Top Intel Analyst Says Surge Is Failing, Kristol Counters It’s Going ‘Better Than Anyone Expected’
Top Intel Analyst Says Surge Is Failing, Kristol Counters It’s Going ‘Better Than Anyone Expected’
Yesterday, Thomas Fingar, the top intelligence analyst in the Office of the National Intelligence Director, stated that “the most optimistic” assessment of the increase in troop numbers in Iraq is that it has not had a “significant” effect in reducing the violence:
The surge that began a few months ago is having an effect, it has not yet had a sufficient effect on the violence, in my judgment, to move the country to a place that the serious obstacles to reconciliation can be overcome.
The most optimistic projection is that it will be difficult and time-consuming to bridge the political gulf when violence levels are reduced, and they have not yet been reduced significantly.
This morning on Fox and Friends, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol ignored the intelligence assessment, instead offering his unfounded view that the “military situation is better than anyone expected”:
The truth is if you look concretely on the ground in Iraq, the military situation is better than anyone expected. Better than David Petraeus expected. Better than those of us here at home who supported the surge expected six months ago. … And we’re going to win the war. I think we’re going to win this war if we just don’t lose our nerve here at home.
Watch a compilation:
Kristol concluded that if Bush can hold off Congress, “I think Gen. David Petraeus could go down in American history with an amazing performance. … This could be a Ulysses S. Grant situation where Bush finally found the right general.”
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Glowing white…
July 12th, 2007 at 10:57 amI’m listening to Bush’s briefing. I do believe that he just said that Congress’s only role in the war is to fund the war. That’s it–he’ll be glad to listen to their opinions, but all they can do is fund. It was wierd.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:00 amDelusional.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:00 amBecause of course, Kristol has the real inside scoop on what’s going on in Iraq, because all those intel analysts are biased partisan hacks for the defeatist left.
Or….you know, Kristol could just be bat**** insane and ignoring reality like these conservative war peddlers are wont to do.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:00 amIs Kristol grooming himself to take Rupert Murdoch’s job??
They are both LUNATICS!
July 12th, 2007 at 11:03 amsecond on “delusional”
he’s almost become a parody of himself.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:03 amKristol is disgusting. He goes on national television and flat-out lies, because he knows the Fox Sheep won’t bother to find out for themselves.
Pathetic.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:04 amof course it’s failing, but that’s just what happens every time this government tries to force itself on other people….
Waging war for peace? I hope people realize the absurdity of this by now. You don’t save people by taking innocent lives and you don’t bring peace to a people by waging war on their cities and towns.
It just doesn’t work and never does.
Some reading on this issue:
“Can America Bring Peace to the World?”
July 12th, 2007 at 11:05 amhttp://www.populistamerica.com/can_america_bring_peace_to_the_world
Kristol was making lightly more rational noises a week or so ago, I guess they must have yanked his chain and told him to spew the party line.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:05 amHi Zoo! How are you?
Kristol is so full of it, we should just call him “Baghdad Bill” from now on.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:08 amIs there any reason to think Kristol has a realistic understanding of the situation in Iraq?
Hasn’t that screecher been wrong about… well, everything?
July 12th, 2007 at 11:09 amthe “military situation is better than anyone expected 
just look at how much money me and my friends have made off of this latest “surge!” Congress not only fully funded the surge, but threw in some extra bucks to boot!!
July 12th, 2007 at 11:10 am(exits laughing…all the way to the bank. In the background: 600 flag-draped coffins.)
Hi Zoo! How are you?
Comment by SKdeA
Hey there, long time no see. :)
July 12th, 2007 at 11:11 amNot as amazing as your performance Kristol. That was one of the most extraordinary pieces of fiction ever created. And there’s stiff competition in that field from your war-mongering compatriots.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:11 amCan someone explain why a columnist would have access to information that would make his/her comments reliable?
Hell, we can’t even rely on CIA intelligence anymore now that Tenet and Cheney have brought the CIA’s veracity into question.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:12 amHasn’t that screecher been wrong about… well, everything?
Comment by Arthur C.
He was sort of right about Libby’s commutation — he’d predicted a full pardon.
So yeah, wrong about nearly everything. :)
July 12th, 2007 at 11:13 amBill Kristol: “And if we all clap really loud Al Qaeda will disappear into a gapping chasm, never to be heard from again.”
Kristol is suffering from Lieberman’s syndrome. I causes your hands to become stuck to your ears as you shut repeatedly, “La la la la la la – I can’t hear you – la la la la la.”
July 12th, 2007 at 11:13 amBilly you are a CRETIN
July 12th, 2007 at 11:13 amI think I finally get this idiot. He’s got nothing left: his ideology is bankrupt; his “vision” is discredited; his political allies have proven equal parts incompetent and corrupt. All he’s got now is his manufactured reality, and that remains the lone fixed point for his identity. He will therefore hold on to that regardless of what’s actually happening, because if he doesn’t, he’ll come completely unhinged.
I used to revile him; now I just pity him. Either way, he should no longer be granted a public pulpit for his nonsense. He is now effectively shouting at the rain.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:15 am“better than anyone expected”
I guess they didn’t expect much.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:15 amhe knows the Fox Sheep won’t bother to find out for themselves.
Comment by Zooey
Hey! No fair. I’m still part sheep. lol
btw How was the movie? Worth the hype?
off-topic – I presented the Webb amendment idea to my wife last night…she thought it should just be cmmon sense that Soldiers receive the same time off as deployed….then I explained what happened yesterday. She was none too pleased.
personal note-Had another trip to the ER last night, this time for my son. He had seizures, but was fine once he got to the ER. He’s ok now.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:16 amNow you know why they called him Dan Quayle’s brain.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:16 am“I think we’re going to win this war if we just don’t lose our nerve here at home.”
Kristol has a lot of nerve alright! But not enough to actually be over there going house to house or searching for IED’s!
July 12th, 2007 at 11:16 am(Yo Zooey; how was the movie?)
July 12th, 2007 at 11:17 amLater that day, Bill Kristol received a check for $25,000 from the “Fund to Make Bush Look Competent.”
July 12th, 2007 at 11:17 am“Top Intel Analyst Says Surge Is Failing, Kristol Counters It’s Going ‘Better Than Anyone Expected’”
I have no problem with the statement so long as we understand what the meaning of “everyone” is and what our expectations are. By definition “everyone” is all inclusive to each individual. This means that all the commenters here, myself included, are part and parcel of Kristol’s “everyone” which may be true. The surge is going better than I expected. I expected the surge to bring about the impeachment of King George the Dumb within six weeks. It has been six months so, in terms of Kristol’s expectations, the surge is doing better than I, read everyone, expected.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:18 amSuch a sad, deluded neocon SCUM.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:19 amHe even looks pathetic and delusional-
he’s been WRONG about everything.
Why, oh why, are we still seeing this guy’s pasty face?
July 12th, 2007 at 11:20 amWay to go Kristol. You’ll prove those libs that you’re right yet again.
Kristol is never wrong. Stupid libs.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:22 amKristol is nobody as far as I’m concerned. Whether this country stays in Iraq or not is not up to him. I’m sure this idiot was never in the military and for him to continue to ignore the casualties is appalling.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:22 amI strongly recommend that progressives boycott Fox News. I realize the temptation to watch insanity in real time is strong, but please resist. The only way to defeat Fox is not to watch it. Don’t help pad their ratings.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:22 amSen. Moynihan’s phone number was now found on the DC Madam’s list.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:22 amQuite apart from Kristol’s pandering, the truth is coming out. GDumbya outlined the four “phases†of the war (according to him) in his presser this morning. Here is the truth that a majority of Americans and a substantial number of Republicans now understand:
phase 1 — initiate an avoidable invasion
phase 2 — screw up occupation of the country
phase 3 — set up a weak puppet government incapable of resolving political problems
phase 4 — throw good money after bad and pile up more bodies in vain pursuit of an unnecessary intervention
The result of all this continues to be squandered resources, lives, diplomatic leverage and national reputation.
Somebody needs to start phase 5 — remove GDumbya and Darth Cheney from office and put the adults in charge.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:23 am“This could be a Ulysses S. Grant situation…”
Is that Grant the drunkard or Grant the anti-Semite?
July 12th, 2007 at 11:24 amDid you ever notice how often GDumbya says things like “I firmly believe”, “I fully understand” and “it’s hard work”?
Methinks he doth protest too much.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:25 amSen. Moynihan’s phone number was now found on the DC Madam’s list.
Comment by Joe Larry — July 12, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Let’s dig him up and get some answers!
July 12th, 2007 at 11:26 amWorse, to Bush “I firmly believe†= “I fully understand.†He’s a socipathic narcissist, incapable of honest self-examination.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:28 amWay to go Kristol. You’ll prove those libs that you’re right yet again.
Kristol is never wrong. Stupid libs.
Comment by Patrick1 — July 12, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Must be his Kristol balls huh? Mind showing me all the supporting evidence for Kristol being anything other than a douche bag war monger?
July 12th, 2007 at 11:28 amAnywhere else, if someone had Kristol’s track record of being consistently wrong, they would have been fired a long time ago.
That says a lot about Fox – where being consistently wrong is perfectly acceptable as long as you repeat the approved talking points.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:29 amHey! No fair. I’m still part sheep. lol
Yeah, but you’re here. How’s the head? :)
btw How was the movie? Worth the hype?
I enjoyed it. I thought they captured the essence of the book, without it being 6 hours long. There several spots where the audience laughed out loud — always a plus.
off-topic – I presented the Webb amendment idea to my wife last night…she thought it should just be cmmon sense that Soldiers receive the same time off as deployed….then I explained what happened yesterday. She was none too pleased.
I imagine she wouldn’t be pleased. The King would have the troops — and her husband — ground into dust. It’s sick.
personal note-Had another trip to the ER last night, this time for my son. He had seizures, but was fine once he got to the ER. He’s ok now.
Comment by SGT Higgins
Yikes. Is that something that’s happened before? Glad he’s ok — cute little guy.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:31 am(Yo Zooey; how was the movie?)
Comment by Arthur C.
See my answer to Sarge at #38. :)
July 12th, 2007 at 11:32 amYou think the Ullises S. Grant comment will turn off some of the southern Trolls?
July 12th, 2007 at 11:34 amSen. Moynihan’s phone number was now found on the DC Madam’s list.
Comment by Joe Larry — July 12, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Hey, let’s see some backup for that statement. M’kay?
Gotta shovel?
July 12th, 2007 at 11:34 amHe’s got a perfectly logical reason for doing this. He knows that he’s lying, but he’s setting up the meme, as many of his cohorts are doing, that we, progressives, liberals, and Democrats, particularly the latter, caused the U.S. to lose this war. When you look at it this way, much of what you read in rightwing blogs, see on Fox, and hear from Congressional Republicans, falls right into place. They did this on the Vietnam War; they’re going to do it on Iraq. It wasn’t true of Vietnam, it isn’t true of Iraq, but it won’t stop them from doing their damnedest to make this meme stick.
So the real question becomes, not just how do we show Kristol up as a liar, but how do we nip this meme in the bud before it becomes “conventional wisdom” from our all-too-compliant news media?
July 12th, 2007 at 11:35 amI think we’re going to win this war if —–IF? –that’s friggin’ loser-tallk.
if we just don’t lose our nerve here at home. — Way to go! Leave yourself an out. So IF we lose, there’sa a good reason, there can now be a scapegoat for the LOSS…blame that damned fickle American Public.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:35 amHe can’t say that it’s doing better than anyone expected; however, he can say it’s doing better than he expected, or better than some people expected.
Honestly, it is doing better than I expected. I didn’t expect to see the slight drop-off in deaths in the Jan – March 2007 time period. Unfortunately, for the rest of the surge, my expectations were pretty close to met (303 coalition fatalities between Oct – Dec 2006, before the surge, and 356 between Apr – June, well into the surge) – making this the last three months particularly deadly.
Still though, I don’t think this is what he’s getting at. By no measure is the surge doing well. Seriously, I’d wager that I can provide 10 measures for which the surge is failing for every 1 measure anyone can find that shows that the surge is working…
And finally, what is meant by the surge working/succeeding? What is the vision in pro-surge minds that when they see that on the ground, they can say ‘hey, it worked.’ Because I just don’t see it.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:35 amSen. Moynihan’s phone number was now found on the DC Madam’s list.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:36 amComment by Joe Larry — July 12, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Why doesn’t anyone call him on this bs. I understand that Fox will never, but he shows up on other nets. Just ask him when he says this sort of crap, “what intelligence do you have access to that would tell you these things?” “when was the last time you made a tour of Iraq to gather a first hand account?”. When he can’t answer, tell him to stfu.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:37 amwhen has this armchair chickenhawk been right? This sad excuse for a man is nothing more than the gossip spreader of the neocons blurred vision.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:37 amThomas Fingar didn’t say the surge “is failing”. Let’s try to be honest TP.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:38 amAnd Kristol has been on the ground in Iraq exactly how many times?
Yet another person who is all for war … probably because he’s too much of a coward to actually fight it.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:39 amRead the milblogs for the real deal people.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:42 amSURRENDERA MONKISTAS!
July 12th, 2007 at 11:43 amHe’s got a perfectly logical reason for doing this. He knows that he’s lying, but he’s setting up the meme, as many of his cohorts are doing, that we, progressives, liberals, and Democrats, particularly the latter, caused the U.S. to lose this war. comment by PaulB
This is working on the contention that they will be forced to leave Iraq. Then they can blame failure of us and “the liberal media”.
That’s fine, but Bush tells you he’s never going to leave. And all serious Republican (and some Dems) candidates vow to keep US Troops there.
Bush told us today “he thinks that what the American People REALLY want is to succeed”.
I think their strategy is to keep lying about the progress. Anybody that tells the truth (White House Pres Corp) is a defeatist.
You combine what was said here with the fact that they have reduced the access the press has to Iraq and the fact that Fox News isn’t showing bad news in Iraq “as a stated policy” and I can’t see any other alternative but that they will keep us there until they surpress Iraqi resistance to the occupation.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:43 amKristol would lighten up the atmosphere of the Führerbunker with his broad smile.
“And we’re going to win the war. I think we’re going to win this war if we just don’t lose our nerve here … for a few more days.”
“Here’s some guy, some 14-year-old kid with an AK47, decides he’s going to start shooting at this convoy. It was the most obscene thing you’ve ever seen. Every person got out and opened fire on this kid. Using the biggest weapons we could find, we ripped him to shreds…”
Sergeant Patrick Campbell, 29, of Camarillo, California, 256th Infantry Brigade. In Abu Gharth for 11 months beginning November 2004
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article2758829.ece
July 12th, 2007 at 11:43 amSen. Moynihan’s phone number was now found on the DC Madam’s list.
Comment by Joe Larry — July 12, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Hey, let’s see some backup for that statement. M’kay?
Gotta shovel?
Comment by Zooey
So, what, they retired his phone number when he died in 2003? Or is it possible that someone else has that phone number now?
July 12th, 2007 at 11:43 amWhat stops people from just laughing in Kristol’s face when he talks this kind of sh!t? Oh, wait. It’s on FauxNews.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:44 amHow’s the head? :) — Swelling’s almost entirely gone. Although the ego may be to blame at this point. ;)
I thought they captured the essence of the book, — That’ll be important to my wife, too.
I imagine she wouldn’t be pleased. The King would have the troops — and her husband — ground into dust. It’s sick. — Right now I have an opportunity to get reassigned here to DC, but we hate it here. The only upside is the lack of deployment…..We’re actually thinking it’s worth moving with the likelihood of not being deployed in the current political landscape. I mean, I have to believe that the troops will start being brought back by early next year.
Yikes. Is that something that’s happened before? — Oh man, yeah. Used to have 50 a day! New med’s have made a big difference. Down to roughly zero. He just had a recent weight gain, so the med’s just needed to be readjusted. It was scary bc we can usually treat the first one and stop them, last night he went right into a second one, worse than the first.
Glad he’s ok — cute little guy. — Thank you. He really is awesome. By the time we went home he was laughing and giggling…at 2:30 in the morning! —kid drives me nuts sometimes. =)
Comment by Zooey
July 12th, 2007 at 11:45 amS
U
R
R
E
N
D O N K E Y S!
E
R
July 12th, 2007 at 11:45 amThe truth is if you look concretely on the ground in Iraq, the military situation is better than anyone expected.
And Kristol has been on the ground in Iraq exactly how many times?
Comment by MD
MD,
July 12th, 2007 at 11:47 amwith all due respect, I think you may have missed the most telling point here. Which is: When in Iraq, keep your head down, stare at the ground and hey! Everything really DOES look ok.
Surrender to who? Logic? Wisdom?
July 12th, 2007 at 11:48 am(S) / ((U)) : [R] + {R} *!E! * “D” :E: -R-
Monkeys
July 12th, 2007 at 11:50 amMD,
with all due respect, I think you may have missed the most telling point here. Which is: When in Iraq, keep your head down, stare at the ground and hey! Everything really DOES look ok.
Comment by SGT Higgins
I think you miss the point. Look at one patch of ground. That one right there next to the shrub. No, that one! The one without the blood one it! Yes, that one!
July 12th, 2007 at 11:50 am(S) / ((U)) : [R] + {R} *!E! ^N^ “D†:E: -R-
Monkistas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 12th, 2007 at 11:52 amWilliam Kristol has yet to be correct on a single thing he has said or predicted regarding the war in Iraqnam. Why should anyone give him a shred of credibility now?
July 12th, 2007 at 11:53 amYes, that one!
Comment by willyloman
Wow! hey you’re right! It really DOES look like the surge is working.
Wait…….it stopped working there….(finding another spot of ground) ……(still looking)……Quick, look at that spot….damn! you just missed it.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:55 am(S) / ((U)) : [R] + {R} *!E! ^N^ “D†:E: -R-
Monkistas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by CT_V1 — July 12, 2007 @ 11:52 am
Yawn…
July 12th, 2007 at 11:55 amWe’re actually thinking it’s worth moving with the likelihood of not being deployed in the current political landscape. I mean, I have to believe that the troops will start being brought back by early next year.
I hope you’re right — or that it starts sooner.
It was scary bc we can usually treat the first one and stop them, last night he went right into a second one, worse than the first.
It must be a constant balancing act. You want him to grow, of course, but then the meds need to be adjusted. My son had one seizure, but it was associated with a high fever. That was scary enough.
Thank you. He really is awesome. By the time we went home he was laughing and giggling…at 2:30 in the morning! —kid drives me nuts sometimes. =)
Comment by SGT Higgins
Ya big old softy. :)
July 12th, 2007 at 11:58 amI think you miss the point. Look at one patch of ground. That one right there next to the shrub. No, that one! The one without the blood one it! Yes, that one!
Comment by willyloman
Wait…….it stopped working there….(finding another spot of ground) ……(still looking)……Quick, look at that spot….damn! you just missed it.
Comment by SGT Higgins
You guys are hilarious…
July 12th, 2007 at 11:59 amAnd prosperity is just around the corner! No, wait — that was Hoover.
I’m waiting for an official announcement that with the surge, we have “turned the corner”. Right now, we have “turned the corner” so many times that we must look like an Escher drawing. Nobody’s buying it anymore — it’s like Charlie Brown, Lucy, and the football.
SGT Higgins — I’m glad your son is OK. That must have been scary.
July 12th, 2007 at 12:02 pmMy son had one seizure, but it was associated with a high fever. That was scary enough. — Yeah, I hate ‘em…seizures, that is, not kids.
Ya big old softy. :) — when it comes to kids, I am a softy.
Comment by Zooey
SGT Higgins — I’m glad your son is OK. That must have been scary.
Comment by missmolly —Thank you, it was scary, seemed to last forever at the time, but it really was over pretty quick.
July 12th, 2007 at 12:08 pmWait…….it stopped working there….(finding another spot of ground) ……(still looking)……Quick, look at that spot….damn! you just missed it.
Comment by SGT Higgins
Look. Next time take a picture of it! You know we can’t keep it secure! take a picture…Hey, over there! Go look…oh, wait, it’s got an arm on it.
July 12th, 2007 at 12:09 pmMr. Kristol: it’s going better than expected? Oh, really?
Well let me ask you this: if we didn’t expect it to go as “well” as it’s been going, why in the hell did we do it in the first place? It’s failing miserably, and your expectations were even less — so, why did we embark on this latest folly?
Answer: to run out Bush’s clock so you can blame the disaster that will eventually ensue on Democrats once they take power.
The problem with these elitist Ivy-League preppy snoots like Kristol is they look down their nose at everyone assuming they’re stupid. We might be stupid (for putting up with this nonsense as long as we have) but we’re not THAT stupid.
July 12th, 2007 at 12:10 pmFor the Bush administration, the marketing of the “surge” in Iraq more and more looks like an ad for a Hollywood flop. In this case, the box office numbers are in and the film is a dismal failure. And yet a small but reliable group of friendly critics continues to offer rave reviews for “Iraq: The Surge.”
For the details, see:
July 12th, 2007 at 12:10 pm“Iraq Surge Wins Rave Reviews.”
Comment by willyloman — July 12, 2007 @ 12:09 pm
(Yelling): Hey willie? Over here, I found a “military situation better than anyone expected”………(mumbling): nevermind, I blinked.
OR:
(Yelling): Hey willie? Over here, I found a “military situation better than anyone expected”………Damn! RUN!!! Wrong Military! They were wearing our armor, I just thought…….whew! That was close!
July 12th, 2007 at 12:13 pmFrom MSN:
Iraq bank heist nets thieves nearly $300 million
Employees arrive to find doors open, cash gone; guards are suspected
Great, now we’ll never get outta there.
Cheney: “Nobody leaves until I GET MY MONEY!!”
July 12th, 2007 at 12:16 pmPooey……….
July 12th, 2007 at 12:17 pmWell let me ask you this: if we didn’t expect it to go as “well†as it’s been going, why in the hell did we do it in the first place? It’s failing miserably, and your expectations were even less — so, why did we embark on this latest folly?
Comment by trippin
There you go. If the current status of combat in Iraq is “better than expected” how truly bad did they really think it would be?
The truth, though, is that (as always) he’s lying through his teeth. Since he’s part of the elite and we’re not, none of our opinions or demands are worthy of notice. “Blah blah blah, you stupid little proles.”
July 12th, 2007 at 12:18 pmComment by SGT Higgins
maybe we have to redefine the term “military situation”? Maybe military situation on the ground refers to the PX and the Officers Club. Lets go investigate the Officers Club and “evaluate” the supply of single malts. How the Scotch goes, so goes the troops.
July 12th, 2007 at 12:22 pmI notice how the bar seems to get raised and lowered to match the propaganda — are we not supposed to notice this? When the surge was first announced, we were given a glowing sales pitch about how it would only take six months to secure Baghdad and see measurable progress from Iraq on meeting benchmarks. Everything would be just hunky-dory and peace would reign through the land.
And now, six months later, we are supposed to believe that expectations were low (or non-existant) to begin with? That’s not what I got out of Shrubya’s speech back then…
Who is still buying this crapola?
July 12th, 2007 at 12:25 pmComment by willyloman — July 12, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
You know, that’s actually an excellent point, I wonder how many of those ‘troop morale’ polls are taken in the Dining facility on lobster and steak night.
“So uh, how’s morale?”
July 12th, 2007 at 12:25 pm“Great! you mind, uhh, passing the butter?’
Comment by SGT Higgins
Yep. That or the follow up poll they take after the troops leave one of many brothels that have sprung up right on the outskirts of the Green Zone.
“How do you feel about the war effort soldier?”
(zip)
“ohhhh yeah, best $2.50 I have ever spent!”
July 12th, 2007 at 12:28 pmIs he jokeing? Actual predictions were that it would be WORSE? So we should be thrilled it isn’t as bad as they thought it would be? How bad did he think it was going to get when he threw his support behind the surge, without reservation?
I dare him to day that to any man or woman fighting on the ground in Iraq right now!
Krystol is beyond dissonance; he’s entered the realm of psychosis.
July 12th, 2007 at 12:28 pmCan we please send this guy to Iraq already? Let him wander around Anbar Province. Give him a printout of his proclamations as protection. At least we wouldn’t have to look at him on the TeeVee anymore.
July 12th, 2007 at 12:35 pmWhat he actually meant was that if Bush could put Congress in Gitmo for a couple of years, he could have a chance to “win” the war.
July 12th, 2007 at 12:40 pm> read the Milblogs for the real deal
do you think the guys who run these blogs that you didn’t give us links to have access to more information than the CIA Director Michael Hayden who says Iraq’s government is a complete and irreversible failure?
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/07/12/thinkfast-july-12-2007/#comments
July 12th, 2007 at 12:48 pmTop Intel Analyst Says Surge Is Failing
???????????????????????????????????
He didn’t say that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kristol is right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TP, what the fuk?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!??!!
Stop trying to turn these Leftists into
SURRENDER MONKEYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 12th, 2007 at 1:21 pmhttp://www.c-span.org/watch/cs_cspan3_wm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS3
c-span 3 on Cheney’s creation of new “secret” classification investigation.
July 12th, 2007 at 1:25 pmWilliam Kristol: The ultimate water carrier for the Bush administration.
I don’t believe he believes a word he utters, but he expects to keep the 26%ers happy by telling them what they want to hear:
“Yes, the surge is working… and don’t forget to send your letter to Santa”
July 12th, 2007 at 1:31 pmtoo bad its not a military war; its an intelligence way with a political solution
July 12th, 2007 at 1:34 pmWilliam Kristol: The ultimate water carrier for the Bush administration.
I don’t believe he believes a word he utters.
Comment by Gregor Samsa — July 12, 2007 @ 1:31 pm
Gregor Samsa hit it on the head. Kristol has become a BushCo clown. He really should appear on these talking heads shows with a red rubber ball nose and clown makeup. but he hasn’t got that much integrity.
July 12th, 2007 at 1:53 pmIn the same interview, Kristol had this to say:
“A Fox host then cited a new report that “al Qaeda … is running from Iraq, apparently to Pakistan” and asked “did this report come out on purpose so that we will have the right … to go after Pakistan now?”
Kristol responded, “I think the president’s going to have to take military action there over the next few weeks or months. … Bush has to disrupt that sanctuary.”
“I think, frankly, we won’t even tell Musharraf,” Kirstol continued. “We’ll do what we have to do in Western Pakistan and Musharraf can say, ‘Hey, they didn’t tell me.’”
July 12th, 2007 at 1:54 pmBush will do something in August during the Congressional recess and from the safety of his ranch. More war, coming soon…
So the real question becomes, not just how do we show Kristol up as a liar, but how do we nip this meme in the bud before it becomes “conventional wisdom†from our all-too-compliant news media?
Comment by PaulB — July 12, 2007 @ 11:35 am
I like the way you think Mr. B! These guys and their underhanded tactics need to be appropriately dealt with. We need to play hard ball and counter every deceptive effort on their part! Aggressively! No more nice liberals. The new liberals have HAD IT up to HERE with lies, spin, deception and manipulation.
July 12th, 2007 at 2:07 pmWay to go Kristol. You’ll prove those libs that you’re right yet again.
….
Comment by Patrick1 — July 12, 2007 @ 11:22 am
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Well, he won’t prove them wrong, reality will prove the Lefties wrong, and reality will prove that Kristol is correct.
Kristol is aware of the various different nuances in the strategy that we are employing in Iraq.
These emotional libs think if a little muslim boy dies, that means it’s time to surrender!
July 12th, 2007 at 2:21 pmI guess that kristol was saying that everybody expected the splurge to fail worse than it actually did. An unpleasant thought, but since when did cheney/bush care in the slightest about the soldiers actually fighting in Iraq (and their families).
July 12th, 2007 at 2:26 pmOh, I believe Old Liver Lips. I mean just because every single thing he’s said to date has been wrong you have to figure he can’t be wrong all the time. Right?
So, the “surge” is working. And I’m Hugh Hefner.
July 12th, 2007 at 2:46 pmIf this surge is going better than anyone expected then Bill Kristol must be referring to the surge in sectarian violence and military deaths since January.
July 12th, 2007 at 2:55 pmKristoll’s balls are hanging on Dirty Dick’s rear view mirror.
July 12th, 2007 at 4:06 pmOK,this is just getting embarassing.I think i’m going to move to Costa Rica and burn my television,buy some jetskis to rent out and forget about this f****** mess our so called leader made.What a f****** joke.
July 12th, 2007 at 4:11 pmAn Bill Kristol has been right about the following in the past six years:
NOT A FREAKING THING!
July 12th, 2007 at 4:17 pmThat Krystol is smoking! He’s smoking Krystol!
And then there’s CT_IV with his New Math.
0 + 0 = 0
July 12th, 2007 at 5:03 pmit is better than anyone has expected. i think kristol is right. coz this is what the insurgents in iraq would exactly say. i think kristol is their spokesman
July 13th, 2007 at 5:07 amKristol has been so wrong on so many times in the past that he has no credibility left. We can no longer win this war. Our presence in Iraq has made us less safe and our presence is used as a recruiting tool by the insurgents who want us out of Iraq along with a majority of the Iraqi and the American people. The surge has clearly failed. It has failed because Bush still insists on his ’stay the course’ failed policy. Any comparison between Iraq and the American civil war is wrong. The civil war was not a war of choice. The fate of our Union rested on its outcome. Lincoln didn’t lie us into that war. Iraq is a war of choice. A war Bush didn’t have to wage.
July 13th, 2007 at 7:58 pmWilliam Kristol, the Weekly Standard’s man behind PNAC; coveted by Cheney, Rummy, Bushie, and he has a real voice? Gimme a break!
July 17th, 2007 at 2:28 pmIMHO there is a strategy to his comments, and this is something that the antiwar crowd needs to be on the look-out and prepare for, although it will likely only play with the Republican base: they are preparing themselves for the post-defeat narrative.
If once September goes around enough Republicans have defected that Bush has little choice but to change course and begin the troop drawdown, the Neocons vision will be more or less destroyed at that point, and they will need someone to blame for the Iraq failure, so they will be blaming (in part) (1) the antiwar Democrats and (2) the Republicans who defected. The narrative will be that Patraeus was on the road to victory until congress pulled the rug out from under him. This will only obviously work with the 20% or so echo chambers of the Republican base, but if not countered things like this can take on a life of their own and could eventually seep into the mainstream, so we need to start fighting this narrative right now despite its apparent absurdity.
July 21st, 2007 at 11:35 am