That’s Why We’re Fighting?

Ken AshfordIraq, Right Wing Punditry/IdiocyLeave a Comment

Here’s what they’re saying at RedState about the rationale for the war (hey, at least somebody’s saying it: The black-and-white, "get the bad guys" approach can be heard from the Democrats and their allies in the MSM and the American left. They are the ones with the GET OBL! mentaility, as if removing the main bad guys will solve the … Read More

Clark On Withdrawal

Ken AshfordIraqLeave a Comment

Gen. Wesley Clark makes the case for withdrawal from Iraq, but (unlike others calling for military withdrawal) provides a roadmap on hos to fix the mess.  Required reading below the fold.

This Can’t Be Good

Ken AshfordIraq2 Comments

From Reuters: BAQUBA, Iraq (Reuters) – Thousands marched in adoring praise of Iraq’s deposed leader Saddam Hussein on Friday, offering a stark display of the loss of power and leadership felt by some of Iraq’s Sunni Arabs. Drawing inspiration from the Baath party strongman, who now languishes in jail awaiting trial, marchers in Baquba, 65 km (40 miles) northeast of … Read More

Jon Stewart and Christopher Hitchens

Ken AshfordIraq, Right Wing Punditry/Idiocy, War on Terrorism/TortureLeave a Comment

As I watched "The Daily Show" last night, in which Jon Stewart debated Christopher Hitchens about the Iraq War, I thought many things: "This is how it should be done.  None of the screaming pundits, like on Fox, MSNBC, or even CNN.  It’s intelligent AND entertaining" "Damn, Stewart is good.  He’s going toe-to-toe with Hitchens" "”Tell me why I’m wrong’, … Read More

Taking Powerline Seriously

Ken AshfordBush & Co., Iraq, Right Wing Punditry/IdiocyLeave a Comment

Paul Mirengoff makes it clear why the other guys at Powerline don’t let him post so much.  Today he writes about "Taking The President Seriously": The subject on yesterday’s edition of the O’Reilly Factor was how long we have to turn things around in Iraq. O’Reilly thought that President Bush has about six months to show the American people that … Read More

Iraqis Cannot Agree On Constitution?

Ken AshfordBreaking News, IraqLeave a Comment

The Associated Press is reporting: Parliament announced it had no plans to gather Thursday night and no date for a future session, signaling Iraqi factions were failing to agree on a new constitution before a self-imposed midnight target. It’s the "no date for a future session" part that is alarming.  It’s one thing if they are negotiating, haggling, horse-trading, or … Read More

Stay And Leave

Ken AshfordBush & Co., IraqLeave a Comment

I’m glad I’m not the only one confused. Bush gave another "stay the course in Iraq" speech yesterday.  Which I would expect him to do. But then there’s this story from today’s Financial Times: The US is expected to pull significant numbers of troops out of Iraq in the next 12 months in spite of the continuing violence, according to … Read More

The Other Crazy Pat

Ken AshfordBush & Co., Iraq, Right Wing Punditry/Idiocy, SheehanLeave a Comment

WorldNutDaily has an exclusive.  The old headline, as reported here, was "Rock Legend Shreds Cindy Sheehan ‘Peaceniks’" but apparently the editors at WND had second thoughts about being on the side of someone involved with rock (aka "the devil’s music"). And who is that "rock legend"?  Why, Pat Boone, of course, who became famous for taking songs from black musicians … Read More

RIP: “Your Ad Here”

Ken AshfordIraqLeave a Comment

This is rather disgusting: ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) – Unlike earlier wars, nearly all Arlington National Cemetery gravestones for troops killed in Iraq or Afghanistan are inscribed with the slogan-like operation names the Pentagon selected to promote public support for the conflicts. Families of fallen soldiers and Marines are being told they have the option to have the government-furnished headstones engraved … Read More

I Knew There Was A Reason I Liked Him

Ken AshfordIraqLeave a Comment

In today’s Washington Post, Gary Hart talks about the timidity of the left: History will deal with George W. Bush and the neoconservatives who misled a mighty nation into a flawed war that is draining the finest military in the world, diverting Guard and reserve forces that should be on the front line of homeland defense, shredding international alliances that … Read More

Vietnam Comparisons Obsolete?

Ken AshfordIraqLeave a Comment

Neo-cons get upset when progressives like me liken the Iraq War to Vietnam.  "They’re not the same," the neo-cons cry.  "The Vietnam War was in Southeast Asia, and was in the 1960’s mostly.  This is totally different!"  And then they compare the Iraq War to WWII. But seriously, maybe they’re right.  Vietnam was also a more popular war for most … Read More

Circle Of Death

Ken AshfordBush & Co., IraqLeave a Comment

Commenting on Bush’s speech, in which he says that "we owe something" to our fallen soldiers — which is why we need to keep fighting in Iraq — I wrote (yesterday): You gotta love that logic:  we should continue to allow our soldiers to die, so that those who have already died will not have died in vain. Mr. President, … Read More