U.S. choosing a rather odd way not to run Iraq

The Deseret News ^ | 4/22/2003 | Georgie Anne Geyer

[Utah Girl]

Perhaps what Ms Geyer doesn't understand is that Hussein had all possible opposition killed while he was in power. There may not be anyone in Iraq right now able to run the country. Geyer has become very negative about President Bush and the war. She wasn't a supporter of it, and has had nothing good to say lately.

[Marianne]

BTTT

[Toddsterpatriot]

eternally fixated on defeating every foreign invader.

Yeah, well we've already proven they can't do that.

[maica]

Georgie Anne Geyer has not been an unbiased reporter since Bush became president. I think she actively dislikes the whole administration. I used to look forward to her observations of world events. Now I do not read her.

[Toddsterpatriot]

WMDs and someone evil enough to use them. That's why we invaded. We wouldn't invade Switzerland if they had WMDs. They wouldn't use them on their neighbors or on us.

Relax, we'll find your WMDs. As far as the $26 billion. Best money we could ever spend. What would you spend it on? Farm subsidies?

[Asclepius]

Perhaps We did not understand the hell that is about to break loose because we have not found WMD. You know--WMD, the reason we spent 160 American young lives and 26 BILLION dollars?

Who cares about the WMDs? Will Saddam's regime resurrect itself if we fail to find a few WMDs?

[Utah Girl]

Actually, it will be a lot more than 26 billion dollars by the time we are finished in Iraq. And yes, the price was high, but the Iraqi people now have a chance at freedom and the opportunity to better their lives. I have no doubt WMDs will be found, but it will take some time. Like Donald Rumsfeld said, Iraqis themselves are going to have to come forward and reveal what they know.

[Asclepius]

No, and Al Capone is deader than Hell!

Precisely. Only he died of natural causes. So relax.

[Toddsterpatriot]

You're making as much sense as a democrat. Hey wait a minute.......

[stylin19a]

I'm still trying to figure out who called this a cakewalk ?

[dennisw]

Georgie Anne Geyer only has complaints. No positive ideas.

[Utah Girl]

Relax, they will be found.

[cookcounty]

"Perhaps We did not understand the hell that is about to break loose because we have not found WMD. You know--WMD, the reason we spent 160 American young lives and 26 BILLION dollars?"

It was the convergence of WMD and the fact that Saddam Hussein, the absolute dictator of Iraq, has shown himself to be a uniquely brutal ruler, starting wars against his neighbors and showing a willingness to use WMD.

If having WMD was reason enough to go to war, we would have invaded France. ............hmmmmm.

[MissAmericanPie]

She isn't fit to carry President Bush's water. She understands fully what the deal is, they all do.

[marron]

You know, they criticize us because we don't have a post-war plan, and they criticize us because we do.

The war in Afghanistan was executed masterfully, the run-up to the war in Iraq was likewise masterful, even considering the diplomatic problems, and the war itself could hardly have been carried off better than it was. We have by far the most effective foreign policy team in Washington (and in the field) that we have ever had.

With these guys planning the post-war transition, backed up by Bechtel and Brown and Root, and a host of Iraqi expatriates, I don't think anyone could do better. This is not going to be easy, but I am very confident.

I also used to look for Georgie Geyer's columns in years past, but I haven't bothered to read her in a long time.

[Utah Girl]

VP Dick Cheney gave a speech a few weeks before the war started. He said that the war could take a few days, a few weeks, or a few months. The media seized upon the few days remarks, and turned it into a cakewalk. Typical tactics.

The other new talking points are that the military was unprepared for what happened in Iraq. "The war plan didn't go as it was designed, and and and Basrah took two weeks to fall, and the people were supposed to welcome the coalition with open arms. And they had to change the war plan!!!" This was delivered last night by some female British reporter, and was quite annoying to listen to her breathless statements. But she was quite proud of herself for not blabbling secrets while being an embedded reporter. The reason she didn't blab? "Because we were really dependent on the soldiers for our safety." By this time, I was rolling my eyes.