The Ripple Effect of Failure in Iraq/If We Fail… Been there, done that.

NRO/Real Clear Politics ^ | January 19, 2007 | Victor Davis Hanson

[Old Badger]

Democrats and liberals should likewise realize that for all their hatred of George Bush and the partisan points to be gained by coddling up to the libertarian and paleo-conservative Right, George Bush’s embrace of freedom was far closer to their own past rhetoric than almost any Republican administration in history. And such an effort to foster democracy was in the long run smart as well, since ultimately a free Iraq would be the worst nightmare of the Islamic jihadists — as we read repeatedly in the rantings of Dr. Zawahiri............ In short, the next Democratic president who wishes to do something about the genocide in Darfur or another mass murderer in the Middle East, will find no support from Republicans, or — in no small part due to liberals’ slurs against the war they voted for — from the country at large.

[flynmudd]

Where were these "Darfur" bleeding hearts when Saddam was killing the Kurds and Shia? Crickets chirping!

[Eagles6]

VDH nails it, as always.

[Steel Wolf]

VDH has been on a roll lately. He's always good, but his last few articles have hit 'em out of the park.

[ClaireSolt]

I don't think Dems have though any of this through. It is all politics and soundbites to them.

[Kozak]

If we bug out, we should end all pretense of being a military power, because we will have proved our enemies right, we ARE a paper tiger. The strongest military in the world is worthless, in fact a liability without the will to win.

[Old Badger]

The Liberals and Media just talk how terrible atrocities are being committed, but then haven't the fortitude or stomach to follow through to our victory. We're in trouble because of the successful brainwashing the populous is getting from the liberal media. VDH is a refreshing light in the otherwise doom and gloom media.

Hope America wakes up for our future is revealed for us in this article, and others.

[Star Traveler]

You said -- "It is all politics and soundbites to them."

Yep, it's conducting U.S. foreign policy and military planning on the basis of media soundbites, with the motivation of gaining power and maintaining it.

However, I don't think they've thought through -- fully -- the implications of Sharia law on their political maneuverings...

Regards,
Star Traveler

[Star Traveler]

You said -- "If we bug out, we should end all pretense of being a military power, because we will have proved our enemies right, we ARE a paper tiger. The strongest military in the world is worthless, in fact a liability without the will to win."

Yep...

I conjure up this picture in my mind. You have the recognized strong kid on the block, who is really big and no one wants to tangle with him. Usually people do what he says and stay away. But, along comes some little squirt in the neighborhood that ignores him, yaps like a little dog and then one day *pops* the big guy in the mouth.

So, what does the big kid do? He goes "Waaaaa..." and runs home to mama...

Yep, that's about the size of it.

Regards,
Star Traveler

[Steel Wolf]

As far as that goes, they've thought it through to the extent that they feel they need to. Politics is their blood and soundbites are their currency. If the world falls to ashes, they don't really care, so long as they control the ashes.

From that standpoint, the Democrats are being entirely rational. If you don't care what happens to the world or your country, so long as you get to be in charge, then what's the point of acting in the interests of world stability, or in the interests of national security?

At the end of the day, they, and a very large percentage of Americans, care only about amassing political power to further their own special interests. They genuinely don't care what it takes to get theirs.

[Star Traveler]

You said -- "They genuinely don't care what it takes to get theirs."

Short-sighted unfortunately..., but true.

At least, Christians, who believe there is such a thing as accountability -- even after you're dead, have something to give them "pause" if they consider such things. Although, I do know that there are Christians who can engage in such things as "rationalizations", too.

Regards,
Star Traveler

[rob777]

"Read the liberal literature of the 1990s and it was essentially a call for what George Bush is now doing — and being damned for.

...

Democrats and liberals should likewise realize that for all their hatred of George Bush and the partisan points to be gained by coddling up to the libertarian and paleo-conservative Right, George Bush’s embrace of freedom was far closer to their own past rhetoric than almost any Republican administration in history."




While this points out the hypocrisy of Bush's left wing critics, it also goes a long way to explaining his critics on the right. While I may not agree with all of their criticism, they have been consistent. In their eyes, Bush is yesterday's liberal, rather than a conservative. For "Old Right" conservatives, the liberal notion of "freedom" is government initiated intervention and social engineering. They see an "Orwellian" misuse of language to justify an agenda which will end up in anything but freedom. The problem is, that in recognizing this, they over react and ignore legitimate long term security concerns. On the other hand, the current administration is blurring that distinction by mixing it with a liberal approach to foreign policy.

[null and void]

Kerry Lied

Millions Died

[PeterPrinciple]

I often wonder what the world would have been like if we hadn't been in Viet Nam..........................

[sageb1]

"If the world falls to ashes, they don't really care, so long as they control the ashes."

There'a tagline in there somewhere.

[sageb1]

We'd have a one world government by now.

[ClaireSolt]

Look at Hillary's video announcement. She is a tabula raza for everyone to project their own hopes and dreams onto.