"America haters, wimps, traitors, with us or against us, Saddam lovers?" Two years ago most of you here were screaming those labels at anyone who dared to suggest:
1. That there was no clear evidence that Iraq posed a wmd threat to us or that there were any significant terrorist links between Iraq and Al Queda.
2. That America had a limited ability to "remake" Iraq.
3. That we wouldn't long be greeted with flowers and open arms there.
4. That the danger of a significant Iraqi insurgency was a very real danger.
5. That we were CREATING an environment in which Iraq would become a training ground and a haven for terrorists.
6. That invading and occupying Iraq would destabilize much of the Middle East.
7. That the Iraq adventure would empower the terrorists and marginalize the moderates.
8. That we'd eventually have to declare victory and run.
But now even the "architects" of this plan seem to be seeing it that way, and diehard supporters are reduced to wailing about how it's the Iraqis fault, or it will be the "liberals" fault, or that it won't be a full disaster.
But the hard truth is that we can want something to happen, we can cheerlead it to happen, we can demean and ridicule all of those who say it won't happen but in the end reality will crush foolish plans based on spin, half truths, lies and naive notions. Pride cometh before a fall, isn't that how it goes?
That's what happened here. Do you remember? If you don't, take a look back on some of your "the greatest nation in the history of the world can do whatever it wants and anyone who says it can't just wants America to fail" posts and compare them to the views you hold now. Some of the modest achievements you would now judge as constituting "success" in Iraq would have sent you into a screaming rage of denial back then.
And you ought to look back and learn because as a result of the "loyal support" of people like you this country has lost a lot of good soldiers, spent hundreds of billions and will spend a generation trying to dig out of the hole we've dug. And you're still not willing to face the full extent of the debacle of Iraq-but you will one day.
Have you learned anything. Anyone? Anyone?
You know who you are.
Ed |
