Scowcroft's 'realism' (The awaited Krauthammer smackdown)

Townhall ^ | Oct 28, 2005 | Charles Krauthammer

[AliVeritas]

WASHINGTON -- Now that Cindy Sheehan turns out to be a disaster for the anti-war movement -- most Americans are not about to follow a left-wing radical who insists that we are in Iraq for reasons of theft, oppression and empire -- a new spokesman is needed. If I were in the opposition camp, I would want a deeply patriotic, highly intelligent, distinguished establishment figure. I would want Brent Scowcroft.

Scowcroft has been obliging. This week in The New Yorker he came out strongly against the war and the neocon sorcerers who magically foisted it upon what must have been a hypnotized president and vice president.

Of course, Scowcroft's opposition to toppling Saddam is neither surprising nor new. Indeed, we are now seeing its third iteration. He had two cracks at Saddam in 1991 and urged his President Bush to pass them both up -- first, after Saddam's defeat in the Gulf War when the road to Baghdad was open, and then, days later, during a massive U.S.-encouraged uprising of Kurds and Shiites when America stood by and allowed Saddam to massacre his opponents by the tens of thousands. (One of the reasons for Iraqi wariness during the U.S. liberation 12 years later was the memory of our past betrayal and suspicions about our current intentions in light of that betrayal.)

[bnelson44]

Scowcroft has been obliging. This week in The New Yorker he came out strongly against the war and the neocon sorcerers who magically foisted it upon what must have been a hypnotized president and vice president.

What? Again? How many times is he going to come out against the war? Can't you only do that once?

[JohnLongIsland]

scowcroft is the david souter of foreign policy.

[Fenris6]

Leftists will never understand reality-based foreign policy. We are in a GWOT - we either drain the swamp in the ME or create a police state here at home.

[Danae]

Go Chuckie! Go Chuckie! Go Chuckie!

[cynicom]

Scowcroft is a little man and little men in high places are dangerous. Seems some time ago that he is heavily involved in the Middle East oil cartel. A bought and paid for lackey.

[misterrob]

then, days later, during a massive U.S.-encouraged uprising of Kurds and Shiites when America stood by and allowed Saddam to massacre his opponents by the tens of thousands. (One of the reasons for Iraqi wariness during the U.S. liberation 12 years later was the memory of our past betrayal and suspicions about our current intentions in light of that betrayal...)

Not one of our finer moments.

[EagleUSA]

Leftists will never understand reality-based foreign policy.
----
They don't WANT to understand it. It does not fit into their utopian, Marxist fairyland they want to force upon the country.

[Mr. Mojo]

It is not surprising that Scowcroft, who helped give indecency [in the form of Saddam's Ba'athist Iraq] a 12-year life extension, should disdain decency's return. But we should not.

Spot on, Charles.

Scowcroft may hide behind "realism," but odds are he's simply a typical Israel-despising, dictator-loving Arabist.

[Beckwith]

I watched Cindy Sheehan on C-SPAN this AM.

My God! What an absolute weirdo and you have to hear her speak, what a voice. When you mix that with the stuff coming out of her mouth ~ truly unbelievable.

There were about 10 reporters in the room. All of them began their questions with words of support.

One guy finally got up and asked her about about all the organizations and people who truly support the troops and reject Sheehan as a fruit loop.

Sheehan's response was a five-minute ramble with no train of thought, simply slogans.

[pissant]

Sounds like a Barbra Steisand leftist to me.

[Mr. Mojo]

......but odds are he's simply a typical Israel-despising, dictator-loving Arabist

....who's swimming in Arab oil dollars.

[bigeasy_70118]

Scowcroft was Condi Rice's mentor during Bush I. I am glad to see that at least in an ideological sense she has abandoned that relationship.

[cynicom]

"

" but odds are he's simply a typical Israel-despising, dictator-loving Arabist."

Glad you said that.

[Pukin Dog]

And a nice smackdown it was.

[rmgatto]

It's nice to see Charles jumping from the ropes onto Scowcroft now that Meirs is gone from the ring.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Apparently not.

[bnelson44]

Yes, it is nice to have that distraction gone.

[Eagles Talon IV]

"...you have to hear her speak, what a voice"

I have heard her voice and she is pure stoned "valley girl" of the 1960's totally brainless and minus the looks.

Know what I mean? Like, far out

[Oldhunk]

That was about as good a smackdown as I have ever seen. Wow.