Donald Trump on Iraq.
By on Jun 23rd, 2006 at 2:28 pm
Donald Trump on Iraq.
“I think the war was a mistake,†said the star of NBC’s The Apprentice. “I would get out of Iraq as soon as possible consistent with the practicalities of a bad situation. … It’s being held together by sugar candy. No matter what happens, I believe Iraq will fall again.â€
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Afghanistan
Bachmann
Beck
Boehner
Business
Cheney
Civil Rights
Congress
Corporate Ethics
Dobbs
Economy
Education
Election
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Gingrich
Glenn Beck
Global Warming
Health Care
Immigration
International Relations
Justice
LGBT
Lieberman
Limbaugh
Media
Military
O'Reilly
Obama
Palin
Pelosi
Politics
Race
Radical Right
Religion
Sports
Steele
Stimulus
Tea Parties
Tea Party
Terrorism
Veterans
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
Trump is smarter than I thought.
June 23rd, 2006 at 2:30 pmInteresting. I wonder what Regis thinks.
June 23rd, 2006 at 2:33 pmTrump knows his shit, though I still think China is in the end, the big problem America is going to face after Bush is gone. That debt is not pretty, and nor is that creditor.
June 23rd, 2006 at 2:34 pmWho knew Trump even knew there was a war on?
June 23rd, 2006 at 2:39 pmWill Incurious George listen to his “base?”
Doesn’t the Donald have better things to do with his time like finding his fifth wife or developing the latest lame reality show?
June 23rd, 2006 at 2:41 pmUh oh, the Donald has spoken! We must leave Iraq immediately!
June 23rd, 2006 at 2:42 pmGrandpa Seth
So you obviously can’t argue with his points then, but can’t quite conjure up the maturity to agree with him. Okay, you are a Republican then.
June 23rd, 2006 at 2:47 pmTrump has been saying this for some time now. He said “Declare a victory and leave.” Not a bad idea, actually. I mean the man does have some credibility when it comes to building an Empire…
There’s been speculation that he is considering a political run – perhaps Mayor of NYC. No better way to show an interest than critiquing a failing Republican government, and offering yourself as a viable alterbative (no way the guy who kicks old people out of rent-controlled apartment to renovate them into million dollar suites is going to be a Dem).
June 23rd, 2006 at 2:49 pmI want America to leave Iraq too, but I don’t care what Trump thinks. It’s be nice to know that everyone, even the people I dislike wanted to leave Iraq, but why talk about it here? What good will it do to let people know we have Trump on our side? There are a lot more important and signifigant people we could use on our side, not Trump.
June 23rd, 2006 at 2:55 pmI can certainly argue with his points – they are the same points argued by liberals and the democratic party which is so heavily invested in defeat in Iraq it can’t help itself. We are winning in Iraq. Even Zarqawi admitted that. Haven’t you guys been paying attention? You really need to spend less time here. Its corrupting your mind. As for Iran and N. Korea, wouldn’t it be better to have an ally in the region such as Iraq if we have to actually go to war with them? I think we should use diplomacy first, but if that doesn’t work then getting into their country will be a whole lot easier. Why did so many democrats vote against Kerry’s proposal yesterday? I guess more congressmen, both Republicans and democratic support the war than you thought.
June 23rd, 2006 at 2:55 pmI think Trump is part of Bush’s political base. Multi-millionaires.
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:01 pmBut even the Donald can recognize a disaster when he sees it. It’s called cutting your losses in business.
There’s no good reason to quote Trump on this web site, unless he’s discussing business practices. Period.
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:07 pmListen to the Donald, Mr. Bush. Remember he is rich and you value wealth over anything else.
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:08 pmTHIS IS A CALL TO EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN OUT THERE. We are on the brink of a “CIVIL WAR”. The media has been suppressed. Go to http://www.immigrationwatchdog.com . Watch the Paul Revere Riders video. Tell everyone you know. Go door to door in your neighborhoods. People need to buy food, water, batteries, arms, etc.
GOD BLESS US AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!!!
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:09 pm#10 GS says: “We are winning in Iraq. Even Zarqawi admitted that.”
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:11 pmDo you read the papers, or do you watch only Fox TV?
The report in the WaPo of last week was of far more dire circumstances in Iraq than BushCo and Fox have reported. Today there is martial law in Baghdad – that is martial law that can be imposed without an effective army.
As for the vote in the Senate yesterday, actually, it shows that the number of those wanting to exit Iraq is growing by the week. The differences are only on the calendar. The date to start or the date of completion. The Repugs who remain steadfast to the king are not threatened in November; those who are, are moving away from the losing, stay the course” which, as you must know, is a slogan, not a strategy. Actually I refer to it as a “stay and die” course of action.
Just what has to happen for you to declare “victory” in Iraq? Who has to surrender?
#10 grandpa – us ambassador khalilzad (wapo june 19) disagrees with al zarqawi.
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:12 pmiraq is going to participate in a war with iran?
you are a funny guy, grandpa – do you do stand up. I’d come and see you. tosser.
There’s no good reason to quote Trump on this web site, unless he’s discussing business practices. Period.
Comment by DrSinker — June 23, 2006 @ 3:07 pm
Or from which zoo he buys those monkey-hair pieces.
(Let’s play America’s fastest growing quiz sensation, “Trump or Monkey”)
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:13 pmJerry,
How has the media been suppressed? You are suffering from delusions. You need help, go seek medical treatment. Do you even know how out of touch you sound?
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:14 pmZarqawi got outed by his own side and blown up. The new guy is more militant, and looks a mite bit brighter too. Taking those 2 soldiers was fairly symbolic of how little progress has been made.
Here is why I say China is the bigger threat. The last time America invaded N Korea, China stepped in and kicked America’s ass. Further, Iran is China’s major source of oil, and also has Russia as an ally. America can survive a Korean bomb, it can’t survive China selling off all of those dollars and calling in its debt. This is the major thing I disagree with Trump on.
That said, Iraq actually hurts America more then it helps. America, if it wants to invade Iran, will have to deal with the Saudi’s getting suspicious, and the fact that OPEC will seriously not like it. If OPEC dislikes you enough, it can go over to Euros, thus destabilising the America dollar.
Further, Iraq as an ally is a dubious one, as much though the new government might like America, it is in no position to go to war at America’s side and won’t be for at least 20 years thanks to the disunity within Iraq and the need to rebuild Iraq, by which point the argument will be moot.
Unless the rest of the region notices a pattern forming and allies against America, oh, and somehow I don’t think launching supply lines from a nation engaged in a civil war is going to work out too well. Oh, and read the article, what Trump was saying was not “Lets get out right now” in fact he said America can’t do that. What he said was “Lets get to the point where we can get out, and then do it.”
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:14 pm“I would fight hard to reduce oil prices. There’s no doubt in my mind that the right chief executive could have a substantial impact on oil prices by telling the oil-producing states that it’s time to start cutting [prices] or else. They’re making more money than any country has ever made in the history of the world.”
One of America’s business leaders is some sort of socialist?
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:15 pmWhat the hey? Donald Trump wants to cut his losses at Atlantic City too. Maybe if he were to meet Ann Coulter on the street, she could change his mind with her winning ways.
We can’t ‘cut and run’ now, there aren’t enough losses yet. Not enough money has been spent in this colossal fiasco. Not enough murkans lives have been lost yet. We must stay the course until it is a complete failure. Half a failure means half success. Never argue with success, even if it is half-assed.
Congress and the Bush Administration don’t know a snafu until it is fubar.
We must fight this war until it is either won or lost, so far, we’re losing, so we must fight until it is won. That won’t happen until after it is lost, then we’ll win. One of those unknown knowns that is yet to be a known known.
It should all make sense now. Another trillion dollars spent won’t hurt any either. We won’t know that known until after it is known. Right now, it’s an unknown known.
Now, it makes even more sense.
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:15 pmI enjoy Letterman’s “Monkey or Trump” bit about Trump’s hair.
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:15 pmThere’s no good reason to quote Trump on this web site, unless he’s discussing business practices. Period.
Comment by DrSinker
I don’t know, Doc. What he says DOES make good business practice.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but if Bush Co. would have followed his logic, we wouldn’t be $300 billion in the hole, and probably a TRILLION more in debt before we are through spreading democracy to all those freedom loving people cutting off heads over there.
I mean, say what you will, but Trump wouldn’t throw good (BORROWED) money after bad on a questionable investment like this.
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:18 pmUm…I’m glad “The Donald” exhibited the ability to state the obvious, but why should we care? TP is one of my favorite places to go for information, debunking, etc. not for hearing the latest celebrity opinion on the state of the world. First Springsteen, now this. Oy!
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:23 pmUmm #10 the people who are ultimatley going to be in control of Iraq are not going to be listening to us once we leave. They are aligned with iran all the way.
#20 I believe the president is a socialist too. Isn’t he one of the people who continually talks about Iaq’s oil being for the Iraqii people? Do you think he believes that the US’s oil and natural resources are for our people too?
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:30 pmcan certainly argue with his points – they are the same points argued by liberals and the democratic party which is so heavily invested in defeat in Iraq it can’t help itself. We are winning in Iraq.
Comment by Grandpa Seth — June 23, 2006 @ 2:55 pm
You truly believe this???
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:30 pmWow!!!
I have yet to find a single person alive who wants to lose. Let alone invest heavily to accomplish this.
WOW!!!
Whew! Good thing Trump spoke his mind; where would we be without him?
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:36 pm#26
Of course they don’t actually come out and say it, stupid! A victory for Iraq is a victory for the Bush administration and that would be bad for dems. Very bad indeed. As little as two weeks ago, dems had the momentum heading into November, not that they were assured of winning, but at least they had a chance. Then, Iraq finalized forming its government and we got Zarqawi. You have to admit that things are heading in the right direction. Hey, I want our troops to come home as soon as they are able to, but I don’t want them to leave before we can be assured that another Saddam won’t overrun the country. Yes, I firmly believe that democrats, especially liberals want us to lose in Iraq.
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:42 pmIvanna get out of Iraq and Ivanka thank the troops for their service.
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:44 pmThink what you want about Trump, but hes a business man. He deals in WHAT WORKS, and WHAT DOES NOT WORK.
Trump knows how to SUCCEED, something BUSH has NO experience with.
TRUMP knows.
But hey, don’t listen to one of the most successful Business Giants and Philantropists of our time.
Listen to George W Bush. Who knows how to borrow money and dig dry oil wells.
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:53 pmNow watch as the right wing labels him a coward and a traitor too.
He’ll probably get investigated by the IRS for saying this one
June 23rd, 2006 at 3:56 pmhttp://www.airtorture.com
Free flights anywhere in the world
June 23rd, 2006 at 4:31 pmHow debased is the public discourse when Donald Trump is the voice of reason?
June 23rd, 2006 at 4:34 pmAgain, WOW!
The other side just don’t want to see or admit there is anything wrong with current administration, this war(really occupation now), Congress, Media…………..WOW
Just keep on saying it to yourself that others are stupid and not patriotic if it makes you happy. I can’t change you. I don’t think anyone can. Only it will change when things that are wrong affects you personally. But, by then you probably will be in some other denial state.
June 23rd, 2006 at 4:55 pmHey, say what you want about the Trumpmeister, but at least he knows how to succeed.
If Trump were President we’d be selling the Iraqi’s Sand right about now.
June 23rd, 2006 at 4:56 pmI just recently read how Republicans asked Trump to run for NY governer, he turned them down and endorsed Spitzer.
June 23rd, 2006 at 5:09 pmHe made a similar statement two years ago.
June 23rd, 2006 at 8:25 pmGramdpa Seth,
Got some reliable source for Zarqawi admitting defeat, maybe he was on Leno just before he died and I missed it? Or any of the other insurgents admitting this? I don’t see them dropping their IED’s, and lining up to surrender as most defeated soldiers do,
The only one out of touch with reality is you. We’re in our 3rd year there, and really the average of US soldiers dying hasn’t dropped much, and considering this doesn’t include the number of increased Iraqi police and military it looks like NO progress really has been made in 3 years.. Seems like every other week I hear about some police station getting blown up, some market, mosque, and so on. Winning is when the deaths decrease, won is when they stop killing us, and each other.
My source for average: http://icasualties.org/oif_a/CasualtyTrends.htm
And as much as I would love to think “peace” could be achieved in Iraq, I just don’t see it happening. (it hasn’t happened in the last 1000 years, why now?) More suicide bomber, car bombers, and IED’s keep killing the Iraqi civilians (And soldiers) to pieces every day, I suppoe your “victory” is the rate of American soldiers dying has very slightly decreased (but the year is 1/2 over), The people we’re supposedly spreading democracy to keep dying and dying and dying, and in increaded numbers. Doesn’t sound like much has improved.
We could stay in Iraq 100 years and this kind of “winning war” will go on. When the middle east “Wants peace and democracy”, they’ll bring it on themselves, and it might be nice if the US was involved, but with a pen, and not a gun! But sadly as long as man will kill each other over religious beliefs, oil, and gold, we’ll keep killing each other, perhaps to extinction.
And as for the media being suppressed, just take a look how the administration/military kicked all journalists out of Guantanamo
http://www.theolympian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060616/OPINION01/606160312/1045/OPINION
Yet Fox News gets the scoop? And a *cough* guided tour of the (now cleaned up) prison.
Really gramps, turn off Fauxnews, and Rush, you’ll be much more informed to “reality”
Our presence there only “breeds” hatred of america. Not only by the middle east, but by our allies as well. Countries that once welcomed Americans, many of them now shun us.
June 23rd, 2006 at 8:38 pmAnd you probably say “so what”, well it’s those people who buy our products as well. Wake up to reality before morons like you completely ruin this country.
If Trump were Frankenstein he’s say something like this: “Uhhhhhhhh, Iraq war no good. Bad bad! No fan! No fan! Iran? bad! North Korea? bad! Oil price high – BAD! Me give tax-cut back? NO FAN!! NO FAN!!!”
Bigger fish to fry like Iran? And this guy is worried about rising oil prices? An attack on Iran would drive the price up over $100 a barrel which would then drive interest rates through the roof and put the economy 6 feet under. Trump, if you meant attack Iran, You’re Fired!
June 23rd, 2006 at 9:28 pm#28 says “…we can be assured that another Saddam won’t overrun the country.”
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:32 pmWhy do you think we went after him when there are dozens of dictators even worse than he in the world. When he “gassed his own people” as is so often repeated, it was with the weapons we sold him (check Rumsfeld’s receipt book) and we sold them to him when we knew what he was doing!
We aided the taliban in Afghanistan too, in the ’80’s. They were fighting the Russians, and that came back to bite us hard! We only want our puppets to be in charge in Iraq, but our plan is not working out too good. ( Our puppet in Afghanistan is not doing so well either) We want the oil wells, we want the building contracts, we want four military bases, and a $580 million embassy.
What will it take for you to determine what is a win and what is a loss?
What goes on your scorecard?
Well at least Donald Trump notices that Iraq is a fiasco that requires American Troops to be pulled out ASAP! Members of the GOP should listen to Trump and tell Bush to pull out!
June 23rd, 2006 at 11:57 pmWhat makes a great leader?
A great negotiator.
If The Donald were running things we’d be paying 50 cents for a gallon of gas.
(for those of you who hate Donald for his marital problems, you’re just jeolous because you cant even get one woman)
Face it guys, you’d love it if Milani were the First Lady and you got to look at that for 4 years. If not then I guess your gay.
I just recently read how Republicans asked Trump to run for NY governer, he turned them down and endorsed Spitzer.
The Donald had to run around NYC all day long on election day to cast a vote. No matter what polling station he went to he was told that wasn’t his precinct. He voted though, and I guarantee he did not vote for the Bubble boy.
June 24th, 2006 at 1:46 amso now Donald trump is a military expert?? well he as it least is in “good” company. right up there with Streisand, the ditzy chicks, helen thomas, susan sarandon and other moonbats. good job trumpus , i guess all that money can’t buy intelligence or patriotism.
June 24th, 2006 at 9:50 amDonald Trump knows business, and since the war is primarily about business, the Donald might have some idea what he is talking about.
June 24th, 2006 at 9:37 pmPetition for Immediate Withdrawal from Iraq:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/955657433
June 25th, 2006 at 12:32 amso now Donald trump is a military expert??
Comment by bozo — June 24, 2006 @ 9:50 am
No bozo, he’s a business and financial expert. Which means he knows a bum deal when he sees it.
And he also knows a bum when he sees one. And he knows Bush is a bum.
You’re just mad that the DON didn’t come out for you.
In fact, NO ONE’s coming out for you idiots. Maybe its because you all suck.
You couldn’t succeed at failing.
June 25th, 2006 at 12:39 amBut you guys do have a lot of “suckcess”, lol.
June 25th, 2006 at 12:41 amgee flava- flav it is soo nice to see that little retarded kids have access to a computer. Your moomy must think you have been a very good little waterhead to type such a big boy letter.
June 25th, 2006 at 5:05 pmI could care less about some old rich dim-whit from NY City witha bad comb over and and an even worse TV show. Who the hell does he think even cares what he says.
I bet he would care a lot more if a coupla rug- heads flew a plane into one of the bulidings HE owned.
as a matter of fact who gives a rat’s ass what somebody like you say asshat?? does your mommy know that you are on her computer trying to act al grown up and stuff??
typicla moonbat liberals- the Worfous sisters.. attention whores of the liberal monnbats assholes… you go girl!
[...] Donald Trump on Iraq.Think Progress, DC - Jun 23, 2006 I think the war was a mistake, said the star of NBC s The Apprentice. I would get out of Iraq as soon as possible consistent … Permalink TrackBack [...]
July 6th, 2006 at 12:09 pmDonald Trump speaks the truth, this iraq war was nothing but than a gimmick and for oil, not finding terrorism, bush knows there were no WMD’s in iraq and saddam, evil as he was had nothing to do with 9/11.
Bush is such a dreadful president it’s a crime.
July 8th, 2006 at 6:44 pm