It Didn’t Work (Buckley declares Iraq a failure)

National Review Online ^ | 02/24/06 | William F Buckley Jr

[CometBaby]

"I can tell you the main reason behind all our woes — it is America." The New York Times reporter is quoting the complaint of a clothing merchant in a Sunni stronghold in Iraq. "Everything that is going on between Sunni and Shiites, the troublemaker in the middle is America."

One can't doubt that the American objective in Iraq has failed. The same edition of the paper quotes a fellow of the American Enterprise Institute. Mr. Reuel Marc Gerecht backed the American intervention. He now speaks of the bombing of the especially sacred Shiite mosque in Samara and what that has precipitated in the way of revenge. He concludes that “The bombing has completely demolished” what was being attempted — to bring Sunnis into the defense and interior ministries.

Our mission has failed because Iraqi animosities have proved uncontainable by an invading army of 130,000 Americans. The great human reserves that call for civil life haven't proved strong enough. No doubt they are latently there, but they have not been able to contend against the ice men who move about in the shadows with bombs and grenades and pistols.

[CometBaby]

All those who warned going to war in Iraq would cause hundreds of thousands of American deaths .. guess what? they were WRONG!

Remember when they were wagging their finger and saying “nothing will change” and that there would never be free elections in Iraq? Guess what? There were elections.

Then they said that there would be no spread of democracy in the middle east and guess what? Lebanese PM Karami resigned his pro-Syrian government and Egypt had elections with actual *opposing* candidates! This is the biggest democratization going on in the world today .. and it blows me away to think of the narrow time span in which it has all taken place.

Mr. Buckley, to me, it kinda looks like Bush's plan is working.

[airborne]

Oh well, if Bill says so....I don't care.

[b4its2late]

It ain't over till the Fat Lady sings, and in my book, she ain't even humming yet.......

[Bahbah]

Buckley is getting old. Some weaken with age, some don't. It's sad though.

[perfect stranger]

I haven't read any of Buckley's tripe for years. It's good to once again realize why every now and again. Thanks for the post.

[Torie]

Buckley fails to present alternative postulates, or what the alternative end game entails. He is being lazy again, and unwilling to tackle the tough choices. He just jotted this thing down in about 10 minutes as a diversion from his ennui.

[SIDENET]

Good thing Buckley isn't in charge. I don't like quitters.

[Petronski]

Buckley has turned into something that rhymes with wussy. A big one.

[pcottraux]

This is a great disappointment.

[Petronski]

...as a diversion from his ennui.

LOL

[bybybill]

Do the Iraqis celebrate TET as they do in Vietnam>

[Tall_Texan]

Buckley is wrong sometimes. He is wrong about legalizing drugs. He is wrong about this. Maybe he's turning Goldwater in his old age.

[CometBaby]

I have to agree .. A great disappointment. The left is going to have a field day with this.

[Youngman442002]

This is funny..cause Thomas Friedman of the NY Times...says the reason of all the new bombings is that WE are winning...and Al Quaida can't lose at home...it will destroy them...

[Capt. Tom]

Yes, but within their own counsels, different plans have to be made. And the kernel here is the acknowledgment of defeat.

I'd like to wait a few more months before changing horses. - tom

[macamadamia]

"It Didn't Work"



Huh. Could have fooled all our soldiers OVER THERE who say otherwise. Oh well, I guess they're just imagining the good things they're doing.

[The Worthless Miracle]

Buckley's right. The people over there don't seem to want democracy, only chaos. We can't force them to do the right thing. The ball is in their court now. What else can we do for them?

[Jeff Head]

Well...

1. We defeated the fourth or fifth largest Army in a few weeks.
2. We handed over soveriegnty to an interim goivernment on time.
3. The interim government held elections to pick their own representatives on time.
4. The representatives created a new constitution for Iraq within a coupole fo weeks of the schedule.
5. The Iraqi people voted to approve the constitution on time.
6. The Iraqi elected a new government under their new constitution on time.

Seems to be "working" to me...and all of this in the face of horrific threats to those who voted by terrorists and tryants who want to thwart the advance of freedom.

Their efforts (the enemiy's) are what aren't working BUckley

So guess what? All of those purple fingers don't lie, despite the MSM and liberal/socialists attempts to the contrary.

[SteveMcKing]

I can stomach anti-Pat Buchanan threads, understanding that even committed Republicans are prone to 50 years influence of communist elements within our country.


If FReepers seriously start questioning William F. Buckley with such infantile criticism as "HE'S OLD", then I will say goodbye to this liberal piece of crap website.

[hosepipe]

For crying out loud.. divide the country into three parts.. let them name their own countrys.. and let them fight it out.. Jeese.. they will end up doing that anyway.. It took Saadam wholesale murder to stop that from happening..