

AS SECRETARY of state from 1989 to 1992, James Baker was involved in some of the worst foreign-policy blunders of the first Bush administration.

One such blunder was the stubborn refusal to support independence for the long-subjugated republics of the Soviet Union, culminating in the president's notorious "Chicken Kiev" speech urging Ukrainians to stay in their Soviet cage. Another was the appeasement of Syrian dictator Hafez Assad during the run up to the 1991 Gulf War, when Bush and Baker blessed Syria's brutal occupation of Lebanon in exchange for Assad's acquiescence in the campaign to undo Iraq's occupation of Kuwait.

When Chinese tanks massacred students in Tiananmen Square, Bush declared: "I don't think we ought to judge the whole People's Liberation Army by that terrible incident." When Bosnia was torn apart by violence in 1992, the Bush-Baker reaction was to shrug it off as "a hiccup."

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I urge you to read this.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

If-you-read-only-one-thing-today ping to Today show list.

[Lurker]

This "Study Group" is a rude joke.

L

[malia]

bump

[Lurker]

But I would wager that countless Americans are upset with Bush, not because he isn't skedaddling from Iraq quickly enough, but because he seems to have no serious strategy for winning

Bingo Mr. Jacoby.

L

[Prince Charles]

First off, copies of the ISG report should be sent to Tehran and Damascus on the top of an ICBM.

[SE Mom]

I remember him well when he was Secretary of State- didn't trust him then, trust him even less now. I find it very unsettling that one of his pals is about to become Secretay of Defense.

The old guard is being brought back- and I fear the results.

[Pontiac]

Maybe engraved on a MIRV?

[prophetic]

and pretty much the same political garbage as the so-called "9-11 commission".

[PGalt]

AS SECRETARY of state from 1989 to 1992, James Baker was involved in some of the worst foreign-policy blunders of the first Bush administration.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Over at NewsBusters, I've now blogged on Jacoby's column, juxtaposing with Frank Rich's column of today.

http://newsbusters.org/node/9406

[goldstategop]

The conclusion is exactly why the President lost the election: he failed to lay out to the American voters a strategy for victory. Its not too late to save the day. But only if the President is resolved to win rather than appease the enemy.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Over at National Review online, Jonah Goldberg yesterday sounded a theme similar to Jacoby's. See "We're Not Losers: It's not the war we hate":
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MjY2NzM3MGExNmQzMjBhZjBlMzExYWMzM2JiYjlkNWU=

[kittymyrib]

From now on, it should be referred to as "The Baker Cut and Run Commission." Shame on America for squandering the blood of brave young soldiers, only to have the likes of James Baker and Lee Hamilton and Leon Panetta wave the white flag of surrender. Shame on Pres. Bush, for ordering this fig-leaf, size Small, to hide the naked truth that the US does not have the will to win. Our enemies all over the world are rejoicing.

[Paige]

Baker is not a friend of Israel. I do not like to see him called in to do anything. I don't care how experienced he is or what is credentials may be, for this man is to never be trusted.

[Right_in_Virginia]

BTTT

[OldFriend]

Baker doesn't seem to be a friend of the United States.

He was masterful in the 2000 Bush v Gore matter but that doesn't mean he ought to be the de facto Secretary of State.

Bush needs to put these commission types in their place.

[MadJack]

Someone refresh my memory, please.
Is this the Baker who denigrated us simple folks out in the Hinterlands as "Joe Sixpack?"

[Mo1]

That is why "they have turned to their own sectarian armed groups for the protection the Bush administration has failed to provide," Robert Kagan and William Kristol write in The Weekly Standard.

They aren't doing it because of Bush .. they are doing it because of all the Democrats & Liberals talking about pulling out

They are scared history will repeat it's self ..

[Just mythoughts]

Which enemy should President stop appeasing? Watching all this unfold over the past 20 + years, we seem to always appease liberalism first that requires US to appease the rest of the world.

We have to start at home first, and this past election was about the concerned with appearance crowd thinking they needed a new wardrobe change.