Decision Time in Iraq
Currently, we are getting a "double-message" from Washington regarding the Iraq war. On the one hand, we have generals and others saying that we should expect a major US troop-level drawdown in 2006 as we turn primary responsibility for the defense of Iraq over to the Iraqis themselves.
On the other hand, we see President Bush out rallying the troops and vaguely saying that we are going to stay until we have finished the job (whatever that means).
Here is an excellent piece in The San Diego Union Tribune by Robert J. Caldwell, which -- very clearly -- challenges the Bush Administration with the reality that it is decision time in Iraq. If we intend to win, we must say so, and -- more importantly -- act accordingly. (Hat tip: realclearpolitics.)
As one who has blogged repeatedly on the need for the US civilian and defense leadership to fight like they mean it in Iraq by -- among other things -- removing the absurd restrictions they have placed on our troops in the way that they deal with the suspect enemy terrorists they capture (e.g., call them "detainees" rather than anything pejorative; don't unholster your sidearm unless . . . . you want to face possible charges of "assault with a deadly weapon"; don't turn them over to the Iraqi police who will be able to beat answers out of them, etc, etc, etc.), I could not agree more with Caldwell's piece.
My take on GWB is that he is like a TV kid in his Dad's clothes. He tries to talk with a lower voice and act tough, but inside, he is simply scared -- scared of God-knows-what-all, but scared. He seems scared of the Democrats, scared of the MSM, scared of the "moderate" Muslims, scared of our Saudi "friends"; scared of the Europeans; scared of Teddy Kennedy; scared of the UN; scared of offending the Brits; etc, etc, etc.
The result is that we are fighting a half-assed war that is getting men killed and not winning anything.
Am I calling for turning tail and withdrawing a la RINO asshat Senator Chuck Hagel? NO! I am calling for taking the gloves off and doing whatever it takes to win in Iraq, including bombing terrorist resupply positions inside Syria and beginning black ops against Iran (as Michael Savage has been suggesting in the latter case).
Moreover, we need to permit our troops to execute obvious terrorists at the point of capture. As it is, our troops capture them and turn them over to military interrogators, who are in turn nice to the "detainees" and generally release them after a non-threatening interview.
Blogger Michael Yon refers to our current detainee practices as our "catch-and-release" policy. This policy is costing us men's lives. It makes no sense. It needs to be reversed.
I am sick of the poor advice that the generals are apparently giving Rumsfeld and Bush. I think Bush needs to can Rummy and a few key generals and get someone in there who wants to kick some serious ass.
On the other hand, we see President Bush out rallying the troops and vaguely saying that we are going to stay until we have finished the job (whatever that means).
Here is an excellent piece in The San Diego Union Tribune by Robert J. Caldwell, which -- very clearly -- challenges the Bush Administration with the reality that it is decision time in Iraq. If we intend to win, we must say so, and -- more importantly -- act accordingly. (Hat tip: realclearpolitics.)
As one who has blogged repeatedly on the need for the US civilian and defense leadership to fight like they mean it in Iraq by -- among other things -- removing the absurd restrictions they have placed on our troops in the way that they deal with the suspect enemy terrorists they capture (e.g., call them "detainees" rather than anything pejorative; don't unholster your sidearm unless . . . . you want to face possible charges of "assault with a deadly weapon"; don't turn them over to the Iraqi police who will be able to beat answers out of them, etc, etc, etc.), I could not agree more with Caldwell's piece.
My take on GWB is that he is like a TV kid in his Dad's clothes. He tries to talk with a lower voice and act tough, but inside, he is simply scared -- scared of God-knows-what-all, but scared. He seems scared of the Democrats, scared of the MSM, scared of the "moderate" Muslims, scared of our Saudi "friends"; scared of the Europeans; scared of Teddy Kennedy; scared of the UN; scared of offending the Brits; etc, etc, etc.
The result is that we are fighting a half-assed war that is getting men killed and not winning anything.
Am I calling for turning tail and withdrawing a la RINO asshat Senator Chuck Hagel? NO! I am calling for taking the gloves off and doing whatever it takes to win in Iraq, including bombing terrorist resupply positions inside Syria and beginning black ops against Iran (as Michael Savage has been suggesting in the latter case).
Moreover, we need to permit our troops to execute obvious terrorists at the point of capture. As it is, our troops capture them and turn them over to military interrogators, who are in turn nice to the "detainees" and generally release them after a non-threatening interview.
Blogger Michael Yon refers to our current detainee practices as our "catch-and-release" policy. This policy is costing us men's lives. It makes no sense. It needs to be reversed.
I am sick of the poor advice that the generals are apparently giving Rumsfeld and Bush. I think Bush needs to can Rummy and a few key generals and get someone in there who wants to kick some serious ass.
posted by GunJam at 3:11 PM
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