Hagel on Iraq: Wrong Again, and Again :: Iraq

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August 22, 2005

Hagel on Iraq: Wrong Again, and Again

Topics: Iraq

The Left-wing antiwar group MoveOn, a key Democratic supporter, has found a new spokesman in Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska (and don't forget to add Michael Moore to the list of the growing number of left-wing supporters of Chuck Hagel's anti-administration, anti-war rhetoric)

As John Hinderaker at Powerline posted yesterday, Nebraska's Senator Chuck Hagel becoming a vocal critic of the Iraq war. Sunday, Hagel said that the United States is losing in Iraq, and Iraq is like Vietnam.

The Associated Press reports:
A leading Republican senator and prospective presidential candidate said Sunday that the war in Iraq has destabilized the Middle East and is looking more like the Vietnam conflict from a generation ago.

And what exactly makes Chuck Hagel a "leading Republican senator"? It's not seniority - he's a second-termer. It's not any official responsibilities since Hagel isn't a member of the Senate leadership, nor does he chair a Senate committee. And as the suggests, "it's certainly not legislative accomplishment or influence since Hagel has little noteworthy legislation to his name, and is more often an eccentric voice--e.g., in his call for reinstatement of the draft--than an influence on his fellow Senators. So it's hard to escape the conclusion that for the Associated Press, any Republican who attacks the Bush administration and claims that we're losing in Iraq is automatically promoted to "leading Republican senator" status."

Perhaps John's most astute comment of all: "Prospective presidential candidate"? Not as a Republican.

Most Americans realize that winning in Iraq is not an option, it's the heart of the battle against Islamic terrorists; that's why al-Qaeda wants the U.S. out so badly and why they are fighting so hard to destroy the democratization of Iraq. Hagel also has to know that everytime he mumbles his anti-war dribble, the enemy loves it and will use it, as will the democrats and groups like MoveOn.Org. So does he have some bizarre plan to use his anti-war rhetoric to win the presidency, is he simply a sincere man that is sadly confused, or is he just another McGovern in elephant's clothing? Or, more probable, is the guy simply a nut case?

However, regardless of what Hagel says, Iraq is no Vietnam,

Iraq is not the same as what happened in Vietnam, and we have a major lesson from history that shows just how wrong snapshot judgements of perspectives on war can be. It's all about staying focused and the commitment that naturally follows(Hat tip - George Woods at The George Blog).

Here's the link to Alexander Rubin's piece: The Specter of the Werewolf: Lessons from Post-War Germany

As George suggests, "Make time to read it and then make time to forward today's blog to your email list. This is powerful stuff."

Iraq Is No Vietnam
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