I dare anyone to read this amazing piece by Christopher Hitchens and finish with a dry face. I couldn’t

Tom posted this at 5:49 PM HKT on Friday, October 5th, 2007 as Heroes, Hitch-slapped!, Iraq

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Anne Applebaum has the most persuasive article I’ve yet to see on the decline in American prestige. It’s so persuasive that I now believe things I did not believe before reading it. Its power is that it doesn’t wallow in the “Why don’t they like us?” quagmire, or gripe about “Cowboy diplomacy”, or ramble on about Abu Ghraib. Instead, she focuses on real motives that have always influenced people:

This last point strikes me as most interesting, for it indicates that what our closest friends really dislike is not our traditional pushiness, our violent movies, or even our current president (though they don’t like him much, either), but our incompetence. A full third blame the perceived decline of the transatlantic alliance on the “mismanagement of Iraq.” Not the invasion of Iraq—the “mismanagement” of Iraq….NATO will fall apart, however, if its American leaders are perceived as inept. And even if the surge works, even if the roadside bombs vanish, inept is a word that will always be used about the Iraqi invasion….Countries that would once have supported U.S. foreign policy on principle, simply out of solidarity or friendship, will now have to be cajoled, or paid, to join us. Count that—along with the lives of soldiers and civilians, the dollars and equipment—as another cost of the war. No one wants to be on the losing team.

Bingo. Victory heals all wounds, and defeat turns friends into enemies. To regain support, is it best to admit this defeat, retreat, and try to look competent in the process? Or to slog on in the belief that even if we can’t appear competent we can at least appear to have the determination to see our affairs through? Who’s a better leader, the smart loser who knows how to cut his losses, or the dumb guy who never quits?

And more frighteningly, if America doesn’t provide leadership, who will? Communist China? They seem the most logical successor in the line of great powers. The European Union is too interested in quibbling over the definition of jelly to lead. Russia is a mess, India is not yet ready, the Arab nations are repugnant to non-Arabs, and no one in Latin America is, how shall we say, leadership material. If Red China is the only alternative, it is imperative for the good of the world that we figure a way out. Retreating in the face of the enemy would be a disater.

Apollo posted this at 1:02 AM HKT on Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007 as Global War on Terror, Iraq

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From CNN.com:

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid slammed Rush Limbaugh Monday over his recent controversial “phony soldiers” remark, despite the conservative talk-radio host’s protests that his words have been taken out of context.

Limbaugh’s comments in question came last Wednesday when he and a caller were discussing critics of the Iraq war:

“What’s really funny is, they [Iraq war critics] never talk to real soldiers,” the caller said. “They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and talk to the media.”

“The phony soldiers,” Limbaugh then said.

Several Democrats released statements late last week condemning the remarks and in a speech on the Senate floor Monday, Reid called the comments “so beyond the pale of decency that it cannot be left alone.”

“Just as patriotism is the exclusive realm of neither party, taking a stand against those who spew hate and impugn the integrity of our troops is a job that belongs to all of us,” Reid said.

“I can’t help but wonder how my Republican colleagues would have reacted if the tables were turned – if a well-known Democratic radio personality had used the same insulting line of attack against troops who support the war,” the Nevada Democrat added.

Gosh Harry, let me think about this. Let me think (*cough* Gen. Betray-Us *cough*) really, really hard.

Despite what you hear from most of the right — and, apparently, Senator Reid — there’s nothing inherently wrong in criticizing, grilling, or lambasting active duty military personnel (unless they disagree with you).

The problem with the “General Betray-Us?” ad wasn’t that called Patreus a traitor, but that it didn’t make a very convincing argument that he was one (though I don’t believe he was entirely square with us, either). Cpl. Adam Kokesh — a former schoolmate of many Snarky Bastards — is an Iraq War vet with some very harsh things to say about the war, but that doesn’t make his arguments or behavior unassailable, either.

Our soldiers and marines are adults, capable of the same strengths and weaknesses of the rest of us. We owe them special attention for their service and experience; we don’t owe them agreement

EDIT: Yes, I know what Rush was talking about when he said “Phony soldiers.”

Tom posted this at 5:58 PM HKT on Monday, October 1st, 2007 as Iraq, Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be!, Possession by the Coultergeist, The Democratic Congress

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From Kos:

Really?

Tom posted this at 1:02 PM HKT on Wednesday, September 26th, 2007 as Buffoon Watch, Iraq

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The One True Conservative is enjoying a piece that describes Iraq in terms of a dollar auction (it’s so nice, he links it twice). If you’re not familiar with the dollar auction, read the first link for a good summary.

The use of the dollar auction analogy is spot on, and its use would be a powerful argument for leaving Iraq now. Except that it completely misses the point. At this point in time, our object in Iraq is (in the terms of the auction) not to make money, or even to lose the least money; it is to make our enemy go broke. We are in a dollar auction with a sworn enemy who we know will use his money to hurt us. By taking all of his money, even at a high cost, it may save us money in the long run by preventing him from using it in more efficient ways later.

We can tell that (*ahem*) Prof. Goodenough isn’t focused on the long run from this sentence: “America is long past the possibility of some kind of profitable outcome in Iraq.” Really? If we were there for another decade, lost 50,000 lives and $1 trillion, but firmly established a democratic government in Iraq that ignited a democratic revolution in the Islamic world, would that qualify as profitable? Was our involvement in World War II “profitable”? Four and a half years into Iraq, our deaths now stand at .9% of American deaths in World War II. It would, obviously, be preferable if it were lower (even nonexistent), but to go off about how everything is lost and we are hopelessly beyond the point of potential worth-itness is either inexcusably uninformed, wishing for defeat, or a combination thereof.

And in Iraq, the losses are already desperately high, on both sides, in blood, in money, and in the erosion of institutions like law and national cohesion.

For America, the losses are unfortunately high, not “desperately” so. We have put so little of our national strength into this fight that later generations will be embarrassed if we lose. We are a growing nation with 300,000,000 souls and 1/5 of the world’s economic output. Outside of families with members in the armed services, and the occasional protest, how has your life been effected by the war in Iraq? Not so much, eh? Anything seem “desperate” about life in America, a land so ridiculously prosperous that there’s an “obesity epidemic” among our poor?

(As an aside, why the hell is a dissenter kvetching about the loss of “national cohesion”? If “national cohesion” is such an awesome goal, shut up. If, on the other hand, you value your own freedom and views more than “national cohesion” (as most of us do), then don’t fault others for standing by their views. Such as a majority of us did in 2004 when we reelected a president who would not, under any circumstances, tuck tail and run from Iraq. Or are we supposed to allow protesters a veto over American policy?)

We should be glad that we have our enemy in a dollar auction because, to use the terms of the model, we have more money. The only question is do we have the willpower to keep raising the stakes until we make him spend his last cent? He has to win in Iraq; if we win there, that will be proof that we can win anywhere. If we lose there, he can spend his resources challenging us elsewhere.

Apollo posted this at 12:19 AM HKT on Monday, September 17th, 2007 as Iraq

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Yahoo captions the following picture thusly:

An elderly Iraqi woman shows two bullets which she says hit her house following an early coalition forces raid in the predominantly Shiite Baghdad suburb of Sadr City.(AFP/Wissam al-Okaili)

Can anyone point out the problem with her claim?

Jamie posted this at 5:34 PM HKT on Wednesday, August 15th, 2007 as Iraq

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Dr. Krauthammer discusses the Scott Thomas Beauchamp mess, and concludes:

We already knew from all of America’s armed conflicts — including Iraq — what war can make men do. The only thing we learn from Scott Thomas Beauchamp is what literary ambition can make men say.

Read it all.

Hubbard posted this at 9:12 AM HKT on Friday, August 10th, 2007 as Iraq, Kraut-hammered

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We’re all screwed.

Geoff posted this at 3:18 AM HKT on Saturday, August 4th, 2007 as Iraq, Toaster Update

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If what this report is insinuating is true — or even partially true — we’re in for a real firestorm. What really worries me, is that Mendoza is a damn good reporter.

AP: New Details on Tillman’s Death
By MARTHA MENDOZA 07.26.07, 7:28 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO –

Army medical examiners were suspicious about the close proximity of the three bullet holes in Pat Tillman’s forehead and tried without success to get authorities to investigate whether the former NFL player’s death amounted to a crime, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

“The medical evidence did not match up with the, with the scenario as described,” a doctor who examined Tillman’s body after he was killed on the battlefield in Afghanistan in 2004 told investigators.

The doctors – whose names were blacked out – said that the bullet holes were so close together that it appeared the Army Ranger was cut down by an M-16 fired from a mere 10 yards or so away.

Eep.

Tom posted this at 1:01 PM HKT on Friday, July 27th, 2007 as Iraq, Journalism

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With all the renewed focus on Iraq, I thought I’d post my interview last month with Senior Master Sergeant Mike Brown. Brown — who is a firefighter/paramedic with the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District in civilian life — served as the fire chief of the Baghdad International Airport for the first half of this year.

If that doesn’t capture your attention, here’s Brown supervising the controlled burn of a mine field on the airport’s grounds. Article below.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tom posted this at 5:02 PM HKT on Wednesday, July 11th, 2007 as Iraq

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This is an unbelievable post:

I would like for the Associated Press to formally explain why they are willing to run thinly and falsely sourced insurgent propaganda as unquestioned fact without any independent verification, but refuses to publish a freely offered account by a noted combat corespondent that some consider this generation’s Ernie Pyle.

As though it’s not hard enough to get an accurate picture of what’s going on, every once in a while (?) American media just publishes things that are wrong. I cannot help but think that there’s a serious GIGO problem with most people’s thinking on Iraq.

Apollo posted this at 3:53 PM HKT on Thursday, July 5th, 2007 as Iraq, Politics

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The AP gets it wrong:

Top US congressional Democrats bluntly told President George W. Bush Wednesday that his Iraq troop “surge” policy was a failure.

Nope, they didn’t tell, the president anything. They told the whole world that the US Congress is controlled by a party that doesn’t have the stomach for a fight and that is waiting for the best possible moment to force an American retreat. And there’s a specific message in there for our enemies in Iraq: “Now, now, NOW!”

Little known fact: When the last Crusader charge at Hattin was stopped, Saladin turned toward the heavens and proclaimed, “Harry Reid!”

Apollo posted this at 5:49 PM HKT on Wednesday, June 13th, 2007 as Iraq, The Democratic Congress

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I went to college with this guy, as did almost all of my co-bloggers (sorry Conor).

I have to say that I respect his decision to server our country, it took courage and discpline that I don’t know I have. Still, I’m not surprised that he turned out to be such a giant douchebag.

There were many nights that I had a beer or two with Adam at a party at CMC and he always struck me as a geniune, intelligent and worldly guy, I always liked him. So I find it hard to believe that he was unaware that he was breaking the UCMJ. Adam knew exactly what he was doing when he wore his uniform to a political event. He knew he could possibly be punished. More importantly he knew that he could us the publicity such an event would generate to further his cause – hence his douchebaggery. The fact that he compounded his problem by swearing at a superior officer astounds me. They don’t make ‘em dumb at CMC and as far as I know the Marines train their boys to respect their superiors.

No matter how valid Adam’s beliefs concerning the war are (and those are debatable) he had no right to violate rules by wearing his uniform to a political event and he certainly wasn’t justified in disrespecting a senior officer.

Adam, thank you for your service, but I hope they throw the book at you on this one. You broke the rules my friend and deserve to be punished.

Jamie posted this at 2:05 AM HKT on Tuesday, June 5th, 2007 as Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, Iraq, Ourselves, Politics

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Blogger Thomas de Zengotita over at Huff Post makes the argument that the Democrats backing down over the timetable for an Iraq withdrawal is actually a victory (debatable) through their thorough understanding and use of, I am not making this up, Judo.

Thomas de Zengotita: House Democrats Cave on War Funding? Basic Principles of Judo

Thomas de ZengotitaTue May 22, 9:21 PM ET

Ok, there they all were this evening, looking Memorial Day in the eye, and sending Bush his war funding without timelines. A bill full of language authored by John Warner (news, bio, voting record), as a matter of fact. But one that also included a rise in the minimum wage and hurricane relief. There they were: Pelosi, Hoyer, Obey, Emanuel.

Caving.

But look, these people aren’t stupid. They know what they’re doing. The real issue is does the anti-war progressive base know what it is doing? Is it focused on making sure that Democrats win the White House in ‘08 and keep control of both houses of Congress? Or is it focused on a genuinely radical anti-corporate, anti-imperial, anti-globalization long term agenda for which the fate of Democrats in ‘08 is just an incidental tactical issue?

Someday I’ll sketch out what the strategy and tactics should be for the genuine radicals. But for those progressives who want to ensure a Democratic sweep in ‘08, here’s the deal. Judo is all about falling backwards after pretending to shove forward. Judo is all about flipping the opponent by virtue of his own weight as he leans into the emptiness of your caving.

What House Democrats are trying to guarantee is this: the Iraq war belongs to Bush and the Republican Party now — and so it must when the election of 2008 rolls around. That’s what they want to guarantee above all else.

Cynical? Indifferent to the suffering of US troops and Iraqi civilians?

You bet.

Welcome to the political world of grown-ups who hold office and have institutional responsibility.

Myself, I’m Peter Pan…

I actually think that is a legitimate strategy for the Democrats in order to ensure a victory in ‘08 – shift the War entirely onto the Republicans. But to somehow couch the recent capitulation as part of a master plan is laughable. The Democrats repeated tried to get the timetable passed in both the House and the Senate. They failed. Why? Not because their actually cunning Machiavellian strategists, but rather because the public doesn’t want us to just cut and run.

This has been the main problem with the “debate” over the war for some time now. The choices offered by one side is “Stay the Course” and the other “Cut and Run” (and just for clarification the “surge” is not a change in policy it is “stay the course” with fancy marketing). What the American public wants is victory – I only hope there is a Republican candidate out there that can offer us a plan for it, because the Democrats are too busy earning blackbelts to come up with one.

Jamie posted this at 2:28 PM HKT on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007 as Dirty Hippies, Iraq

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I sure hope not, but this report gives me pause:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — At a recent kindergarten graduation ceremony, young girls smiled behind their brightly colored princess dresses and the boys showed off their best dress shirts. They sipped on juice boxes, played on swings and jumped on and off seesaws.

It was a welcome relief from the war that surrounds them. But when these 5-year-olds spoke, it became apparent just how much the ongoing violence has affected them.

“I’m going to bomb, bomb, bomb the school with everybody in it,” said Omar Hussein, as he clutched a pink toy airplane.

At another point, a girl enthusiastically sang, “I give a knife to my father to slaughter the chicken. He gives me a machine gun and a rifle. Now, I am a soldier in the liberation army.” (Watch the children make soldier pledges )

Eep.

Tom posted this at 10:34 PM HKT on Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007 as Arafatistan, Iraq, Uncategorized

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