I completely agree. What is wrong with us? Why have we become so politically correct? Discussing our weaknesses in public only strengthens the enemy. For instance, yesterday, when Levin asked Gates whether he thought we were winning the war, I wish Gates had said, "With all due respect, Senator, that is a very delicate issue requiring a very complicated answer utilizing classified material. It would be better asked and answered in closed session. We have to realize that this war is not only being waged militarily and politically, but is also being waged psychologically in a propaganda war."
What national interest is served by such disclosures?
complete with a sideshow...
National interests as we know them, none.
Power-structure agenda interests, everything.
When I left my last contract position, I sent out an email to my co-workers that they were now free to blame all subsequent failures on me. That is basically what is happening now - now that Bush is a lame duck, they will seek to affix all blame for problems in Iraq on him and Rummy and Cheney, while ignoring the culpabilty of all others - from Baker, who set the stage for our current credbility problems in Iraq by leaving the Kurds and Shiites to twist in the wind after Gulf War I, to the Democrats who gave our enemies hope that they could win the political war when they, like the North Vietnamese, had no hope of winning the military war.
Now, if I may recycle the worn-out phrase one more time, it will all be "Bush's Fault!".
And the rest can walk away pretending their hands are clean.
"What national interest is served by such disclosures?"
Our psychological AND military defeat.
This is surrealistic to me.
I cannot believe that this is being broadcast on television seen all over the world.
If I were an insurgent in Iraq, what this says to me is "keep on doing what you have been doing. It's working."
Well, if you are an aging ex-hippie who wishes to relive your glory days of vitenam protests, a time you felt most relevant in the world because your shouts and curses actually led to the humiliation of this nation, then it means everything. It means you're still able to shout down the nation, support "social justice" around the planet, yadda yadda yadda. Of course that means the prostration of the US before it's enemies, but hey, we earned it, right?
The most selfish, shallow group of people ever. Unable to see past their own self interest (in this case, their need to feel important and to "make a difference") this group of jerks has risen to traditional power in politics and in the media and they are once again thrilled to see the US humiliated. The difference is that with our ill-conceived hasty withdrawl from Vietnam only led to millions of deaths of those other people way over there, this time it will certainly lead to chaos and death on our own shores eventually. But as lunch as Pinch Sulzberger feels good about himself, that's all that matters.
If they have their way, our soldiers will sneak out in the middle of the night, heads hanging, while massacres happen in Iraq (so they can say "See! Look what we caused!" And yes, I do beleive they take a smug satisfaction is seeing chaos and death when it justifies their world view) It's up to the President to prevent that, and find a way to maintain both our dignity and our national interests. I sincerely hope his recent proclivity to go-along to get-along doesnt come into play this time.