US Invasion of Iraq, Ten Years On: No Shame

ClashDaily.com ^ | 3/23/2013 | Steve Pauwels

[IChing]

I’d like to think the ranks of constitutional conservatism were immune to the scourge of “trendiness” — but, embracing the biblical concept of man’s fallen nature, I know better. Even “right-wingers” like myself can be susceptible to societal fads.

For a few years, for instance, it’s been au courant in some precincts to claim political conservative bona-fides while trashing the incomparable Rush Limbaugh or Fox News. More common is the growing, “edgy” tendency to own “fiscal restraint” and “small government” convictions while junking traditional “social issues”.

This past week, marking the tenth anniversary of America’s Iraq invasion, another example of flaky conservative vogue rears up: pronouncements that military action against Saddam Hussein was wrong-headed, a squandering of sacred American blood and treasure.

Up my way just days ago, a solidly conservative, pro-military, America-first local radio host bemoaned last decade’s Babylonian violence. Meanwhile, Wednesday’s Yahoo News featured an open letter from Tomas Young, a disillusioned and dying Iraq War vet and subject of Phil Donahue’s 2007 anti-war documentary Body of War. In his missive, the paralyzed 33-year-old curses George W. Bush and — of course — Dick Cheney for “egregious war crimes … plunder and … the murder of thousands of … my fellow veterans.”

Although Young’s accusation was published on the frothily Leftist truthdig.com, I suspect, across America, not a few Republicans, Reaganites, military families, even national security hawks were nodding their heads in quiet approval.

Oooooo, how cutting-edge of them.

Well, count me out of that claque.

Criticism of the manner in which “Operation Iraqi Freedom” was prosecuted (too restrained, overly cautious, excessively fretful about world opinion)? Have at it.

Beefing about the United States’ post-incursion “Nation Building” policy or diplomatic pirouetting? No problem with that, ether.

[a fool in paradise]

Compare and contrast the handling of Baraq’s own undeclared war on Libya (which has resulted in the deaths of Americans and even the war crime torture, abuse, and murder of a head of state with our own Secretary of State taking credit with the boast, “WE came, WE saw, HE DIED!!!”).

The Left’s protests were against the man, not the policies. No antiwar news coverage in opposition to drone attacks on civilians.

But some seem to still think that the media coverage of anniversaries and body counts is not politically driven.

The 40th anniversary of William Ayers’ bombing of the Pentagon was not noted last year (an election year). Too soon?

[Darksheare]

o_o

Welcome to FR.

Sarin gas shell turned into an IED, Mustard gas shells also turned into IEDs, drones, missiles from France shipped in 2003 that Iraq wasn’t supposed ot have, But hey, the Sarin gas shell doesn’t count as a WMD, right?
Nevermind that the presence of even one shell is proof...

Also, how about Libya?
Any outcry over that?
No?
Why not?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Imagine if we'd walked away from Japan and Germany after disabusing them of fascism ?

[Darksheare]

Apparently after a win we are supposed to slink away in shame.

[T-Bird45]

Criticism of the manner in which “Operation Iraqi Freedom” was prosecuted (too restrained, overly cautious, excessively fretful about world opinion)? Have at it.

Beefing about the United States’ post-incursion “Nation Building” policy or diplomatic pirouetting? No problem with that, either.

Combine the factors noted by the author above with the fact that these factors demonstrably pre-existed the decision to enter into the war, then there's where I have a problem with the choice to go into Iraq. It matters not what other motivation you attach to the decision: "get" Saddam, "find" the WMDs, etc.; if you are not going in to violently eliminate their military capacity, break their infrastructure, and seize their resources without remorse then you are not dealing with them seriously and should not proceed. Either total war or no war; do or do not, there is no try (h/t Master Yoda).

[DManA]

Right in the first sentence he's not starting a discussion, he's picking a fight:

were immune to the scourge of “trendiness”

Well this a-hole can suck my trend.