Victor Davis Hanson: The Quiet Consensus on Iraq. The more they argue, the more they sound the same

NRO ^ | 10/7/2005 | Victor Davis Hanson

[Tolik]

    Victor Davis Hanson Ping ! 

       Let me know if you want in or out.

Links: FR Index of his articles:  http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=victordavishanson 
His website: http://victorhanson.com/     NRO archive: http://www.nationalreview.com/hanson/hanson-archive.asp

[Eagles6]

bttt

[metesky]

Bumping another great VDH take on the way things really are.

[samtheman]

Going in to Iraq was an unrecognized act of brilliance on the part of Bush.

It continues to be unrecognized, except by a few.

I think of that lack of recognition when I read the criticisms of the Miers appointment.

Bush's critics always miss the point.

[xzins]

Outstanding review of the situation -- about the best I've seen. It is true that the insurgents are losing; step-by-step-by-step.

The "town by town" strategy is working and is on the Syrian border, which should be a warning to them. Retake a town/city/region from the fascists and then leave a caretaker Iraqi military unit for security. It makes sense; it is working.

If Syria is removed as a staging area, that leaves only the major metropolitan areas as hiding places for Sunni terrorists. At this point, Iran is better to remain quiet and allow the Shi'ite Iraqi majority to assume rule. Why destabilize that apple cart at this time? The Kurds have longed for some kind of federal/confederal separateness for generations; they are definitely on board. (And, many don't realize that they are also Sunni. Something that will counterbalance the Shi'ite majority in the future.)

How does one find terrorist staging amidst a major metropolitan area and excise it?

I'm not sure, but it would make sense eventually to have the best trained, most lethal Iraqi military units co-located with the metropolitan areas. Their natural knowledge of language, culture, customs combined with their ability to project power will enable their intelligence capabilities to overcome the insurgents in the long run.

All the while, these things will allow for a reduced American footprint. I smell victory.

The middle-of-the-road democrats will desperately search for some means of diverting credit for that success from the Republicans and from George Bush. If the midterm elections are held with ongoing success in Iraq as a centerpiece, the republicans will clean house.

The democrats will need to give that credit to someone else. Their best bet is to begin focusing on the new constitution, the Iraqi people, and the improving Iraqi military. I can hear it now, "blah, blah, blah...despite the bumbling of the administration, the Iraqis themselves are actually pulling a rabbit out of a hat...yada, yada.

When we hear that, then know that the dems smell victory in Iraq as well.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

That the United States needs at least 4-5 more combat-ready divisions is not the same question as the wisdom of putting more American personnel into Iraq.

. . . and to the extent that the US does need 5 more combat-ready divisions, whose fault is it exactly that we don't have them?

Hint: What was the "peace dividend," and who boasted of reductions in government spending while using it?

Even more to the point, what Democrat will stand up and say that a son in the Army is an ornament to his parents, and deserving of special honor for having gone into harm's way under the orders of the president?

[randita]

Moveon.org, Cindy Sheehan, or Michael Moore in the short-term may be useful stilettos to the Democrats. But most keep their safe distance from such blood-stained rapiers, since few know how Iraq will turn out — or what such razor-sharp groups and firebrands will say or do next.

Until or unless Dem party leaders openly embrace the ideology of its kook fringe, public opinion might remain pretty much the same, as VDH asserts.

Even if the kook fringe ideology is embraced by Dem leaders, it's hard to predict what the outcome would be. Would more people be persuaded to oppose the war and call for immediate troop withdrawal, or would the Dem party be even more marginalized from the populace?

[samtheman]

Even if the kook fringe ideology is embraced by Dem leaders, it's hard to predict what the outcome would be. Would more people be persuaded to oppose the war and call for immediate troop withdrawal, or would the Dem party be even more marginalized from the populace?

Obviously the Dim Leadership fears being marginalized or they would "come out" as the kooks they truly are. Do you think the Dim Leadership actually disagrees with traitors such as Sheehan and Moore? Of course not. They only keep their distance out of a correct sense of political survival.

[melancholy]

Please add me to the VDH ping list.

Thank you.

[Tolik]

In.

VDH BUMP

[Cap Huff]

Ping

[uncbob]

Bush's critics always miss the point.

ALWAYS ?

What point is being missed on illegal immigration and spending out the wazoo ?

[betty boop]

Excellent article, xzins! Thank you so much for the ping.

[xzins]

Bill Clinton sliced the military from 18 divisions to 10 divisions.

[Thunder 6]

Well said!
Regards

[xzins]

Keep your powder dry and your prayers sharp, my friend. Our prayers are with you.

You are supported and respected by all but a very few Americans. (It is a fact of my experience, at least, that those who badmouth our effort have other odd quirks, as well....they were "unusual" people before their unusual opposition to our protecting ourselves from the fascists.)

[Alamo-Girl]

Excellent insights, xzins! Thank you!

[MEG33]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1498199/posts

Code Words: Daniel Pearl-- President Bush's Speech ILLUSTRATED
White House ^ | 10/6/05 | Cinnamon Girl

[MEG33]

Thanks!