Think Progress

Kristol: ‘I’m not an uncritical cheerleader.’

In a new Time magazine piece, Bill Kristol writes that he is “impressed” by the progress being made in Iraq. Like Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) before him, Kristol cites a visit to a Baghdad market as evidence of progress:

My traveling companions (military experts Fred Kagan and Kim Kagan) and I walked around the Haifa Street market in Baghdad with Colonel Bryan Roberts, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division, and watched him coordinate reconstruction efforts and deftly manage the political-economic interactions with local shopkeepers and citizens.

Kristol writes, “I’m not an uncritical cheerleader for the American military.” No — he’s simply an uncritical cheerleader for war.



63 Responses to “Kristol: ‘I’m not an uncritical cheerleader.’”

  1. RUCerious says:

    BWAHAHAHA!
    If ever there was a followup to the chymp’s tenure on the Yale cheerleading squad, CrystalBalls is it.


  2. BlueArkansas says:

    Hmmm….I’d go with “ignorant neocon clown.”


  3. raynman says:

    Why do they always go to a market?


  4. crocchoda says:

    kristol has been critical of the american military effort. he has been critical since the invasion of the number of troops committed.

    to say he blindly applauds what the white house, or pentagon, does is inaccurate.


  5. RUCerious says:

    deftly manage the political-economic interactions with local shopkeepers and citizens.

    I wonder if the business side of his .45 was involved in any of those interactions>?


  6. Peter says:

    I think he meant to say, “I’m not MERELY an uncritical cheerleader for the American Military, I’m also an uncritical cheerleader for …” : )

    Honestly, these people know why they are illegitimate, so they lie boldly about their motives to preempt criticism. They trust that the public will give them some benefit of the doubt.


  7. RUCerious says:

    From the article…
    “The limited number of American civilians (and the virtual absence of Europeans) has thrown all the responsibility of nation building–more accurately, community building–on the U.S. military. And rather than complain, the soldiers do it willingly and even cheerfully, and with remarkable competence.”

    And how, Billy CrystalBalls, does the American military provide electricity, get the fractious government to learn how to compromise, you know, all that feel good warm and fuzzy nation building shit.
    What a crock.


  8. Master Shake says:

    Kristol is a smiling shit stain. I can’t remember the last time he was right about anything concerning the middle east.


  9. eddy tompkins says:

    RU,

    The namecalling (”CrystalBalls”) is tedious. Leave it to young children!


  10. RUCerious says:

    Not namecalling, eddy, just playing on words to show my contempt of his authorita.


  11. Eric says:

    Think Progress is a cheerleader for the terrorists………I guess everyone has their faults


  12. timotheus says:

    Homer Simpson: “I am not an idiot!”.


  13. eddy tompkins says:

    RU,

    Please note I share your contempt for Mr. Kristol.

    If calling him “CrystalBalls” isn’t namecalling, than what do you consider namecalling?


  14. Hank says:

    If Bill Kristol says it, it must be the truth!


  15. Eric says:

    Think Progress is a cheerleader for Islamic Terrorism…….I guess we all have our faults…


  16. Sharon says:

    Morning RUCerious, great to read you here.Keep up the good work..Blessings..P.S..As alway’s may I remind everyone to ignore the black hearted little troll’s


  17. GSD says:

    No, he’s not an uncritical cheerleader, he is a shameless war whore.

    -GSD


  18. Ringo says:

    You freaks are nothing more than cheerleaders for defeat and failure.

    Rotten to your core, each one of you.


  19. Fan_of_Man says:

    THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE NOT TO MENTION YOUR NIGHTTIME PEDOPHILIA HOBBY!


  20. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    You freaks are nothing more than cheerleaders for defeat and failure.

    Rotten to your core, each one of you.

    Comment by Ringo — August 10, 2007 @ 11:17 am

    But… but I thought we were all friends here, Ringo???


  21. Jim says:

    The Odious Kristol has frequently criticized the military, when they don’t measure up to the standards of courage and competence he demands in the padded air-conditioned luxury of his DC office.

    People like him make me wish I believed in hell.


  22. DRxJ says:

    You freaks are nothing more than cheerleaders for defeat and failure.
    Rotten to your core, each one of you.
    Comment by Ringo’s little tinkle — August 10, 2007 @ 11:17 am

    When suffering from occasional bouts of constipation, pharmacists and doctors recommend Dulcolax, the gentle laxative the works overnight.
    For immediate relief of uncomfortable and prolonged constipation, try Dulcolax suppositories. Results withing 1 hour.
    Dulcolax, at you local Wal-Mart


  23. Not Canadian says:

    I love Chickenhawk soup for breakfast, and there’s enough here to feed an entire Platoon.


  24. Raven says:

    Dr. Bonkus: “That was a very telling statement, Mr. Krystol…”
    Kristol: “You mean the cheerleading thing?”
    Dr. Bonkus: “Can you share anything about that, Billy?”
    Kristol:, “Well, you see, I have this fantasy about being a cheerleader, with Georgie, and we’re doing the pyramid thing, you know, and it all collapses…”
    Dr. Bonkus: “Yes, go on….”
    Kristol: “Well, it’s kind of scary when the whole pile collapses on me, cause I like the bottom, you know, but then it’s all warm, and dark, and heavy, and Georgie is there, and Dickie, and Dougie Feith, and, and then, and then……
    Dr. Bonkus: “Go on Willy, it’s OK……………………………..”


  25. Ringo says:

    But… but I thought we were all friends here, Ringo???
    ——————————————————————-

    Alright, some of you are just rotten, but not all the way to the core.


  26. Ellen Griswald says:

    ——————–

    I actually dislike Bill Kristol more than Pres. Bush.

    That is saying a lot!

    ——————–


  27. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Alright, some of you are just rotten, but not all the way to the core.

    Comment by Ringo — August 10, 2007 @ 11:28 am

    Any worse than alot of nutty righties? Anne Coulter has suggested poisoning judges.


  28. Raven says:

    I maintain a thin veneer of rotten-ness, it’s great camoflage when I have to go out amongst neo-cons….
    I look like them, smell like them, and before they catch on, I’ve gotten through…..


  29. Toss these losers says:

    First of all, to say one is impressed by the progress is disingenuous and a rather transparent attempt to avoid a withdrawal plan in Sept. Numbnuts suggesting he is critical or objective is a stretch at best on this one. If he were to do more than the dog and pony tour on his visit to Iraq he might get an actual taste of the real tragedy going on over there.

    Billy, those are real people dying and suffering and living without electricity and clean water in what used to be a fairly developed 21st century country before we bombed them back into the stone age. Your bloviating, rich ass can’t possibly understand that fact.


  30. envhealth43 says:

    Crystol went to the market but he didn’t mention the military escort with him. There was a colonel that he mentioned but nothing else. I would love to see the video. Perhaps they won’t make it public because it will remind people of the McCain market trip.


  31. Toss these losers says:

    …..and deftly manage the political-economic interactions with local shopkeepers and citizens.

    Can this clown be any more out of touch with reality? The political-economic interactions?

    Billy, the shop keeper is simply trying to figure out how to survive, buy food and keep from getting his ass blown up when he comes to work tomorrow. I’m guessing he didn’t know who the F*ck you are and the extent of your involvement in the mess he is in the midst of, because if he did he probably would have grabbed your pasty white ass and beat the sh*t out of you.


  32. crocchoda says:

    #31:

    who, exactly, is the shopkeeping at risk of being “blown up” by coming to and from work?


  33. Dreary Urbanite says:

    Kristol is not an uncritical cheerleader in much the same way Bush is not a torturer. It’s all a mater of semantics. He is however a total buffoon by any definition.


  34. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    I look like them, smell like them, and before they catch on, I’ve gotten through…..

    Comment by Raven — August 10, 2007 @ 11:32 am

    Indeed, I’ve deliberately developed a stealth personality over the years, like the Shadow…

    Raven, back from yer fire?

    Hey everybody, the Freedom Fries are pipin’ hot! Chow down!


  35. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    who, exactly, is the shopkeeping at risk of being “blown up” by coming to and from work?

    Comment by crocchoda — August 10, 2007 @ 11:48 am

    There’s nothing in the comment about a shopkeeper. What are you talking about?


  36. Marshall Yager says:

    I’ve always thought of Kristol as a fanboy rather than a cheerleader…


  37. crocchoda says:

    #35:

    the original comment (@ #31) said:

    …the shop keeper is simply trying to figure out how to survive, … and keep from getting his ass blown up when he comes to work tomorrow…

    i want to know: who is that shop keeping at risk of being blown up by on his way to and from work?


  38. NCBlueneck says:

    Kristol “Nacht” should just sit down and shut up. His credibility is shot.


  39. missmolly says:

    TP — why are you blocking posts again?


  40. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    i want to know: who is that shop keeping at risk of being blown up by on his way to and from work?

    Comment by crocchoda — August 10, 2007 @ 12:08 pm

    What original post at #31? there’s nothing in it about a shopkeeper getting blown up?

    Even if there was, what’s your beef? Given the levels of violence going on over there, I could easily see your average Iraqi afraid of having something explode unexpectedly at any given moment. If you’re asking for the specific name and address of a shopkeeper, that’s a little silly.


  41. Vice President Bush says:

    Man that guy really says some stupid sh!t


  42. crocchoda says:

    #40:

    the original post (@31, by “toss the losers”) that i’m referring to described an imagined state-of-mind in a shop keeper that kristol and party would have met. i’m not asking for who the shop keeper is – rather i’m asking for who do you think would be the person to “blow him up”. kristol? i think not.

    when markets are “blown up”, who does that? is it american servicemen?


  43. Toss these losers says:

    #32, that could be any number of people who are interested in maintaining the kaos that the US has facilitated through the invasion and continued occupation. Saddam was evil in his own ways, but you didn’t see scores of people being blown up while shopping for food on a regular basis now did you? The US through it’s actions and with the support of the neocons like Crystal have created the climate to allow that to happen.


  44. J Lewd says:

    Christol: I’m not a nosepicking, Republican-fellating cheerleader for Israeli goals via the guise of American foreign policy.

    And the fu*khead has a regular column in Newsweek — there’s a periodical you can trust.


  45. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    kristol? i think not.

    when markets are “blown up”, who does that? is it american servicemen?

    Comment by crocchoda — August 10, 2007 @ 12:25 pm

    I doubt if the original poster meant Kristol either, or American servicemen. It’s hard to know waht was meant when a) the original post is apparently gone, and b) the original poster isn’t clarifying their intentions. Of course, any thing I say is just assumption. You were asking so I answered.

    People are little edgy here of late. Been just a little hostility thing goin’ on of late…


  46. squidbilly says:

    Let’s send Billy boy some fatigues and some pom-poms


  47. Keith H. says:

    Hi is impressed by ‘the progress’.
    Progress for him is defined by how many U.S. dollars are funneled towards the military complex and no-bid reconstruction contracts.


  48. dpkesling says:

    I do intensely dislike Bill Kristol and believe he does live in an alternative universe… but I must concede that he has gone to Iraq to see things first hand. I would have been much more satisfied if he had spent his week not with colonels in Baghdad, but with my son (2nd Lt in Marines Corps) in Fallujah… or another 1st Cav Lt I know in Mosul.

    This guy is certainly a member of the troll royal family, but you’ve got to give him -some- credit for putting his boots in the dirt. Again, I would’ve rather seen him with Lt.s than Col.s.


  49. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Again, I would’ve rather seen him with Lt.s than Col.s.

    Comment by dpkesling — August 10, 2007 @ 12:59 pm

    How about PFCs instead of Lts???


  50. missmolly says:

    Were these soldiers doing their diplomatic interacting with the local shopkeepers and citizens in Arabic? If so, I’m even more impressed with our military training programs than I was.

    Or were they only interacting with those who could speak English? I realize it’s POSSIBLE that most Baghdad Iraqis can speak English by now, but I think it smacks more of staging.

    Or perhaps our soldiers were doing their interactions through interpreters. Assuming, of course, we have managed to get heterosexual ones by now.


  51. dpkesling says:

    #49. Lts are ground-pounders in direct command of the PFCs. To be with Lts, by definition, is to be with PFCs and Lcpls and GSgts. Stupidity is not a virtue.


  52. Toss these losers says:

    This guy is certainly a member of the troll royal family, but you’ve got to give him -some- credit for putting his boots in the dirt. Again, I would’ve rather seen him with Lt.s than Col.s.

    Is this a serious statement? Do you not understand what the “dog and pony” refers to when dignitaries and pundits visit Iraq and claim they have gone out into the countryside? Kristol would have been more concerned with getting away from the dusty market as quickly as possible and finding a shoeshine for his overpriced loafers than he would in actual fact finding.

    These guys are carted around under intense security and NEVER go anywhere near the highly unstable areas where the real threats exist. Kristol’s visit to Iraq is only slightly more investigative than Dumbya flying over New Orleans, looking out the window of Air Force One and giving the impression he’s got a handle on the scope of the crisis.

    Kristol is attempting to further his neocon agenda of dominating the Mideast with US influence and he knows full well if we pull out of Iraq that vision is all but lost forever. The guy might act cool, but underneath he’s in panic mode that public opinion is turning against his master plan. His volume on the topic will only get louder as the debate heats up in the Fall.


  53. p says:

    Mr. Kristol is a smart man. He is more informed, and critical than any other pundit.


  54. Hemlock for Gadflies says:

    So fat-ass Fred is now a “military expert”? Why, because he has a complete collection of G.I. Joes? Because he’s a top scorer at SOCOM (both PlayStation AND Wii!)? Kagan — all of the Kagans, even that cute Daryn — are “military experts” in the same way that Fantasy Baseball players are hall-of-famers.

    Kee-rist almightly! Shocking that three neocons wandering around a controlled area with a Brigade Commander “discover” that it’s nice and secure. Dr. Hemlock was a mere Captain — let Bloody Bill and the Gang hang out at platoon level for an afternoon. Then we’ll see if wants to come back and blow sunshine and roses up our collective backsides.


  55. Soldier Diplomat says:

    Fred Kagan and Kim Kagan military experts – BULLSHIT!

    They ARE expert NEOCON WARMONGERS.


  56. Lizzie says:

    Since when are the Kagan’s “military experts”? Especially since none of them have ever put on a uniform and served!!


  57. BARTLEBEE says:

    At least Kristol is finally admitting one thing.

    That he, like the rest of the neocons, are nothing but CHEERLEADERS.

    :|

    Ra Ra Ra


  58. BARTLEBEE says:

    Just like George W Bush, who when he had the chance to play football with the boys, chose instead to cheer them on from the sidelines with his Pom Poms.

    Ra Ra Ra


  59. RUCerious says:

    If calling him “CrystalBalls” isn’t namecalling, than what do you consider namecalling?

    Comment by eddy tompkins — August 10, 2007 @ 11:14 am

    Sorry for the late reply, but
    ignorant neocon clown
    smiling shit stain
    shameless war whore
    freaks
    a total buffoon

    Now there’s some name calling.


  60. Loonie says:

    Indeed. Supporting troops != supporting war.




  61. Probus says:

    The surge has failed.



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