Are you mad because we are losing...
...or are you mad because we shouldn't be fighting?
This article highlights the major problem that exists in the US political system, the complete lack of meaningful opposition. While there are many democrats and moderate republicans who think that the war in Iraq was a mistake, their arguments have nothing to do with International Law or morality or unilateralism but rather on mistakes made while fighting / planning for the war. This is similar to the opposition to the war in Vietnam, popular discontent did not really begin to flourish until the flag draped coffins began arriving at Andrews on military transports. The tens of thousands of Vietnamese and Cambodian casualties only got under the skin of a few 'radical organizations' and academics. Little Johnny from next door coming home without any arms and little Bobby waking up screaming every night caused many Americans to question what the hell they were doing in a country few had heard of 5 years before. Iraq is becoming Vietnam. The number of casualties will never be as high, wars are fought differently now, but the hallmarks of a classic quagmire are all there. No clearly defined exist strategy; dedicated and capable guerilla resistance; and the fact that total withdrawal is no longer a viable option. We're fucked if we do and fucked if we don't.
The article does illustrate the colossal nature of the mistakes being made by this administration, the most telling being that when Baghdad was captured almost all of the intelligence capabilities of the ground forces were focused on the WMD Easter Egg hunt rather than on quickly crushing the inevitable insurgency that was still in it's infancy. If Saddam had WMD he would have used them the minute troops crossed the Iraqi border, the hunt for the WMD was not a tactical or strategic decision but rather a political one. Being that WMD were the justification for invading Iraq it was a political necessity that they be found quickly and paraded around for all to see. Political decisions trumping military reality, but the Republicans 'support the troops', what a crock of shit.
Go buy In a Coma, it rocks. I'll be blogging from Victoria this weekend so check back for pictures of me at Dave's bachelor pad, pictures of Dave passed out and possibly a Matt Good show. Late.
This article highlights the major problem that exists in the US political system, the complete lack of meaningful opposition. While there are many democrats and moderate republicans who think that the war in Iraq was a mistake, their arguments have nothing to do with International Law or morality or unilateralism but rather on mistakes made while fighting / planning for the war. This is similar to the opposition to the war in Vietnam, popular discontent did not really begin to flourish until the flag draped coffins began arriving at Andrews on military transports. The tens of thousands of Vietnamese and Cambodian casualties only got under the skin of a few 'radical organizations' and academics. Little Johnny from next door coming home without any arms and little Bobby waking up screaming every night caused many Americans to question what the hell they were doing in a country few had heard of 5 years before. Iraq is becoming Vietnam. The number of casualties will never be as high, wars are fought differently now, but the hallmarks of a classic quagmire are all there. No clearly defined exist strategy; dedicated and capable guerilla resistance; and the fact that total withdrawal is no longer a viable option. We're fucked if we do and fucked if we don't.
The article does illustrate the colossal nature of the mistakes being made by this administration, the most telling being that when Baghdad was captured almost all of the intelligence capabilities of the ground forces were focused on the WMD Easter Egg hunt rather than on quickly crushing the inevitable insurgency that was still in it's infancy. If Saddam had WMD he would have used them the minute troops crossed the Iraqi border, the hunt for the WMD was not a tactical or strategic decision but rather a political one. Being that WMD were the justification for invading Iraq it was a political necessity that they be found quickly and paraded around for all to see. Political decisions trumping military reality, but the Republicans 'support the troops', what a crock of shit.
Go buy In a Coma, it rocks. I'll be blogging from Victoria this weekend so check back for pictures of me at Dave's bachelor pad, pictures of Dave passed out and possibly a Matt Good show. Late.
posted by WesinCalgary @ 12:50 AM
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