National Review’s Victor Davis Hanson
can’t bear to say goodbye:
Don’t Blame Rumsfeld! [Victor Davis Hanson]
I don’t see how removing the Secretary of Defense helps either the country or the Republicans, especially given the pre-election vote of confidence in his full tenure. He was on the right track reforming the military; the removal of the Taliban and the three-week victory over Saddam were inspired.
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55 Responses to “National Review’s Victor Davis Hanson”
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don’t cry for that drunken bastard
November 9th, 2006 at 5:02 pmyou were supposed to win, you didn’t
didn’t keep your promise
don’t know your name now, senility creeps in
I want my goat back
(to evita)
ummmm… let me try to find exactly the right word to express my reaction to mr. hanson… ummmmm… well, particularly now that bolton’s nomination, which keeps mysteriously arising from the dead, has been sent back to the morgue YET AGAIN, i’m feeling in a rather charitable and expansive mood… so, back to that word again… how about this…?
HORSEFEATHERS…!!
And, yes, I DO take it personally
November 9th, 2006 at 5:10 pmPre-election vote of confidence… is he referring to Bush’s vote of confidence? Didn’t this fool, Victor David Hansen, hear the vote of non-confidence from the voters on Tuesday? He must have his head buried in the sand because the vote on Tuesday was loud and clear… change the course in Iraq.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:13 pmHow about the fact that only fanactical zealots are backing these people anymore. People that used to back these bastards are claiming they were against Bush all along.
So, it will be easy to round up the traitors. Anybody who still thinks that the republicans did a “heckofajob”
November 9th, 2006 at 5:17 pmObviously he doesn’t see much of what’s right in front of him. I guess that’s typical in the dark World of Denial. (Hmm, WMD = World of Mass Denial)
November 9th, 2006 at 5:19 pmLook, he prefaced that asinine statement with “I don’t see how” which is probably true in his case.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:21 pmThe Pre-war plan may have been inspired, but the post war plan was lacking. The biggest mistake made, has been the inability to make Iraq into a stable democracy as promised.
Sure it was a known mistake, sure they knew it wouldn’t work, and were warned it wouldn’t work. Rumsfeld is as responible for the mess, the death, and the dollars spent as Bush. To point to the start of this and say “well he did such and such” is pure sh*t. It is like pointing to the Lincoln’s achievements of keeping the Union together, and ending the practice of slavery and saying the modern republican party is responsible.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:21 pmWorld of Mass Denial. LOL good one PLC.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:22 pmthe removal of the Taliban and the three-week victory over Saddam were inspired.
Meaning that he hasn’t done anything worth a damned in three years.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:23 pm.
Wholly crap my comment came up IMMEDIATELY for the first time in weeks.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:23 pmThree weeks; three years — what’s the difference?
November 9th, 2006 at 5:28 pm“He was on the right track reforming the military; the removal of the Taliban and the three-week victory over Saddam were inspired.”
You mean insipid.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:29 pmYikes
Thank you. Sometimes the humor is just too easily found with the neocons.
I’ve had trouble with the comment sections loading on my computer today. Has it been TP or might I have a problem on my end?
November 9th, 2006 at 5:29 pmWhich of course was escalated into a larger conflict,, and a draft, that America ended up cutting and running from killing some 60,000 troops in the process.
Mr Hanson likes to cherry pick his history. But really he could not have picked a worse war [police action] to compare to Iraq and the current quagmire to make the case FOR Rumsfelds departure.
Great Job Hanson!! Prove our points!
November 9th, 2006 at 5:30 pmWhiny Victor creates his own reality.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:32 pm-off topic
BAGHDAD, Iraq - A stunning new death count emerged Thursday, as Iraq’s health minister estimated at least 150,000 civilians have been killed in the war — about three times previously accepted estimates. AP News
No more lies, spin from the GOP.
Bout Goddamn time.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:34 pmI would argue that NOTHING Rumsfeld did went right. I would love to have that argument with Hanson - it would be an easy one to win, except for the fact he obviously has his head buried in the sand.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:34 pmVDH is, im sorry, a retard. reforming the military? yea sort of, if by ‘reform’ you mean ‘destroy’. 3-week victory? defeat of the taliban? do you read the friggin paper? or is every form of print and tv media too liberal. he presumably gathers unbiased news, uh, by osmosis, or something.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:36 pmRe: #7 The Pre-war plan may have been inspired…
I disagree with Victor on that. We didn’t fight a true war in Iraq. Saddam’s troops in large part just changed into civilian clothes and gave up the fight. (Then we turned around and laid them all off, making them really pissed off with no jobs–instant insurgents.) On the other hand, if it weren’t for some desparate and courageous US tank charges through downtown Baghdad (that killed many innocent civilians, by the way), things may have have gone much, much worse. The race to Baghdad was nearly disastrous, with ammunition, supplies and fuel close to running out. As has been said many times, we invaded Iraq simply because we could, because it there was no real opposition. But we did it on such a thin margin that it almost didn’t work even still. I don’t call that inspired; I call it horrific, unnecessary risk taking.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:38 pmIt was brilliant - brilliant how Bush held back firing Rumsfeld before the election. If he had let him go, many voters would see that as a sign that Bush was serious in responding to the negative polls, and maybe serious about changing course in Iraq.
Instead, he lied to the public about keeping Rumsfeld as BFF, and damaged any hopes for the GOP to stay in power. THEN, the day after the election, he fires him anyway.
Brilliant. Just Briiliant.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:39 pmNice one KG, I have seen your point show up very few times. Its a good one.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:47 pmWe supported the Taliban. Peoples ignorance of our historical manipulation of the power players and weapons in Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan is appalling. We build them up and then fight them.What a joke Remember Rummy skaking hands with Saddam in 1983 and the new nominee Gates basically orchestrated Osamas rise to influence.beginning at the end of the 1970’s.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:48 pmIt will be much easier to prosecute Rummy for war crimes once he is out of office. Same is true of Cheney and Bush.
Thursday, November 9th, 2006
November 9th, 2006 at 5:48 pmWar Crimes Suit Prepared against Rumsfeld
http://www.democracynow.org/ article.pl?sid=06/ 11/ 09/ 1444246
I’m sorry, Mr Hanson, but you are living in a fantasy land. Pure and simple. Seek help.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:54 pmHe was on the right track reforming the military;
-who are still lacking the proper equiptment and training necessary for the job, stretched thin… thinner than in decades with equally low or lower levels of morale.
the removal of the Taliban
-who are back on the rise to power because of the cut and run strategy he allowed for Afghanistan
and the three-week victory over Saddam were inspired.
-at last count, its been closer to 3 years and still not looking like much of a “victory”
Anything else you want to get wrong, there Vic?
November 9th, 2006 at 5:55 pmDoes David Hanson live in a cave?
November 9th, 2006 at 6:04 pmthe ACLU can’t say goodbye either:
one hopes that when pelosi finally takes her pledge of office, she is reminded that she ought to uphold the constitution, and begin the war-crimes trial against rumsfeld for violation of 18 USC 1441.
November 9th, 2006 at 6:04 pmAh, but Vic did get something right though:
“ I don’t see how the Reagan-Bush era 1980s and early 1990s policies in the Middle East—selling arms to Iran, putting troops in Lebanon and running when they were hit, cynically playing off Iran against Iraq, selling weapons to any thug in the Middle East, giving a blank check to the House of Saud, letting the Shiites and Kurds be massacred in February-March 1991—were anything other than precursors to the events of 9/11”
Except, of course, Rumsfeld was a part of some of those too, but at least its refreshing to hear that someone on “their side” can admit that the terrorist don’t just “hate us for our freedom”.
Baby steps.
November 9th, 2006 at 6:08 pmThing about these National Review hacks and the rest of the rightwing dittohead culture is that they do what they’re told, they believe what they’re told, they have trouble thinking for themselves. When reality (and the democratic process) comes crashing down upon them, the cognitive dissonance kicks into overdrive.
Vistor Davis Hanson believes that the GWOT is more than a propaganda tool wielded by the GOP to impose their new world order on the rest of us. He’s wrong. Wrong about Rumsfeld, who has been the architect of not just Iraq but the wreckage that has become our armed forces and our foreign policy. The Army, Navy and Marine Core didn’t lightly join forces to call for Rummy’s ouster. This was damned mutiny.
I’m so very thankful and relieved that despite the GOP’s underhanded efforts in screwing with the vote, the people did what had to be done and they overwhelmed the foul play. I hope we push harder now than ever to ensure that strong legislation is passed to fix the voting process, vigorously pursue alternative sources of energy, clean up K street, stop the corporate welfare and most importantly get our men and women out of Iraq. Now!
Peace all, and a hearty congrats for all your passion and energy.
Keep pushing, the fight has just begun.
November 9th, 2006 at 6:11 pmPLC, I’ve been having lots of trouble with TP today, every time I clicked to refresh the comments, or to go into the comments in a thread, I got some error saying, I think, ‘memory full at line 126.’
I’m leaving now anyway. Man, I can’t wait until Wayne and I get internet service at home!
Goodnight!
November 9th, 2006 at 6:13 pm“He was on the right track reforming the military; the removal of the Taliban and the three-week victory over Saddam were inspired.â€
So the removal of the Taliban…in one of the poorest , most landmined, army-less countries: Afghanistan.
Victory over Saddam: the bombing of a country that has been bombed by years, without airports, without jet-fighters, with some rusty Scuds, which offered almost no military resistance against US army but nonetheless couldnt seize the country.
Wow. Thats a military mastermind. He must think he is Zhukov.
November 9th, 2006 at 6:24 pmand go directly to the 1972-5 Vietnamization strategy of training troops, providing aid, and using air power.–Hanson
I guess that went really well…for vietnamese covered in napalm.
November 9th, 2006 at 6:29 pmIf even Bob Woodward can see Rumsfeld as imcompetent, dysfunctional, and out of touch with reality, it says a lot. And what makes Hanson think that he knows better than the Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force Times, who all called for Rummy’s resignation?
Scores of articles and at least a half a dozen books have said that with few exceptions, the military brass hates Rumsfeld and feel that he is destroying the Army. Talk about being in a state of denial, it sounds like Hanson’s right up there with Rumsfeld.
November 9th, 2006 at 6:46 pmIt won’t but its a good first step out of many to go.
November 9th, 2006 at 6:48 pmTo this Victor, go the spoils, the rotten garbage that is this administration.
November 9th, 2006 at 6:58 pmRummy was Bush’s sacrificial lamb…but little does W know that the people know who the real culprit actually is…He threw him to the dogs and I wonder who will be next as King W cuts a swath through his own??
November 9th, 2006 at 6:58 pmRummy’s been a “limp duck” for a very long time…..in case no one has taken notice.
November 9th, 2006 at 6:59 pmcorrect, above. His resignation does nothing to exonerate him for war crimes and a trial.
November 9th, 2006 at 7:00 pmAs defense secretary I could have temporarily defeated the Taliban and removed Saddam. How is being at the head of the most powerful military machine in world history and knocking off two unmatched militaries in any way inspiring?
November 9th, 2006 at 7:05 pmhttp://www.bradblog.com has the latest info on Rummy’s replacement….and it doesn’t look good at all.
November 9th, 2006 at 7:33 pmYeah! “A three week victory over Saddam” plus… three years of blood and baby body parts on the streets of Iraq.
November 9th, 2006 at 8:07 pmHanson need not worry - many others will take the fall in addition to Rummy.
November 9th, 2006 at 8:23 pmremoving rumsfeld doesn’t help “either the country or the Republicans”. its not meant to. Its a delaying tactic meant to allow chimpy to finish his term without changing his policy in Iraq, i.e., its smoke and mirrors meant to look like he’s doing something so he can really do nothing. Odd that they were so F’ing stupid to wait until after the election to do it. They must of believed their own hype that they were going to win the midterms.
Short of frog-marching rumsfeld out of office, its the next best thing to force him out in disgrace. but its unsatisfying inasmuch as he deserves so much worse.
November 9th, 2006 at 8:45 pm.
the removal of the Taliban and the three-week victory over Saddam were inspired.
Bragging about a victory over Hussein’s sorry excuse of a third rate army and the Taliban ragtag militia, is like boasting about beating up a child.
What will they brag about next? “Pre-empting” the mighty Samoan threat?
The Bush cultists never get tired of lowering the bar to make this adminsitration look good.
November 9th, 2006 at 9:20 pmThe removal of VDH, on the other hand, would be a distinct service to the country.
November 9th, 2006 at 10:32 pmThree-week victory over Saddam?? Listen, either you fight only Saddam Hoessein, evil dictator, or you fight his entire team of bad guys. The entire team of bad guys is still up in arms in Baghdad and if you need three weeks to achieve victory against ONE MAN, you need a new military or NEW MILITARY STRATEGISTS! You know, strategists that have the sensibility to see that military actions change nothing but the innocent death toll? Go have your own innocent sons and daughters killed in combat over nothing, mkay?
November 10th, 2006 at 3:04 amSo Bush waited a day, gave us Rummy’s head (while lying about it) and now wants to make nice-nice and be all bipartisan reach- around oops- meant reach across the aisle. If anyone thinks that the shrub will do ANYTHING that furthers things that really help anyone except the rich, I’m sure bush2 and kkkarl will show them how it really works.
November 10th, 2006 at 3:51 amThe significance of his “removal of the Taliban” is very questionable, since they seem to return with a vengeance and are still highly active. And any dumbass could have taked down Saddam. The problem is that Iraq is now spiraling completely out of controll, becomming a much more dangerous breeding ground for future terrorists than it were before. The international society is rejecting US policies and the number of terrorist attacks around the world is skyrocketing, more or less.
Yeah, good job Rummy. How will we manage without you?
November 10th, 2006 at 4:15 amVictor Davis Hanson has never worn a military uniform and has never been to Iraq. So, consider the source. ’nuff said.
November 10th, 2006 at 6:37 amWhat is this man smoking? Under Rumsfeld’s watch, the US military was infilitrared with neo-Nazis and criminals.
November 10th, 2006 at 8:17 am“Does Victor Hanson live in a cave?” Worse, he lives in Fresno. Got a whole passel of military age spawn, think any of them are serving in Iraq?
November 10th, 2006 at 9:30 amIf the three-week victory over Saddam was inspired, the ensuing three year and counting sectarian free-for-all is… what, exactly???
November 11th, 2006 at 3:44 amLets see the Torture Liar and Thief Dumsfeld should be left in Office this first class Pike that has NO respect for the Military or those that serve or their families.
November 11th, 2006 at 9:18 pmThen lets cry for the Creep bolton, here is a Piece of FECES that no matter how many times you flush it will not go away. His only job was to discredit the UN and get America out.
Now if we can get cheney Impeached what a beautiful take over this would be.
Well, first off, Victor Davis Hanson is not ‘right wing’ despite the fact that most liberals will call anyone that name - when he simply happens to express a small subset of beliefs or advance reasoning - that happens to disagree with theirs.
It must be galling however, to most of the respondees- and the triteness of these responses prove it - to have a guy actually provide a fairly cogent, measured and rational argument in favor of the action in Iraq. You can make one-line put-downs - but can anyone disagree with the fact that an alternative to jihadism and the current gulf-shiekdoms, like something close to a democracy - would be a good thing? I didn’t think so.
So we get the “I-told-you-so’s”…the usual littany of smug, sanctimonious cliches about Victor Hanson as being ‘out to lunch’ while other trolls make the odious and dangerous claim that reasoned debate about the function of the U.S. military should not be made by anyone who HASN’T worn a UNIFORM. Phenomenal.
And Sad.
So much for using the U.S. military for a proactive force for promoting democracy. After all it might entail sacrifices.
Americans rather live by the fickleness of the 24/7 news cycle rather than acknowledge and appreciate that a worthy cause - no matter how poorly “sold” to the electorate - might be preferable to the evergrowing trend of extremist Medieval thugs gaining more and more leverage in the world by the day. Its a trend that the jihadists see as a victory within sight - and sadly that victory is now brought ever nearer with the active help now - of the American middle and left. Good work, idealists.
As a democrat I see these as dark times.
November 21st, 2006 at 7:57 pmJessie
Cool post. 100% great content everytime. Thanks for sharing.
April 9th, 2008 at 1:36 am