It Didn’t Work (Buckley declares Iraq a failure)

National Review Online ^ | 02/24/06 | William F Buckley Jr

[CometBaby]

"I can tell you the main reason behind all our woes — it is America." The New York Times reporter is quoting the complaint of a clothing merchant in a Sunni stronghold in Iraq. "Everything that is going on between Sunni and Shiites, the troublemaker in the middle is America."

One can't doubt that the American objective in Iraq has failed. The same edition of the paper quotes a fellow of the American Enterprise Institute. Mr. Reuel Marc Gerecht backed the American intervention. He now speaks of the bombing of the especially sacred Shiite mosque in Samara and what that has precipitated in the way of revenge. He concludes that “The bombing has completely demolished” what was being attempted — to bring Sunnis into the defense and interior ministries.

Our mission has failed because Iraqi animosities have proved uncontainable by an invading army of 130,000 Americans. The great human reserves that call for civil life haven't proved strong enough. No doubt they are latently there, but they have not been able to contend against the ice men who move about in the shadows with bombs and grenades and pistols.

[SIDENET]

HE'S OLD.

[Revolting cat!]

"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people." -- Hyman Rickover (Often attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt)

[PackerBoy]

Huh?

[claudiustg]

---If FReepers seriously start questioning William F. Buckley with such infantile criticism as "HE'S OLD", then I will say goodbye to this liberal piece of crap website.---

Are you series?

[COEXERJ145]

HE'S OLD

Now do us all a favor and say "goodbye".

[CometBaby]

"Buckley is wrong sometimes."

Buckley has had a history of being on the unpopular side of some issues with Conservatives. He has disappointed me a before. Besides, it won’t be so .. unless it actually happens in Iraq. He may have been the father of the 50s Conservative Movement, but he’s one step in his grave now. He doesn’t have it anymore. Rich Lowry seems to be a good replacement.

[adorno]

He concludes that “The bombing has completely demolished” what was being attempted — to bring Sunnis into the defense and interior ministries.

So, one bombing, destructive as it was, convinces Buckley that the mission is a failure? By that kind of reasoning, democracy in the U.S. is a failure because Tim McVay bombed and destroyed a federal building full of people.

[Polybius]

"I can tell you the main reason behind all our woes — it is America." The New York Times reporter is quoting the complaint of a clothing merchant in a Sunni stronghold in Iraq. "Everything that is going on between Sunni and Shiites, the troublemaker in the middle is America."

Translation: "Before the Americans came, we Sunnis were able to keep the 80% Shiite and Kurdish majority in a state of second class citizenship, we got preferential treatment and we could massacre the Shiites and the Kurds whenever they got too uppity. Ahh, for the good ole days before the Americans came and turned my world up side down!"

Shiites Filling a Saddam-Era Mass Grave in Iraq

[SteveMcKing]

Of course I could always stay for spite....

Nice slanderous tagline you have there!

[CWOJackson]

I remember when Barry Goldwater started goings senile.

[claudiustg]

---He has disappointed me a before. ---

He doesn't see the right to keep and bear arms as particularily important.

[Revolting cat!]

See what you've done? You've done provoked them!
Here's suitable musical accompaniment to the thread!

[PGalt]

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

No thanks. He's old.

[Bushman2]

HE'S REALLY OLD...and btw who died and made him the purveyor of all wisdom?
I'm backing the BOYS and the POTUS

[Revolting cat!]

Buckley's old, the Rolling Stones are old, Hitlery will be too old in 2012, where am I, at FreeAgeist.com?! (You just wait for Ann Coulter, and Michelle Whatsername, and her sister Laura Whatsername to get 'too old'!)

[WarEagle]

BYEE!

[COEXERJ145]

who died and made him the purveyor of all wisdom?

He is trashing President Bush so for some that makes him next to god.

Oh, and Buckley is Old.

[grey_whiskers]

I can stomach anti-Pat Buchanan threads, understanding that even committed Republicans are prone to 50 years influence of communist elements within our country. If FReepers seriously start questioning William F. Buckley with such infantile criticism as "HE'S OLD", then I will say goodbye to this liberal piece of crap website.

Sorry to bother you Admin, but isn't this a comment a little too short to qualify as a true "opus" ??

Cheers!

[Jorge]

Mr. Buckley, to me, it kinda looks like Bush's plan is working.

Buckley can be an insufferable bag of wind, when he wants to be.

[connectthedots]

I've never understood why people have thought that Buckley was such a great writer. He is a horrible orator. Thankfully, most people don't know who he is, and even fewer care.