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Victor Davis Hanson: The Pseudo-Histories of the Iraq War
realclearpolitics.com ^ | October 12, 2006 | Victor Davis Hanson

Posted on 10/12/2006 4:59:08 AM PDT by Tolik

Edited on 10/12/2006 8:10:50 AM PDT by Sidebar Moderator. [history]

Three recent books about the "fiasco" in Iraq - "Cobra II" by Michael Gordon and Bernard Trainor, "State of Denial" by Bob Woodward and just plain "Fiasco" by Tom Ricks - have attracted a lot of attention, and sales. All three well-written exposes repeat the now well-known argument that our government's incompetence and arrogance have nearly ensured America's failure in birthing democracy in Iraq.


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


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iraq; vdh; victordavishanson
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See more of Hanson's notes on the Pseudo-footnotes here and here and FR discussion here
1 posted on 10/12/2006 4:59:08 AM PDT by Tolik
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To: neverdem; Lando Lincoln; quidnunc; .cnI redruM; yonif; SJackson; dennisw; monkeyshine; Alouette; ...


    Victor Davis Hanson Ping ! 

       Let me know if you want in or out.

Links:    FR Index of his articles:  http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=victordavishanson 
            His website: http://victorhanson.com/    
                NRO archive: http://www.nationalreview.com/hanson/hanson-archive.asp

New Link!   
http://victordavishanson.pajamasmedia.com/

2 posted on 10/12/2006 5:00:03 AM PDT by Tolik
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To: Tolik

"It's worth noting, though, that many of the authors' critical portraits rely on private conversations and anonymous sources. The most damning informants in these books are never identified and so can't be questioned."

So what else is new? Liberal "journalists" have always relied on techniques like that to protect themselves from being exposed as liars.


3 posted on 10/12/2006 5:02:53 AM PDT by Chewie84
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To: Tolik
This is how a Black Legend gets started. We're letting people who hate us, both within our nation and outside, write the history of our times. If the world detests the US fifty years from now and hunts us down as villains, this is where it gets started.
4 posted on 10/12/2006 5:07:14 AM PDT by .cnI redruM (Appeasement never works. It only encourages new and escalating demands.)
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To: .cnI redruM
Problem is the Republican party elites are more interested in their return on capital. We could go right down the tubes so long as they are getting good returns. Islamic America? No problem, they'll need corporate businessmen and tax lawyers too. Someone will have to be the intermediary between the Islamic overlords and peasant Americans. Democrats will become latte Muslims.

I hope all these hundred of thousands of muslim experienced veterans form the core of new, young politicians saving this government and the nation.

5 posted on 10/12/2006 5:23:12 AM PDT by Leisler (Read the Koran, real Islam is not peaceful.)
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To: Tolik
You make my day! You are a true American.Thank you!
6 posted on 10/12/2006 5:26:52 AM PDT by SeeSalt
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To: Tolik
"Rarely do these journalists quote unnamed sources who dissent from their own views, although there are surely pro-U.S. Iraq policy candid voices among the thousands of retired generals... And while there have been on-the-record critics of all three books, none of the unnamed accusers cited in them has come forward."

For me this says it all -- hit piece. The Bush Administration was wise to cut Woodward out. Woodward is a greasy guy.
7 posted on 10/12/2006 5:28:44 AM PDT by Blind Eye Jones
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To: Tolik
Pseudo bttt
Thanks, Tolik.
8 posted on 10/12/2006 5:30:26 AM PDT by metesky (My investment program is holding steady @ .05¢ a can.)
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To: Tolik

Here's what I want to know. The democrats are saying that it was Government Incompetence that kept us from "succeeding in Iraq".

But didn't they oppose the war because they thought it couldn't succeed? Didn't James Webb say before the war that the idea of an invasion itself was a disaster, that there was no way we could win?

If there was no way for this to turn out good, how could it now be the "way we are fighting the war" that has prevented it from succeeding?

Where is the proposal for how it would have succeeded?

I think it's funny that people I argued with before the war about how it would turn out bad are now arguing that if we had just done something different AFTER the war everything would have turned out great.


9 posted on 10/12/2006 5:33:26 AM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: Blind Eye Jones

Woodward is a greasy guy.
#####

Someone, I forget the name, is writing a biography of Woodward. Apparently he started his "investigative" career by spying on his parents.


10 posted on 10/12/2006 5:39:28 AM PDT by maica (9/11 was not “the day everything changed”, but the day that revealed how much had already changed.)
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To: Tolik
I won't say we're losing in Iraq, but the trouble we're having is due to our tiptoeing around in a politically correct mindset.

If you're going to go to war, you've got to overwhelm your enemy by all means necessary.
11 posted on 10/12/2006 5:40:51 AM PDT by ryan71 ("You can hear it through the coconut telegraph...")
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To: CharlesWayneCT

LOL! You are just too logical! Leftists don't do logic.

I am going to use your observation when I meet anti-Iraq invasion folks.


12 posted on 10/12/2006 5:41:23 AM PDT by maica (9/11 was not “the day everything changed”, but the day that revealed how much had already changed.)
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To: ryan71

Agree. Examples are just too many. One Sadr junior caused us and continue to cause so much trouble. Why did not they eliminate him when had a chance?

Our enemies sometimes are refreshingly honest. Osama spoke about weak horse - strong horse many times. We will get more support there if they believe that we are the strong horse.


13 posted on 10/12/2006 6:30:12 AM PDT by Tolik
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To: Blind Eye Jones

"For me this says it all -- hit piece. The Bush Administration was wise to cut Woodward out. Woodward is a greasy guy."

Just how greasy is he? He has a background in US Naval eavesdropping. So, who has he worked for since he got out of the Navy? Himself, probably- and the WaPo- not so honorable if he's eavesdropping on our government, especially if, as it seems, his main concern is his own bank account.

I've long wondered exacly why his "sources" are anonymous. Could it be Woodward's best friend is Grundig, and he uses a Big Ear of some sort?


14 posted on 10/12/2006 6:32:20 AM PDT by Anselma (Democrats care more (than they think).)
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To: .cnI redruM; Tolik; oldglory; MinuteGal; mcmuffin; gonzo; JulieRNR21

03/22/2006
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1601335/posts

Excerpt [end of radio interview Hugh Hewitt and Christopher Hitchens]

HH: ...Well then, in 30 seconds, if the Democratic Party returns to power in this country, you get thirty seconds now, what happens?

CH: I'll just tell you something a very senior person at a well-known network. I know this sounds a bit odd, but I just can't tell you who he is or which network. I don't have the right to do it. But you'll have to believe me, okay?

HH: Okay.

CH: He called me the other day. This is not a guy who's in any way a conservative, and said you know, we've known each other for a bit. He said you know, I'm beginning to think you must be right, because it really worries me what we're doing, when we are giving the other side the impression that all they need to do is hang on until the end of this administration. Do people know what they're doing when they're doing this? One doesn't have to make any allegation of disloyalty, but just...if it worries him, as it really does, I think it should worry other people, too, and it certainly worries me.

HH: It certainly should. Christopher Hitchens, as always, a pleasure.


audio here http://www.radioblogger.com/images/03-22hitchens.mp3


15 posted on 10/12/2006 6:47:52 AM PDT by Matchett-PI (To have no voice in the Party that always sides with America's enemies is a badge of honor.)
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To: Chewie84

While it's not a history of the Iraq War, I do have a lot of analysis of it, and Afghanistan, in "America's Victories: Why the U.S. Wins Wars and Will Win the War on Terror."


16 posted on 10/12/2006 6:47:58 AM PDT by LS
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To: LS

bttt


17 posted on 10/12/2006 6:51:06 AM PDT by Matchett-PI (To have no voice in the Party that always sides with America's enemies is a badge of honor.)
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To: Tolik

Bar room gossip belongs in tabloids and should be accorded the same respect as Michael Moore's trash.


18 posted on 10/12/2006 7:28:07 AM PDT by oldbrowser (ACLU, communism is the ultimate goal.)
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To: Tolik

I felt that way, but now that it seems he is losing control over his militia, maybe the Iraqi people will realise he isn't the best thing for them, and that will be much better than us having killed him and made all of his followers hate us.

Sometimes you have to let things work themselves out so people can figure out for themselves what is best for them. We might not like the results, but we can't force people to do what we want, at least not forever.


19 posted on 10/12/2006 7:45:19 AM PDT by CharlesWayneCT
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To: LS
After seeing the footnotes in your last book, I suspect you aren't using a lot of anonymous sources in this one...
20 posted on 10/12/2006 9:18:41 AM PDT by Mr. Silverback (People who say there are jobs Americans won't do have never watched "Dirty Jobs.")
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