Posted on 07/21/2008 11:38:39 AM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
I remember the exact moment I had my first serious doubts about whether I was 100 percent right that the U.S. pre-emptive invasion of Iraq and the take-out of Saddam Hussein was a serious mistake.
I had been strongly opposed to the U.S. intervention from the start. I felt this way even though I believed (as did most everyone, including the intelligence community) that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction and even though I thought that he was a murderous, genocidal thug and the world would be better off - and the U.S. safer - with him dead.
However, I reasoned, the WMD inspectors were back in, and we had Saddam surrounded - thanks to George Bush, by the way, for which we Democrats did not give him sufficient credit at the time.
So why risk the uncertainties of a pre-emptive invasion, loss of life and treasure, and diverting our attention from 9/11 and the war against terrorism, which most U.S. intelligence indicated had nothing to do with Saddam?
Of course, all these remain good reasons for opposing starting the war, even as I look back now.
But ... then came my first moment of doubt.
I saw on TV in early 2005, in their first preliminary democratic elections, long lines of Iraqis waiting to vote under the hot desert sun with bombs and shrapnel exploding around them. Waiting to vote!
And then there was that indelible image - an older woman shrouded in a carpetlike cape, smiling gleefully and holding her purple finger in the air for the TV cameras, purple with ink showing that she had voted.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
The “Surge” worked. Iraq is a win. The Dems know it. They have to “Change”.
Lanny Davis is the “Point Man” for the new Dem Lie.
Wow! Lanny Davis showing some sensitivity and insight.
It always amazes me that guys like Lanny Davis, even when making some confessions and admitting some success from W’s policies, never acknowledge that deposing and capturing Saddam led to Libya giving up its nuclear ambitions — how much was that little milestone worth in the War On Terror?
Oh man, the whining on DU will be epic. New material for PJ.
I think history will be far kinder to President Bush and the flypaper strategy in Iraq than the Democrats are.
He won't be a stooge for the bent one and his womyn.
If we're winning the Iraq War, and the elected, Constitutional govt. now in place is going to be able to rebuild their country along the lines of liberty and democracy, thanks to an enormous sacrifice on the part of U.s. troops who helped remove a repellent, parasitic dictator from their midst, and quell the fires of sectarian chaos---
Why would Iraqis who helped us, now be in danger? Why would all those thousands of translators, comrades-in-arms, local suppliers and others, now be looking to emigrate to the USA? Why would they and their families be in fear for their lives?
Anyone?
Just trying to make Barak look dumb (as if that is hard) so Hillary can run in 2012.
Lanny is a scumbag. I don’t trust one word he says. This is obviously the first step in trying to erase the anti war hyperbole that has taken place over the last few years that almost lost us the war. The Democrats should apologize for their actions rather than trying to rewrite history... again.
Lanny, you thick headed ignorant twat. Many of us saw that way ahead of you and you’re supposed to be so damned intelligent. I’m not impressed with you or your sycophants, you’re dangerous because of your stupidity and willingness to believe the lyin’ libs, of which you are one. Maybe you’re beginning to wake up but I doubt it, you’re too stupid, you sway with what ever prevailing breeze there is which tells us you have no brain of your own.
While my son and so many other’s sons and daughters were THERE DURING THE ELECTIONS on the ground in Iraq risking their lives for those people, while we sweated blood at home expecting a notification team to show up, you and your digraceful crowd were militating for our son’s and daughter’s defeat and death. You are scum beneath my boot soles you pathetic wretch as are all Democrats, RINOs and their minions.
They remember the end of the Vietnam war. It also had a government and the war was won.
Then the Democrats took the House and Senate. They cut off all military support and aid for Vietnam and invited the north to take over.
There were millions killed and some who became boat people in the aftermath.
Democrats still claim they did the right thing then.
They will do the same again. They want the US to lose.
You must not be very old to not know this history.
You are a tool Davis, a complete low life tool of the Clinton's. If the right wing had it's way in the Vietnam the war would have been won back in the late 60's right after the failed Tet offensive.
It was liberal fools like your self and others that kept the hopes and dreams for victory alive for the North.
It is liberal fools like you who still do not acknowledge the impact of the loss, that you worked for, on the 100's of thousands killed and/or tortured after we withdrew.
It is liberal fools like you who cannot admit the death and destruction which spread to Cambodia after you helped bring North Vietnam and their Russian sponsors to victory.
It is liberal fools like you that tie the hands of the Army, then gloat when our soldiers are defeated.
It is liberal fools like you that root for our defeat so as to install your liberal buddy's be it Hillary or Hussein Obama.
It is liberal fools like you that are given too much media support with bilge like this column.
There, got that off my chest.
“Why would Iraqis who helped us, now be in danger? Why would all those thousands of translators, comrades-in-arms, local suppliers and others, now be looking to emigrate to the USA? Why would they and their families be in fear for their lives?”
It’s a reasonable question.
IMO The Radicals of the Jihad have perhaps been defeated in the theater of physical action. Less airborne lead, however the truly Radical have simply gone underground to await their opportunity to strike out once again for that in which they believe. Those sorts cannot be eliminated without destroying everything in sight. Destroying everything in sight might sound appealing to some, but isn’t very practical for ME relations.
Iraq today is safer to walk, shop, etc., and at this time the majority of the people are united in their will to keep it that way, but they live in a Nation of Radicals, and Neighboring States supporting those Radicals whom kill without remorse. As they were assisting the Great Satan to eliminate the Radical presence, and especially as they together won against the Jihad, they are targets for vengeance by the Radicals.
A reason to emigrate would be that at the time of their recruitment, we were not trusted all that well by the locals. As part of the incentive to assist us to help them win their freedom, as well to get to know us as friends, we were compelled to offer rewards of value. Emigrating to the U.S., and away from the fear of violence even today is great incentive.
I see no problem with them emigrating to our Nation, but I do see a problem with the infiltration of our Nation by the Saudi Wahhabist’s on such massive scale as is occuring. This is becoming a serious problem that should not be ignored anymore than Illegal Immigration from South of the Border.
Day in, day out, they covered that Aruba story like it was the most important story in the world; more important than the sacrifices out troops were making with their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. - Tom
Do you have a book or other reading you could recommend, so I could get a more accurate overview of this history?
He was raised by Communist parents and was the author of all the propaganda used by the anti-war crowd. The talking points and cliches they still use were his ideas.
He was a columnist for the New York Times, and the Editor of "Ramparts" magazine, a slick left wing magazine that was read by all the leftists. He was a Professor at Berkley, and was the primary leader of the Anti-War movement.
Radical Son is his autobiography and is an accurate portrayal of that time. I was discharged from the Army in 1961, Married in 1962 so I am very aware of what happened then.
His depiction is the best I have seen for accuracy. His freind Betty was murdered by Hughy Newton, and the police wouldn't do anything about it. It was a real eye opener to him.
Another book of his that I recommend is "Politics of Bad Faith".
There were no US combat troops in Vietnam when the North overran the South. They had all been withdrawn and there was an agreement signed in Paris that the war was over.
How could the US Forces lose when they were long gone?
Thank you.
I can envision something like that happening in Iraq. It's awful. We've got to stop Obama.
What a miserable, arrogant, ignorant, weasel-faced little p.o.s. Lanny Davis is! He had to "wonder" if Iraqis wanted the freedom and prosperity he enjoys?
Liberals are truly THE lowest form of life on this planet. An absolute plague to mankind, and none are more despicable or toxic than Lanny Pakistani.
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