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The Misadventures of Baghdad Jim & Friends
The Washington Dispatch ^ | Oct. 7, 2002 | Jerry Brooks

Posted on 10/07/2002 10:20:56 AM PDT by 1bigdictator

The Misadventures of Baghdad Jim & Friends

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Exclusive commentary by Jerry Brooks

Oct 7, 2002

Recently, a delegation of congressional Democrats; Jim McDermott of Washington, David Bonoir of Michigan, and Mike Thompson of California visited Baghdad and met with several members of the Iraqi government.

The voyage of the “Baghdad Three”, which some leaders are calling them, sparked a deluge of outrage and disgust from many insiders on Capitol Hill. Both Republicans and especially Democrats.

In a story last week by Roll Call magazine, an anonymous Democrat official said the trip was “just a disaster.” One Democratic insider in the same Roll Call story even went as far as to say “I assume there is no [politically] marginal Member who wants to have anything to do with these guys right now.”

If the trip by these 3 Congressmen wasn’t bad enough, the timing of it was even worse given the imminent use of the American military against Iraq. And to add fuel to the fire, Congressman McDermott even went so far as to challenge the veracity of President Bush on a network news show accusing the president of “misleading” the American people. Common sense alone would tell you that you don’t go and visit a place that’s going to be a target of your country’s military. The Baghdad 3 should be thankful that the bombing didn’t start then and there.

The fallout from the Baghdad Three’s diplomatic bomb is beginning to be felt here at home and the backtracking has begun at warp speed. McDermott was quoted in The Washington Post last week as saying “I don’t trust Saddam Hussein under any circumstances.” But McDermott also believed he had “a responsibility as a patriot, as someone who loves his country, to speak up for what I believe.” Joining the back track chorus, Bonior stated that war “destroys lives in such a profound way.” No duh Mr. Bonior.

Congressman Thompson hasn’t been immune from the fallout either. Thompson, who some in the Democrat leadership thought would be a future chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is in danger of losing that post due to his recent ‘adventure’.

As I watched the progression of events, I couldn’t help but think of Jane Fonda’s visit to Hanoi in 1972. It has far too many parallels to the recent misadventures of our democrat friends. And just like Hanoi Jane gave a proverbial slap in the face to every member of the Armed Forces who served and gave their lives in Vietnam, so the Baghdad Three did when they tried to make nice with Saddam Hussein and took a political potshot at the president in the process.

Congressmen Bonior, McDermott, and Thompson are entitled to their opinions and they can express them as they wish. However, they could’ve certainly exercised better discretion and found a better place to make them. With friends like these, who needs enemies?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jerry Brooks lives in Portland, Oregon. He is a former newspaper columnist, conservative commentator, and TV talk show host. He may be contacted at TheBlackKnight@worldnet.att.net.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Israel; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: iraq

1 posted on 10/07/2002 10:20:56 AM PDT by 1bigdictator
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To: 1bigdictator

2 posted on 10/07/2002 10:24:54 AM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: DoughtyOne
Classic...ROTFL
3 posted on 10/07/2002 10:26:53 AM PDT by 1bigdictator
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To: 1bigdictator; Orual; aculeus; general_re; BlueLancer; Poohbah; Long Cut

Baghdad Jim with his Circus.

4 posted on 10/07/2002 10:30:16 AM PDT by dighton
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To: 1bigdictator
If the trip by these 3 Congressmen wasn’t bad enough, the timing of it was even worse given the imminent use of the American military against Iraq.

Add to that the reports today that senior Iraqi military officials are defecting or contacting opposition groups, it makes you wonder how much more of a snowball effect would be taking place if scum like these and their Hollywood enablers would shut their friggin' mouths and support our troops and President.

5 posted on 10/07/2002 10:30:57 AM PDT by BOBTHENAILER
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To: dighton
Does McDermott always have that lost, puzzled look on his face?

Why do you suppose that is?
6 posted on 10/07/2002 10:47:48 AM PDT by Redbob
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To: dighton
Watch this seditionist get reelected by a landslide next month.
7 posted on 10/07/2002 10:51:28 AM PDT by PeoplesRepublicOfWashington
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To: Redbob

Does McDermott always have that lost, puzzled look on his face? Why do you suppose that is?

Drink, not exactly in moderation.

;-)

8 posted on 10/07/2002 12:40:59 PM PDT by dighton
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To: Redbob
"Does McDermott always have that lost, puzzled look on his face?

Why do you suppose that is?"

Remember, McDermott is a psychiatrist who has caught his own diseases.

9 posted on 10/07/2002 1:00:28 PM PDT by nightdriver
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