Posted on 06/24/2005 1:26:14 PM PDT by Crackingham
One senator described the public's perception of the war in Iraq as "more and more like Vietnam." A second worried that "our very presence there inspires more insurgents." A third said the strain on the armed forces "is getting worse, not better." Military brass had heard such comments before when they trooped up Capitol Hill to answer questions from Congress. But this time there was a difference: The comments were coming from Republicans.
"We will lose this war if we leave too soon. And what is likely to make us do that? The public going south," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). "And that is happening, and that worries me greatly."
Echoing through the questions posed Thursday to Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and top generals for Iraq was a new note of anxiety, and not just from Democrats long skeptical of the war. Recent polls and phone calls from constituents prompted a series of hang-wringing questions from otherwise supportive Republicans. One of the most direct was Graham, who described himself as a firm backer of the war from the pro-military state of South Carolina.
"I'm here to tell you, sir, in the most patriotic state that I can imagine, people are beginning to question," Graham said. "And I don't think it's a blip on the radar screen."
In his opening remarks, Rumsfeld had compared the struggle in Iraq to World War II and argued that there are always concerns in the aftermath of war about whether the United States is losing the peace. Graham picked up on that comment, saying he believed it was fair to compare rebuilding Iraq to rebuilding Europe.
"It is a World War II event, but the public views this every day, Mr. Secretary, more and more like Vietnam," Graham said.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
The treasonous libs continue to give aid and comfort to our enemies.
that is true.
but what is also true is the facts on the ground there continue to look bad. we just lost a truck load of female marines - who were in fallujah because of the politically correct use of them to search female muslims. a car bomber blew up their convoy. the libs aren't spinning that, its reality.
And McCain, of course.
"Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a decorated Vietnam war hero considered a staunch ally of the armed services, described himself as "very worried" about the stress of repeated deployments on the National Guard and reserves as well as reports that attacks on U.S. forces have increased since Iraq regained sovereignty a year ago. "
It is very hard to keep a positive outlook when we are bombarded by the onslaught of negative news with intent of ill will to the public by the media.
And I don't think it's a bad thing to reconsider strategies in the Iraq war, but that doesn't mean that we don't support the war, and more importantly, support our troops.
Graham has really been a HUGH disappointment! :(
Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.);
"Ensign said he believed the U.S. presence "inspires more insurgents," but then asked the generals whether it was fair for Democrats to compare the misdeeds of U.S. forces to those of totalitarian regimes."
I can't believe Rumsfeld was dumb enough to raise this point. If FDR had stood up in 1943 and called fascism a "religion of peace," he would have been laughed to the moon.
"Rumsfeld had compared the struggle in Iraq to World War II "
This is in no way like WWII.
A. There's zero shared national sacrifice, unlike the rationing, conservation, and recycling efforts of WWII.
B. There's no draft, so not everyone knows someone who's actually fighting the WOT.
C. There are no well-defined battle fronts...else we'd have wiped the terrorist's a$$es off the face of the earth 2 years ago.
D. WWII had a larger, more determined Alliance fighting Axis of Evil I (Germany, Japan, Italy) than does WOT (or WWIV as some refer to it).
E. It took (not one but) 2 nuclear weapons to definitively end the WWII conflict. I guess we'll have to wait and see on this comparison...
unless this iraqi interim government gets off its a** and starts moving, and their security forces improve, we are in serious trouble over there.
Lindsey Graham and others could use perverbal "good kick in the pants" as General George Patton would say.
I saw yesterday that the US Border Patrol is helping the Iraqis in securing their border. Will it take them one or two strands of barbed wire to close that border?
"U.S. presence "inspires more insurgents,"
probably true......stated alternatively, US presence attracts the most rabid jihadis to Iraq, and they serve as target practice and training aids for Iraqi troops.
Hey, you know what? In the interest of denying aid and comfort to the enemy and their eager press, if people have doubts about strategies or tactics they should just keep it to themselves until this is over. And Jeebus, somebody should tell the noodle-spined rinos to just STFU. Imagine if the Russian people were told for example, "Holy crap, we just lost 4 million people at Stalingrad!" We need to surrender!" how well that would have gone over.
Yes, I understand. i'm ever the eternal optimist, and even I worry about the war, I admit. Hearing about the dead marines today doesn't help my optimism.
There are good things going on in Iraq and Afghanastan. I don't think invasion of Iraq was wrong,but I "wring" my hands over how long it will take.
That's silly. Technically, the war is over and has been for a long time. We're into the occupation, pacification, and reconstruction periods now -- and the insane thing is that we're trying to do all three at the same time.
Has that ever been tried before? Has anyone ever succeeded in doing it?
Link to AAA
"our very presence there inspires more insurgents.
Just because you're in love with a JoKe of a senator, or sworn all your offspring to feed the Hildabeast, does NOT mean the Mooz dont consider you an infidel and wont kill you and your children. But I guess if you already want to kill your own children, you really aren't much different from them!
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