Top Republicans Break With Bush on Iraq Strategy

The New York Times ^ | 08/16/2002 | TODD S. PURDUM and PATRICK E. TYLER

[Thud]

Don't believe all the disinformation.

[Guillermo]

Name a country that the USA has conquered, and left...

We're not leaving Afghan, nor Iraq if/when we invade anytime soon. Hell, we're still in Germany, Italy, Japan and Korea. We're even still in Cuba.

[Numbers Guy]

"Maybe Mr. Perle would like to be in the first wave of those who go into Baghdad."

Maybe Senator Hagel would like to be the target of a Saddam-provided terrorist Ebola attack.

As I said on the other thread, Scowcroft was scared to death of the Soviet Union breaking up. He was totally behind 41's "Chicken Kiev" speech, which warned of instability if the Ukraine left the USSR. He was also against going to Baghdad in 1991, again because he thought instability was worse than leaving Saddam in power.

Scowcroft has a mindset and it's not going to change in spite of the overwhelming evidence from the USSR's breakup and Saddam's continued reign of terror.

[Mahone]

I knew when Bush was put through the crucible of the election that he was being prepared for some very tough times, I believe he will stand against it all to do what he believes is right. May God bless, guide and keep him.

[sarasmom]

RE #10

Ditto

[sinkspur]

WOW!

You said everything I wanted to say, and much more.

You ought to contribute more often.

RJayne, this is my nomination for essay of the week!

[elbucko]

Civilized people cannot fathom, much less predict, the actions of evil people.

Exactly. The weakness of an open civilized society; it cannot imagine evil.

Take a poll of as many convicted killers on death rows throughout the country about what to do about Saddam. I'll bet the consensus is unanimous: "KILL HIM!"

[SEGUET]

Gunny -

Chill out.

[Corin Stormhands]

"Top Republicans?"

Looks to me like a bunch of has-beens and used-to-bes. I can't imagine that any of them has inside access like they used to.

[itsahoot]

Don't believe all the disinformation.

Super Genius, Super Secret plan # 1377

[Skwidd]

Touche.

Will this be yet another hole to throw money into?

Eventually, the people of Iraq will rise up on their own, if they have the will to do so. If they do not, then no amount of American military support will keep the cowards free.

If Saddam decides to be a jackass before then, then '182 grains of guaranteed justice' can be delivered from a nearby location.

[sinkspur]

Scowcroft has a mindset and it's not going to change in spite of the overwhelming evidence from the USSR's breakup and Saddam's continued reign of terror.

Exactly. Scowcroft was running around, twelve years ago, warning of casualties, while James Baker was assembling a coalition.

Brent's never been one to inspire much confidence.

[tomahawk]

Scowcroft and Eagleburger are part of the reason Saddam is still in power, building nukes, VX, smallpox, etc., which he will give to jihadists to attack Tel Aviv and New York. They are part of the reason we need to go back. They are plum stupid when it comes to Iraq and the threat it poses. They want to wait until it's too late.

[FreeReign]

The only good thing about Iraq is than we can then invade both Iran and Saudi by land if we want.

We are already in Saudi Arabia.

[Miss Marple]

You know, this confirms my opinion that President Bush REALLY loves this country, being willing to serve even though he knew what he was up against.

I don't mean the Axis of Evil, nor even the democrats...I mean the blatherings of people from prior Republican administrations who have NO access to the latest intelligence and who should keep their mouths shut, knowing full well that their public statements would cause a controversy in the press.

Bah. I stick with Condi Rice's statements to the BBC.

[weikel]

But the government has to be deposed and the inhabitants particulary the ruling class and clergy have to be purged( no upper class and we can MTVize the remaining Arab mob in a generation). We also need to be able to seize the oilfields by surprise so the Saudis don't set them on fire.

[Siobhan]

Brent Scowcroft has always been Chicken Little. I am convinced that the President is a man of honor, but Henry Kissinger and Scowcroft are another kettle of fish.

[RJCogburn]

nor made the case

I think that is true, so far.

"The failure to take on Saddam after what the president said would produce such a collapse of confidence in the president that it would set back the war on terrorism."

That's a problem

[Austin Willard Wright]

Perhaps but....those pushing for war have the same world saving engineering hubris as the whiz kids who got us in the Vietnam War. An attempt to bring democracy to the hell hole of Iraq is a recipe for the endless spilling of American blood, treasure in futile nation building efforts. I, for one, hope the war hawks are stopped.

[RJCogburn]

I would love to see Saddam gone, but the suggestion that once gone, we're all set doesn't seem correct to me.