A Real War: Fighting the Worst Fascists Since Hitler

National Review ^ | 12/5/03 | Victor Davis Hanson

[bdeaner]

A Hanson slam dunk. This is one of the best editorials on foreign policy in the Mideast that I've read in a loooong time. Appeasement will get us nothing but more trouble. Period.

[an amused spectator]

Victor Davis Hanson (hero of the Free Republic) bump

[bdeaner]

Very good point. Thanks for the reminder of the fascists in our midsts -- who, not surprisingly, have attempted all along to undermine this war, which only gives to prove your point.

[Mel Gibson]

We had also better reexamine entirely the way we use force in the Middle East. We did not drive on to Baghdad in 1991 out of concern for the "coalition" — and got 350,000 sorties in the no-fly zones in return. We chose to worry about rebuilding before the current war ended, and let thousands of Baathist killers fade away, and in the aftermath allowed mass looting and continual killing before our most recent get-tough policy.

In fact, anytime we have showed restraint — using battleship salvos and cruise missiles when our Marines were killed, our embassies blown up, and our diplomats murdered; allowing the killers on the Highway of Death to reach Basra in 1991; letting Saddam use his helicopters to gun down innocents — we have earned disdain, not admiration. In contrast, the hijackers chose not to take the top off the World Trade Center, but to incinerate the entire building — proof that they wished not to send us a message but to kill us all, and to kill us to the applause of millions, if the recent popularity of Osama bin Laden and his henchmen in the Arab street is any indication.

No discussion concerning the survival of Saddam Hussein without mentioning the role of former General Colin Powell's poor advice to President Bush and Bush's ill-advised decision to end the original Gulf War on February 28, 1991--before the surviving core of the defeated Iraqi army (mainly two divisions of the Republican Guard with most of their equipment) could be cut off and destroyed, or captured and disarmed.

Bush made his decision at the forceful behest of General Colin Powell, then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell reportedly told Bush and the rest of the White House "High Command" that the remaining Iraqi army was totally defeated and in full retreat and that further attack would be a slaughter, both "UN-AMERICAN and UN-CHIVALROUS".

General Norman Schwarzkopf and his generals were collectively against the premature cease-fire, estimating one to three days more would be needed to cut off and finally trap the Republican Guard survivors (keep in mind we're not talking about going to Baghdad, but only blocking the road from Basra to Baghdad, which the U.S. 24th Mechanized Division and 101st Airborne were poised to do). But unfortunately, Schwarzkopt did not push this view to Bush, to whom he reported directly, a serious error of omission. No more Iraqis needed to have been killed. They had only to hoist a white flag or simply abandon their vehicles and equipment, and walk away. Powell knew all of this.

The Brits were furious about the cease-fire. So were the Saudis, Qataris and other Arab Gulf countries. In fact, Newsweek reported British Gulf commander Gen. Sir Peter de la Billiere went "ballistic" and British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd--who happened to be in Washington--jumped Bush about it immediately, unfortunately to no avail. Had the Guard and it's equipment been finally captured or destroyed, the Shiite rebellion in the South would probably have succeeded. Combined with the simultaneous Kurdish insurrection in the north, it was highly likely that Saddam would have chosen to take a hike and would not be a problem today. Had that happened, thousands of civilian lives would have been spared.

Saddam's survival led to the continued UN sanctions on Iraq. These have grievously persecuted a population that was powerless to overthrow a tyrant that the U.S. allowed to stay in power. Pre-Gulf War, this population greatly admired America and Americans.

[Gritty]

Hanson is a Democrat and gets it.

Why don't the others?

[an amused spectator]

In contrast, the hijackers chose not to take the top off the World Trade Center, but to incinerate the entire building — proof that they wished not to send us a message but to kill us all, and to kill us to the applause of millions, if the recent popularity of Osama bin Laden and his henchmen in the Arab street is any indication.

We've got a choice: Do we want flush toilets, or do we want to crap behind a rock?

The Dixie Chicks, Eminem and their like, apparently enjoy the prospect of using the nearest handy rock.

[GatekeeperBookman]

You just gave me an opening to preach. And I am grateful for any such opportunity.

[Cicero]

No question. Saddam interpreted the First Gulf War as a victory, not a defeat. And he was right.

Powell persuaded Bush I to end the war three days early. For every life that was saved among Saddam's corps of brutal killers, two lives were subsequently lost among the Marsh People and others who unwisely showed their support for us.

These people only hate us more when we try to "help" them. The first order of business is to break the back of the Islamic terrorists. In Iran. In Syria. In Sudan. In Saudi Arabia. And anywhere else where they continue to operate.

[LoudRepublicangirl]

I have an idea of what fascism is but could someone give me a small summary of it is? I was recently at a rally to support the troops where I live and one of the few idiots who drive by and yell slurs at us patriots called us: Fascists! I was just wondering how supporting our troops makes me a fascist. Thanks.

[Rummyfan]

Bump for later.

[bdeaner]

From Miriam-Webster On-line Dictionary

Main Entry: fas·cism
Pronunciation: 'fa-"shi-z&m also 'fa-"si-
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian fascismo, from fascio bundle, fasces, group, from Latin fascis bundle & fasces fasces
Date: 1921
1 often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2 : a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control <early instances of army fascism and brutality -- J. W. Aldridge>
- fas·cist /-shist also -sist/ noun or adjective, often capitalized
- fas·cis·tic /fa-'shis-tik also -'sis-/ adjective, often capitalized
- fas·cis·ti·cal·ly /-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb, often capitalized

[defenderSD]

"Had the Guard and it's equipment been finally captured or destroyed, the Shiite rebellion in the South would probably have succeeded. Combined with the simultaneous Kurdish insurrection in the north, it was highly likely that Saddam would have chosen to take a hike and would not be a problem today. Had that happened, thousands of civilian lives would have been spared."

This is essentially speculation with little basis in fact. The goal of Op Desert Storm was to kick Iraq out of Kuwait while destroying most of its military equipment. The goal was not to completely destroy the Iraqi army because this would have left Iraq vulnerable to invasion by Iran. The first Bush Administration was hoping that the remaining Iraqi army officers would turn on Saddam and remove him from power. Unfortunately, the army didn't rebel and Saddam stayed in power.

[DCPatriot]

I keep thinking WMDs. Our lives and livlihoods would be changed in an instant.

We are certainly in a global struggle for Western Civilization.

[Britton J Wingfield]

ping. awesome essay.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

RE: "fascists in our midsts"

And more.

Yes, back in the U.S. it's politics as usual. "Guns and butter;" massive space programs; Great Society++, i.e. unlimited government services for millions and millions of ILLEGAL immigrants and more millions on the way; 24/7 inspiration for our enemies via Democrat presidential aspirants; 24/7 inspiration for our enemies via our mainstream media "reporting"; 24/7 inspiration for our enemies via "anti-war" demonstrators; 24/7 inspiration for our enemies via "American" Muslim rights groups; 24/7 inspiration for our enemies via Hollywood; 24/7 inspiration for our enemies via the anti-Israel folks; 24/7 inspiration for our enemies via those who counted the "16 words;" 24/7 inspiration for our enemies via politics as usual -- gotta draw down them troops before election.

Yes sir, Vietnam war era all over again. Politics over victory.

Mr Hanson advises that we had better rethink the entire notion of dealing with a host of matters in the Middle East.

"we are in a worldwide struggle the likes of which we have not seen since World War II."

How many ways can that be said? Here's another. "In my view, the stakes are much higher in the war on terror than in anything we've faced since World War II, and probably World War II as well," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Richard Myers.

We had better rethink the entire notion of 24/7 freedom to destroy our own Country.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

I agree. I am pre-occupied with this problem.

[bdeaner]

Also, you should read this essay:

Authoritarianism is Leftist, Not Rightist
By John J. Ray

That leftist who called you a fascist? Next time, you'll know what to say. Another example of leftist projection.

[ladyinred]

Most people are only exposed to two historical aspects of Nazi Germany - WWII military campaigns and the Holocast. This book eloquently and thoroughly presents the most important aspect of the rise of Fascism in Germany, which is in fact the development of the philosophy and world-view of progressive, anti-Judeo-Christian European high-culture.

Needed repeating.

[ladyinred]

Hanson is brilliant.