Hagel: Bush speech worst blunder since Vietnam (Reuters)

[Eugene]

Hagel: Bush speech worst blunder since Vietnam
11 Jan 2007 16:19:39 GMT
Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Jan 11 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush's plan to send
about 21,500 more U.S. troops to Iraq is the greatest U.S. foreign policy
blunder since Vietnam, Nebraska Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel said on Thursday.

"I think this speech given last night by this president represents the most
dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam if it's carried
out," Hagel, a possible U.S. 2008 presidential candidate, told a congressional
hearing. "I will resist it."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/WBT006395.htm

[maxsolomon]

1. a worse blunder THAN vietnam

but maybe i have a foggy impression of how stupid vietnam was.

[Doctor_J]

2. We lost 58,000 in VN

and Nixon's escalation was more expensive and expansive than what Smirk's talking about, so maybe this is a tiny little bit better.

But LBJ & RMN didn't have a VN to look back on for reference, so in that sense *'s move is dumber

[coalition_unwilling]

7. As bad as Iraq is, our involvement in southeast Asia caused the

untimely deaths of 2-3 millions southeast Asians. I think the Iraqi civilian body count is still probably under 1 million.

Of course, there is the small matter of the worldwide population of Muslims topping out at just over 1 billion. That could mean Iraq is a worse blunder than Vietnam.

[SCantiGOP]

3. the SWEETEST thing..

is that this is coming from a Republican.

[Doctor_J]

4. Yes, I am surprised that the other dignified GOP haven't jumped

on the no-surge bandwagon - Snowe, Paul, Snarlin' Arlen, Lugar, Voinovich, Warner. Maybe this weekend.

[SCantiGOP]

9. other GOPers have turned

CNN said that 10 GOP Senators had said they at least have serious concerns about the surge, if not outright oppostion. 10 is an important number since it would give you 61 votes (51+10) to cut off debate during a filibuster.

[Doctor_J]

10. Careful with your math

51 + 10 - Lieberman = 60 - right on the edge.

[Contrary1]

5. "...if it's carried out" ????

Some of the troops are already there, with more due to arrive today.

That was quick.

Troop Surge Already Under Way

"BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 10, 2007 — President Bush's speech may be scheduled for tonight, but the troop surge in Iraq is already under way.

ABC News has learned that the "surge" Bush is expected to announce in a prime time speech tonight has already begun. Ninety advance troops from the 82nd Airborne Division arrived in Baghdad Wednesday.

An additional battalion of roughly 800 troops from the same division are expected to arrive in Baghdad Thursday. Eighty percent of the sectarian violence occurs within a 30-mile radius of Baghdad, so that is where most of the additional troops will be concentrated.

It is the first small wave of troops in a new White House strategy that is expected to put more than 20,000 additional U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq and likely require new call-ups of the National Guard..."

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/IraqCoverage/story?id=2785532&page=1

[wordpix]

6. Hagel has consistently dissed pRes. Dimson for the past year or so. "The aspens are turning"

[BluegrassDem]

8. "Blunder" is an understatement

The Bay of Pigs invasion would be a 'blunder'. This is a utter DISASTER! The ramifications of Bush's decision on foreign policy, America's image, and lives lost is beyond imagination. "Blunder" is way too easy sounding.