Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Grand Delusion: Politicians Act as if They Can Make the War Go Away Soon. It Won't.
Washington Post ^ | 28 January 2007 | Robert Kagan

Posted on 01/28/2007 8:33:08 AM PST by shrinkermd

...Those who call for an "end to the war" don't want to talk about the fact that the war in Iraq and in the region will not end but will only grow more dangerous. Do they recommend that we then do nothing, regardless of the consequences?

Of course, most of the discussion of Iraq isn't about Iraq at all. The war has become a political abstraction, a means of positioning oneself at home.

To the extent that people think about Iraq, many seem to believe it is a problem that can be made to go away. Once American forces depart, Iraq will no longer be our problem. Joseph Biden, one of the smartest foreign policy hands in the Senate, recently accused President Bush of sending more troops so that he could pass the Iraq war on to his successor...

This is a delusion, but it is by no means only a Democratic delusion. Many conservatives and Republicans, including erstwhile supporters of the war, have thrown up their hands in anger at the Iraqi people or the Iraqi government. They, too, seem to believe that if American troops leave, because Iraqis don't "deserve" our help, then somehow the whole mess will solve itself or simply fade away. Talk about a fantasy. The fact is, the United States cannot escape the Iraq crisis, and will not be able to escape it for years. And if Iraq does collapse, it will not be the end of our problems but the beginning of a new and much bigger set of problems.

I would think that anyone wanting to be president in January 2009 would be hoping and praying that the troop increase works. The United States will be dealing with Iraq one way or another in 2009...

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


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iraq; outcome; wot
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last
Best take I have seen lately. Really a surprise that the Washington Post permits it. Usually, they like articles on "Macaca."
1 posted on 01/28/2007 8:33:10 AM PST by shrinkermd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd
Those who call for an "end to the war"
Well, since we didn't start the war, we can't end it while leaving the enemy capable of returning fire.
2 posted on 01/28/2007 8:37:24 AM PST by GrandEagle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd
Joseph Biden, one of the smartest foreign policy hands in the Senate

Oh, gimme a break!!

3 posted on 01/28/2007 8:37:26 AM PST by digger48
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

What Can You Do?

1. Sign the Pledge
http://www.thenrscpledge.com/

2. Contact your Senators and the Senate Republican leadership

3. Tell at least three friends about the Pledge


4 posted on 01/28/2007 8:38:00 AM PST by bnelson44 (Proud parent of a tanker! (We are going to win!))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd

The Dems don't have the slightest idea how to end the war. They want to pressure Bush to pull out so they can blame the ensuing disaster in the Persian Gulf on him, too.


5 posted on 01/28/2007 8:41:18 AM PST by Spok
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd

Excellent editorial. Common sense that both sides of "the isle" should listen to. Facts that everybody knows, but no one wants to admit.


6 posted on 01/28/2007 8:44:02 AM PST by GrandEagle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Spok

This is a delusion, but it is by no means only a Democratic delusion. Many conservatives and Republicans, including erstwhile supporters of the war, have thrown up their hands in anger at the Iraqi people or the Iraqi government. They, too, seem to believe that if American troops leave, because Iraqis don't "deserve" our help, then somehow the whole mess will solve itself or simply fade away. Talk about a fantasy. The fact is, the United States cannot escape the Iraq crisis, and will not be able to escape it for years. And if Iraq does collapse, it will not be the end of our problems but the beginning of a new and much bigger set of problems.

I would think that anyone wanting to be president in January 2009 would be hoping and praying that the troop increase works. The United States will be dealing with Iraq one way or another in 2009...


7 posted on 01/28/2007 8:49:20 AM PST by bnelson44 (Proud parent of a tanker! (We are going to win!))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: GrandEagle

I sure don't want to take the chance of them coming over here and just slitting all of our throats; but that seems to be what the anti-crowd war wants. I mean when you have a person like Jane Fonda who was actively involved in our people getting bad punishment for her actions. What can one think?


8 posted on 01/28/2007 8:49:21 AM PST by freekitty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: GrandEagle
I have my doubts that "this war" will ever end. As long as there is one Muslim/Islamist still alive the WOT will not be over.
9 posted on 01/28/2007 8:49:33 AM PST by Coldwater Creek (The TERRORIST are the ones who won the midterm elections!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd

Sadly democrats would be allowed to win in Iraq, or at least be allowed to claim a perceived victory. Republicans on the other hand will never be permitted to claim victory.

For the sake of argument. If the democrats managed to take total control of government, they would need to win the war. The simple fact is that they don't want to lose the war themselves, they want the republicans to lose it.

Also, there's the fact that conservatives will rightly continue to support our troops and the war even under a democrat government. The democrat base on the other hand will simply switch sides of the issue to continue blindly supporting their party.

The whole thing is a disgusting series of catch 22s that are about a lust for political power as opposed to doing the right thing.


10 posted on 01/28/2007 8:51:05 AM PST by cripplecreek (Peace without victory is a temporary illusion.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd
But they're not honest either, since they refuse to answer the most obvious and necessary questions: What do they propose the United States do when, as a result of withdrawal, Iraq explodes and ethnic cleansing on a truly horrific scale begins?

Same thing they did after we learned of the killing fields of Cambodia. Deny it till it's unavoidable and then say it was our fault for upsetting them in the first place.

11 posted on 01/28/2007 8:55:07 AM PST by A_perfect_lady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd
Joseph Biden, one of the smartest foreign policy hands in the Senate....

I have seen Biden up close and in person. He is not the brightest guy on Capitol Hill, but he is one of the most petty and vindictive in the Senate.

12 posted on 01/28/2007 8:59:39 AM PST by Rapscallion (Victory in war means winning, unless you are a democ-rat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: freekitty

Aren't the anti-war protestors going to be the first to volunteer to show the courage of their convictions by being the first to have their throats slit?

Do they expect that everybody else should pay the price for their gullibility?

Take Jane Fonda for example...


13 posted on 01/28/2007 9:01:06 AM PST by MikeHu
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd

Wow but guess what they won't be dealing with an emboldened Saddam Hussein gaming the oil for food and plotting suicide attacks in the U.S.... How bout them apples.


14 posted on 01/28/2007 9:04:49 AM PST by tomnbeverly (How bout that lie detector test Mr. Berger?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd
Of course this WOT won't be going away anytime soon. Never mind, the Dems will promise that it will, it won't, nobody will ask the Dems to put up or shut up.The MSM wants the Dems in control and the ignorant masses will blindly follow their directions from the alphabet networks, the lib newspapers and the weekly rag mags and vote for the dishonest lefties.
15 posted on 01/28/2007 9:07:44 AM PST by originalbuckeye
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd

Bidens hair plugs missed the mark by about 3 feet. :-)


16 posted on 01/28/2007 9:18:12 AM PST by vietvet67
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd
Joseph Biden, one of the smartest foreign policy hands in the Senate

Oh, please! How often does this boob meet with foreign leaders, visit their countries and actually has a hand in fomenting policy??

17 posted on 01/28/2007 9:18:36 AM PST by cardinal4
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bnelson44

No thanks.


18 posted on 01/28/2007 9:29:37 AM PST by Chi-townChief
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd

bump


19 posted on 01/28/2007 9:35:39 AM PST by Valin (History takes time. It is not an instant thing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: digger48

you're being polite today...oh gimme a #@!%$%^ing break is what i said


20 posted on 01/28/2007 10:00:53 AM PST by wildcatf4f3 (Find out what brand the Ethiopians are drinking and send a case to all my generals.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-27 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson