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LAT: Americans won't let Democrats lose Iraq
Los Angeles Times ^ | October 28, 2005 | DAVID GELERNTER

Posted on 10/28/2005 8:59:04 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative

A FEW DAYS AGO, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) made a speech urging the U.S., in effect, to get out of Iraq the way we got out of Vietnam.

Leahy told the Senate that we cannot win in Iraq. "It has become increasingly apparent that the most powerful army in the world cannot stop a determined insurgency." (U.S. troops, Iraqi troops, long-suffering Iraqi civilians to Leahy: Thanks, senator, we needed that.) And Leahy announced that the president must lay out a public formula to tell the world just when U.S. troops will leave Iraq. Otherwise, Leahy said, he will urge the Senate to choke off the war by refusing to fund it. That's how the U.S. finally lost Vietnam: Congress snuffed out the money.

Be warned, senator: If Democrats become the "let's treat Iraq as we treated Vietnam" party, the public will turn away in revulsion, and the Democratic Party will die. It's not in such great shape anyhow.

Leahy's words lighted up a deep, dark secret that this nation would rather forget. Defeat in Vietnam was a catastrophe for the U.S., a body-slam to the nation's self-confidence. It was far worse for Southeast Asians, who were exiled, imprisoned, tortured and murdered by their vicious communist conquerors. But for left-wing Democrats it was a triumph. Forcing the mighty U.S. military to run away was the greatest victory they have ever known. That triumph broke a levee that sent a flood of left-wing ideas pounding across the U.S. landscape.

The 1974 congressional elections were a blow-out victory for Democrats. Watergate was a big factor, but public exhaustion with Vietnam (encouraged by the media) helped too. In 1973, the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam, but Washington had promised to support South Vietnam with money and weapons.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Vermont; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: 109th; davidgelernter; democrat; gelernter; iraq; leahy; republican; vietnam
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1 posted on 10/28/2005 8:59:06 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative
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To: West Coast Conservative

Leahy solidified his position as one of the most vile Senators.


2 posted on 10/28/2005 9:01:47 AM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
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To: ncountylee

Leahy should just move to Cuba and never come back. This country does not need or want liberal trash of his likes.


3 posted on 10/28/2005 9:02:54 AM PDT by EagleUSA
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To: West Coast Conservative

The Rats are desperately trying to relive the early 70s. ....specifically Watergate and the withdrawal from Vietnam.


4 posted on 10/28/2005 9:05:15 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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To: West Coast Conservative

I have a lower opinion of the average American then the writer of this article. Not because I think they want to turn over Iraq to al-Qaeda and Iran. But, because they haven't been given any info by the media about who we are fighting or why. The public really doesn't understand what is going on in Iraq thanks to the media.


5 posted on 10/28/2005 9:05:45 AM PDT by jmc1969
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To: ncountylee

And the BIG problem is that he just won re-election so he is emboldened to spout at will.

Leahy is from Vermont. Looking at the state breakdown of who runs the state, I saw something interesting. If you look at my link, can someone please explain how someone can claim to be a Democrat/Republican?

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G05/VT.phtml


6 posted on 10/28/2005 9:06:54 AM PDT by Eagle of Liberty (11, 175, 77, 93 - In Memory Always)
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To: ncountylee

Unfortunately he has so much competition as one of the most vile Senators it's really hard to say. I can think of about 40 of his demo/socialist Senators and about 10 pubbies that are all vying for that title.


7 posted on 10/28/2005 9:07:20 AM PDT by marlon
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To: West Coast Conservative

"The 1974 congressional elections were a blow-out victory for Democrats. Watergate was a big factor, but public exhaustion with Vietnam (encouraged by the media) helped too. In 1973, the last U.S. combat troops left Vietnam, but Washington had promised to support South Vietnam with money and weapons."

Someone from the Administration finally figured out that the RATS are using the Vietnam/Watergate playbook for the Plame non event and Iraq.




8 posted on 10/28/2005 9:07:29 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Liberal Talking Point - Bush = Hitler ... Republican Talking Point - Let the Liberals Talk)
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To: EagleUSA

Cuba, Viet Nam, Red China, North Korea, Iran or Syria would be a perfect home for this hate America $inator.

Maybe he could work out an arrangement to spend 2 months in each of these wonderful places and go to the next one. Then repeat the cycle.


9 posted on 10/28/2005 9:08:17 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (MSM pseudo reporters use "could, may, and might" when they are lying and spinning.)
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To: West Coast Conservative


Wow...this piece of writing has an affiliation with the LAT. Will wonders never cease?


10 posted on 10/28/2005 9:10:35 AM PDT by in hoc signo vinces ("Houston, TX...a waiting quagmire for jihadis.")
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To: Grampa Dave

Maybe he could work out an arrangement to spend 2 months in each of these wonderful places and go to the next one.
-----
Great idea for ALL THE LIBS in Congress. They all need a serious ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT when it comes to America, our freedoms, and what it is like to commit treason.


11 posted on 10/28/2005 9:13:11 AM PDT by EagleUSA
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To: West Coast Conservative

I'm not sure whether this is meant to be a token conservative article in the LAT, or whether it's a sign that they finally understand that their ideological agenda has been committing them to slow suicide and are starting to change course.

Probably it's just a token. But it's pretty darned strong for a token. It raises a lot of ideas that many liberals have spent a lifetime avoiding thinking about.


12 posted on 10/28/2005 9:13:29 AM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: West Coast Conservative
The democrats are demanding America surrender to the enemy - again. They've learned nothing from WWII or JFK's Vietnam.
13 posted on 10/28/2005 9:15:59 AM PDT by concerned about politics ("Get thee behind me, Liberal.")
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To: West Coast Conservative
Be warned, senator: If Democrats become the "let's treat Iraq as we treated Vietnam" party, the public will turn away in revulsion...

TOO LATE.

14 posted on 10/28/2005 9:16:59 AM PDT by mewzilla (Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist. John Adams)
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To: Grampa Dave
Cuba, Viet Nam, Red China, North Korea, Iran or Syria would be a perfect home for this hate America $inator. Maybe he could work out an arrangement to spend 2 months in each of these wonderful places and go to the next one. Then repeat the cycle.

And without diplomatic immunity or government protection.

15 posted on 10/28/2005 9:19:00 AM PDT by Christian4Bush ("A gov't big enough to give you all you want is a gov' big enough to take all you have." G.Ford)
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To: West Coast Conservative
"Otherwise, Leahy said, he will urge the Senate to choke off the war by refusing to fund it."

It is unbelievable that a U.S. Senator with any education and sense of history would say such a thing. To make it sound like such a course of action is not only acceptable but something he would promote is traitorous to the men and women who have born the burden.

If such a thing were to happen it would lead to unbelievable consequences. Doing such a thing could cause a real mutiny in the armed forces and there would be no one in the military to call on to put it down... It really could be the start of a dictatorship that ends this country as we know it... It is really that serious. Leahy has no idea what he is saying.
16 posted on 10/28/2005 9:19:45 AM PDT by RedEyeJack
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To: ncountylee

Someone was just sentenced for drying Sen Leahy, grinding him with a cheese-grater and sprinkling him on some donuts at the Fiesta-mart!


17 posted on 10/28/2005 9:20:19 AM PDT by RedQuill
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To: West Coast Conservative

I remember Vietnam very well, and that era was different from what is going on today. There was a draft, and it appeared to reasonable people that poorer young men were fighting the war while middle class college kids could buy their way out with deferments. And the war was "over there", there was nothing to connect it with America's security. Our boys did the fighting and the South Vietnamese sat on the sidelines. Different war, different time, different mindset in the country.


18 posted on 10/28/2005 9:23:21 AM PDT by Ciexyz (Let us always remember, the Lord is in control.)
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To: Christian4Bush

"without diplomatic immunity or government protection."

Absolutely! $inator Leahy would have no need for immunity or protection from the evil USA. He would be among friends.

He probably would never make two full rotations between those six companies.


19 posted on 10/28/2005 9:31:33 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (MSM pseudo reporters use "could, may, and might" when they are lying and spinning.)
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To: West Coast Conservative
Leahy announced that the president must lay out a public formula to tell the world just when U.S. troops will leave Iraq

The stupidity of this man is astonishing.

20 posted on 10/28/2005 9:31:56 AM PDT by layman (Card Carrying Infidel)
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