Barack, Don't Go to Baghdad (Barf)

Time ^ | 6/5/08 | PETER BEINART

[Dawnsblood]

In 1978, with America's ally the Shah of Iran under siege, President Jimmy Carter asked a former diplomat named George Ball to study the situation and recommend a course of action. Ball's chief qualification was that he, more than any other high-level U.S. official, had been right about Vietnam--from early on, he had warned it would be a quagmire. Ball accepted Carter's offer but refused to visit Iran. In the 1960s he had watched one colleague after another set off on fact-finding missions to Vietnam, and each returned convinced that America could win the war. "I had learned from our Vietnam experience," he explained, "how dangerous it can be when travel is substituted for thought."

Barack Obama should keep Ball in mind as he mulls John McCain's suggestion of a joint visit to Iraq. Ball understood something important: that when you take a guided tour, your tour guide decides what you see. In Iraq today, as in Vietnam back then, the tour guides are America's officers and diplomats on the ground. And in Iraq, as in Vietnam, they have an incentive to show good news--which isn't always the same as the truth.

To begin with, there's security. Since the first priority of McCain and Obama's hosts would be to ensure that the candidates leave Iraq alive, they would by necessity take them to places the U.S. and Iraq have made safe and avoid places they have not. General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are unlikely to introduce Obama and McCain to Iraqis who want to kill them, and thus their meetings would tilt heavily toward those Iraqis who want the U.S. to stay and away from those who are trying to force America to leave.

[Dawnsblood]

I suspect Obama will keep the Carter Administration foremost in his mind if he wins the Oval Office.

[moose2004]

Peter Beinhart makes me ill, what liberal ilk. I thought he worked for the New Republic not Time?

[se_ohio_young_conservative]

these people want us to fail in anything we do.

[A.Hun]

This makes perfect sense when you consider how well Carter’s Iran strategy worked out. /s

[albie]

“Today he should kindly decline McCain’s offer and keep his distance once again”

...just the kind of POTUS we need. An America hating, sneering, Communist, racist, know nothing, empty suit, liar who’s also a complete coward! The word “character” will NEVER enter into the converstaion when describing this vermin. Now I’m PRAYING FOR McCAIN TO WIN! (which is exactly what he expected)

[Redmen4ever]

Barack will only speak with General Petraus when certain preconditions have been met.

[SECURE AMERICA]

Ball accepted Carter’s offer but refused to visit Iran. In the 1960s he had watched one colleague after another set off on fact-finding missions to Vietnam, and each returned convinced that America could win the war.
Actually America could have won the Vietnam War and even the Communist now admit that we were very close to doing so.
America did not lose the Vietnam War. The US Military did not lose the Vietnam War. The National Media and the Leftist Politicians did..........

[Cicero]

George Ball was about as responsible as anyone for our failure in Vietnam, with his lousy advice.

If he persuaded Carter to abandon the Shah, then that's a Twofer.

He also was an inveterate Israel-hater while he was in the State Department, and wrote about the evils of cooperating with Israel.

He was also, for whatever it may signify, known as a big-time Bilderberger. I would classify him as more of a Nazi than a Communist, but as we know--contrary to the official story--those two ugly ideologies were actually convergent.

[Inyokern]

George Ball was motivated by an enduring hatred of Israel. He was against helping the Shah because the Shah was a friend of Israel.

[Seaplaner]

Mr. Obama is well-advised to NOT visit Iraq or Afghanistan.

Similarly, do not expect Mister Obama to visit ANY United States military installation (except under tightly controlled settings).

He knows to avoid ANY situation in which he might have to look at a Marine, Soldier, Seaman, or Airman directly in the eye.

To do so would require more courage than has Mr. Obama.

(This observation from a USAF vet and Marine and Navy Dad.)

[Billthedrill]

In short, “Ignorance Is Strength.” One of the more disgusting columns I’ve read in awhile.

[xkaydet65]

Barack will only speak with General Petraus when certain preconditions have been met.####

Exactly and then the preconditions will be General Petaeus's resignation, along with soldiers like Ordierno and McMaster.

[True Republican Patriot]

How Stupid! Dont go to observe what is really happening!, Shockingly Stupid!, thats a Demorat Viewpoint if I ever heard one!

“Screw America! Vote for HUSSEIN in 08”

If FR or Someone printed up this as a bumpersticker and poster, I’d be first in line to buy alot of them.

[True Republican Patriot]

B.O. HUSSEIN will NEVER Met with General Patreaus!
B.O. HUSSEIN is a lying, sneveling, racist, coward who doen’t have the courage, patriosm, or character to meet with the Real Patriot, Leader, and American Hero, General Patreaus!

[Old North State]

If you believe this loon then, by extension, you should never visit anywhere to get the situation on the ground. Of course if, like Obama, your entire adult foreign experience consists of a bus ride in Kenya maybe he’s right, but that’s a reason to look someone with mature judgment for the job not a reason to hire a dummy and keep him at home.

[LegalEagle61]

The title of the article should be:

Barack don’t go to Baghdad wearing any kind of protective gear....

[Williams]

Obama should not visit our allies in Iraq, but he must visit our enemies in Iran. Leftism in a nutshell.

[Eagles6]

Rule #1 of the dems and their allies, the msm. Keep repeating the same lie over and over and it will become the truth.

The US did not lose the war in Vietnam, we won and forced the commies to sign peace accords. They broke that agreement and invade SV in 1972 and was sent limping home after having their a$$ kicked by SV forces, American advisers and US supplies.

When they invaded again in 1975 the dem led congress cut off all aid in one of the most shameful and evil acts committed by by our gov't. This was led by ted "the swimmer" kennedy and john "effin' kerry. The blood of millions of our allies are on their hands.

[Bubba_Leroy]

In 1978, with America's ally the Shah of Iran under siege, President Jimmy Carter asked a former diplomat named George Ball to study the situation and recommend a course of action.

So is he the idiot that recommended the course of action that Carter took with Iran - turning Iran into an islamic terrorist state?

[Right Wing Assault]

when you take a guided tour, your tour guide decides what you see

Oh, I just assumed he would have someone from al-Qaeda show him around.