The Mourning After (safire)

new york times ^ | 1/30/03 | safire

[knak]

WASHINGTON — The reaction of Democratic political leaders to President Bush's next-to-final speech before liberating Iraq was the Scottish verdict "Not proven." Hastening to agree that Saddam is a monster and a menace, they are careful to express reservations about removing him from power at this particular moment, or without U.N. approval.

By arguing that "the case has not yet been made," and by going along with France's Gallic shrug next week at whatever Colin Powell presents as evidence, these politicians position themselves for a postwar I-told-you-so.

1. If the war goes badly — that is , if we are forced to inflict heavy casualties — today's case-not-made crowd can claim that they opposed the war from the start.

2. If the war goes very badly — if Saddam uses smallpox or nerve gas to make our military pay dearly for our victory — today's hesitators will say that we brought a disaster on ourselves, that Saddam would never have used his terrible weapons unless provoked by our invasion.

[victim soul]

FREEDOM!!!!!!

[dalebert]

I think the Democrats will crawl in bed with anyone if it means power.

[Havoc]

Anyone catch the Iraqi ambassador to the UN today? How'd he get the democrat's Talking points? The guy sounded like little Tommy. LOL

[yooper]

Hopefully Colin Powell has learned his lesson vis-a-vis dealing with the French. 100 years of freedom at the expense of other nation's blood has taught them nothing. No gratitude and a knife in the back at the first available opportunity.

[Political Junkie Too]

Anyone catch the Iraqi ambassador to the UN today? How'd he get the democrat's Talking points?

Treasonous behavior from within.

-PJ

[cajungirl]

Tonite Bill Crystal compared the dems to the French,,said they were left of the French and that he renamed the party,,,LaPartie democratique,,hahah,,in a french accent.

[Deb]

I wish someone would remind the World that "UN approval" is what got us here. If the UN charter had allowed us to do the rational thing in '91...Saddam would be humus as we speak.

I am so sick of hearing about the UN I could puke.

[RLJVet]

I wish someone would remind the World that "UN approval" is what got us here. If the UN charter had . . .

I believe the president remembers.

[ffusco]

A linguist friend of mine claims the french have over a dozen words for "surrender"

[Brett66]

The point is this: Both sides of the debate are furiously positioning to cover themselves in case the other side proves right. But the difference is this: Even if the hawks are wrong about Saddam's treachery, 20 million terrified Iraqis would be freed. If the doves are wrong and their delay enables the genocidal tyrant to become a world power, millions of American lives could well be lost.

You have to have a truly evil nature to be on the pacifists side on this. Or a dem......

[thegreatbeast]

For some reason I thought of Billy Crystal? Remember back when he was funny?
A good precis by Safire of the various rationalizations for the two "parties" (ambiguity meant to leave room for RINOs and hawkish dems).
Anything CAN happen. But the only thing I truly worry about is if Hussein wants to invoke a Scorched Earth policy, then all bets are off.

[JulieRNR21]

I also heard Bill Krystal call them 'Le Partie Democratique'.....best thing he's said in a long time!

Maybe he's starting to like GW Bush? He had adored McCain!

[Rudder]

Cannot register with NYT.

Just curious---Why not post the entire article?