The Hound Of Ulster

It’s still there. The November elections did not change that, at least.

Dean Barnett REMINDS us of something we seem to be forgetting:

6) What makes it idiotic? Is it not a salient point that FDR and Truman were able to subdue the Axis Powers in less time than it’s taken Bush to do whatever he’s done in Iraq?

No, it is not a salient point. If the goal were to defeat Iraq and the Iraqis as we defeated the Nazis and Imperial Japan, it could be accomplished pretty readily. For instance, if we gave Baghdad the Dresden treatment, I have a feeling incidents of sectarian violence would undergo a sudden, dramatic and marked decline. But we don’t want to do that, rightfully so, because it wouldn’t be nice. Lots of innocents dead, an outraged Kofi Annan – it would just generally leave a mess.

Idiotic might be a strong word, but i was pretty shocked to see the “We’ve been here longer than WWII” stuff when it came out. I have no idea why Iraq is compared to Vietnam, and WWII makes even less sense. (Actually, saying I have no idea isn’t quite right. I know why they do it. It just isn’t right.)

Check out Flopping Aces for a STORY that’s going all around the blogs today - spreading like a wild fire. In general, I think the media reporting on Iraq is somewhere between appalling and deliberately manipulative. (Thank goodness for guys like Mike FUMENTO.) But this one seems like it’s either “much ado about nothing,” or a huge, huge mistake on the part of the MSM. I know which one I’d like to be true; I’m just not sure the MSM is quite that blind yet. Not saying it’s impossible, mind you. But I’m not convinced.  Yet.  (Michelle’s got a whole lot MORE, including an interesting letter from the Army.)

Mark Levin has a general ADMONITION that seems very timely:

Nobody is talking about victory. We had many very severe setbacks during all of our major wars, from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars to World Wars I and II. Our country brought together the greatest minds NOT to devise ways to hold discussions/negotiations with the enemy, but to develop strategies to defeat them. That doesn’t exist today, or if it does, those voices are drowned out by a variety of “I told you so” claims. Other than a few lone voices, led by our own Michael Ledeen, where are the discussions about taking down the regime in Iran (a Jimmy Carter creation)? Most distressing, we hear nothing about this from any elected leaders of either party. Yet, that’s the surest way to ensure victory in Iraq, is it not?

The tone seems to have shifted drastically over the last couple of weeks, and that’s bad. Iraq is not Vietnam. But we could turn it into one in a hurry, if we’re not careful.