I think it's fair to say the gloomy predictions were coming also from some ex-military and other non-Left sources.
It's always true that if you disagree with an action or decision you see the potential negatives looming larger, and if you agree with an action you naturally (and not necessarily deliberately) downplay the potential negatives.
It's terrific the war went as well as it did; short duration meant fewer lives lost, not a bad thing!
As to In this view, these members of "the anointed" operate in an echo chamber that listens to and rewards one another to the point that they refuse to admit contrary evidence., why, that's what each side has always accused the other of ;-) Some people are open to reasoned debate and acknowledge points made by their opponents, and some can't hear anyone else talking over their own voice.
I don't think those on the left are all out-of-touch ex-hippies, and I don't think those on the right are all hell-fire fundamentalist imperialists. Do these descriptions fit some? Of course! Do they describe the bulk of those on each side? Not a bit of it. It's the old bell curve thing: there are people out on the extreme at each end, and in the middle there's lots of well-meaning, thoughtful, intelligent, caring people with nothing but the best of intentions...just with different opinions. It's what makes us great.
Regards
WUWT |
