Prominent neocons say Iraq was a strategic blunder.
By on Nov 3rd, 2006 at 5:42 pm
Prominent neocons say Iraq was a strategic blunder.
Former chairman of the Pentagon’s Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee Richard Perle and former Pentagon insider Kenneth Adelman tell Vanity Fair that they blame the “dysfunctional” Bush administration for the “disaster” in Iraq and say that if they had it to do over again they would not advocate an invasion.
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Bout time they caught up with thinking people.
November 3rd, 2006 at 5:45 pmOnly 2800+ American lives too late. The guilt must be horrendous.
And then there are the Iraqis that were just minding their own business.
If those Iraqis were here in America there would be a lot of people going to jail for murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
November 3rd, 2006 at 5:47 pmI remember the Perle comment and keep it in my collection off all-time favorite quotes.
November 3rd, 2006 at 5:47 pmAmerica’s Least Wanted
Yet more fingerpointing instead of taking responsibility. As far as that “grand square” named after the Shrub, they will build it so that the families of the 660,000 plus killed can have a place to take a leak.
November 3rd, 2006 at 5:48 pmFor the 1998 regime change letter to Clinton from Perle and the neocons at the Project for the New American Century, see:
“The Iraq WMD and Intelligence Document Center.”
November 3rd, 2006 at 5:49 pmour troops are dieing while they evade the truth.
November 3rd, 2006 at 5:49 pm*OT..the trolls are ganging up at u-tube,drop by and even things up.
“A year from now I’d be surprised if there’s not some grand square in Baghdad that is named after President Bush.”
— Richard Perle, 9-22-03
“I believe demolishing Hussein’s military power and liberating Iraq would be a cakewalk.”
— Ken Adelman, 2-13-02
November 3rd, 2006 at 5:50 pm#6…..yeah, I’m sure the new Pentagon media bull pen “news correction” agency is inceasing the number of trolls on their roster. They’re gonna fight the information war where ever and how ever they can. Count on it.
November 3rd, 2006 at 5:54 pmadd the ‘prince of darkness’ richard perle to the list….
November 3rd, 2006 at 5:55 pm
For well over the last 20 years, Al Dawa, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution of Iraq (sic!!!), et al. have been quite active and vociferous in their desire to transform a `secular’ Iraq under Saddam Hussein into a Shiite fundamentalist republic.
So what was Perle thinking when he conned the Haggard-lovin-Bush into thrusting the reins of power into the hands of Al Dawa, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution of Iraq (sic!!!), et al. ?
What a DUMB ASS!!
November 3rd, 2006 at 5:57 pmWell it’s a good thing that they can at least partially admit a mistake.
But on the face of it, invading, conquering, and occupying a country in the middle of the Middle East, how often has that turned out well? How about invading and occupying a country with no democratic institutions, and pretending you can build them? How about cherry picking intelligence, how often has that gone well? Relying on drunks and con men as intelligence sources? How about cutting the State department out of all decisions and just going with the neo-nuts at the Pentagon?
I know those guys see themselves as disaffected by the radicalism of the 60’s. But isn’t it hard not to conclude that they’ve been smoking something?
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:07 pmWhere is the acceptance of responsibility in any of what the NeoKons say? Where?
No, the brunt of their irresponsibility is shouldered by those who can least afford it, our sons and daughters who are dying in Iraq for the Great NeoKon Lie.
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:07 pmThis will not help them now. The republicans are in their last throes, if you will.
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:17 pmOh so now they are having second thoughts – tell it to the almost
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:18 pm3000 dead service men and women and the 600,000 plus dead Iraqis.
A child of four could have see this disater coming – these people
are the most craven idiots. The only word for them is murders.
Wow.. I believe that is the first neocon who’s actually said (well almost said) that the invasion itself was a mistake.
Anyone want to start a betting pool on when the Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush team starts fingerpointing each other? You know they will, either after the election in 2008 or when the impeachment goes through (oh please let them be impeached)
Come on… anyone?
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:22 pmJesusChrist_GodOfWAR: [O]ur sons and daughters who are dying in Iraq for the Great NeoKon Lie.
Correction: They are also dying and being maimed for the sake of a pro-Hezbollah Shiite fundamentalist republic which has extremely close and long standing ties to Iran which Boy George labelled an `axis of evil’.
Lets’ not forget that while Americans et al are dying and being maimed for the Great NeoKon Lie and for a pro-Hezbollah Shiite fundamentalist republic it will cost Americans $400 billion!!!
All this is Bush’s response to the horrific attacks of 9/11??
9/11 + Iraq + $400 billion = Bush’s Islamic Republic in Iraq
WTF?
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:23 pmIf Perle is Straight Talking, Ask Him the Hard Questions
If Richard Perle is speaking without a political bias, i.e. he is talking “straight” please ask him to what extent oil played a role in the Iraq invasion.
Ask him to ascribe percentages to the motivation to invade.
Saddam poses a threat to Israel______?
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:25 pmSaddam poses a threat to Saudi Arabia______?
A regime change will let US control access to Petro Stan oil and pipelines_______?
Going nutty in Mid East as a response to 911 will serve as a lesson to Iran, et al what response they may expect if they sponsor terrorists______?
A democratic framework for Iraq would refresh the Mid East _____?
Two thirds of the proved reserves in the world are in or proximate to Iraq_______?
Other, describe_________?
Whoa, Just hold the presses, the prominent Exley, has NOT weighed in on this issue!
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:29 pmHe can start with his apologies by donating his fortunes to the lives of the Iraqis and American soldiers families they destroyed. Then he can go on national TV and demand the troops be brought home from the disaster he helped create. Then he can forever hang his head in shame for all the horrible things he helped bring about.
That would be a start at absolution right Daryll??
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:35 pmMany days I blame the Centrist, Corporate Media, and the Judy Millers for the War.
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:36 pmToo late. The Legacy of Failure is in place for these men and cannot be re-written no matter how much they try.
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:40 pmWell, it’s time to quote Van Creveld again:
For misleading the American people, and launching the most foolish war since Emperor Augustus in 9 B.C sent his legions into Germany and lost them, Bush deserves to be impeached and, once he has been removed from office, put on trial along with the rest of the president’s men. If convicted, they’ll have plenty of time to mull over their sins.
November 3rd, 2006 at 6:58 pmMartin van Creveld: Costly Withdrawal Is the Price To Be Paid for a Foolish War
Gutless gobshite, Richard Perle. He climbs a few places up my list of those who should ‘be the last to die for this mistake’.
November 3rd, 2006 at 7:01 pmThese to a-holes encouraged this quagmire, they helped write the plan.
November 3rd, 2006 at 7:14 pmHoly Hypocrties Batman! Richard Perle not happy with failure to persoanlly be able to profiteer from the war! What will he say next? That he voted for Bill Clinton? THat he’ll vote for Hillary in 08? Tune in next week!!!!!
Terry the Turtle….yes bring back the good old days
November 3rd, 2006 at 7:22 pmAs the internal feeding frenzy heats up, the unholy alliance between the neocons, christo-fascist Holy Rollers, the oil whores, and the RNC power csars continues its inevitable disintegration.
Meanwhile, all the chimp can do is sit by, blinking stupidly, and shouting “ook! ook!”
November 3rd, 2006 at 7:32 pm#26 gorn: Doesn’t George Bush just make you laugh? I can’t imagine anyone being a bigger joke of a president except maybe… damn, I can’t think of anyone!
November 3rd, 2006 at 7:40 pmI give Perle zero credit. It is way too late for his ilk to apologize. The only way he can even begin to atone for his sins would be to actively work to bring down the Bush administration, for example by sharing all his knowledge of their lies and crimes.
#9 Nice collection of quotes, James. Thanks for putting that together.
#15 Swordsbane, Francis Fukuyama, a Johns Hopkins professor and prominent Neocon theorist, came out against the Iraq debacle two years ago. To my knowledge he is the first person of the Neocon inner circle to call the invasion a mistake. On the other hand, Fukuyama insists that he is still a Neocon, claiming that the Bush gang strayed from the Neocon philosophy in several ways.
November 3rd, 2006 at 7:50 pm#28–There’s no “apology” here, and no intention of one forthcoming. He is serving as an *apologist* for his beliefs by saying that they are fundamentally sound, but their execution in iraq has been bungled by the administration.
They all need to be tarred and feathered.
November 3rd, 2006 at 8:05 pmYet they did directly lobby, lie, and misrepresent it and therefore they will FOREVER have blood on their hands.
These sacks of shit should rot in Hell.
November 3rd, 2006 at 8:15 pmThey all need to be tarred and feathered.
Comment by Mongo — November 3, 2006 @ 8:05 pm
Just let me know when and where. I would like to join in.
November 3rd, 2006 at 8:31 pmThey are eating their young. They are clawing each other to death in their rush to get through the massive iron gates of history before they clang shut, forever locking them into the barren company of those who squandered their chance at power and earned forever the disrespect of every caring human being. They need to know that those who care to remember them at all with look at what they stood for, look at what they accomplished, with pity, anger, derision, and contempt.
November 3rd, 2006 at 8:33 pmThe term think tank and neocon republican do not belong in the same sentence or paragraph. Pearle, Adleman, and Kristol should be round up and shot for their half-baked ideology that steered the country into the ditch.
November 3rd, 2006 at 8:46 pmI just read the Vanity Fair article in full. The article quotes eight prominent Neocons, and all they are really doing is blaming Bush’s underlings for the execution of the plan. There is little blame for Bush, and absolutely zero atonement by any of them for their own imperialist beliefs. The rationalizations they offer are so lame it is sickening to read.
November 3rd, 2006 at 8:47 pmPearle, Adleman, and Kristol should be round up and shot for their half-baked ideology that steered the country into the ditch.
Comment by David B — November 3, 2006 @ 8:46 pm
Beaten to death, preferably by family members of dead soldiers.
November 3rd, 2006 at 8:48 pmI read this story earlier today and my first and lasting thought was that these guys are such pussies. Gee, Bush screwed up their vision. Do you think, maybe, just maybe, your vision was bullshit?
November 3rd, 2006 at 9:12 pmBeaten to death, preferably by family members of dead soldiers.
Comment by RealScientist — November 3, 2006 @ 8:48 pm
now, now… while i understand the passion and logic, that is way too old testament-y…opposite of progressive/liberal values, anyway…
November 3rd, 2006 at 9:25 pmjust sayin’…
but, really, i do understand the sentiment…
i’ve always been anti-gun and have said many times that it’s a good thing i don’t have one ’cause i’d be liable to use it…
.
Katy, these are soldiers, they have been through basic training. There would be no mercy.
November 3rd, 2006 at 9:44 pmCheney’s boy makes a statement
“America betrays its friends. It sets them up and betrays them. I’d rather be America’s enemy.â€
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003350110
November 3rd, 2006 at 9:46 pmOh poor neocons, imperialism is a messy business and not all plans to occupy a country, subjugate it’s people, go according to plan, even if it’s designed by those clever chickenhawks at PNAC.
November 3rd, 2006 at 9:49 pmNaomi Klein put superbly, if the U.S. military would leave Iraq tomorrow, they still would be under “U.S. ECONOMIC OCCUPATION”.
Katy, these are soldiers, they have been through basic training. There would be no mercy.
Comment by JPark — November 3, 2006 @ 9:44 pm
your comment confuses me… …?…
November 3rd, 2006 at 9:53 pmKaty, beaten to death would be a kindness if the troops got to Bush.
November 3rd, 2006 at 9:57 pmi suppose, jpark… but my comment was a reply to real scientist who said “family members” OF the dead soldiers…
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:25 pmAhh, sorry katy. I misunderstood.
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:30 pmand i am no longer confused! :-)
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:39 pmno problem, jpark…
#45 I guess I am a little more violent than you. If I had a loved one die in Iraq I would rend Bush limb from limb if I had the chance. And I am against the death penalty for practical reasons (not moral, I think child-killers should die horrible, painful deaths). Now that I think of it, that is consistant. Bush has killed many children and it is proven.
November 3rd, 2006 at 10:45 pmWhere is the standard here? If I go into your house and rape, torture, threaten, and kill every one but one who is then a witness to my crime am I allowed to say “I thought it would be much easier to complete the job” as a rational defence and authority to stay the course? I just don’t get it? America what is the standard you are setting? How low and demented can it get?
November 4th, 2006 at 12:02 amSee, as long as the American people believe Saddam killed, raped and tortured more people than we have all is forgiven.
November 4th, 2006 at 12:37 amnow, now… while i understand the passion and logic, that is way too old testament-y…opposite of progressive/liberal values, anyway…
Comment by katy — November 3, 2006 @ 9:25 pm
I was being hyperbolic, katy. Actually I am staunchly opposed to the death penalty (not because there aren’t people who deserve to die, but because in practice it is terrible policy). I am basically a pacifist. I don’t own a gun and never will own a gun, even though I have been a victim of a violent crime. I don’t even like watching sports that simulate violence, like football.
November 4th, 2006 at 12:39 amSee, as long as the American people believe Saddam killed, raped and tortured more people than we have all is forgiven.
Comment by JPark — November 4, 2006 @ 12:37 am
Actually, whereas our leaders used to be able to claim that we are better because we haven’t killed as many Iraqis as Saddam, now it has reached a point where that claim is no longer true. So now our leaders must fall back to the position that we are only slighty worse than Saddam. Close enough! They and their supporters just keep lowering the bar for themsleves.
November 4th, 2006 at 12:43 am#50 Unfortunately it is true. But the neocons don’t make that argument. They don’t give a damn if we are worse. It is a non-issue with them.
November 4th, 2006 at 12:46 am#51 Yeah, the Neocons are pretty much full-blown psychopaths. Especially Cheney. Bush and his inner circle are simply bad people.
November 4th, 2006 at 1:06 am…I don’t even like watching sports that simulate violence, like football.
Comment by RealScientist — November 4, 2006 @ 12:39 am
my kinda guy…
November 4th, 2006 at 1:16 amand i, too, was being (somewhat) hyperbolic…
# 17 craigajohnson is 100% correct. These questions should have been asked before the invasion. It will always be a tragedy that we invaded a country that had been isolated after the 1st Gulf war had been scanned completely by the overflights of the Brits and the US, whose people we had murdered by the sanctions because we fancied they had WMD. Chomsky is right, we are a failed state
November 4th, 2006 at 2:32 amno shit sherlock
November 4th, 2006 at 3:54 amtrying to walk away from their culpability in the Iraq disaster demonstrates the same hubris with which the neocons facilitated using the bush regime to lie us into their ill begotten war.
they can’t walk away from culpability inasmuch as they are at the very heart of culpability.
they are loathsome people who deserve only complete humiliation, unending scorn, and life in prison.
November 4th, 2006 at 7:13 am.
So, when can we expect the full press from Faux News and CNN and Tony Snowjob demanding a groveling prime time apology from this bastards?
November 4th, 2006 at 7:13 amOops!
Well, at least they still have their families to go home to every night. More than can be said to the thousands and thousands of people killed by the war. O well. We’ll do better next time.
November 4th, 2006 at 8:11 amLike rats fleeing a sinking ship. The odd thing is that these were the same who, as recently as six months ago said that Iraq was a success.
November 4th, 2006 at 9:26 pm