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Armor fiasco could backfire
NY Daily ^ | Dec 19, 2004 | Zev Chafets

Posted on 12/20/2004 2:23:27 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection

Firing Rumsfeld over this flap would only encourage the jihadis

During the presidential campaign, John Kerry vacillated between two anthems: Bruce Springsteen's "No Surrender" and "I Won't Back Down," by Tom Petty.

Bush used "Still the One" until its composer, John Hall, told him to cease and desist. There is no indication the President cared. He's not a music lover. But every administration needs a theme song. Since Kerry no longer needs one, Bush should borrow one of his.

"No Surrender," despite its title, is a melancholy tale of youthful determination gone soft. Petty's hard line - You can stand me up at the gate of hell, but I won't back down - is a better fit for the President.

Of course, it is Bush's pugnacious self-confidence, even more than his Texan Christianity, that drives critics berserk. Sophisticates trained to value irony, self-doubt and skepticism (except, of course, regarding global warming), they see uncertainty as the mark of intellectual honesty. In fact, they're certain of it.

During the election campaign, Democrats begged Bush to cop to a mistake - just one teensy-weensy error. He refused, partly, I think, out of sheer sadism. A class-traitor if ever there was one, the President enjoys pushing the indignant squeal button of his fellow Ivy Leaguers.

Now Bush's critics (including some self-interested Republicans) want him to admit that the war in Iraq has gone wrong by firing Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The immediate justification is equipment shortages, an issue that made headlines when a G.I. complained to Rumsfeld that he and his buddies had to rummage in scrap heaps to "up-armor" their vehicles.

The President has no reason to do this. For one thing, his policy in Iraq is not a failure. But it will be if he listens to his detractors.

The U.S. can't lose a shooting war in Iraq. Its military might is too great. But insurgencies are fueled by optimism. The hope of the jihadis and Saddamites is that they can persuade Americans that this war, like Vietnam, is unwinnable.

Bush's job is to take that hope away by making America's enemies, in Iraq and beyond, believe that the U.S. cannot and will not be stopped.

Reelection helps. Nobody in the Middle East read the results as a vindication of Republican principles on gay marriage, abortion or Social Security reform. It was seen as a mandate for war. Bush is the strong horse, and he has been given four more years to run.

The Arab world understands the determined use of force almost as much as it is mystified by irony (bitterly cynical humor is another story). Bush's victory, followed by the successful election in Afghanistan and the brutal capture of Fallujah, has had a clarifying effect.

Suddenly, the Sunnis in Iraq are talking seriously about participating in the Jan. 30 election. This is not due to a spontaneous outbreak of Jeffersonian enlightenment in Saddamland. On the contrary, it is a cool appreciation of which way the strong horse is running.

Similar appraisals are taking place around the region. Cairo wants to help the U.S. broker a Palestinian peace with Israel, and pro-American articles are breaking out in the usually poisonous Egyptian media. The Palestinian leadership has admitted that armed uprising is counterproductive and is preparing for its own free election.

It's too early to declare victory, but this is progress. Nothing would halt it faster than Rumsfeld's forced resignation. Everyone from Casablanca to the Khyber Pass would take it as declaration of defeat.

No wartime President can afford to be Hamlet, or even Bruce Springsteen. This is Tom Petty time: Gonna stand my ground, won't be turned around/And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down/... I won't back down.

Bush should get the song translated into Arabic, Persian and French and have the Marine band - conducted by Donald Rumsfeld - play it at his inauguration.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: armorflap; backfire; bushdoctrineunfolds; rumsfeld; zevchafets
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To: PhilDragoo

Thanks.


41 posted on 12/20/2004 7:50:09 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection (www.whatyoucrave.com)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
It's too early to declare victory, but this is progress. Nothing would halt it faster than Rumsfeld's forced resignation.

Which is exactly why the Liberals and clueless RINOs are attacking Rumsfeld.They want us to cut bait and run.

42 posted on 12/20/2004 8:05:19 PM PST by HP8753 (John Kerry is the King of Spitzpinklers)
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To: MeekOneGOP

Thanks for the ping!


43 posted on 12/20/2004 8:34:51 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
During the presidential campaign, John Kerry vacillated between two anthems: Bruce Springsteen's "No Surrender" and "I Won't Back Down," by Tom Petty.

LOL. Classic.

44 posted on 12/20/2004 8:35:43 PM PST by Petronski (A suitable case for treatment.)
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To: MeekOneGOP

Thank you.


45 posted on 12/20/2004 9:02:23 PM PST by bubbleb
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To: Victoria Delsoul; okie01
You got to see this one posted by Doctor Raoul:

Armor installed within 24 hours of soldiers' complaint (97.6% Complete When Reporter "Faked" News)

46 posted on 12/20/2004 10:18:58 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection; Ernest_at_the_Beach
Sophisticates trained to value irony, self-doubt and skepticism (except, of course, regarding global warming), they see uncertainty as the mark of intellectual honesty.

Heh... heh... yeah... of course, they only insist on that mark for those who disagree with them. ;')
47 posted on 12/20/2004 10:30:01 PM PST by SunkenCiv ("All I have seen teaches me trust the Creator for all I have not seen." -- Emerson)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Bush should get the song translated into Arabic, Persian and French and have the Marine band - conducted by Donald Rumsfeld - play it at his inauguration.

Great idea. And they can make sure the Jihadi Patsies McCain, Hagel, Collins are seated as far in the back as possible....behind a post.

48 posted on 12/20/2004 10:44:01 PM PST by McGavin999 (Senate is trying to cover their A$$es with Rumsfeld hide)
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To: Petronski

He's got to songs to use as a theme for tough decision making, and he can't decide which one to use! :^D

BTW, I seem to bump into you a LOT, Petronski!


49 posted on 12/20/2004 10:49:05 PM PST by dangus
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To: dangus

This demonsrates your brilliant sense of humor.


50 posted on 12/20/2004 10:50:14 PM PST by Petronski (A suitable case for treatment.)
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To: Petronski

Demonstrates it, too.


51 posted on 12/20/2004 10:50:34 PM PST by Petronski (A suitable case for treatment.)
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

What the 'Rats and 'Rat media don't get is that the election is over - and that whatever temptation Bush might have had for unprincipled actions because of the pragmatics of re-election - it is long gone now.

Bush will rule for the esoteric good of the nation - a concept that 'Rats haven't understood for a long time, if they ever even did. Now - when they nitpick from all these trivial angles, like a 3rd world juvenile pickpocket, Bush can serenely tell them "Rumsfield is doing a great job, he has my full confidence - and you can cram it."


52 posted on 12/20/2004 11:10:47 PM PST by guitfiddlist (When the 'Rats break out switchblades, it's no time to invoke Robert's Rules.)
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To: ex-snook

I suggest you actually read the transcript of the meeting that Rummy had with the troops. He didn't tell them anything except the truth. Obviously a lot of people cannot handle that! Can you?


53 posted on 12/21/2004 12:36:10 AM PST by gr8eman (Welcome to the Loser Evolution! If the glove doesn't fit...don't have a fit!)
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To: PhilDragoo
bump! bump! bump!

54 posted on 12/21/2004 1:38:56 AM PST by MeekOneGOP (There is only one GOOD 'RAT: one that has been voted OUT of POWER !! Straight ticket GOP! ©)
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To: MNJohnnie
The ones who gutted the Military in the 1990s NOW posture as these great defenders of the military. They are SCUM. Pure 100% SCUM.

100% SCUM is probably a bit too kind but I agree!

55 posted on 12/21/2004 5:31:04 AM PST by rocksblues (RINO's = McCain, Lott, Collins, Hagel, Coleman ! developing)
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To: Smartass

Great picture!


56 posted on 12/21/2004 5:34:39 AM PST by Uncle Vlad
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To: Tumbleweed_Connection

Big GWB and Rumsfeld ~ Bump!


57 posted on 12/21/2004 12:14:30 PM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Thanks for the link, Ernerst. Very interesting thread.

Nothing like good armchair Generals to tell us how things should be done.

58 posted on 12/21/2004 1:10:02 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
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