Dean: US Won't Win In Iraq

This is beyond funny, now. It's a disgrace and this moron has to go if the Dems want to have a prayer of getting elected to anything nationally higher than dog catcher. There's no excuse for this - none.

(SAN ANTONIO) -- Saying the "idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong," Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean predicted today that the Democratic Party will come together on a proposal to withdraw National Guard and Reserve troops immediately, and all US forces within two years.

Dean made his comments in an interview on WOAI Radio in San Antonio.

"I've seen this before in my life. This is the same situation we had in Vietnam. Everybody then kept saying, 'just another year, just stay the course, we'll have a victory.' Well, we didn't have a victory, and this policy cost the lives of an additional 25,000 troops because we were too stubborn to recognize what was happening."

Comments

[sprite]

Dean the scream machine still at work. Maybe someday sooner than later the machine will just wear out. Its old and used now.

[Northerner]

I think he's right though. If by "winning the war" is meant the original objective of establishing a lasting democracy in Iraq. Democracy is something that has to grow out of the will of the people, it cannot be forced upon a country by outsiders, no matter how good their intentions.
If by "winning the war" he means a military victory, he's right too. A guerilla war supported by a large percentage of the population cannot be won by a conventional army. The parallell with Vietnam is correct. In both cases, a conventional army with superior firepower against a guerrilla "rabble". The guerilla can strike at will and then disappear into the local population. The conventional army just attrites. Wars of attrition are very unpopular back home, especially if no major victories can be shown to compensate.
If by "winning the war" was meant securing oil for the US, even that will not work in the long run. If the US-controlled (sorry, supported) democratic regime loses an election or is overthrown, you are back at square 1.
Only if by "losing the war" he meant the war against terrorism, do I think he is wrong. That war has very little if anything to do with Iraq and that war can be won by education as much as by military force (in the long run anyway, and this is going to be a long war).

[Flying Dutchman]

Democracy is something that has to grow out of the will of the people, it cannot be forced upon a country by outsiders, no matter how good their intentions.

Posted by: Northerner | Dec 6, 2005 2:06:06 AM

But I understand most of the active terrorist are also outsiders and they seem to have the upper hand, because they share a common belief with the natives.

No matter how good the intentions of the US are, they will never get the appreciation they deserve in a country overrun by Islam.

Islam is a powerfull religion, certainly in countries where oppressed and illiterate people are encouraged by their religious leaders to show an overwhelming hatred towards countries and people that may liberate and educate them. This is the biggest fear of their leaders, because when people can read and write, they may be able to interpret the Koran themselves and come to the conclusion that Islam is not only a powerfull religion, but also a powerfull tool of oppression to their leaders.

So I have to agree with Northerner and Dean. I don't think the US will 'win' this war and might be better off, in removing their troops from Iraq and concentrate on Afghanistan first.
Remember that in history a lot of wars where lost, because some military leaders had to fight on multiple fronts. The US has 3 fronts now (Afghanistan, Iraq and homeland security).

[TheAlamo]

"Dean made his comments in an interview on WOAI Radio in San Antonio."

This used to be the best "conservative" station in town. It had a guy named Carl Wigglesworth on, that knew his stuff. So, they got rid of him and put in a bunch of clowns. Dean just happened to join his element at this radio station.
Unfortunately, they have eliminated all good broadcasters from the whole area. Wish I knew where Wigglesworth went, I would try to tune in wherever he is.
Dean should be sent to a mental institution...along with about 400 other congressmen.

[c]

Dan can anyone explain, how u define winning a war ?

[New Creature]

IMO, we already won. We are just inforcing that win.

[Smokey]

IMO we are going to be enforcing this crap for another 5 years. Dont get me wrong I love our troops, and I love my country, but if our debts keep mounting up, its not really going to matter if Iraq votes in an election or not.

[*flo*]

I think about the many years U.S. troops have continued tours in Germany and Korea, resulting from "conventional". Regardless military downsizing, with troop movement to the middle east, the U.S. presents will be there for years to come to ensure stability. MO, think it should be Tic for Tac...giving U.S. control of some of those oil refinery's would benefit the national debt.

[Sgt. York]

If by "winning" one means training the New Iraqi Army [ie, Shi'it millitas] and having them crush the Sunni insurgency... very possibly. But the Sunni aren't going to run out of Jihadist suicide bombers any time soon.

However, if the ultimate outcome is seeing Iranian-alligned Shi'it fundamentalists [aka, 'Islamofascists'] running Iraq; that doesn't really seem like a 'victoy' worth dying for.

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[Rick]

As much as i hate to agree with anything Dean or MrsLevy have to say. He is absolutley correct on this one. Pity he and his kind weren't more insistant before we got into this stupid effort. Unlike the polar politicos w/ their "who hung who in 1852" BS excuses for going to war/not going to war.They are all idiots! I was opposed based on the fact that I don't care about those people and unless there's a ICBM pointed within 25 miles of my house then WMD's are no threat.
No we cannot win because we cannot possibly kill enough of them to make them quit. Americans have no stomach for the kind of war they understand in that part of the world. We will NEVER win them over and 6 months (on the outside) after we leave, they will start killing each other again...which BTW is a good thing.

[Sgtslady]

Well, I'm thankful Dean was not present during the American Revolution...because until "we won"...pretty much every military battle was a defeat. And, those pesky Loyalists were every where..in fact, by most accounts the majority of the population really wasn't interested in Declaring themselves an Independent nation.

Dean has his own agenda and it isn't with the truth...and he knows it... The Iraqis want their self determined government. Over and Over, the Iraqis step forward to become civil servants, police, or join their military...and immediately place a target on themselves & their families.

They've voted and turned out in higher proportions than we do... and to get to their polls they had to stand in line for hours, face potential bombers, and then have purple fingers for a week or so... We'd use just the thought of the "ink" to stay home.

All this fringed concerned from the Politically Correct Left that the Iraqis are not progressive enough in their constitution...what happened to diversity? Their Government will not look like ours. It will reflect their heritage...and become the most representative government ever established within that Islamic framework. And its success is the only real solution to stemming the use of "terrorism" as a way for a nation to relate to other nations. Iran is hovering and in the hands of lunatics...and has been since Carter "gave" it away to the Islamic Terrorists in the '70s...

Will "Terrorism" ever be totally defeated? No. Check out America's crime statistics. Evil exists. Reasonable people do what they can to protect themselves from it and hope a random act of violence does not cross their path on the way to the Mall.

Dean should go visit Iraq and check it out for himself. He'd still say the same lies, but at least he'd have to look the Iraqis in the eye when he does it.

[Not a Hand Wringer]

Dean is 100% right with these comments.

[Perok]

Bush Interview

Do you really think we can win this war on terror in the next four years?" Lauer asked.

"I have never said we can win it in four years," Bush said, following up, *****"I don't think you can win it.*****

Thats Republican Amnesia. It's pretty common.