A Plague On Both Their Houses

Chronicles ^ | November 22, 2005 | Patrick J. Buchanan

[Irontank]

Gen. William Odom has called the Iraq War the greatest strategic blunder in the history of the United States. Final returns are not yet in, but he may not be far off.

In invading Iraq, we attacked and occupied a country of 25 million that had not attacked us, did not threaten us, did not want war with us—to strip it of weapons we now know it did not have.

Even if, as most believed, Saddam had chemical or biological weapons, there was no evidence he intended the suicidal use of such weapons on U.S. troops in Kuwait, or to hand them over to al-Qaida to use on America, risking massive retaliation. Saddam was never a suicide bomber. He was always a survivor.

After 9-11, we couldn’t take the chance, countered the War Party. Nonsense. We take the chance every day with Iran and North Korea, far more powerful nations, as we did every day of the Cold War against a nuclear-armed Russia and China. They had missiles and WMD. But, like Saddam, they were deterred.

Yet President Bush, prodded by a cabal of neoconservatives who, for their own motives, had been plotting war on Iraq for years, invaded. History will hold him accountable for the consequences.

On the credit side, he liberated the Iraqis from a murderous tyrant. But the cost is high and rising: 17,000 U.S. dead and wounded—i.e., the eradication of an entire American division—$200 billion, the diversion of priceless assets from the fight against al-Qaida, rampant anti-Americanism in the Islamic world, the shattering of our alliances, the division of our nation, and the prospect of a U.S. defeat by Iraqi insurgents and terrorists.

Another cost must be added after a week in which Harry Reid and Co. accused President Bush of lying us into war, Republicans accused Democrats of cutting and running, and Rep. John Murtha accused Bush and Cheney of being chicken-hawks who dodged the draft in Vietnam.

Our leaders are behaving like the leaders of the late and unlamented French Third Republic.

But if Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld are responsible for the war and its consequences, so, too, are the potential Democratic nominees: Kerry, Edwards, Clinton, Biden and Bayh. In October 2002, because the country was cheering a commander in chief beating a war drum, they voted Bush a blank check to take us to war. In the fall of 2005, with the people souring on the war, they voted for a timetable to get out.

We were deceived, we were misled, we were lied to, they wail. One only awaits their explanation that they were brainwashed by a C student. The Democratic Party is a poodle of public opinion, unfit to lead the nation.

But if we were stampeded into this war, we must not let ourselves be stampeded out of Iraq by a Democratic Party in panic, scrambling to get out in front of its base. For the cost of retreat and defeat may be far more calamitous than the costs of the present war.

There are at present four exit strategies:

A. The John McCain strategy of sending 10,000 more U.S. troops, taking as long as needed to train the Iraqi army and staying as long as necessary to achieve victory.

B. The Bush strategy of “Stay the Course,” with the present complement of forces staying as long as it takes to win.

C. The exit strategy envisioned in the bipartisan resolution in the Senate last week that passed with 79 votes, calling for Bush to give the Congress benchmarks of success, leading to withdrawal.

D. The Democratic option, supported by all but five Democratic senators, to set benchmarks and a timetable for getting out.

The McCain option is a non-starter, for it is non-credible. Adding 10,000 troops to the 160,000 there will not pacify a Sunni Triangle of 5 million. U.S. opposition to the war is near 60 percent. And if Bush refused to send the troops McCain has wanted for two years, he will not do so now that his support is evaporating. The failure to listen to Gen. Shinseki in 2002 was an irremediable blunder.

As for the Bush policy of “Stay the Course,” with support for the war crumbling in Congress and the country and no light at the end of the tunnel, it is unsustainable. On the other hand, a House resolution, engineered by Republicans, calling for immediate withdrawal was backed by only three members. Cut and run is not an option.

However, there exists a bipartisan consensus for Iraqification—the transfer of political authority in Baghdad and responsibility for the war to the Iraqis. All that remains in dispute is the timetable.

As for the ugliness and acrimony of Washington, it reflects the rage, resentment and shame of men who know they made a horrible mistake, thousands have suffered and died for it, and worse may be yet to come. The truth is both parties failed America. What the Greatest Generation won, the baby boomers are frittering away

[YOUGOTIT]

Well I read it and I do not agree with his crap. He has turned into a hate American runt.

Saddam was in cahoots with Al Qaeda. He would have supplied them and maybe did supply them with gas and other bio weapons.

I do not know who this General is but I would not believe him either as I lost my ability to believe these people, unless I know them personally, during and after Vietnam.

We are at war our personnel are being killed and we have people in the United States who are supporting the terrorist and are IMHO responsible for the death of many of our troops and of Iraq military and civilian personnel.

If this was WWII, after Hitler invaded the USSR, (because before he invaded the USSR the left in the United States was fully behind him), this type of support for the enemy would not be allowed to happen.

In my opinion, while some may say they are not traitors, they should be prosecuted under: U.S. Code TITLE 18 PART I CHAPTER 115 § 2388.

The terrorist that we are killing in Iraq will not be available to harm Americans in our home country and if we are successful in establishing a free government in Iraq we will have freedom 25 million from a Hitler like tyrant. Plus others people in the area will start to see freedom and come over to the side of freedom.

Anyone who thinks that we are not safer because of the ouster of Saddam has a very unrealistic view of the world and of the danger we as Americans face. The left wing people to the North and South would turn on us in a minute if given the chance and help the terrorist.

I believe in the safety of the American people. If Buck does not think that the Terrorist are a threat then I would consider him without intelligence.

[Little Ray]

You are correct. We should act like the USSR or Nazi Germany and arrest 'em for treason and sedition, give 'em quick show trial, and shoot 'em.

[dfwgator]

Be careful before launching into the Irish. I'm one

Wouldn't have guessed that from your handle. No I don't mean to lump all Irish-Americans together, but there certainly were some, like Joe Kennedy that had those kind of anti-British sentiments before the war.

[furquhart]

The greatest difficulty we have in this war - the greatest single difficulty - is a culture which has been corrupted by deviancy and excessive sentimentality.

Our culture is soft, stupid, and unpatriotic. And, above all, its the softness that gets us.

Too much talk of "peace" in our schools. Believe me, I know, I've been in schools over the past three decades. All that nonsense about "peace" and "humanity" and so forth is actively harmful when we're faced with a war of national survival.

In WW2 we bombed German and Japanese cities almost daily. You think we could get away with doing that even once now?

[cubreporter]

You are absolutely correct. Absolutely correct. It has been enhanced significantly with President Bush's election. It began during the clintin and has escalated with all the hatred of our great President Bush. We will see where it all ends up.

[eskimo]

I read the first part of it..and he lost me.

Perhaps you were lost long before your introduction to reality.

[uncbob]

we attacked and occupied a country of 25 million that had not attacked us

We attacked its leader Saddam What do you consider his attemped assassination of BUSH I Is that an attack on a country when you attack a former prsident

[righteousindignation]

You are so correct and I imagine you will accomplish a great deal with your decades!!

[Little Ray]

Depend on how you do the pacifiyin'. This current "PC" war is garbage. And cemeteries are real peaceful.

[TheSpottedOwl]

What happened to the Pat Buchanan I voted for? He does make a couple of good points, but I don't believe this war was a mistake. Saddam is indeed a threat to us. As for the WMD, they are probably hidden in Syria.

[eskimo]

Pat Buchanan has EARNED the reputation of being unworthy of serious consideration.

When I read crap like that, I just have to ask "by whom"?

[Mears]

Frankly I thought the Irish comment was funny and I'm Irish.

We are master grudge holders with terrific senses of humor. IMHO

[girlangler]

I am afraid you are right. It will not be pretty when it happens.

[uncbob]

As for the ugliness and acrimony of Washington, it reflects the rage, resentment and shame of men who know they made a horrible mistake,

TOTAL BS

It reflects the morally bankrupt democrats who attack Bush on EVERYTHINH

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Pat B. has turned absolutely looney tunes! Rhetorically asking if Iraq had attacked us is liking asking if Germany attacked us! He has become a "blame America first" PMSNBC hack against the President, just as Joe Scarborough has become!

[msnimje]

When I read crap like that, I just have to ask "by whom"?

By most people capable of rational and reasoned thought.

[eskimo]

Is Pat Buchanan still a member of Ross Perot's "deformed" party?

This is the guy who was charged with writting the Republican Party platform when the GOP was somewhat conservative. What's you problem?

[La Enchiladita]

When it comes to information on the WOT, I like the article "Allah's Waiting Room," posted yesterday on FR.

When it comes to rationale and sense of mission, I like VP Cheney's speech given yesterday to the AEI, also posted here.

Buchanan has nothing to add, except his usual bitter tirade, aiming at all his favorite targets. he's an irrelevant gas-bag.

A worthwhile way to spend one's time would be to send support to our deployed troops via Proud Patriots (Canteen) or Operation Gratitude (see my homepage). Write to the troops, let them know we are not fooled by MSM and the likes of Buchanan, we know they are winning and we are deeply grateful.

[uncbob]

Pat lost a relative at Auschitz. He fell out of a Guard Tower.

Buchanan is a fool but you are a bigger one

His relatives served with honor in WW II and his brother in Vietnam

[La Enchiladita]

Buchanan is a jealous never-has-been.