Victor Davis Hanson writes about American attitudes about Iraq, but his commentary applies equally to the behavior of our own chattering classes on the war in Afghanistan;
Watching and reading the recent Washington punditry, whether in print or on television, is a depressing spectacle. Almost all—Charles Krauthammer is the most notable exception—have somehow triangulated on the war, not mentioning why and how in the B.C. days they sort of, kinda, not really called for the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. For some the Road to Damascus was the looting or Abu Ghraib, for others the increasing violence. Still more now say the absence of WMD did the trick.But almost none of the firebrands of 2003 speaks the truth behind the facade: They supported the war when it looked like few casualties and a quick reconstruction and thus confirmation of their own muscular humanitarianism—and then bailed along the way when they realized that wasn’t going to happen and the unpopular war might instead brand them as “war mongers”, “chicken-hawks” or just fools.
Instead of that honest admission, we get instead either cardboard cut-out villains of the “my perfect three-week war, your screwed-up three-year occupation” type—a Douglas Feith, Gen. Sanchez, or Paul Bremmer—or all sorts of unappreciated and untapped brilliance: from trisecting the country to “redeploying” to Kurdistan, or Kuwait, or Okinawa?
[...]
I wrote about the daily changing wisdom in Fields Without Dreams, and how fickle human nature is, rather than looking at things in a tragic sense that there are no great choices, but often just bad and worse, and that wisdom is predicated mostly on the perception of success. In 1982 I picked early and thereby avoided a horrendous tropical storm that ruined the industry, saving thereby 200 tons of raisins that sold for over $1400 a ton; in 1983 I picked early again, the clouds blew away, and in weeks of perfect weather I produced lousy, sour, and light raisins, selling scarcely 140 tons for $400 and lost far more than I had made the year before. I was neither a genius the year before, nor a fool the next, but rather did the best I could in both years, recognizing that we are still subject to fate, despite our vaunted technology and knowledge. I am not advising helplessness, simply some recognition that the verdict is out on Iraq, and what looks bad today, might look far better very soon—and that erstwhile supporters turned vehement critics might well reinvent themselves a third time.
Actually, I think the mass of Canadians who are now opposed to the Iraq war have opposed it from the very beginning. It's not a matter of "cut and run" but of principled opposition.
A message from al queda to Canada.
“Despite the strong, increasing opposition to spread its forces in the fire of South Afghanistan, it seems that they will not learn the lesson easily,” Hossam Abdul Raouf writes. “They will either be forced to withdraw their forces or face an operation similar to New York, Madrid, London and their sisters, with the help of Allah.”
Perhaps they are on Jack! Laytons mailing list? As Kate has said before. They watch our news. Thanks for giving the enemy a morale boost Jack!. This is not totally off topic becasue I could see Canadians getting antsy about this mission.
Oh, I saw that on LGF today.
exile - I hesitate to ascribe all Canadian opposition to the war as 'principled opposition' unless you add the noun - ie. principled to what?
Rejection of the war because Canadians oppose almost everything that the US does?
Rejection of the war because over the past generation, Canadians have become heavily isolationist and rejecting any but the most superificial participation in international aid?
Rejection of the war because of support for Saddam Hussein's dictatorship?
I support the war, because Islamic fascism can only be defeated by democracy, and if the West doesn't defeat fascism, then, 'all the lights on this planet will go out'.
From the beginning to terrorists have said on numerous videos and messages that cdns are sissyfied and will not tolerate casualties so all we have to do is kill a few and they will turn tail and run. With the help of talibanjack and the cbc they are being proven right. Haven't read any comments on that immans message that all homosexuals should and would be killed by them. Reporters would be next. And that other one who said rape is ok as a weapon of war as any woman not in a burqua was asking for it. What will it take for the leftist terrorist supporters to get the message. These are evil people and must be stopped. The US has Lynn and Laura out speaking for success and we have Libby and Hedy.
How many of those cowards on parade today realize that if not for the freedoms our troops fought for in the past and present they would not have the right to protest. Will they thank the troops for their right to be traitors and cowards. I doubt it. What a bunch of doubletalking, two faced hypocrites they are. The good news is that not too many have turned out, in contrast to the support our troops rallies. The scariest thing is that these cowards vote.
"principled opposition"
Yes, the "principle" of opposing the conservative viewpoint, regardless of logic, reason, morals and ethics.
Absolutely Doug!
That*s the Librano$ way. All reaction, Emotion, Spin, Cronyism, Old boys club, Nepostism, Pilfering public monies. . .
Stop! Sorry, I was going to mention one or two traits and got carried away.
Just wanted to say background knowledge and logic seem not to be part of the artsy fartsy left.
And The National Disgrace Party, er National Dipstick Party. . . damn I can*t get it right. . . Oh yeah, the National Demolition Party.
I knew it wasn*t the National Blackmail the majority party. Did they ever do that?
Hey, it*s OK, I feel better now. = TG
exile: I suppose the Canadian decision to NOT participate in the anti-missile programme was "principled opposition" too, eh? Ya know like how the coddled Euros protested against the deployment of Pershing missiles on Euro soil to help defend them against the former Soviet Union which could have overrun them at any time.
The only principle I can see is the freeloader principle: have someone else cover your defense while browbeating them with faux moral platitudes.
Or if you will, the principle of infantilism!
An Arab specialist on French television yesterday :
America is winning the War in Iraq
france5.fr ^ | 10.20.2006 | drzz
Antoine Sfeir, Arab expert, Middle East specialist from France, Arab himself, author of books on Islamic terrorism and the Middle East, editor of the "Tribune of the Middle East" was today on French television. ...-
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