Posted on 11/17/2005 8:22:10 PM PST by smoothsailing
How To Lose A War: The Sequel
By Oliver North
November 18, 2005
Since October of 2001, our FOX News "War Stories" unit has been documenting the remarkable young Americans fighting the Global War on Terror. We have covered thousands of them on the decks of ships in the Persian Gulf, on combat patrols in the shadow of the Hindu Kush, in gunfights along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates and gone to hospitals in Iraq, Germany and the U.S. with the wounded. Throughout, there has been a common bond among these "warriors of Sept. 11" -- a steadfast resolve that they could win the war. Now, for the first time since I accompanied the initial U.S. combat units heading into Kandahar, Afghanistan, I'm hearing something different -- a loss of confidence in the final outcome.
Over the course of the last ten days, I've met with scores of those I'd previously covered overseas. These soldiers, sailors, airmen, Guardsmen and Marines are now in "stateside" assignments at Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg, N.C., at Miramar Air Station in California, at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and here in Hawaii. Many of them expect to be back in the fight -- some of them soon. But recent reversals -- not on the battlefield but in Washington -- have caused nearly all of those I talked to on this trip to question whether we are suddenly in danger of losing the war they have been fighting.
This sudden loss of assurance in our fighting forces has nothing to do with casualty figures, troop levels, the leaders prosecuting the war in the field or new acts of terror by a ruthless enemy. Rather, the anxieties I'm now hearing from those I have covered in combat come in questions like: "Do you think that they are going to pull us out before we've finished the mission?" and "Will we abandon Iraq like we abandoned Vietnam?" Interestingly, not one of the thousands of young Americans I have covered in Iraq or Afghanistan has ever asked about or commented upon pre-war intelligence.
For more than two years the so-called mainstream media, the far left and some in Congress have been making trite comparisons between Vietnam and Iraq. Having spent a significant amount of time in both conflicts, about the only parallels I have seen in the two wars have been that bullets still wound and kill, and spilled blood is still red. But another common thread now ties the two hostilities together -- political cowardice in Washington, D.C.
On Tuesday this week, with the Commander in Chief traveling in Asia, the Democrat leadership in the U.S. Senate introduced a proposal that would have set a fixed date for withdrawing American troops from Iraq. The measure was defeated 58 to 40, but an amended version, setting 2006 as a "period of significant transition creating conditions for the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq," passed by an overwhelming 79-19 margin.
Though the White House and some Republican lawmakers sounded the trumpets of victory for defeating the Democrats' hard-and-fast timetable, the message to the troops is clear: No matter where we stand in the war on terror -- if the Senate has its way, we're "pulling out" in 2006. Abu Musab al Zarqawi's "al Qaeda in Iraq" terrorist organization immediately claimed victory and exhorted his followers to "hold on." Officials in Iraq's interim government, intent on providing a secure election on Dec. 15, were publicly muted in response to the votes, expressing hopes in an official statement that "Iraqi security forces are becoming increasingly effective." Americans in uniform -- both in-theatre and at home -- were stunned.
Major General William Webster, commanding the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq said that "setting a date would mean that the 221 soldiers I've lost this year, that their lives will have been lost in vain." A U.S. Marine colonel, recently returned from Iraq, called it "a formula for disaster." And universally those I have met with here in Hawaii, from the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division to the 1st Marine Brigade, to the sailors of the fleet, to the wounded at Tripler Army Hospital -- all expressed anger and frustration with statements like:
"We've fought well." "We're helping to create a democracy." "Don't they want us to win?"
That's a valid question. Even Senate Republicans don't seem to know what they want. As the "World's Greatest Deliberative Body" was exploring how to set a "date certain" for withdrawing troops without setting a certain date, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said, "Americans do not cut and run, Americans do not abandon their commitments and Americans do not abandon their friends." But he voted for the measure anyway.
About the only ones in Washington who seem to know what they want are the leaders of the Democrat party. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who voted for war in 2002, waited until President Bush was overseas meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan to proclaim that, "Democrats and Republicans acknowledged that staying the course is not the way to go." He then summed it all up by adding, "This is a vote of no confidence on the Bush-administration policy in Iraq."
William Jefferson Blythe Clinton knows what this is all about. Though the Clinton administration had advocated the overthrow of Saddam in 1998, he told a university audience in Dubai this week that the Iraq war was "a big mistake." Like former President Jimmy Carter, Mr. Clinton apparently no longer feels bound by the affront to our troops or the traditional protocols that once governed political discourse while overseas.
In the House, Pennsylvania's John Murtha, an influential Democrat who voted in favor of Iraq war in 2002, called for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops saying, "it is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf region."
The GOP leadership, senior administration officials and the president need to dramatically alter the debate. They need to go to Iraq -- talk to the troops and reassure them that we will stay there long enough to get the job done and not one second longer. Notwithstanding the "peace in our time" appeasement sentiment sweeping through our capital, it's not too late. Republicans need to realize that wining the war in Iraq is the only issue that really matters right now. It is more important than Medicare, the next Supreme Court justice, foreign trade deals or tax reform. If we lose the war -- and we could -- none of these things will matter.
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COPYRIGHT 2005 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
WE also have good families, vacation time and money to do what is right for this country! I would do it in a heart beat if needed and pay for it myself. So would you and every right thinking American in the country!
That kinda rally only excites the MSM. Rome hardly notices. However, if the tax revenue generators stopped working and marched on Rome, it may not get much MSM coverage, but Rome would notice big time. Hey, I own and operate two tiny business's and could always right off the trip on my taxes if I did some actual business while in Rome !
Please note - I am sarcastically substituting Rome for D.C. here.
Not 'ole'. Just well aged. I was too young for nam by about 2 years. And unfortunately I was a Democrat way back then. Had some smarts, but no wisdom. Gained some wisdom watching Carter engineer stagflation.
Our miltary didn't quit then,our leaders let us down.The Democrats then cut off funding.
That's their goal now,they just aren't ready to say it yet.
That's whats going on now.The President will stay the course,as will the troops.After next years elections,the funding becomes critical if the dems regain control.As much as I am disgusted with some Republicans, I've got to support them.I don't believe they would stop funding if they remain in charge.
Kudos and a BRAVO for Ollie!
read later
I'm so glad you straightened me out and I therefore apologize to you,and I'm sorry I jumped the gun. I've had a long day educating and fighting with commiecrat morons on forums and blogs all day and it's difficult to change gear sometimes. I have to wonder if some of them ever went to school. Personaly I think your being to kind calling them just 'dim-wits'.
"The Democrats then cut off funding."
Didn't they hold it up yesterday because of that bill McCain's trying to tag onto everything that goes past him?
No problem. In the past I have actually worked with some very smart progressives and Democrats (Hollywood Technical Production Types). They can be quick witted. But being quick at wit, does not necessarily give one much time to be wise about it.
"As much as I am disgusted with some Republicans, I've got to support them.I don't believe they would stop funding if they remain in charge."
I use to think that way..they count on us thinking that way, yet they care more about the LSM than they do about this country or the people who elect them and that should make all of us nervous. I did not jump ship when Perot was tempting..but now, I dunno anymore. This last week was difficult to watch.
I am sending you some freepmail and a link to the Arlington Cemetery webpage on my 'cousin',just in case you might be interested. I was very young when he went missing, but grew up with the legend of his sacrifice and honor.He was actually married to my blood cousin for only six months before he was shot down. Just one story of honor among the many thousands.
I wasn't aware there were any defense bills moving yesterday, that's what the Dems would try to defund.
Damn good article.
Unpatriotic traitors In Washington DC want to sell out America.
We had one last April. About 50 people bothered to show up!
(Psst... pass it on):
What do you mean the war in Iraq is unwinnable? We've already won it!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1524328/posts
North needs to expose that myth for the fraud that it is. Professional politicians sitting there for fifty years are obscene parasites on America.
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