Great Column by Thomas Friedman on Iraq
Tom Friedman has been off writing a book, and I missed his biweekly column at the NYT (back today- thanks to Dad for forwarding it). He owns three Pulitzer prizes, has a gift for making his topics interesting, his columns readble, and he knows this region of the world. His From Beirut to Jerusalem is still a classic. He tells the story from having lived it, and gives a remarkable first hand account of life there during the conflict. I see amazing similaries between Beirut in 1982-1983 and today. The various ethnic groups, the hatred, the crazy atmosphere, the uncertain security situation. The Iraqis today refer to the "situation" when discussing the insurgent activity over there, as we might discuss the weather. "How's the situation outside?" "Pretty good." (This means no bullets flying.) "Great, I think I'll leave my home today."
While Friedman certainly in a liberal to some degree, he has certainly has praised Republicans and criticized Democrats as the case may be. On Iraq, you come away with a sense of his deep dissapointment. He feels, as I do, that this is an important moment for America. We have a chance to make a huge difference in this region and right now, we are blowing it. The Bush strategy is clearing not working, and Kerry's strategy is well...let me know when they have one. Let me just ask you this, does this sound familiar:
"I had no doubt at that late stage how dedicated they were to getting us out of there. From our point of view it stopped being a war for an objective; it became a war of revenge. It became real personal: stay alive, get your revenge if you can, and stay alive until they pull us out. We just never broke out of that vicious cycle." This was an Israeli army captain, 1984. A man used to living in an environment as an occupying army- subject to car bombings, sneak attacks, small arms fire- all from a relentless and unscrupulous enemy who did not care who else got hurt. How far are we today from this in Iraq?
Where do we go from here? Kerry is trying to boil it down to the same 1992 Clinton formula- "Change vs. More of the Same" and you know what- it works. Saying that this is "hard work" seventeen times does not help anybody. Refusing to change a "strategery" that does not work is not helpful. Kerry rightly pointed out ourrate of casualties is increasing, our level of control is decreasing. Where do we go from here?
While Friedman certainly in a liberal to some degree, he has certainly has praised Republicans and criticized Democrats as the case may be. On Iraq, you come away with a sense of his deep dissapointment. He feels, as I do, that this is an important moment for America. We have a chance to make a huge difference in this region and right now, we are blowing it. The Bush strategy is clearing not working, and Kerry's strategy is well...let me know when they have one. Let me just ask you this, does this sound familiar:
"I had no doubt at that late stage how dedicated they were to getting us out of there. From our point of view it stopped being a war for an objective; it became a war of revenge. It became real personal: stay alive, get your revenge if you can, and stay alive until they pull us out. We just never broke out of that vicious cycle." This was an Israeli army captain, 1984. A man used to living in an environment as an occupying army- subject to car bombings, sneak attacks, small arms fire- all from a relentless and unscrupulous enemy who did not care who else got hurt. How far are we today from this in Iraq?
Where do we go from here? Kerry is trying to boil it down to the same 1992 Clinton formula- "Change vs. More of the Same" and you know what- it works. Saying that this is "hard work" seventeen times does not help anybody. Refusing to change a "strategery" that does not work is not helpful. Kerry rightly pointed out ourrate of casualties is increasing, our level of control is decreasing. Where do we go from here?
posted by Scott L. Stuart at
9:43 AM
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