20 July 07
‘Scuze me while I go vomit.
So, I just got this email from my buddy Stefan. Here I was thinking he was a like-minded Republican (who is often embarrassed to admit this publicly), and he sends me this email.
First, his note:
No, I am not becoming a stinking hippie, but Bush needs to go. Also, I am not a Hillary fan either. I want to see your reactions.
Olbermann: Go to Iraq and fight, Mr. President
Keith Olbermann says the administration's scapegoating of Sen. Hillary Clinton for the mess in Iraq is unfathomable, and the time has come for President Bush to take responsibility and go fight the war himself.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19859124/from/ET/
And now, my reply:
Regardless of your (or my) feelings about the current administration, if you fell for this load of crap, you are just as deluded as the majority of those that identify themselves as "Liberals."
First of all, politicians do not fight wars. They aren't supposed to fight wars. It would be a bad idea, in fact. We have a separation between soldiers and politicians for a reason. Politicians practice speeches and soldiers practice killing.
Secondly, blaming Hillary is a natural defensive response to being blamed themselves. She, along with the rest of the congress, voted to authorize the war based on the evidence available at the time. They'd do it again. The majority of Americans believed it was just.
Finally, the thrust of his column is a letter from Mr. Edelman (an undersecretary of defense) to Sen. Clinton. In the letter, he asks her to stop calling for a redeployment because it emboldens the enemy and endangers the Iraqis who have helped us. This just parrots what the administration has been saying all along, and it's based on advice from the military leaders on the ground. Olbermann agrees with a spokesperson for the senator who says the undersecretary's remarks are, "outrageous and dangerous." He then sites a bunch of non-relevant historical babble in an effort to further his position and make himself sound more like Charles Krauthammer (which he ain't).
Olbermann demanding that the President go fight in Iraq makes good theater, but it really just paints him as an idiot who doesn't understand the political system. Well, let me qualify that. From what I know about Olbermann, he's actually a bright guy. So why take this ridiculous position, you ask? He's doing it to pander to his liberal fan base and motivate the Democrats to "get the bum out of office" so Democrats, who clearly would be able to run the country and the war much better, can take over.
And that's exact what's going to happen.
Now you'll have to excuse me because I've got to pack. I'm headed to Iraq for six months. Then I'm getting out of the Army after 21 years. I'll be watching the Democrats run this country into the ground from the sidelines.
4 comments:
6 whole months . . . . BFD. The poor combat units are getting the salami for 15 months a pop, sometimes on more than one occassion. C'mon man, you are in the best equipped and trained Army in the world. Not only this, but you are a field grade officer, you will be treated like a king over there. I think my motivation for sending this was to bitch for the enlisted man (I was once one too), which I am sure you picked up in a different correspondence.
Relax, you are going to be fine. It will suck, but once you get into a routine the six months will pass by quickly. Then you will be able to G.T.F.O. and start a new phase in thou life. Hell, intel states they even play weekly no limit tournaments.
When you wrote this I was wishing we were at the Shoot right now at a 20/40 game. Putting Doc on tilt is good for my ever dwindling/nonexistant bankroll :)
Anyway, it doesn't look as if I will be returning the F.W. for tax season in 2008. At this very moment, I am sure this makes you very pleased.
I don't know when you are pushing out, do not disclose on the blog, but drop a line prior to leaving. MC checks the AKO email so if you feel inclined, be sure to add my email to your list. Until we speak again, may your cards be junk and may you suck out on the river.
Why not just look at it like: How many politicians kids are over there fighting?
b
She, along with the rest of the congress, voted to authorize the war based on the evidence available at the time. They'd do it again.
The caveat it is 'based on the evidence' available. It is well documented that the 'evidence' was part of a propaganda campaign.
Secondly, blaming Hillary is a natural defensive response to being blamed themselves.
I disagree. It is entirely unfair to single out a single member of the Congress, when the authorization was nearly unanimous. It's a cheap shot at best, or hopeless strategy at worst. Think of it as a terrible bluff into a player that is not going to fold. Moreover, it is childish moral relativism, "I know I am but so are you."
This just parrots what the administration has been saying all along...
This is just silly propaganda.
... and it's based on advice from the military leaders on the ground.
Because that is part of the lore of the military. You should consider, while you are in Iraq, what events happen because of the threat of redeployment.
Anyways, wouldn't it be strategically sound to lay low until the aforementioned redeployment occurs, then make a big play, rather than waste resources fighting an enemy that was leaving. You know as well as I do that Vietnam was militarily successful (viz, Tet was a disaster for the VC), and that the fall of Saigon occurred AFTER the withdrawal of troops and support.
This opinion is held only because people believe it should be the case, not because it has ever been verified.
That being said, I also think Olbermann is silly (I like him though, I miss him on Sportscenter).
You single out the Democrats as going to run the country into the ground (misplaced anger anyways, since the US is mostly run by Wall Street not Capitol Hill), but can you name a single Republican that can take the National Strategy for Victory in Iraq and make a winner out of it?
All the badgering aside, take care and keep your head down. It'll go by quicker than you think.
Keith Olbermann is so dumb I am frequently surprised he doesn't walk into walls. Good luck out there, doc.
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