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Kagan offers ‘a definition of success in Iraq’ that is actually just ‘a wish list.’

This weekend, “surge” architect and American Enterprise Institute fellow Frederick Kagan took to the pages of the Weekly Standard to offer “a definition of success in Iraq.” Over at Attackerman, Spencer dissects what he deems “a classic of the Fred Kagan ‘everything in Iraq is A-OK!‘ genre,” writing that “what Kagan puts on offer isn’t a definition of success, it’s a wish list.” Spencer also critiques Kagan’s assessment of the relationship between Iraq and Iran, as well as how Kagan wants the U.S. to “stay in Iraq to make sure Iraq doesn’t become like Pakistan” while doing “nothing whatsoever about Pakistan.”



31 Responses to “Kagan offers ‘a definition of success in Iraq’ that is actually just ‘a wish list.’”

  1. Uncle Ho says:

    dream on Kagan, reality has a liberal bent and truth can not be changed.


  2. trollsbwild says:

    The measurement of defined success has been a moving
    target. Not too different than the education system of
    no child left behind.


  3. McWars says:

    I urge this congress to heed to the wishes of Mr. Kagan and pass
    the resolution, “MIGHTY SWELL IN IRAQ.” Slipped into the bill will be Mr. Kagan’s ordered deployment with faulty protective gear and no education benefits — the way our troops are made to feel at home.


  4. StratRat says:

    Why isn’t Kagan in a uniform? Why isn’t he fighting the war that he is cheerleading?


  5. MCMetal says:

    How in the hell can someone who is supposedly a “military expert/military historian” be taken seriously on any level , much less be instrumental in actually devising a military strategy that is currently being invoked , when they themself have never served in said military ?

    Are successful coaches of any sport hired with no 1st-hand experience with that particular athletic endeavor ?

    Sheesh ; if there weren’t so many deaths in relation to Iraq , this would be ridiculously comical……..


  6. robbez_92107 says:

    StratRat Says:

    William the Bloody Kristol stole his cheerleader uniform.


  7. Max-1 says:

    .

    A Successful Occupation looks like:…

    .


  8. Max-1 says:

    Voice_of_no_Reason Says:

    You don’t really think that Bella Karolyi was a female gymnast, do you?

    I hardly think gender was the issue MCM was getting at. Maybe experience though… NO?


  9. mary says:

    VOR – whacha trying to get at? Bela Karolyi was an athlete (hammer thrower). Are you defending Kagan?


  10. MCMetal says:

    Voice_of_Reason Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    MCMetal Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    Are successful coaches of any sport hired with no 1st-hand experience with that particular athletic endeavor ?
    _______________________________________

    You don’t really think that Bella Karolyi was a female gymnast, do you?

    April 28th, 2008 at 2:13 pm

    Bill Laimbeer is also not a female basketball player …….

    The point is not about focusing on gender , it is about the endeavor itself , you sorry turd…………


  11. robbez_92107 says:

    Justify your racism any way you want, UnReasonable Voice.


  12. MCMetal says:

    Voice_of_Reason Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    MLB manager Carlos Tosca is another good example. There are several others, but I’ll stop there and turn to a more relevant extension of your question:

    Given that Barack Obama has no 1st-hand military experience, how can he qualify as Commander in Chief under your restrictions? (Your quote: “How in the hell can someone who is supposedly a “military expert/military historian” be taken seriously on any level , much less be instrumental in actually devising a military strategy that is currently being invoked , when they themself have never served in said military?”)

    April 28th, 2008 at 2:20 pm

    Because being president is much,much more than military experience , you GOP tool.

    99% of the US population will never join the military , and even more pertinent , is that America spends more on defense and the military than the rest of the planet combined ; wouldn’t that especially rule out John McShitstain , the most clueless and dimwitted candidate left in the 2008 presidential race when it comes to economics ?


  13. miatch says:

    My dad used the phrase: a day late and a dollar short

    Kagan is now 5 years late, and a trillion dollars short.

    way to go, neo-cons!


  14. Wayne says:

    Voice_of_Reason Says:
    You don’t really think that Bella Karolyi was a female gymnast, do you?

    You don’t really think… do you?

    I bet Fox is your news channel too.


  15. MCMetal says:

    BTW Voice_of_Treason

    How good a manager was Tosca ?

    Didn’t the Jays finish 3rd twice and last in their division in the 3 years he was manager ?

    Being president used to be about electing the MOST QUALIFIED person ; the GOP has been singularly responsible for changing that dynamic , and it sure as shit isn’t for the better…………


  16. mary says:

    This was brainiac Kagan in November 2003:

    “The American military today may be in the best position of any military in history. Its victories over Iraq and Afghanistan have transformed not merely the way the U.S. thinks about and conducts war, but the way the entire world sees violent conflict.”

    Oh, did I miss something? We’ve actually been victorious over Iraq and Afghanistan? So why are we still trying to define victory?


  17. miatch says:

    And um, Kagan, does winning in Iraq include this?

    honour killings return to iraq


  18. MCMetal says:

    Voice_of_Reason Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    18. No. I prefer the printed media and rarely watch television news.

    April 28th, 2008 at 2:28 pm

    Washington Times reader , eh ?


  19. impeachcheneythenbush says:

    One of my favorite movies is “V for Vendetta.” In one of the scenes, V rids London of the “Voice of London,” who represents propagandists within a totalitarian system. If you haven’t seen it, we all should.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XKa8VE7ILI


  20. RantingTommy says:

    Faux News and Voice of tReason share the same talking points.

    The land of the free and home of the brave has turned into the land of the scared and home of the cowardly republican sissies.


  21. StratRat says:

    Voice_of_Reason Says:

    18. No. I prefer the printed media and rarely watch television news.

    He likes the picture books the best. I also heard he had a very used copy of “My Pet Goat”. Maybe he will finally finish reading it.


  22. Bobwurst says:

    VOR:

    We at least expect the coaches of our teams to be competent and to win. When they don’t, they’re down the road. What has Kagen won, or got right? Cheney? Bush? Any of your band of idiots?

    I thought so.


  23. robbez_92107 says:

    MCMetal Says:

    I had it more pegged as a Weakly Standard reader.


  24. Zimzone says:

    A guy I used to play in a band with just posted this song on youtube.
    It’s about the Iraqi invasion; see what you think…


  25. lokidog says:

    A new definition of “torture” would be: reading Kagan’s piece in the Weekly Standard without being able to scream or bang your head against a wall in astonishment and disbelief at the complete dishonesty of his garbage, and the overall moral bankruptness of these gutless f***s.

    Gems like this will illustrate perfectly:

    “But back in the US, the debate over Iraq is scarcely tethered to reality on the ground….” as if it isn’t Kagan HIMSELF, this criminal administration and the wingnut right cheerleaders that have done their utmost to KEEP the reality hidden, ignored or simply lied about.

    “Whatever Saddam Hussein’s ties were to Al Queda before the invasion…” WHAT THE F***? Is this moron NOT aware of the information already out there – from our own government, etc. – destroying this canard?

    And I’m only on page 2 – I can’t continue reading this utter bullsh*t and nonsense for fear of wanting to beat the holy sh*t out of the 1st chickenhawk I encounter today.

    Aren’t there anymore THINKING rightwingers out there that are tired of being lied to and treated like simpletons by these people, as Kagan, et. al. does and continually do?


  26. christopher wiwi says:

    It appears to me that Mr. Kagan is living and breathing the “NOBLE LIE” to the hilt.Obviously he cannot come to grips with the truth yet.He must think that this country left or right is ignorant and uninformed and that we don`t know anything.Hang him along with Bush and his crime family.


  27. Zimzone says:

    KKKarl, KKKagan & KKKristol; the New American Fascist Party.


  28. mary says:

    satirev Says @ #26:

    Mary: Kagan’s still playing computer games in some corner somewhere and totally out of touch with reality.

    Is there a computer game version of Risk? Because with all of Kagan’s cheerleading for a bigger, stronger military it seems that he won’t be happy until the U.S. rules the world!


  29. RUCerious says:

    Why does Kagan continually whip out his tiny dick and piss into gale force winds?


  30. Kgprophet says:

    Kagan’s fresh out of Friedman Units


  31. RUCerious says:

    Kagan should have applied for the role of “Newman” on Seinfeld.
    A great face for radio.



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