Comments on: Franks-Willis 2007 Iraqapalooza

By: DrPidgro

DrPidgro — Wed, 30 May 2007 03:00:41 +0000

Clinton knew about AL Qaeda. His transition team did everything in their power to alert the incoming Bush people of the grave threat. However, the Bush people all thought the year was 1993.

By: Jadegold

Jadegold — Mon, 28 May 2007 17:32:09 +0000

Oliver, you wouldn’t be able to root Al Qeda out of Pakistan without occupying the country.

Completely false. Actually, making AQ in Pakistan irrelevant (and other countries) is fairly easy and need not the use of force.

By: Fyro

Fyro — Mon, 28 May 2007 05:21:45 +0000

Oliver, you wouldn’t be able to root Al Qeda out of Pakistan without occupying the country.

To get Al Qeda out would mean entering Pakistan and staying there for a long time. The Pakistanis would not like that.

By: SaveFarris

SaveFarris — Mon, 28 May 2007 02:46:15 +0000

Too bad no one told Bush that.

Or Clinton. Or Bush I. Or Reagan. Or Carter.

By: Jadegold

Jadegold — Sun, 27 May 2007 22:37:33 +0000

Jeebus, Marty, I can’t think of a bigger strawman than the one you just posed.

Do you suppose there are more than a few differences between WWII and our invasion of Iraq? I certainly can think of several: Japan and Germany both attacked the US and declared war on us; Iraq did neither. Next, we went into WWII with the goal of wiping them out–imposing a democracy on either Japan or Germany wasn’t a consideration. (Though, we didn’t invade Iraq to impose democracy either)

By: Marty

Marty — Sun, 27 May 2007 18:35:37 +0000

Seriously, Oliver- Do you think that we should have “occupied” post war Germany and Japan? Do you see any parallels? The Germans and Japanese did not want us there. The Japanese especially- a completely different culture and type of government. Didnt we impose “democracy on them.

I did appreciate you trying for a change in that exchange, by the way. Some of your best writing (and thinking) in a long time, regardless of how little I agree with you.

As for Al Qaeda running in Pakistan with a “free hand?” Where in Pakistan? Aren’t their leadership all in hiding, putting out a little video here and there? Seems to me that Al Qaeda is pretty well bunkered down in various hiding places.

By: C.S.Strowbridge

C.S.Strowbridge — Sun, 27 May 2007 05:26:40 +0000

“Just a small point of order, but al Qaeda declared war on us LONG before 9/11.”

Too bad no one told Bush that.

… Oh wait, they did.

By: chum

chum — Sun, 27 May 2007 00:51:25 +0000

You rightfully stuck with yopur premise that what got us into Iraq in the first place really matters.

This is the MBA administration. In the business world there is big time accountability for poor decisions. Whether by a mid to low level manager all the way up to the CEO screwing up will find you the door.

It irks me when a guy like Franks glosses over the set up for what has come home to roost now beginning with the October surprise when someone in the Reagan camp was bunking with the Iranian terrorists. Then there was Saddam, Beruit, Iran Contra, etc. all carried out by many of the criminal screw ups who got us into this mess.

One thing not addressed at all in the exchange is the idealogy behind the war all the way through the surge. It is the Kagans, the Perle’s, Saransky’s, et al that are plotting our course. Read what they write and you’ll know the plan, and it ain’t leaving Iraq any time soon so the entire exercise was interesting but moot.

We’ll leave Iraq when Joe Lieberman turns against the occupation, if you get my drift.

By: SaveFarris

SaveFarris — Sat, 26 May 2007 20:09:19 +0000

Just a small point of order, but al Qaeda declared war on us LONG before 9/11.

By: Hedley

Hedley — Sat, 26 May 2007 19:01:23 +0000

Despite your burn out, it was an enjoyable and interesting back and forth, no matter who or what I am may or may not agree with.