The seven people who need to STFU about Iraq right now (via Raw Story )
We at Raw Story’s Oh God Here We Go Again desk know that we can’t be the only ones whose stomachs are turning at the thought of a renewed military engagement in Iraq. We marvel at the Big Brass Ones on some people who feel the need to offer their…
This post was republished using Repost. Please read it on Informed Comment directly: https://www.juancole.com/2014/06/seven-people-about.html
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Related video:
The Young Turks: “John McCain On Iraq: We Won And Obama Ruined It”
It’s particularly maddening to hear an argument that essentially boils down to “you didn’t do a good enough job fixing what we broke” and not have the handmaiden corporate press call them on their nonsense. Just once, I’d like to hear Obama say “you’re just lucky that I didn’t pursue war crimes charges against you, now shut up and let us get back to work fixing this mess.”
I would like someone to explain why Thomas Friedman is taken seriously? Professor Cole?
I have never forgotten the title of an aritcle many years ago: “The Incredible Lightness of Being Thomas Friedman.”
Where was that article? Would love to read it
You’re going to have to add Tony Blair to the list, now. link to theguardian.com
More relevant to Andrew Sullivan’s current comments on Iraq… he actually praised and hailed GWB’s transformation into a neocon warhawk: See link to sullivanarchives.theatlantic.com
“Wednesday, February 26, 2003
GEORGE W. BUSH, NEOCON: It took a while, but the president’s transformation seems to be almost complete. From a candidate who projected a smaller defense budget than Al Gore, who pooh-poohed “nation-building,” who spoke very modestly of the United States being a “humble nation,” we now have a president saying the following:
We will remain in Iraq as long as necessary, and not a day more. America has made and kept this kind of commitment before – in the peace that followed a world war. After defeating enemies, we did not leave behind occupying armies, we left constitutions and parliaments. We established an atmosphere of safety, in which responsible, reform-minded local leaders could build lasting institutions of freedom. In societies that once bred fascism and militarism, liberty found a permanent home.
I’m a little troubled by the phrase: “not a day more.” It’s as if the president still believes that a real commitment to Iraq and to the region as a whole will be unpopular at home. It needn’t be – if the president makes Iraq a corner-stone of this country’s commitment to a freer and therefore more stable world. Not quite a neocon – but well on the way.”
So, basically, he’s criticizing others for holding his prior position, in the most hypocritical of ways..
I admire Mr Sullivan, who I have always found to be an honest man. There’s nothing wrong with having been wrong and then admitting it and it is not hypocritical but a sign of growth.
Do you also absolve Colin Powell, who now claims his lies to the world are a “Blot on his record”?
How can you call a man who lied repeatedly about Iraq honest ? He may have been a small cog in the Bush/Cheney lie machine but he was part of it, a just saying sorry doesn’t cover it.
“In direct refutation of this [Glen’s] portrayal,” Powell concluded, “is the fact that relations between Americal soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent.”
Major Colin Powell, Vietnam 1968, in response to allegations of a massacre in My Lai by the Americl Division.
How can you put a blot on a record like that?
Wow! I guess reasonable people can profoundly disagree. I find Andrew Sullivan to be a relentless self promoter and bloviating blowhard who’s expertise and opinion on any issue is highly questionable.
Sullivan had a way of being wrong again and again with respect to Iraq. He thought the “flypaper” strategy was beautiful. No matter how much he has “grown” it would still behoove him to err on the side of STFUing on topics where his track record is so abysmal.
>who has devoted any number of column inches lately to slamming the NeoCons and the war “they” advocated for.
Andrew is very open about the fact that “he” was for the war too and that he was wrong to back an incompetent like bush.
I really dont see why he has to “shut the fuck up”, he erred and is man enough to admit it, this shows that he has some critical self thought and therefore his opinions should be noted.
I think Andrew Sullivan is worth hearing on many subjects, and especially a subject like Iraq where he has learned better. I’m not too impressed with Raw Story’s contribution here.
Ten of thousands dead, Iraq in ruins, Billions wasted and little Mr. Sullivan cheering on Bush/Cheney’s madness.
But now he has learned better?
Well, no harm no foul ?
>Well, no harm no foul ?
No one claimed that, least of all sullivan.
Don’t forget David Brooks, the expertoneverything: link to nytimes.com
And yes, he has a much thicker stack of 3 x 5 cards than I do, a much better barber and tailor, and his contact list is just STUFFED with Important People… He still is a nasty little krait: link to en.wikipedia.org
Mr. Cole. It’s about K street. The lobbyists have a job to do. The privatization that the Bush administration conducted has made the military industrial complex larger, and there is a new sector that is critically dependent on active warfare. The promotion of farcical idiots as sages is due to placements by lobbyists exerting influence (and I am quite sure, quiet baksheesh) on various news media. It is pathetically cheap to buy major media in these days of the incredible shrinking real news budget. Even cheaper to buy an editor and a journalist or two. So you get the media and the editorializing crafted for the message that connected parties want it to be.
I agree with Prof. Cole and other commenters who note the distinction between those who have admitted to their errors regarding Iraq and those who haven’t. Sullivan, Beinart, Klein and Yglesias do not belong on the same list as Miller, Friedman, McCain and Fleischer — by any stretch..
The smart rats get off a sinking ship first.
I’m a combat veteran of Vietnam and have seen and smelled the dead and heard the screams of the dying. To Professors and pundits these are just word games played in nice safe places, so the dead are just abstracts.
The words of these cowardly Chicken hawks caused the death of real people.
If any of your friend were kill by street thugs you would demand Justice, but you give a free pass to those who have killed thousands with their lies?