Some Western Straight Talk from Gary Hart
Gary Hart has some strong advice on Iraq for the various putative presidential candidates on the hustings.
To stay silent during such a crisis, and particularly to harbor the thought that the administration's misfortune is the Democrats' fortune, is cowardly. In 2008 I want a leader who is willing now to say: "I made a mistake, and for my mistake I am going to Iraq and accompanying the next planeload of flag-draped coffins back to Dover Air Force Base. And I am going to ask forgiveness for my mistake from every parent who will talk to me."Further, this leader should say: "I am now going to give a series of speeches across the country documenting how the administration did not tell the American people the truth, why this war is making our country more vulnerable and less secure, how we can drive a wedge between Iraqi insurgents and outside jihadists and leave Iraq for the Iraqis to govern, how we can repair the damage done to our military, what we and our allies can do to dry up the jihadists' swamp, and what dramatic steps we must take to become energy-secure and prevent Gulf Wars III, IV and so on." ...
Who now has the courage to say this?
See - it's us Westerners (like Colorado's Gary Hart) that can bring the straight talk.
Kari Chisholm | August 25, 2005 | Comment on This Post (4 so far) |
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Comments
Take a look at http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,371411,00.html
to see what is going on over there. This war has the potential to corrode, divide, and poison this country as well as the Middle East. My hat is off to an old Democratic Senator from West Virginia, Robert Byrd, who saw this coming, as well as to former Senator Hart and many others East and West.
Posted by: Leo Brown | Aug 25, 2005 7:31:10 PM
Gary Hart's original article in the Washington Post was a good overview of our Iraqi War mismanagement. However, I would suggest we use a reasoned approach to our anti-war protests.
Yesterday on TV, I saw anti-war protesters outside Walter Reed Hospital with signs that insulted the wounded soldiers trying to recover from being blown apart in Iraq.
This type of anti-war protest may be in the news for a few days. But, it would be wise to avoid showing contempt and disrepect for returning soldiers wounded and fighting to put their lives back together.
Anti-war protests and criticism of foreign policy is an American right. Let us use an approach that is reasonable. Needless to say, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and John F. Kenney would be the first to criticize anti-war protesters insulting seriously wounded soldiers outside Walter Reed Hospital.
Gosh, I really got worked up about this. Sorry.
Posted by: Tim | Aug 26, 2005 3:21:37 AM
I was stationed at Walter Reed during the Vietnam era, so I have some sensitivity here. And certainly this protest is not something I would support or participate in. However, check out http://www.newshounds.us/2005/08/25/vigil_at_walter_reed_hospital_distorted_by_right.php for the other side and also http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=27210&archive=true from the Stars and Stripes.
Posted by: Leo Brown | Aug 26, 2005 6:10:30 AM
On September 15, Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) will be convening a hearing (modeled on the one organized by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) on the Downing Street Memos) where academics, military personnel and other experts will testify about strategies to achieve military disengagement while still playing a constructive role in the rebuilding of Iraqi society.
See
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/20050823/its_time_to_debate_iraq.php
and
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/breyman.php?articleid=7095
Posted by: Leo Brown | Aug 27, 2005 12:51:25 AM
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(and yes, we know that sometimes they're very, very wrong. Other times, they're right on.)
