rantblog.mee.nu

    Via Political Punch

TAPPER: With all due respect, Senator, you didn't answer my question.

REID: OK. This is not a debate.

TAPPER: Will the Iraqis be safer?

REID: We're answering questions. (calling on someone else) Yes, young man? Anyone else have a question?

   This seems to come up a lot and I have never seen a cogent response from the politician being questioned. Since they won't clarify their position, I feel free to put some words in their mouths.

   I believe that they know that our speedy withdrawal from Iraq will result in a vast amount of blood letting among the many factions left to sort things out amongst themselves. I do not think that they are undisturbed by this. I do believe that they would lay the blame for it at the feet of all those who contemplated intervening in the first place. They are the ones who warned that invasion was a mistake that could never have any good come of it (some before we went, most, after voting to proceed, deciding to reverse themselves). To them, "You broke it, you bought it." includes anything they destroy in their effort to show the American people how stupid we were to ever have countenanced giving power to the Republican party in general and George W. Bush in particular. They have resolved themselves of any responsibility and consider any costs incurred by their actions to redound upon those they see as perpetrators of the war.

  I say this is crap. I firmly believe that we are involved in a long term struggle to determine the course of civilization. Our enemy firmly believes itself to be in the right and is committed to fighting as long as necessary to achieve its ends. Iraq is a terrible mess that will be made no better by our absence. To leave now will incur costs in blood, honor and gold to be borne by us that will gain nothing but an obligation to rejoin the fight later; in likely worse conditions. So retreat if you will. Just don't pretend that the consequences of that act do not fall upon those who call for it.

(h/t as usual Ace)

Posted by: Metzger at 12:09 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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