Posted on 01/09/2005 3:10:49 PM PST by TaxachusettsMan
Scowcroft Skeptical Vote Will Stabilize Iraq Friend of Bush Family Joins Pessimists
By Dana Priest and Robin Wright Washington Post Staff Writers Friday, January 7, 2005; Page A12
Brent Scowcroft, national security adviser for President George H.W. Bush and a leading figure in the U.S. foreign policy establishment, said yesterday that he has grown pessimistic about prospects for stability and democracy in Iraq, a view increasingly expressed by other foreign policy figures in both parties.
"The Iraqi elections, rather than turning out to be a promising turning point, have the great potential for deepening the conflict," Scowcroft said. He said he expects increased divisions between Shiite and Sunni Muslims after the Jan. 30 elections, when experts believe the government will be dominated by the majority Shiites.
Scowcroft predicted "an incipient civil war" would grip Iraq and said the best hope for pulling the country from chaos would be to turn the U.S. operation over to NATO or the United Nations -- which, he said, would not be so hostilely viewed by Iraqis.
Speaking at a luncheon hosted by the New America Foundation, a nonprofit public policy group, Scowcroft also said the continued U.S. presence in Iraq is inflaming the Middle East, hurting the U.S. war on terrorism.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Bet the Bush Family is glad they bailed this guy's duff out of that "little problem" he had a few Administrations back!
He's all over the news again today, heading the roster of gloomsters and doomsters.
Most networks have just finished running their "The Year That Was: 2004" programs which always contains the poignant (or relief-filled) segment: "WE SAID GOOD-BYE TO THEM in 2004!"
I, for one, think we couldn't say good bye to Admiral Scowcroft soon enough in 2005!
What does Scowcroft hope to gain? I suspect the old fart is mad as hell that GW never calls him for his "perspective" and so he tries to undermine the President at every opportunity.
I'd don't agree. The elections offer hope. That's in short supply in Iraq these days.
You're absolutely right! And that was my point in posting the story about Admiral Has-Been Sour-Grapes: I think there's a nuclear sub aground somewhere that they might think of giving him the command of.
Everything this shithead has said in the past several months have shown him to have entered the Goldwater Twilight Zone.
Keep moving everyong, nothing to see here; just a hasbeen who's fallen into uselessness. He'll be fine, just drools in his oatmeal a bit. Keep moving.
Geez, right out of left field! Scowcroft pessimistic about Iraq. Who saw it coming?
Its only like Brent Scowcroft is the living embodiment of the Old School let-Arabs-be-Arabs, Sultan cowtowing, Dictator coddling, approach to the Middle East, and was publicly against the Iraq adventure from the very beginning.
Uhhhh, "everyone".
I have always thought he was probably the one that got wobbly around the time "THE HIGHWAY OF DEATH" was shown on TV.
Which - I think - was your point - and a good one.
Iraq is going badly because we are fighting with our hands tied behind our back again, just like we did in Nam.
We let the terrorists get a leg up when the RATS started their 2 year anti-war undermining effort to defeat Bush. They are doing the same thing with the "torture" nonsense.
We need to get tough and ruthless with terrorists and their supporters, including the traitorous left. Until we do that, our land is not safe.
I've heard some interesting thoughts recently on the feasibility of using internment camps to deal with the traitors and disloyal elements. There is no reason we should have to put up with leftist swine sabotaging the war effort the way they did during the Vietnam War. As for the combat troops, yes, we need to quit pussy-footing around and let them do what they need to do to wipe out the terrorists and secure peace. God bless those brave men and women!
I smell a rat here. The UN will not go back to Iraq until they consider the country stable.
Gawd! Not "Mr. Stability" again. He and Brezinski and their fellow irrelevant "elder statesmen" should get together and form their own club.
I've read the occasional interview w/Kissinger and he sounds a lot less sclerotic than the "stability" boys (he actually seems to dig up facts before issuing pronunciamentos). I swear, people like Scowcroft prove the rule that once one rises to a certain level of lofty incompetence in this town you really never have to worry about eating. Just keep writing books filled with meaningless, highfalutin, geo/poly/diplo-speak, keep giving speeches to the usual conferences and gatherings, lending your name to prestigious boards of directors and college campuses (maybe giving a lecture or two a year) who want a big name for it's own sake [down with "celebrity professors"!] and do the odd Charlie Rose interview. Never mind if you have been repeatedly proven wrong by events as often as Paul ("The Population Bomb") Erlich. As long as you piss and poop all over a republican administration the MSM will pay you the proper obeisance and you'll never lack for cocktail party invites.
Actually, Iraq is going well. Lets compare Iraq to just one WWII battle. The Battle of the Bulge was fought at the end of WWII. After defeating the German offensive, the United States had casualties of over 75,000 of which 19,000 were killed. I am also sick of Iraq being compared to VIETNAM. Your drinking the liberal Kool Aid. Look folks, we are fighting a regional war. President Bush has a plan and we have kept to the time line. After the elections in Iraq you will see more pressure on Iran. Iran is the key to all of this.
End.
We might have to remove all the Sunnis.
You are right. We need to light a really hot fire under Iran. They are supporting the terrorists against us. Of course, so are the Saudis.
I agree....i've known brent for years and i for one think he's lost his marbles. i'm so sick of hearing him speak his gems of wisdom (not!!) i just wish he'd shut up and got quietly into the night!
Exactly.
Civil War? Haven't heard about it. I don't think the Al Qaeda bombings and killing westerners is a civil war.
Who cares what the H this geezers opinions are. He helped sink Bush 41.
Yes there is a civil war going on in Saudi Arabia. Do you think the MSM would let you know about it? Remember, the Democrats, MSM wants President Bush & the country to loose the War on Terror. They want POWER and don't care how they get. They would love for Bush to overreact in Saudi Arabia. Yes, there are problems with the Saudi’s. However we must support elements of the Saudi ruling family who support us. We can not afford to alienate these friendly Saudi forces. Again don't drink the LIBERAL KOOL AID.
I was simply looking at the lack of support we get from the Saudis. Also, the obvious attempt sabotage Bush by raising gas prices before the election.
Again, they are supporting us. The MSM is only giving us gloom & doom.
OK, I will take your word for it (at least for the time being).
Does it trouble you that we are then forced to prop up a Kingdom with no democracy?
No. One must crawl before you can walk. We have 2 choices when it comes to the Middle East/Islam. Gradually convert them to a peaceful form of Democracy or allow the Islamic-Fascist to foster by retreating to fortress America. This will ultimately lead to a MAJOR nuclear war with these people and will mean 200 plus million dead.
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