>> I believe if you would just read the article...you will eventually see, this is a WORLD problem, not a "you versus me" problem.
I did read the article. It can be pretty much condensed to this:
Even if these purported scapegoats have been accurately portrayed, and their mistakes account for the current pessimistic Iraqi prognosis — neither of which I grant — what are we to say about those currently in charge? ... What matters now is not so much what the war was or should have been, but only what it is — and whether we have learned from our mistakes and can still win.
In other words, he disagrees with the portrayal of the mistakes and the characters involved, but he believes he can learn from those mistakes (that he does not really grant have been). Now I have several issues with him and his position:
1. Given that he has a different perception of the mistakes and the characters involved in this saga than I, I am highly doubtful that the "lessons" he has come to learn from it are the same ones as I or that I would agree with those "lessons".
2. Way back in 1999, the conservatives made a lot of hay about "Character" being an issue in who one should follow and put in charge. I actually agree. I see little in the character of this administration to make me want to piss on them if I saw them burning alive. I see them as people who would do whatever it takes to "win" (whatever "winning" means to them) and save their own necks. They are people, imo, with little belief in democracy and the principles that make America proud. So no, I am not willing to have faith in their solutions and whatever unstated lessons they claim they have learned.
3. And this is perhaps the most important aspect here. VDH seems to think this war is about pacifying Iraq and replacing it with a pro-US regime. Whereas I think by far the greatest threat ever faced this nation is Neocons, the Religious Right, and the rest of Bush's cabal. As a result of this perception in where the true danger lies, it is unlikely that I will ever help those I deem as the true enemies of America. As with Hitler and Stalin, the fact that some participants truly believe they are doing the right thing for America is irrelevant. Hitler, Stalin, and Mao too believed they served their nation to the best of their ability. But their faith in their own righteousness would not garner my cooperation with them.
4. Once upon a time "Accountability" was considered the hallmark of conservative values. How is it that now suddenly it is not something to duel upon and we should all have a group hug and move on? There is a great measure of fairness in judging one by one's own values (in this case Character and Accountability) so why should we turn a blind eye when they still refuse to take responsibility for their mistakes?
ST |
