O’Hanlon begins backpedaling from op-ed.
Just a few days after writing about the progress he saw in Iraq, Brookings analyst Michael O’Hanlon claims that if the situation remains as it is currently, he could not “write another Op-Ed” declaring success:
In an interview on Wednesday, Mr. O’Hanlon said the article was intended to point out that the security situation was currently far better than it was in 2006. What the American military cannot solve, he said, are problems caused by the inability of Iraqis to forge political solutions. “Ultimately, politics trumps all else,” Mr. O’Hanlon said. “If the political stalemate goes on, even if the military progress continued, I don’t see how I could write another Op-Ed saying the same thing.”
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O’Hanlon clearly has a completely tin ear for politics. Not only can he not see that it’s obvious that Iraqi politicians will not reach reconciliation, he didn’t realize that writing this op-ed — giving aid and succor to progressive enemies (W. and Dick) — will likely end his potential political future as a policy wonk in an Obama or a Clinton administration. What a dope.
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:52 amhe isn’t backpedaling, he is saying progress needs to continue, not stay the same.
liberals are so sad, to be members of a party who have to root for american failure and troop deaths to win an election, tragic.
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:53 amLDA:no one roots for our Country to fail or for our brave troops to die. Unless their idiot trools like you who wish for it so as to accuse others of the same.
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:56 amSad Little Trool. No brain, even less of a soul or Moral Compass.
Edit: That would be Troll, not Trool.
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:59 amLiberals are so predictable.
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:02 amHAPPY 19TH ANNIVERSARY EL RUSHBO!!
RUSH ARCHIVE: It cannot be reported that the surge is succeeding, so what will be focused on instead, ladies and gentlemen, is how the political situation is falling apart, they’re not making progress and so forth. So wherever the good news is, it’s like the Drive-Bys and the Democrat Party find a way to avoid it. But their worst nightmare is for this news to start trickling out for the Democrat Party.
RUSH: I was on the cutting edge of this last week before any of the rumblings of this weekend occurred. Today on the Today show, Meredith Vieira talking to senator Chia Pet — that would be Senator Biden — “Recently two of the critics, members of the Brookings Institution, went over to Iraq, they witnessed it firsthand, talked to members of the military, came back, wrote an op-ed for the New York Times, among other things, it says, ‘We’re finally getting somewhere in Iraq, at least in military terms.’ They recommend Congress to stay in the surge at least until 2008. In fact, things are getting better on the ground. Would you recommend that the surge be continued, Senator Biden?”
BIDEN: No, there’s military success, but there’s not any political success. If you can’t — all the military success does, you have enough forces there, we work hard enough, we can quell things in neighborhoods. But once we leave, unless there’s a political agreement among the parties, it explodes.
RUSH: Contrast this to what he said in the last Democrat YouTube debate where he was warning Democrats, (paraphrasing) “We can’t pull out of there overnight, all hell would break loose.” Somebody got to him. Now he has to change his tune on this. But note my prediction about they will find a way to find the news is bad, they’ll focus on the political side, confronted with this New York Times op-ed. Biden says it doesn’t mean anything. The political side’s not working well. When the political side was working well, the military side wasn’t working well. Well, the political progress doesn’t matter, the fact they’ve got a constitution, we’re doing lousy on the ground with security and so forth. Yesterday on the Senate floor, Dingy Harry had this to say about the good news coming out of Iraq.
REID: The present nor the future seem particularly bright for the Iraqis and Iraq itself. Our brave troops are fighting in this intractable civil war.
RUSH: Utter denial and sticking to the talking points
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:14 amAnd so are you Frank J. As predictable to show up with nothing to contribute to the discourse. WHAT a surprise……NOT!
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:15 amSince the Wingbats like Limbaugh cannot engage in a resonable discussion of the issues, but instead, resort to name calling, outright lying, possible libel and general stupidity then your post from Limbaugh is utter crap and a waste of time Frank J. Nothing to read or see.
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:18 amNext!
Limbaugh was dead on correct about what the liberal position would be following the Op-Ed. I again stand amazed at his knowledge of the weak liberal mind to make such an accurate prediction.
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:25 amLimbaugh was dead on correct about what the liberal position would be following the Op-Ed. I again stand amazed at his knowledge of the weak liberal mind to make such an accurate prediction.
Comment by Frank J — August 2, 2007 @ 2:25 am
Irrational comment. All hyperbole. Doesn’t say anything.
IGNORE THIS TROLL!!! This doesn’t say anything tangible.
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:29 amYeah Frank, I guess you’ll be calling a smaller death toll of American Troops, and a higher death toll of Iraqui Civilians Progress. For you, and Oxy-boy, thats what passes as good news and progress. Moron Trolls.
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:30 amNeither of those reasons were given in O’Hanlon’s Op-Ed. Maybe you should read it and stop having a seizure because America is winning.
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:33 am… stop having a seizure because America is winning.
Comment by Frank J
Oh, you must mean John Roberts.
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:54 amOr perhaps Mission Accomplished on May 1, 2003.
Didn’t we WIN WW2 in less time than it’s taking us to prevail over this bunch of “Dead Enders” ?
DDDDAAAAAAMMMMNNNNNN, stupid trolls at this time of night!
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:57 amNick Naylor lives!
August 2nd, 2007 at 3:01 amNick Naylor lives!
Comment by Armando Gomez
He sure does.
August 2nd, 2007 at 3:41 amWho is that, anyway ?
liberalsFascist rethuglicans are so insane, to be members of a party who have to root for american failure and troop deaths to win an election, tragic.Comment by
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:48 amliberals destroyed americaComment by fascist feeddies destroyed america
Liberals are so predictable.
Comment by Frank J
fascist feddies (R) are so media brainwashed and unpredictable
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:50 amWhat nobody in the media is talking about is that one result of the SURGE is that the violence has migrated to many smaller towns all over Iraq which had previously been relatively untouched by the kinds of security problems with which they had not been conronted previously. The SURGE has made violence available to a much wider segment of the population than ever before. Another success!
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:56 amIts not nice to fool with Mother Nature Pat.
I know not right from wrong and will crush you under my sandaled heel for praying for the demise of others and using my life energy, which is what gives you yours, for your misguided hate.
And that goes for all you that irrespectful creatures that trod upon this planet.
Let Pat, a Profit of hate, be a lesson unto you.
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:05 amRUSH: I was on the cutting edge of this last week before any of the rumblings of this weekend occurred. Today on the Today show, Meredith Vieira talking to senator Chia Pet.
Why would anyone listen to a man that went deaf due to a drug addition, a liberal of his own definition, a bottle of viagra and a ticket to communist cuba?
I quit listening to this blubbering Archie Bunker years ago. He would denigrate his own parents if you paid him too.
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:13 amFrom a psychological perspective, the Bush/Cheney administration and its neocon allies succeeded in promoting the misguided and destructive war in Iraq by targeting our core concerns about vulnerability, injustice, distrust, superiority, and helplessness. Looking ahead, they will likely try to sell us a continuing occupation of Iraq—or an attack on Iran—in much the same way. I examine these warmongering appeals and how to counter them in a new 10-minute video entitled “Resisting the Drums of War.” It’s available for viewing HERE.
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:25 am#7 - “Utter denial and sticking to the talking points” Comment by Frank J — August 2, 2007 @ 2:14 am
Frank J has proven that Rush L is in utter denial and sticks to talking points! Maybe because he’s so high on drugs? Most probably. . . .
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:49 amHow many bombs going off in Baghdad constitutes either a status quo or a decrease in the condition in Iraq?
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:55 amThe trolls have nothing but their talking points, and are being overwhelmed by the 70% of patriotic Americans who want us out of Iraq and our children home safe. Republicans have no patriotism, and hate their children as much as they love their money.
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:57 am#28 - “Republicans have no patriotism, and hate their children as much as they love their money.” Comment by ronjazz — August 2, 2007 @ 7:57 am
Considering the lies that neo-cons spread about anyone not in thier “club”, I can see why you feel this way.
Republicans don’t hate their cildren, they just don’t give a thought to anyone elses children that get sent off to war. In fact, they encourage wars that are fought by enyone else BUT them and their children.
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:26 amHanlon must have gotten a call from Michael Ware.
#29 The best so far for Repukes “Love the fetus hate the child”.
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:37 amliberals are so sad, to be members of a party who have to root for american failure and troop deaths to win an election, tragic.
neoCONs are so sad to be members of a party who have to root for death and destruction of a country so that we can steal their oil to win an election. Because that’s what you did in 2004 and guess what, you didn’t win.
And to say that the liberals are rooting for troop deaths is disingenuous at best. It is the Democrats who are trying to get our troops out of that hell-hole and out of a hopeless situation. It is the Democrats who are trying to ensure that our troops get proper rest and are properly equipped. Do you have any idea how many American soldiers are dead today because the Republicans tried to do it on the cheap and didn’t give them the armored vehicles they need or the dragon skin body army they deserve?
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:37 amFrank J
Have you enlisted yet? If so, when do you leave for Iraq? And of course you will be stationed outside the green zone in one of those American friendly neighborhoods.
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:42 amOh boy, Francine is back. Hey Francine, do you want to win your balls back and become Frank J again? If so, answer this question (and no straw man argument or Clinton did it).
Question: If Bush was not involved in the fratracide killing of Pat Tillman, why is he claiming executive privilege to keep congress from seeing what is in his military records regarding his death?
Anyone want to bet that Francine doesn’t have the balls to answer this question honestly?
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:48 amMaybe you should read it and stop having a seizure because America is winning.
Comment by Frank J
In this game that America is “winning”. Whats the score? Iraqi civilians are playing for which team? Which one is the other team? Are they all chewing tobacco and fans are shaking yellow towels? Whats the strategy to win if US just sold $ 13 bn to Saudis, where most of the people from 9/11 came from?
Oh, Frankie, watching life as if it was a game is just a manifestation of your narrow criteria and frustrated life.
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:55 amWasn’t that O’ Hanlon on the Glenn Beck program last night?
It didn’t look like he was backpeddling to me….
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:01 amRightwingers have claimed OHanlon is one of them. At best, Ohanlon has sometimes taken a centrist position, but always leaning right, agreeing with the war, the surge and in general, the policies of Bush&Co.
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:10 amIsn’t he related so someone in the Bush administration?
Do you not really think that Karl Rove had something to do with the posting on a Sunday right before Dick Cheney went on Larry King’s show on CNN? If you don’t think it was all planned out, then you are not really understanding the right wing of the republic party.
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:44 amLet’s designate “O’Hanlon writing another op-ed” as a new benchmark to determine policy.
Side note: He seems to be pretty confident that if he does write an op-ed, it will be printed. Now that’s just oozing humility.
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:56 amYou are all missing the point. O hanlon was and is a shill for this misbegotten policy. His toe scrapping is just an attempt to maintain a thinly veiled right leaning bent. What a turd
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:04 amYo, Frank J and Liberals Destroyed America:
Tell us which white-flag waving, Osama Bin Laden-loving, lily-livered, cowering, pussified, liberal Defeatocrat said this the other day:
“no amount of troops and no amount of time will make much of a difference†in the war in Iraq. “Prudence dictates that we plan for an eventual drawdown and the transition of responsibilities to Iraqi security forces,†he said. In questioning later, he conceded, “there does not appear to be much political progress†in Iraq. He also said, “A protracted deployment of U.S. troops to Iraq…risks further emboldening Iranian hegemonic ambitions and encourages their continued support to Shia insurgents in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan.â€
Hillary Clinton?
Bill Clinton?
Barack Obama?
John Edwards?
Dennis Kucinich?
Al Gore?
Cindy Sheehan?
Some wacko angry leftist on Daily Kos?
Nope, sorry, you’re wrong.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs nominee Navy Adm. Michael Mullen during his Senate confirmation hearings.
I’m sure you’re appalled that President Bush has nominated such a pessimist to such an important position. Mullen surely must be a secret Islamic sympathizer.
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:21 amNow would that be the same feckless stalemate that’s been going on since December 2005??
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:36 amO’Hanlon’s liberal buddies have gotten him to revisit his view on the progress in Iraq. There’s a lot at stake for them. Liberals can’t afford Iraqi progress.
August 2nd, 2007 at 12:12 pmPaul:
Please read #37 against the backdrop of the Sunnis withdrawing from the government and tell us how Admiral Mullen is a liberal.
August 2nd, 2007 at 12:31 pmYeah, things are getting “better” in Iraq. LOL.
August 2nd, 2007 at 12:45 pmO’Hanlon: He saw progress, before he didn’t. Flip-flop!
August 2nd, 2007 at 12:48 pmO’Hanlon translation: Oops. I didn’t realize so many people were actually aware of the situation in Iraq. So, to try to keep a shred of personal or professional dignity, I’m going to flip-flop without making it too obvious… .
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:06 pmSo he goes right before the politicians go on vacation, says things are great, but the political stalemate has to be resolved. Doesn’t matter who he’s writing for, that’s republicanspeak.
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:10 pmMullen also said this:
“Achieving progress in Iraq and furthering broader U.S. regional interests are inextricably linked,†he added. “Slow progress in Iraq is undermining U.S. credibility and weakening efforts to achieve regional objectives.â€
and this:
“Growing coalition successes on the ground in Iraq should mitigate this risk and improve the credibility of our message to create a regional security construct to counter Iranian destabilizing activity,†he added.
don’t forgot about this:
“We had rigorous and thorough discussions and debates,†Mullen said. “The president then made his decision, and I am in support of that decision and working to make it succeed.â€
Now, if we could just get progressives on board.
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:19 pmPaul: How many Iraqis do we need to kill in order to prevent another 9/11?
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:22 pmO’Hanlon would not write another op-ed, because he realizes how ridiculous his arguments were in the op-ed. It is clear that the surge has failed. Having Bush and Cheney cite their op-ed doesn’t give them any credibility on the issue of the surge. Their observations and opinions don’t mesh with the reality on the ground in Iraq.
August 2nd, 2007 at 4:58 pmThat’s nice of O’Hanlon to caveat his earlier op-ed now that everyone on the right has pointed to it as an example of someone who “was a vocal critic of the invasion” now agreeing to its success.
I’m sure we can expect Cheney to update Larry King since he pointed to the op-ed as “proof” of his vision — just as he did with the leak he provided to Judy Miller so he could use it a few hours later on the news shows.
The damage has been done. O’Hanlon doesn’t get points now for finally saying what he should have included in the original op-ed only after he’s been outed with his past writings.
August 2nd, 2007 at 4:59 pmO’hanlon couldn’t write another article like that, ay?
:|
I wonder how much they payed him to write that first one.
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:59 pmJim Wolf359 said:
“LDA:no one roots for our Country to fail or for our brave troops to die. Unless their idiot trools like you who wish for it so as to accuse others of the same. Sad Little Trool. No brain, even less of a soul or Moral Compass.
“Edit: That would be Troll, not Trool.”
—
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:32 pmJim, I much prefer the term “Trool”. It conjures up an image of a drooling troll. I like it!
i’m waiting for someone, anyone who endorses this ‘war’ to have a town hall meeting on what’s happening in Iraq and what remains to be done, then have a satellite transmission from Baghdad where Iraqi citizens can question our president and they can’t censor anything and bush can’t handpick the questions.and at the end, bush makes a solemn promise that he will reside in fallujah and run for mayor.his tenure here stateside has been ’somethin’ else’. although, i wouldn’t wish him on my worse enemy.
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:47 pmThese guys can’t have it both ways. They’re being used by the wingers, and they know it. Consequently, if they don’t go public with denial and retraction, then they’re complicit—they are aiding and abetting the merchants of death. Private back-tracking and wringing of hands is bullshit. Speak up or shut up, guys! Yeah, you were stupid. Yeah, you were screwed by the people who created the headline. But no one’s constraining you now. Do the right thing, or forfeit any claim to honor and integrity.
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:41 pmWe’re talking about building a democracy and having a war — why is there people (democrats!!) that can assume is would be “fast” to complete this challenge the US has taken on? No matter if you like it or not — if you are an American — your country has made these choices to take this challenge on.
The truth is, mistakes are made all the time. By you, and me, and everyone. PLEASE!! Move on from the useless complaints about President Bush and the reasonings which may have been inaccurate so far. How can you think he didn’t try his best to do what seemed right based on what he was told???? You are crazy media whore if you think Iraq had anything to do with oil.
It is important to only figure out what the best action is to take NOW. However, nobody can predict with 100% accuracy that a decision made today will be “correct”. There is no way to know “when to leave” unless you only base it on progress and pretend we have a neverending supply of money and people to fight for this. You leave when it is “right” to leave. And all that has to be done is define what is “right”. I believe that is what they are doing with the benchmarks they set.
And remember — you are LUCKY as hell to live in the USA.
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:41 pmKeri @ 53
Oh, dear, where does one begin?
Yes, we’re “having” a war– as opposed to “having to go to war”. The War in Iraq was completely, 100% optional– I don’t give a good, solid crap what the President was told, or what he felt in his gut, or that you think he’s “doing his best”– he chose this war at this time.
He committed OUR money and OUR troops in America’s first ever preemptive war– so guess what? Questioning his “reasonings” is exactly what we Americans should be doing– if, for no other reason, than to avoid going down the same horrific path all over again.
And, you’re right, we all make “mistakes”– the difference is when the President of the United States makes mistake after mistake after mistake in wartime, people die. Lot’s of people die. That’s why it is incumbent that a President, any President, consider all of his/her options first and exhaust every other avenue before committing American blood and treasure. It is his solemn duty to listen to all sides before putting our soldiers, our children in harm’s way.
And if the President only listens to one side of the argument– say a group of old men who never went to war, who never volunteered to serve, who were certain that they were right based solely on theories put forth by a couple of neo-con think tanks? Well, you better hope that all these “media whores” are right and this actually is all about oil. Because that is the only thing that doesn’t smell exactly of treason.
I am lucky to live in the USA. You know what else? You’re lucky that me and others like me live here, too.
August 3rd, 2007 at 2:06 amIt was very surprising to see that Maliki could not get any of the “benchmark” agreements proposed to him by the US before the Iraqi Parliament adjourned. One can only hope that Maliki will realize how tenuous US support is for the continued daily patrols in Iraq, once the Iraq progress reports comes out in six weeks.
My political forum
August 5th, 2007 at 5:53 am