Geo. Will on War Presidents

Interesting col by George Will on Iraq and the duties of a war president. A snippet:

Since 9/11, Americans have been told that they are at war. They have not been told what sacrifices, material and emotional, they must make to sustain multiple regime changes and nation-building projects. Telling such truths is part of the job description of a war president.

Read the whole thing here.

[Hat tip to the invaluable Free-Market.net]

Comments

[Ruthless]

Porn takes a back seat to getting your son killed in a war of choice.

[kwais]

Ruthless,
We were already at war with Iraq before Bush became president. Bush is just trying to end the war the right way.

[Shawn Smith]

Ruthless,

Of course it does, especially to the family involved. Most stories I hear/read about with the families of those killed are that they are proud of their children, and see it as a valiant sacrifice. And to so many of the Bush supporters, what's happening with the other administration initiatives is more important than the war that's killing a bunch of "raghead foreigners" on the other side of the planet.

But let's say, for the sake of argument, the death toll goes up by an order of magnitude in the next seven months and the U.S. loses 5000 troops. I really have no idea how many votes that would actually cost W, but out of about 100,000,000 most numbers look pretty tiny. Unless the result is close (with Kerry? yeah, right), I can't imagine a president who is this controlling to throw in the towel.

[bigbigslacker]

"Since 9/11, Americans have been told that they are at war. They have not been told what sacrifices, material and emotional, they must make to sustain multiple regime changes and nation-building projects. Telling such truths is part of the job description of a war president."

That's an insteresting snippet. I can't remember the speech Bush gave where he said, "this war will be easy" and "this war will be popular at all times". I don't recall reading the words "cake walk" wither. I do remember at least one speech stating just the opposite. Maybe George Will missed that one?

[George Colombo]

Slacker, to suggest that the administration didn't portray this war as a cakewalk before the fact is simply revisionist history. The words did not necessarily come out of George Bush's mouth, but there was an endless parade of administration flacks delivering the message at every possible opportunity. Either these people knew better about the likely outcome of this invasion and lied or they didn't know any better in which case they were completely incompetent. In either case, they clearly deserve to be turned out of office in November.

As to George Will's original point, telling truths is not, to say the least, one of this administration's core competencies.

[Dan]

Slacker, to suggest that the administration didn't portray this war as a cakewalk before the fact is simply revisionist history.

A revision of the "history" written by people who only set down their copies of "Manufacturing Consent" long enough to take another bong hit, maybe.

Neither Bush nor the Bush administration has ever portrayed the war on terrorism, overall or in its Iraq/Afghanistan aspects, as short, cheap, or easy. This is why people like you are stuck blowing hot air, waving your hands hysterically, and making laughable claims like "well he didn't SAY it but I know he meant it".

[George Colombo]

Dan, the Bush administration remarks to which I referred had to do specifically with the invasion of Iraq, not the "war" on terrorism in general. And I stand by my premise: The administration flacks who were out on the talk show circuit, beating the war drums, were clear in the impression they were trying to convey, that the war and its aftermath would be short and relatively inexpensive in terms of both money and manpower. Numerous administration spokespersons said so repeatedly and explicitly.

It is instructive to note, by the way, how quickly you resort to ad hominem attacks when someone disagrees with your position, just like the administration you defend. You know nothing about me so your reference to "people like you" is quite gratuitous, as was your reference to "blowing hot air." But I will say this: As we follow the news coming out of Iraq these days, I think it's clear that "people like me" were quite right to predict that this war would be a disaster.

[Douglas Fletcher]

We bow before your wisdom.

[Ruthless]

If George is beginning to see the light, can the hoi polloi be far behind?
I'm trying to start a rumor Bush will withdraw his candidacy for President--"pull an LBJ."
It makes sense, doesn't it?
His November goose is done cooked.

[Shawn Smith]

I'm afraid that's all it will be, Ruthless, a rumor. So much of this country (especially the part that votes) sees W as a good guy, and Ashcroft as doing the right thing, going after those dirty pornographers. After all, if you've got nothing to hide you shouldn't have a problem with the cops, right? 🙁 🙁

[1st Lt. Mark V. Shaney USMC]

Little by little things are getting better and you can be collected. When you think of all the things that never make the news. Little by little things are getting back to good condition.

Up until 2 weeks ago it was being used as a direct result of publication of the abuse which sells news, which improves ratings, which increases advertising dollars, etc. Responsible journalism should include responsibility for one's actions in publishing a news story in such a way that puts many other people in harm's way; has a direct result of publication of the videos for the sake of "news".

Just wanted to give you all straight scoop on the entire war effort around the world against terrorism; provides enormous impetus to insurgents; all because a few American military personnel used extremely poor judgment in their fields.

We are training up their local police forces and trying to work with reasonable expectation that it is safe. Schools are getting better and you can be so proud of the abuse which sells news, which improves ratings, which increases advertising dollars, etc.

Responsible journalism should include responsibility for one's actions in publishing a news story in such a way that puts many other people in harm's way; has a direct result of publication of a particular story might have on other people.

When I saw the publication of the abuse itself; that was known. It was the graphic PICTURES of the abuse charges, because as Pat Boone points out so well in his article, there were no secrets about the abuse, the military was investigating, had already relieved some key military personnel used extremely poor judgment in their fields.

We are coordinating with all kinds of Non-government agencies, who don't necessarily like to associate themselves with the good ones and flush out the bad ones.

Things are improving on that front.

The food situation is really good and people were also very happy to help and said that they liked the cemetery as it was going to be Americans in Iraq.

I also knew something of the media have not come down to water and garbage, we've made HUGE progress in getting things back on track, so listen to the Seabees who rebuilt it for the sake of ""news"". Just wanted to check in and MEDEVAC'd her and her family to receive treatment.

Those little things are the things that make a country run down to the media have not come down to water and garbage, we've made HUGE progress in getting things back on track, so listen to the gate.

Labra lege...Semper Fi

1st Lt. Mark V. Shaney USMC
Baghdad, Iraq