Frank Rich Declares Iraq 'Box Office Poison!'(Coulter)

Human Events ^ | Dec 20, 2006 | Ann Coulter

[perfect stranger]

Last year, Osama bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, wrote to the head of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, telling him to "be ready starting now" for America to run from Iraq, reminding him how America cut and ran from Vietnam and the "aftermath of the collapse of American power in Vietnam, and how they ran and left their agents."

Alas, Zarqawi never got to implement his Iraq takeover plan because the same troops that are allegedly losing the war right now killed him in June.

But al Qaeda in America isn't ready to quit, yet!

New York Times theater critic Frank Rich made headlines on the Drudge Report last week by announcing: "We have lost in Iraq." Of course, Rich was saying we had lost in Iraq more than six months before we went into Iraq.

In August 2002, he wrote that Bush did not have the support of the American people for war in Iraq and without that he would "mimic another hubristic Texan president who took a backdoor route into pre-emptive warfare."

In April 2003, one month after we invaded, Rich said the looting of Iraqi museums by Iraqis showed "our worst instincts at the very dawn of our grandiose project to bring democratic values to the Middle East."

About six months into the war he wrote a column about Iraq titled: "Why Are We Back in Vietnam?" You can imagine how writing those words must have brought back memories of Frank Rich's own valiant service in Vietnam.

In January 2004, less than a year after the invasion, he wrote: "The greater debate has been over the degree to which the follies of Vietnam are now being re-enacted in Iraq." Historians noted that this is the first time Rich ever panned something containing the word "follies."

A month later, he was again comparing Iraq to Vietnam, saying Bush had forced the comparison "by wearing the fly boy uniform of his own disputed guard duty" when he landed on the aircraft carrier. Did Frank Rich win three purple hearts in combat, or was it four? I always forget.

In May 2004, Rich accused Bush of throwing "underprepared and underprotected" American troops in harm's way in Iraq. OK, I was kidding before. The closest Frank Rich has come to serving in the military was reviewing a revival of "The Caine Mutiny." Though he does know the words to "In the Navy" by heart.

Even after transitioning from musical reviewer to hard-bitten military analyst, Rich couldn't resist tossing in a quick dance review. He gleefully described "pictures of Marines retreating from Fallujah and of that city's citizens dancing in the streets to celebrate their victory over the American liberators."

This too, reminded Rich of Vietnam. Right now I'm trying to think of something that doesn't remind liberals of Vietnam ... hmmm ... drawing a blank.

In September 2005, Rich wrote that the war in Iraq "resembles its Southeast Asian predecessor in its unpopularity, its fictional provocation and its unknown exit strategy" -- interestingly, the exact same words he used years ago in his review of "Miss Saigon." He leeringly anticipated "a Tet offensive, Sunni-style" to tilt the election in Kerry's direction.

In October 2004, Rich said Bush had "bungled the war in Iraq and, in doing so, may be losing the war against radical Islamic terrorism as well." He didn't explain how killing tens of thousands of Islamic terrorists constituted "bungling" a war against them. Then again, what do I know about military analysis? I thought "The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?" was atrocious.

In May of this year, he said that "the public has turned on the war in Iraq" -- the very war that he said the public opposed long before we ever went in.

And in June he said the public knows "defeat when they see it, no matter how many new plans for victory are trotted out to obscure that reality" -- though I might be confusing this statement with Rich's comments on the Times' plan to charge readers for his column.

Liberals are like people with stale breath talking into your face at a party. You try backing away from them or offering them gum, but then they just start whimpering. They've been using the exact same talking points about how we're losing in Iraq since before we invaded.

It seems they've finally succeeded in exhausting Americans and, thereby, handing a victory to al Qaeda.

The weakest members of the herd are rapidly capitulating, trying to preserve a modicum of honor by prattling about how if their plans had been implemented, Iraq would be in tip-top shape and our troops would be home for Christmas.

Well, if my plans had been implemented, the anti-war crowd would be weeping about Iraqi civilian deaths so much they wouldn't have time to pretend they gave a damn about the loss of American lives.

But the plans that were implemented have deposed a monster, put him on trial -- which resulted in his conviction and death sentence -- killed rape hobbyists Uday and Qusay, presided over three democratic elections, killed al-Zarqawi and scores of other al Qaeda leaders fighting Americans in Iraq, and kept the U.S. safe from Islamic terrorist attacks for five years now. The least I can do is not capitulate to the left's endless nagging.

[RonDog]

See also from National Review ONLINE:

December 20, 2006, 0:00 a.m.

May I Wish You a Godless Christmas?
Put Some Books Under That Tree.

By Thomas Sowell

People who dread Christmas shopping and the hand-wringing over what present to buy for which person should consider giving books. No need to know what size to get, as with clothing, or what dietary restrictions the recipient might have, as with candy or fruit cake.

One of the biggest advantages books have is that you can buy them on line, without having to inspect the merchandise personally before buying, so you can avoid the mobs in the malls...

-- snip --

Ann Coulter's new book this year is titled Godless. Like her other books, it is a gem — witty and factual, amusing and incisive, logical and angry.

It ranges across a wide sweep of political issues but its unifying theme is that liberalism is a religion, Godless but faith-based, with its faith being in a social vision that is impervious to any facts to the contrary.

For the benefit of the rest of us, Ann Coulter supplies those facts — and they are often devastating to the liberal faith, as her previous books have been...

[basil]

Is he getting ready to blow his nose on his hand?

[Brimack34]

Just imagine Saddam with a Nuke. Better yet we do not have to, Thanks to our very very brave armed forces and our President.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

He's looking rather W.C. Fields-like, wouldn't you say? Who's the c*** hanging around his neck?

[RonDog]

Who's...hanging around his neck?

That would be, from Caption This: Help Matt Drudge out with Maureen Dowd Photo!:

Mo Do

[Doctor Raoul]

What a picture. Rich and Bitch.

I'm sure that Rich is someone's Bitch.

[Doctor Raoul]

Does this barstool make
my ass look big?

[HardStarboard]

I just stumbled over a documentary on the Mustang Ranch on television.

I think Maureen Dowd got those stockings from one of the "Ranch" employees when they closed up shop.....or maybe being a NYT columnist is her new career.

[Intolerant in NJ]

New York Times theater critic Frank Rich made headlines on the Drudge Report last week by announcing: "We have lost in Iraq."...and we should care what a theater critic has to say about the war in Iraq because?.........

[Lancey Howard]

Terrific column, but I kinda wish Ann wouldn't give a pissant like Rich the time of day. He and the disgraced and dying New York Times aren't worth a paragraph let alone a whole column.

[Fledermaus]

When the Islamic facist again attack us the odds are it will again be New York. I hope Frank Rich gets nuked.

[jellybean]

Did Frank Rich win three purple hearts in combat, or was it four? I always forget.

I think Ms. Rick chipped a nail once and applied for hazardous duty pay, but I don't think any purple hearts were awarded.

Let me know if you'd like to be added to the Ann Coulter ping list.

[sten]

I really wish people would get the wording correct. The war was over within the first 6 months, at which point the occupation began.

if anyone wants to know how long it will take, refer them to post WW2 Japan and Germany.

[Christian4Bush]

bump

[mbraynard]

Again - human events, at times, SEVERELY edits out Ann's column. For the real deal go to her site at www.anncoulter.com

[Hildy]

Hey, I think I'll write a book..."FRANK RICH IS A BIG FAT IDIOT."

[perfect stranger]

I always do.

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

even better yet:

does this big ass make my stool look small?

[Doctor Raoul]

Yes, better yet...

[ChessExpert]

"The closest Frank Rich has come to serving in the military was reviewing a revival of 'The Caine Mutiny.' Though he does know the words to 'In the Navy' by heart."

I no longer read the NYT and did not know who Frank Rich was. Now I do!

It is hard for many to keep up with Ann Coulter since she makes many brief references to stories we have forgotten or did not know. Liberal readers are completely at sea when they read her because of their alternate reality.

Here are a few reality check moments for our friends on the left. FDR and many other Democrats called Joseph Stalin "Uncle Joe." In his day, Uncle Joe was the greatest mass murderer ever. They didn't know, because their trusted news services kept them in the dark.

Two years passed between our departure from South Vietnam and the fall of South Vietnam to the communists. North Vietnam was backed by China and Russia. South Vietnam was abandoned by the US, specifically the US Congress. The south did not fall to insurgency or civil war, but to a conventional armored invasion that we could have easily stopped through air power. John Kerry's knew and testified to the Senate that "only" 30,000 would be killed if South East Asia became communist. The actual total surpassed 3,000,000. This is the kind of result America had tried to prevent. Vietnam was a moral and just war.

Here are two documents liberals might want to read before offering an opinion about Bush and the war in Iraq:
A) AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAQ RESOLUTION OF 2002
B) IRAQ LIBERATION ACT OF 1998
Our conflict in Iraq is not the whim of one man. These joint Congressional resolutions gave many valid reasons for waging war in Iraq and deposing Saddam Hussein. One that I had forgotten was that thousands of missiles were shot at US aircraft enforcing the no-fly zone. We did not enforce the no fly zone for "oil" but to prevent genocide.

Nixon, Reagan, and Bush waged and wage war on America's enemies. Liberals wage war on Republicans (Nixon, Reagan, Gingrich, Starr, and Bush), while currying favor with our enemies. I know these are harsh words. But there is ample evidence that they are true. Liberals simply score themselves by your words and positions. I am no partisan. When Democrats give me a John Kennedy, who was patriotic, anticommunist and who cut taxes, and they give me a Democrat who I can admire. It has been a long time now.