August 14, 2005 11:03 PM
Frank Rich in a brilliant column: "The country has already made the decision for Mr. Bush. We're outta there. Now comes the hard task of identifying the leaders who can pick up the pieces of the fiasco that has made us more vulnerable, not less, to the terrorists who struck us four years ago next month."
We're outta there (08.14.2005)
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Mike Ackerman:
Brilliant is right. I liked the part about the army being so eager for bodies that they're ignoring "don't ask, don't tell."
Mon Aug 15 2005 12:33 AM
Tom from Madison:
I would add the word "insightful".
Support for this war has always had more to do with loyalty to a "brand" than anything based in verifiable fact. The reference to "rebranding" the war was right on.
Unfortunately, you can't re-define this war into being anything other than the fiasco it has become.
Mon Aug 15 2005 3:39 PM
Paul:
By his own words, Bush considers himself a "leader". He claims not to follow the polls. Of course, that is just rank bullshit. But, I wonder how far out he will let himself get on this one. Leadership only works when there are people following you. I think that's what Mr. Rich said in his article - I read it earlier.
There are all kinds of ways that the American public can undermine the war if they turn against it, not least of which is to stop their kids enlisting in the Army.
The U.S. went to war in Vietnam, because of the Domino Theory. We went to war in Iraq, because of the theory that we could implant democracy in the Middle East with overwhelming military superiority. It's easy to see how people could be seduced by these theories, but this is further proof that you can't judge a theory by whether it appeals to your common sense. Theories are proven and disproven in the real world, not in our minds.
Theories of business and government should be tested on a small scale first. If you have a brilliant idea for a new fast food restaurant, try opening one first. Don't start by opening twenty McBush Burger's and watch them all crash and burn.
The Iraq War is overreach on a grand scale.
Mon Aug 15 2005 5:13 PM
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