Reagan Navy Sec'y Webb: "Iraq greatest strategic blunder in modern memory"

[Dems Will Win]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=679&ncid=742&e=14&u=/usatoday/20040219/cm_usatoday/veteransfaceconundrumkerryorbush

Veterans face conundrum: Kerry or Bush?
Thu Feb 19, 6:50 AM ET

By James Webb

-snip-

Bush arguably has committed the greatest strategic blunder in modern memory. To put it bluntly, he attacked the wrong target. While he boasts of removing Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) from power, he did far more than that. He decapitated the government of a country that was not directly threatening the United States and, in so doing, bogged down a huge percentage of our military in a region that never has known peace. Our military is being forced to trade away its maneuverability in the wider war against terrorism while being placed on the defensive in a single country that never will fully accept its presence.


There is no historical precedent for taking such action when our country was not being directly threatened. The reckless course that Bush and his advisers have set will affect the economic and military energy of our nation for decades. It is only the tactical competence of our military that, to this point, has protected him from the harsh judgment that he deserves.


At the same time, those around Bush, many of whom came of age during Vietnam and almost none of whom served, have attempted to assassinate the character and insult the patriotism of anyone who disagrees with them. Some have impugned the culture, history and integrity of entire nations, particularly in Europe, that have been our country's great friends for generations and, in some cases, for centuries.


Bush has yet to fire a single person responsible for this strategy. Nor has he reined in those who have made irresponsible comments while claiming to represent his administration. One only can conclude that he agrees with both their methods and their message.

James Webb was secretary of the Navy during the Reagan administration, and a Marine platoon and company commander in Vietnam. He also is an author and filmmaker.

-snip-

[ewagner]

1. I know I'm starting trouble here

but didn't Wesley Clark call the Iraq invasion a Huge Strategic Blunder?

[Dems Will Win]

2. is that the same as the "greatest strategic blunder"???

[peacetalksforall]

3. So, it's all true - what we knew all the time....

it's all because of our pseudo war director, Rumsfeld, and it reveals Rumsfelds true agenda along with war directors in the PNAC and other branches of the cabal - the spoils of war for a few and the protection of Sharon.

Finally, we have a military guy, Webb, who has political guts and a brain of his own.

[Kolesar]

4. Bingo.

It's about our "best ally in the region".

[JasonDeter]

5. Dang, thats strong coming from James Webb.

Theres a big difference between being IN a war and sending soldier TO war. Real men know the difference. Its insulting to our brave soldiers and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the past to blur the lines. Kudos to James Webb.

[robertpaulsen]

6. James Webb was saying this back in 2002

Check out his website. There's an article he wrote for the Washington Post on September 4, 2002 titled: Heading for Trouble Do We Really Want to Occupy Iraq for the Next 30 Years?

http://www.jameswebb.com/articles/washingtonpost/headingfortrouble.htm

Hope his prediction doesn't come true. Hope John F. Kerry's exit strategy is swift. Of course, if civil war breaks out, it's a whole new ballgame.

[TacticalPeek]

11. Indeed, Webb has been on the case and standing up for a while,

but gets extremely little face time on TV. When he is on, he's almost too cogent and on-target for the interviewer to handle.

Surprise.

(Incidentally, some wise men are now saying that 30 years is probably a little light, more like 50.)

[never cry wolf]

13. Thanks for the heads up

The link didn't work but I found his site. Thanks to the original thread post as well. Check out this speech I found on Webb's site.

(BTW: he ain't no librul, some of his articles were written for the american enterprise institure. But he does seem like a very sharp guy, and truthful.)

snip-----------

And so we reach the question of ethics, and their impact on the formulation of a policy that will now be with us for a long time. The justification for a unilateral war against Iraq simply did not exist on the facts.

Did these key players then lie to achieve their objective of an invasion and long-term occupation of Iraq? If so, why? And what are the immediate consequences? And given the immediate consequences, what are the long-term ramifications, both for the Bush Administration and for the United States?

Maybe we should simply use a softer, less provocative term than lying. Let’s call it conscious deception. For what does seem clear is that a small group of highly organized people worked very hard to manipulate the American public, its government, and the world's media, and not simply about the prospect that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction at its immediate beck and call. This process involved quite a bit of “reverse engineering” – that is, working backwards from the solution they had already agreed upon – the invasion and occupation of Iraq – and coming up with the appropriate formulas to justify the pre-ordained result.

On what issues did they mislead the American public and media? First, that invading Iraq had anything directly to do with the war against international terrorism. Second, that Saddam Hussein had direct ties to Al Qaeda. Third, that Saddam Hussein possessed an active capability to deliver weapons of mass destruction on international targets – and here it should be emphasized that these were specific and definite allegations of either weapons or delivery systems that could be in place in a matter of hours, rather than amorphous “development” programs. And finally – extremely importantly at this point – that it would not take a sizeable military presence to run the occupation of Iraq. The Administration’s error on this last point was not negligence, as many now claim. It involved a conscious deception regarding the true price that would have to be paid after the initial military incursion. The neo-cons in the Pentagon were given consistent military advice that was deliberately ignored, warning that it would take hundreds of thousands of American troops to stabilize a post-invasion Iraq.

more: http://www.jameswebb.com/speeches/ethicsinpostwariraq.htm

[sweetheart]

7. Iraq's the second greatest blunder.

The one political historians will write as his nemisis, at the top
of his headstone, it will say,

George bush - the one term tyrant who waged an ignorant war on gays,
divided the country one too many times by backing a constitutional
amendment, and blown out of office by a landslide by a furious public.

The biggest strategic blunder is this new war on gay marriage.

[efhmc]

8. This is so well written and well said. I wish all Americans could/would

read it.

[Bandit]

9. One of the Godfather's own critizing Bush*

Who would of thunk it?

[Columbia]

10. Good article

Coming from a wise, knowledgable man.

[Disturbed]

12. Real Conservatives.

Many actual Conservatives have spoken out against the Bushco Regime. The GOP realizes that the Cabal in power are not real Conservatives. It's obvious to anyone that knows the difference between Republican concepts and Neocon concepts.

Here is what most Republicans think about Dubya but few will publicly speak out with.

“George W. Bush is a dullard lacking any moral constraints in his pursuit of gain, loyal to no principle save the comfort of the very rich, unburdened by any thoughtful consideration of the national interest, and a man who, on those occasions when he actually does make a correct decision, does so almost by accident."

Jonathan Chait of the New Republic

[dudeness]

14. if only one good thing comes out of this disaster

it may well be that a united left and concerned citizens will stop any attempts by western governments to impose an imperial will on any other country. it is with no great pleasure that, those that publicly opposed this illegal invasion can rest on their laurels, the likes of noan chomsky, john pilger , arundhati roy and tariq ali to name a few..will be voices that will be heard with more seriousness in the mainstream than ever before..

[Jack from Charlotte]

15. I'd love to TURN a guy like Webb.........

That is, join our nominee against the little moron. Seeing Reagan's ex-Navy Secretary on a stage with his Viet Nam brother, Kerry (presumed) would be a huge deal. Remember, this election requires us to convince just a few percent more of the middle folks than the other crowd.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

16. This is one of the best and most concise

speeches on this topic I've yet read. I'm surprised (not) that I didn't hear about this when he first made the speech. I have forwarded it to many friends. Thanks! DU you are a great site!

[wjittermoss]

17. Will he go on prime time and make that statement?

Heard Johnson (former CIA) on NPR today. Will he ever be on prime time?

[DrBB]

18. Someone call me when these stories start making any difference

Yeah, good news, thanks for posting it. I'm just having a bad bout of cynicism at the moment I guess.

Josh Marshall pointed out that the 170 (est.) killed in the latest wave of bombings in Iraq is, proportional to population, equivalent to, oh, about 2700-3000 killed in the US. Familiar number, huh?

Enjoying the Oscars coverage today, everyone?

[pfitz59]

19. James Webb boxed Ollie North at the USNA......

and kicked his ass! Glad to see hhe still landing punches.....

[TacticalPeek]

20. Thanks for the splendid image! n/t