Home > Jay Bookman > Archives > 2008 > June > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMahmoud and Nouri, sitting in a tree…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Earlier this week, neocon cheerleaders Fred and Kimberly Kagan published a piece in the Wall Street Journal in which the opening sentence stated: “America is very close to succeeding in Iraq.” The piece lauded the leadership of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki.
That sparked the following response, sent to me by a senior U.S. military officer with service in Iraq who has served as a source in the past. He seems much less enthralled with Maliki, particularly given his embrace of Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Don’t look now, but the Kagans are taking a victory lap.
Yes, that adorable, bloodthirsty (other folks’ blood, mind you) husband-wife duo did their end-zone dance this week on the editorial pages of (you guessed it) the Wall Street Journal.
Fred and Kim Kagan, you’ll remember, were masters of the obvious last year as they pushed their plan to “surge” (so-named because we quickly discovered we couldn’t “sustain”) additional US forces into the explosive cauldron of Iraq.
Just send more manpower, they explained and good things will flow.
Getting ahead of the president, Gen. Petraeus and every other military leader with sense enough not to whistle past the graveyard, the Kagans announced Tuesday that “success is in sight.” Presumably, they were not referring to the sloppy wet kisses Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki and Iranian President Ahmadinajahd were seen bestowing on one another that same day.
I’ve never figured out why “The Liberator” Bush has to sneak into Iraq like a thief in the night, while the presumed Axis of Evil top dog, Iran’s “I’m-a-Dinner-Jacket,” is feted as a state guest every time he pops in to see bosom buddy Maliki. Gee, The Liberator has videoconferences with Maliki every week. Suuuuurely that counts for something?
You bet it does. As the Kagans reminded us this week, “America is very close to succeeding in Iraq.” In fact, “the political process builds momentum.” Ah, that explains the Shi’a smooches between the region’s two (former) most bitter enemies.
Any more “momentum” and Maliki and Ahmadinejahd will have to get a room.
But wait, the Kagans warn: Just because “we are winning today,” “these tremendous gains could be lost to skillful enemy action.”
Presumably, these “skillful enemies” are not the same ones the Kagans alternately describe as those who “cling desperately,” yet are certain to “conduct spectacular attacks” in the months ahead.
You see, the “enemy” is weak now….. except when they’re strong.
“No one could have imagined how far we would have come in 18 months,” the boastful duo crows. Right they are. But if we could have imagined we would lose 1,154 brave men and women over these last 18 months, oh how we would have praised the Kagans for their wisdom, right?
By the way, for those keeping score, this 18-month “success story” would translate to 76,933 more American caskets under the McCain 100-year Plan. McCain calls that “victory.”
Turning logic on its head, “defeat” is how McCain describes an Obama plan that removes Americans from the killing fields before the “enemy” can rack up such an eye-popping tally.
And there you have it. Given how pleased Sen. McCain seems to be with the “success” of the “surge,” I think we have a couple of prime nominees for his cabinet.
Madame and Messieur Kagan, thanks for the hard work.
Comments
By hillbilly ragger
June 12, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
All part of the brilliant, modern neocon message, which goes something like…
America has to stay forever in Iraq, so that we can leave. We are winning, but we don’t really know how to define “winning” so don’t ask us to tell you when we’ve actually won.
Also, General Petraeus knows everything, and nobody is allowed to speculate about anything until he gives us his Next Report.
And if you really Support Duh Troops you want them there forever. Unless McCain says otherwise, this week. In which case you don’t really Support Duh Troops and are a “socialist” or a “defeatocrat.”
God help this Republic if America is stupid enough to fall for this crap again.
By hillbilly ragger
June 12, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
Oh, I almost forgot. “Teh Surge is WERKING!!!1!!!elevens!!!”
By Abomi Nation
June 12, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this
Another very good column on the Iraq war Jay. Of course your critics will be here in full force calling you all sorts of names. Of course not one of them will be willing to go back and look at your columns one by one from the beginning of the war. Which pretty much show that you got it right.
When asked bluntly to go back and look at your past columns and respond to them, the only reply you’ll get will be the standard everyday deflection……”You are a Communist.” “I hate the liberal media.” “Blah, blah, blah.”
Iraq and Iran…BFF’s
By Matthew
June 12, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
Jay, I’m looking forward to your upcoming piece about the DCI’s assessment of what the Iraq war has done with regard to AQ. The responsible journalist you are, I’m sure you won’t ignore his remarks simply because of your partisan leanings. Surely you wouldn’t let your hatred for the administration get in the way of commenting on events favorable to your country, would you?
I should be seeing this piece soon, right?
By Jon
June 12, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
Having read both the Kagan column and your piece, I’m not sure how your sarcasm honors the memory of the 4,096 brave men and women we have lost in Iraq. While the Kagan WSJ piece is thoughtful and deserving of consideration, all you resort to are quips and name calling. I always enjoy when those opposed to the war offer up the 4,096 fallen soldiers in Iraq since 2003 as reason for our retreat. Yet, from 2003-2006, 6,654 people lost their lives in car accidents on Georgia roads (139 of which occurred during December 2006). This makes me wonder if our troops are safer driving in Georgia or fighting in Iraq. In my opinion, we should support the troops and their mission.
By Taxpayer
June 12, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
In my opinion, we should bring home the troops and put them all in GSP cars — electric with solar-powered chargers, that is. Now there’s some money well spent.
By Craig
June 12, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
Supoprt the troops? Absolutely. By bringing them home to their families, and letting the Iraqis do what they want with their country.
We removed their dictator. Let’s declare victory and come home.
By LA
June 12, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this
Read the WSJ article…sounds quite rosy…lots of dramatic language about insurgents be “crushed” and so forth. So victory is in sight, but we can’t leave, right? I’ll be interested to hear about the 100 mil reconstruction goes, since to my knowledge we’ve had zero success in reconstructing anything in Iraq. Most of it will probably go into officials’ pockets if past history is any guide.
By Dreamon
June 12, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
I always get a good chuckle when any good news from Iraq is convoluted into bad news b/c it would thwart their efforts to elect a Communist, er, I mean, Democratic president. C’mon, admit it, deep down in your tortured liberal souls, you really DO want more of my fellow soldiers to die, don’t you? C’mon liberals, admit it, you’ll feel better, the truth will set you free!!!
By reader
June 12, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this
Uh, Dreamon, perhaps you can’t read, so I’ll read to you. Bookman the Liberal didn’t write this piece - a U.S. military officer did. So, I guess those would be his fellow soldiers, too. What exactly is the good news you’re talking about? The fact that we’ve improved the Iraqis lot in life just enough for them to dump us, in favor of the Iranians? Or, is it that we’re losing 50 guys a week, instead of 100? No, wait. I know. It’s the school building, right? The good news is that we’re “building more schools.” Gotcha. That makes it all worthwhile.
By Dreamon
June 13, 2008 7:03 AM | Link to this
So “Reader”. Bookman finds ONE disgruntled soldier who has an ax to grind. As one who has served his time over there, I can tell you without question, the VAST majority of our soldiers believe in this mission of protecting our homeland. Remember this pesky fact, no attacks on US soil since 9/11. Also typical of your liberal hysteria, we are not down to 50 casualties a months, we have had 36 casualties over the past TWO months. I know, you wish there were more don’t ya—admit it.
By Copyleft
June 13, 2008 8:07 AM | Link to this
No, Dreamon, the only ones hoping to get more of our troops killed are the idiots who want them to stay there for no reason.
Bringing them home would pretty much NOT kill them. So I guess the anti-war folks (who were right all along—cough) are the ones “supporting the troops.” The question is, why do YOU want them dead?
By Gene
June 13, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this
Sorry to Jay (I actually like you) Give the past 10 years… All Y’all… believe nothng of what you read and even less of what you hear… from a fiercly partnered libermocratpublican.
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