Iraq commentary ridiculous
Posted: Sunday, July 27, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- A lot of the media pundits are idiots. So too, a lot of politicians. So much of the media commentary about Iraq is ridiculous. Iraq is not a football game, nor is it a war. Bush was right that "mission accomplished" marked the end of the war. The following occupation has not gone as well as many Americans would have hoped, though it has enriched a number of American companies, while costing a number of American lives.
The American occupation has done some good (read Bogdanos' "Thieves of Baghdad" for example). Much of the promised rebuilding though, at great expense, seems mired in corruption, concealed from American reporters. When the current American military forces leave, they will not have won, nor will they have lost. And logistically, we no longer have the capability for a rapid withdrawal -- it takes a long time to move so much stuff and so many people through a constricted exit port, so don't think the U.S. can just "bug out."
No matter what is done, the Iraqi people will not have an American-style democracy, because they do not have an American-style culture. Possibly they will be better off than they were under Saddam Hussein; while we hope so that remains to be seen. To me, it is way past time to stop throwing money at Halliburton and KBR and Blackwater and move troops to where they are needed -- Afghanistan and the U.S. come to mind. -- Gordon Berry
The American occupation has done some good (read Bogdanos' "Thieves of Baghdad" for example). Much of the promised rebuilding though, at great expense, seems mired in corruption, concealed from American reporters. When the current American military forces leave, they will not have won, nor will they have lost. And logistically, we no longer have the capability for a rapid withdrawal -- it takes a long time to move so much stuff and so many people through a constricted exit port, so don't think the U.S. can just "bug out."
No matter what is done, the Iraqi people will not have an American-style democracy, because they do not have an American-style culture. Possibly they will be better off than they were under Saddam Hussein; while we hope so that remains to be seen. To me, it is way past time to stop throwing money at Halliburton and KBR and Blackwater and move troops to where they are needed -- Afghanistan and the U.S. come to mind. -- Gordon Berry
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Larry j wrote on Aug 1, 2008 6:19 AM:
" Douglas, I had no idea it was possible to foam at the mouth over a computer.
You finally noticed that you were foaming at the Mouth???
You have been doing it for years DB. One of these days you are going to Electrocute yourself. "
John Gillis wrote on Jul 30, 2008 12:27 PM:
DB wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:39 PM:
And Pat Buchanan would have made an interesting president ... in 1938. "
Aaron Abbott wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:09 PM:
Keith wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:40 AM:
As far as Republicans that I like; check out some of Pat Buchanan's takes on imperialism and what global capitalism with military backing has done to our country since the neocons hijacked the Republican party. Also look into Newt's ideas about running a government. Both are brilliant and honest men who have little time for the "little shrub", or his clone, McCain. "