Lies and Lessons
I use America Online, and my homepage is set to their news setting. One of the things I`ve learned as a result is that AOL news is one most biased, dishonest sources imaginable. This morning I was treated to screaming headlines claiming,
``Iraq War Hits Landmark Day...Leaders turn up heat on Bush, call conflict impending disaster...``
Now, to read this one would think we suffered 40,000 casualties yesterday, and that we have inflicted none ourselves. Furthermore, this suggests that Republicans are fleeing from the Iraqi War en-masse, and that Bush is the modern Nicholas II, vainly pursuing his Alice In Wonderland dreams of Empire while his subjects starve and are revolting (I`ll say...they stink on ice!) Well, read for yourselves:
Congressional Leaders Press Bush on Iraq
U.S. Involvement in Iraq Surpasses the Length of World War II
By BEN FELLER, AP
WASHINGTON (Nov. 26) - Congressional leaders displayed eroding patience in the Iraqi government on Sunday, adding pressure on President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to find a faster path to peace when they meet this week
"It is not too late. The United States can still extricate itself honorably from an impending disaster in Iraq," Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a potential presidential contender in 2008, said in urging for a planned withdrawal of U.S. troops.
"If the president fails to build a bipartisan foundation for an exit strategy, America will pay a high price for this blunder - one that we will have difficulty recovering from in the years ahead," Hagel wrote in Sunday's Washington Post.
As the U.S. involvement in Iraq surpassed the length of America's participation in World War II, lawmakers have dwindling confidence in the U.S.-supported Iraqi government. It was the deadliest week of sectarian fighting in Baghdad since the war began in March 2003.
"I think what we've got to do is go around the Maliki government in certain situations," said Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, another possible presidential candidate. "Let's work with other groups, and let's get regional buy-in into this."
Bush, after a NATO summit in Europe, plans to meet with al-Maliki on Wednesday and Thursday in Jordan. That summit, coupled with Vice President Dick Cheney's trip to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, is evidence of the administration's stepped-up effort to bring stability to the region.
The host of the meeting, Jordan's King Abdullah, said Sunday the problems in the Middle East go beyond the war in Iraq. He said much of the region soon could become engulfed in violence unless the central issues are addressed quickly.
The king said he was hopeful the leaders will find a way to reduce the level of violence.
"We hope there will be something dramatic. The challenges, obviously, in front of both of them are immense," he said.
Iraq's leaders promised Sunday to track down those responsible for the recent attacks, and al-Maliki urged his national unity government of Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds to curb the violence by stopping their public disputes.
The Iraqi prime minister is under pressure from Shiite politicians loyal to the radical anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr who have threatened to boycott parliament and the Cabinet if al-Maliki meets with Bush.
"This is all political posturing. It's all red herring. It's an anti-threat. This is a very stable government," responded Iraq's national security adviser, Mouwafak al-Rubaie. He said he had no doubt the prime minister would meet with Bush in Jordan.
As for Bush, some of the toughest criticism is coming from within his own party.
"We have misunderstood, misread, misplanned and mismanaged our honorable intentions in Iraq with an arrogant self-delusion reminiscent of Vietnam," said Hagel, a combat veteran of that war. "Honorable intentions are not policies and plans."
Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, called Iraq the worst U.S. foreign policy decision since Vietnam. He said Democrats do not have a quick answer and any solution must be bipartisan.
"It is time to tell the Iraqis that unless they're willing to disband the militias and the death squads, unless they're willing to stand up and govern their country in a responsible fashion, America is not going to stay there indefinitely," Durbin said.
That theme - pressuring al-Maliki and his government - seemed to unify Republicans and Democrats.
"I think we're going to have to be very aggressive and specific with him," said Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., the incoming No. 2 GOP leader. "And if he doesn't show real leadership, doesn't try to bring the situation under control - if, in fact, he becomes a part of the problem - we're going to have to make some tough decisions."
Yet Rep. Duncan Hunter, the outgoing chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said the United States will win the conflict in the long run by supporting a free government in Iraq. Before any decisions are made on reducing U.S. troop levels, he said, more U.S.-trained Iraqi battalions should be moved into the heavy-fighting areas of Baghdad.
"Saddle those guys up," Hunter said. "Move them into the fight."
Durbin, Brownback and King Abdullah were on "This Week" on ABC. Lott appeared on "Fox News Sunday" and Hunter on "Meet the Press" on NBC. Al-Rubaie was on CNN's "Late Edition."
Notice that the Republican criticisms were mostly against the Iraqi Prime Minister-not the President or the war effort. They weighted Hagel heavily, but is that a surprise? And of course the Democrats went after Bush and the war.
In short, there was nothing new. We were treated to just another biased diatribe, another add campaign for the Democrats at the expense of the nation.
It never occurs to these dunderheads that this war is hardly long by historical standards; there was the 7 Years War, the 40 Years War, the 100 Years War, the Russians were at war with the Mongols for Centuries, the Iraqi-Iranian war lasted 8 years, while the Cold War lasted roughly 40. The Napoleonic Wars lasted 16 years, while the War of the Spanish Succession lasted 14. Wars come in all shapes and sizes, and a war of attrition tends to take a long time; how long did it take for the British to subdue the Irish? The Scottish? The Welch? Aren`t the Spanish still fighting Basque seperatists today? How long did the Crusades last? It is absolutely foolish to believe that this thing would be over in just a couple of years.
But Hagel calling for the U.S. to ``extricate itself honorably`` is a call for our defeat, using the old code words from Vietnam. Such honor will lead to disaster.
A number of Vietnamese generals have stated that the war in Vietnam was over, and that America had won. They launched Tet in a desperate attempt to shake the boot from their throats, and were amazed when Americans began believing that the war was unwinnable. We snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory, and America suffered the Great Malaise of Jimmy Carte and worldwide contempt. Now that contempt will go beyond sneers and jeers, but will include attacks and death. Can we afford ``extrication with honor``?
Too many Americans want our defeat. They should not be surprised when the crop they have sewn sprouts forth.
``Iraq War Hits Landmark Day...Leaders turn up heat on Bush, call conflict impending disaster...``
Now, to read this one would think we suffered 40,000 casualties yesterday, and that we have inflicted none ourselves. Furthermore, this suggests that Republicans are fleeing from the Iraqi War en-masse, and that Bush is the modern Nicholas II, vainly pursuing his Alice In Wonderland dreams of Empire while his subjects starve and are revolting (I`ll say...they stink on ice!) Well, read for yourselves:
Congressional Leaders Press Bush on Iraq
U.S. Involvement in Iraq Surpasses the Length of World War II
By BEN FELLER, AP
WASHINGTON (Nov. 26) - Congressional leaders displayed eroding patience in the Iraqi government on Sunday, adding pressure on President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to find a faster path to peace when they meet this week
"It is not too late. The United States can still extricate itself honorably from an impending disaster in Iraq," Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, a potential presidential contender in 2008, said in urging for a planned withdrawal of U.S. troops.
"If the president fails to build a bipartisan foundation for an exit strategy, America will pay a high price for this blunder - one that we will have difficulty recovering from in the years ahead," Hagel wrote in Sunday's Washington Post.
As the U.S. involvement in Iraq surpassed the length of America's participation in World War II, lawmakers have dwindling confidence in the U.S.-supported Iraqi government. It was the deadliest week of sectarian fighting in Baghdad since the war began in March 2003.
"I think what we've got to do is go around the Maliki government in certain situations," said Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, another possible presidential candidate. "Let's work with other groups, and let's get regional buy-in into this."
Bush, after a NATO summit in Europe, plans to meet with al-Maliki on Wednesday and Thursday in Jordan. That summit, coupled with Vice President Dick Cheney's trip to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, is evidence of the administration's stepped-up effort to bring stability to the region.
The host of the meeting, Jordan's King Abdullah, said Sunday the problems in the Middle East go beyond the war in Iraq. He said much of the region soon could become engulfed in violence unless the central issues are addressed quickly.
The king said he was hopeful the leaders will find a way to reduce the level of violence.
"We hope there will be something dramatic. The challenges, obviously, in front of both of them are immense," he said.
Iraq's leaders promised Sunday to track down those responsible for the recent attacks, and al-Maliki urged his national unity government of Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds to curb the violence by stopping their public disputes.
The Iraqi prime minister is under pressure from Shiite politicians loyal to the radical anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr who have threatened to boycott parliament and the Cabinet if al-Maliki meets with Bush.
"This is all political posturing. It's all red herring. It's an anti-threat. This is a very stable government," responded Iraq's national security adviser, Mouwafak al-Rubaie. He said he had no doubt the prime minister would meet with Bush in Jordan.
As for Bush, some of the toughest criticism is coming from within his own party.
"We have misunderstood, misread, misplanned and mismanaged our honorable intentions in Iraq with an arrogant self-delusion reminiscent of Vietnam," said Hagel, a combat veteran of that war. "Honorable intentions are not policies and plans."
Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, called Iraq the worst U.S. foreign policy decision since Vietnam. He said Democrats do not have a quick answer and any solution must be bipartisan.
"It is time to tell the Iraqis that unless they're willing to disband the militias and the death squads, unless they're willing to stand up and govern their country in a responsible fashion, America is not going to stay there indefinitely," Durbin said.
That theme - pressuring al-Maliki and his government - seemed to unify Republicans and Democrats.
"I think we're going to have to be very aggressive and specific with him," said Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., the incoming No. 2 GOP leader. "And if he doesn't show real leadership, doesn't try to bring the situation under control - if, in fact, he becomes a part of the problem - we're going to have to make some tough decisions."
Yet Rep. Duncan Hunter, the outgoing chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said the United States will win the conflict in the long run by supporting a free government in Iraq. Before any decisions are made on reducing U.S. troop levels, he said, more U.S.-trained Iraqi battalions should be moved into the heavy-fighting areas of Baghdad.
"Saddle those guys up," Hunter said. "Move them into the fight."
Durbin, Brownback and King Abdullah were on "This Week" on ABC. Lott appeared on "Fox News Sunday" and Hunter on "Meet the Press" on NBC. Al-Rubaie was on CNN's "Late Edition."
Notice that the Republican criticisms were mostly against the Iraqi Prime Minister-not the President or the war effort. They weighted Hagel heavily, but is that a surprise? And of course the Democrats went after Bush and the war.
In short, there was nothing new. We were treated to just another biased diatribe, another add campaign for the Democrats at the expense of the nation.
It never occurs to these dunderheads that this war is hardly long by historical standards; there was the 7 Years War, the 40 Years War, the 100 Years War, the Russians were at war with the Mongols for Centuries, the Iraqi-Iranian war lasted 8 years, while the Cold War lasted roughly 40. The Napoleonic Wars lasted 16 years, while the War of the Spanish Succession lasted 14. Wars come in all shapes and sizes, and a war of attrition tends to take a long time; how long did it take for the British to subdue the Irish? The Scottish? The Welch? Aren`t the Spanish still fighting Basque seperatists today? How long did the Crusades last? It is absolutely foolish to believe that this thing would be over in just a couple of years.
But Hagel calling for the U.S. to ``extricate itself honorably`` is a call for our defeat, using the old code words from Vietnam. Such honor will lead to disaster.
A number of Vietnamese generals have stated that the war in Vietnam was over, and that America had won. They launched Tet in a desperate attempt to shake the boot from their throats, and were amazed when Americans began believing that the war was unwinnable. We snatched defeat out of the jaws of victory, and America suffered the Great Malaise of Jimmy Carte and worldwide contempt. Now that contempt will go beyond sneers and jeers, but will include attacks and death. Can we afford ``extrication with honor``?
Too many Americans want our defeat. They should not be surprised when the crop they have sewn sprouts forth.
posted by Timothy Birdnow | 5:50 AM
3 Comments:
AOL isn't known as Assholes On Line and The Internet On Training Wheels for nothing ;>)
You have more fortitude than I. I stopped reading most news outlets a long--long time ago. The problem is most readers seem to take a lot of what they read at face value. That’s frightening considering that the MSM lies with a smile.
This coupled with the slander of our troops by Chucky Rangel on FNS is just too much sometimes.
After Sunday, I am convinced that the two words missing from the Dimocrats vocabulary is "Patriotism" and "Victory".
Tim great comments.
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