Why am I not surprised that after arriving in Washington late Thursday for a few days, just in time to meet friends for dinner, I hear the direst doom and gloom about Iraq over the dinner table?
I've decided if you want to socially bond quickly in D.C. with people you don't know well (although all these people are good friends), then mention Iraq and start talking in hushed, desperate tones, Everyone quickly joins in and begins to moan and groan over the sushi. The tuna is outstanding, the war a desperate failure. It's called trauma bonding.
I can only say over and over again, as I did last night: If you're informed daily by only the Washington Post and New York Times, by ABC, NBC and CBS, then that's all you could ever think. These commercial news outlets are bent on our defeat. Period. They're attempting to re-live the glory days of the Viet Nam era.
And I said there were far more sanguine reports coming out of Iraq on the Internet and various blogs.
Things are indeed tough in Iraq, but far from hopeless. I'm sure I sounded like an idiot from outer space to my friends all of whom are more intellectual and scholarly by a long shot. And of course I could be wrong. I've never been to Iraq.
But I say it again: if you're being informed day in, day out by the Washington Post and the New York Times crowds, you cannot help but think things are beyond hopeless. Pessimism and defeat are de rigeur there, so if you feed daily on these dying behemoths then know you are eating pessimism and defeat.
I said I had some good links at my blog on the War in Iraq.
"I can no longer access you blog," I am told by one dinner partner. He is correct that I lost access to my old blog, but here it is again with a little different URL. I urge him to try to find me again and tell him I will send him the new link, one more time.
So here are four links on my sidebar that may give them and us a second opinion up close and personal on how things are going in Iraq from some of the best and the brightest in Iraq. Well worth reading often and thoroughly:
1)Michael Totten is doing some truly outstanding journalism in Iraq. He's just made a video On Patrol in Ramadi which is well worth watching.
Again, Michael Totten is writing, photoblogging and starting to use video in ways you will never see from Washington or New York. It is first-rate for anyone who will take the time to open their minds to another perspective.
2) Victor Hanson at his blog VDH's Private Papers is just back in the United States after visiting and reporting from Iraq, his second trip since the war. Take time to read "Winning Ugly" on his blog.
In addition, Victor is writing about his impressions in Iraq at Pajamas Media. He has had extraordinary access to generals and ordinary soldiers there and always has good insights in his clear writing and reporting.
3) Teflon Don has just returned from tour of duty in Iraq but is still writing about what he saw and did there. Don't miss his perspective from a soldier's point of view at Acute Politics.
His most recent post refers to the Washington Post's series on neutralizing IEDs in Iraq and well worth reading.
*********
UPDATE: Friday morning I met one of my friends for breakfast and as I was leaving the table he handed me the front page of this morning's New York Times and said, "you know, I think the Times is actually beginning to agree with what you said last night."
I was rather amazed at his admission. It's a fairly optimistic piece.
Web, on the flip side, if you read nothing about how well the situation in Iraq is going, you never know about the problems there.
ReplyDeleteIn that little dustup with Tom a few weeks ago, he made a comment about "how well military recruiting is going". The only way he or anyone else could possibly think that is if he never heard anything to the contrary. If you are fed a steady diet of good news from Rush, Sean, Michael Weiner Savage and Bill O'Reilly (total number of days in uniform between them: ZERO), then you never hear that, for instance, 18% of new recruits have some type of criminal record. You never hear that the USMC wants to get out of Iraq and re-deploy to Afghanistan. You never hear that the US Embassy in Baghdad is overbudget (by millions), behind schedule (by months, if not years) and widely detested by the Iraqis. Or, more likely, you hear those things, and then assume that since it came from the dreaded "MSM" it's a lie and whoever said it is a proud member of al-Qaeda.
I think getting a wide range of opinions is a good idea. People shouldn't be so closed minded that they only read the good news - and they also shouldn't always dwell on the negative.
There's always one way to find out how things are going "over there" - encourage your kids to sign up for the military. The Army is offering lots of signing bonuses - $20,000 if you can ship off to basic training within 30 days, for example - and if your kids are good with languages they can get a bonus for that as well. Any of the DC area recruiters will have plenty of information about the different MOS' available. Your kids should check it out!
If they don't want to join the military, then foreign service is an option. Heck, you could probably join if you're really interested. There are also many NGOs operating in Iraq. If they ever get the embassy open in Baghdad, it's going to have family housing and a DODDS (Department of Defense) school. There is no way in hell I'd ever take my family there - but maybe you or your family members would be interested.
I hope being in DC and taking a glance at the dreaded, hated, anti-Bush, anti-democracy, pro-communist America hating rag otherwise known as the Washington Post doesn't blind you. I think you'd be pretty shocked at how conservative it is - they like this war in Iraq every bit as much as you do!
Nothing that I have read from these men, Vienna, has ever glossed over the problems in Iraq.
ReplyDeleteNo one denies there are problems and discouragement there, as in all our wars, including the revolutionary and civil wars.
But the general tenor and tone of the reports by Hanson, Totten et al are far more balanced and frankly mature in my opinion than the gloom and doom of the MSM.
But as always, you make some good points, my dear.
If the reporters from the Times and Post were writing lies about the progress of Bush and Cheyney's war, you can believe they would no longer be imbedded with the troops.I would trust the information they send back more so than the right wing amateur so-called mysterious "journalists" you mention in your writing. But as always it is excellent writing!
ReplyDelete"In that little dustup with Tom a few weeks ago, he made a comment about "how well military recruiting is going". The only way he or anyone else could possibly think that is if he never heard anything to the contrary.
ReplyDeleteOh, brother. Vienna, you couldn't be anymore wrong about what I said or where I get my information if you tried. Here is what I actually said, which started with a question, and assumed appropriate screening:
"Where do you get the idea the military would turn away volunteers, no matter how good the recruiting numbers are? I'd bet they'd find a place for every volunteer that came into their recruiting offices. I may be wrong; it wouldn't be the first time--but I would bet they wouldn't. I know your main point was that you'd wish more people would volunteer. Poorly worded wishing, I guess."
That's a long way off of "how well military recruiting is going", isn't it? And you have the arrogance and audacity to condescendingly assume that I get all of my information exclusively from right-wing sources?
I presume from the way you misquoted me just now that you must get your information out of thin air.
Do yourself a favor. If you're going to quote somebody, make sure you get it right. That, and if you want to be taken seriously then give the intellectually lazy chickenhawk argument a rest. It's grade school logic at its finest.
My sincerest apologies Tom. I made a mistake. I was posting that while I was trying to get my kids ready for school. I didn't have time to go back and get the exact wording. I shouldn't have put you in quotes. I know there's a big difference between what I thought you said ("how well military recruiting is going") and what you actually said ("...no matter how good the numbers are."). I'm sorry I misquoted you.
ReplyDeleteUm, as for where you get your sources, just glancing at your blogroll, is there anyone on there that isn't a right winger? Let's see, you've got Little Green footballs, David Limbaugh, Neil Boortz, Michelle Malkin. I'm sure there's one "liberal blog" there, which will, of course, make me look like a complete fool AGAIN, right Tom?
Mabye you do sit down with a big cup a joe everymorning to read the Plain Dealer or NY Times.
You've got my on the lazy chickenhawk argument. I DETEST them. Grade school logic or not, they're always the biggest mouths on the block with the least amount of courage. I've got this great sticker on my car: "My husband voluntarily serves his country so yours won't be drafted." I don't see what's wrong with asking why people on this blog support a war that none of them have any personal stake in. If that hurts your feelings, too bad.
Vienna, I think it's wonderful that you husband serves voluntarily and I thank him and you for that.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I do think the inference that anyone who's not over there doesn't have a personal stake in the war, and therefore should be going out and volunteering.
It verges on self-righteousness.
Let me say all of us have a stake in this war whether we acknowledge it or not. Just because we're called to work, teach, raise a family, contribute productivity to the economy doesn't mean we don't care or shouldn't be allowed to speak up for or against it.
Really now, Vienna.
Web, I've never said that you or anyone else can't have an opinion on the war or any other topic. You can be for it or against it. You can attend pro-war or anti-war rallies as you see fit. It matters not to me.
ReplyDeleteIf people want to think that spending more money at the mall is their contribution to the war effort, so be it. If people want to travel around the world and that's their contribution to the war effort, so be it. If people want to stay home, raise their families, work hard and pay their taxes and that's their contribution to the war effort, so be it.
If you all feel that in 25 years, when your children and grandchildren ask you what you did to win the war, you will take a great deal of pride in telling them that you shopped, volunteered at the library, watched Fox News and put a "support the troops" bumper sticker on your car, then I'm happy for you.
There's just a lot more out there to be done, but since I sound like I'm beating a dead horse about signing up for military service, and since very, very few seem to share my opinion, I'll drop it.
I'm not trying to sound self-righteous, and I apologize if I come across that way. I'm proud of what my family has done to help this country. I know the military is having a tough time with recruiting, and repeated deployments take their toll on morale and family life. My only goal is helping the US win. Asking for a little sacrifice from all of us does not seem to be too much to ask.
I couldn't agree with you more, Vienna. What you might think about doing is writing a piece for this blog on things---small and large sacrifices we can all make besides dropping everything and enlisting in the service.
ReplyDeleteWar always takes its toll and we may all have to make unknowns sacrifices in the future. But concrete suggestions from someone like you are helpful.
Web, thanks very much for the offer. I've been doing a lot of thinking about how we can all help the war effort. You're right, not everyone can drop everything and sign up (although, just for the record, people in the National Guard and Reserves continue to work in their normal jobs with the understanding that they might one day be called up. And there are many ways to serve for short periods of time and do the rest of your committment as part of the IRR. But that's a story for another day).
ReplyDeleteI might take you up on your offer, but not right now. A friend of mine is running for the school board and I'm busy with that and the various activities my boys are involved in.
Enjoy your time in DC. Looks to be a nice (but cool) weekend. I just got back from my first soccer game of the day - it was 47* when we got to the school!!!
Vienna:
ReplyDeleteFirst off, apology accepted.
Next, my blogroll doesn't encompass all of my informational sources. My blogroll includes things I enjoy reading and typically agree with. Just because I don't enjoy or agree with something doesn't mean I don't read it. Once again, you assume incorrectly.
I'm not surprised you used your elementary school logic with that topic, though. Quite honestly, it's people like you who've made me sick of blogging and commenting on blogs.
With your chickenhawk argument, you're disqualifying yourself from arguing about quite a few things, other than what you have experience with. So, since you haven't been President of the US, you ought not criticize him, by your logic. And, by your logic, if you don't like me saying that...too bad.
Oh, and if you don't like me not serving and telling you what I think...too bad. You don't know me and you have no idea why I'm not serving. Quite frankly, it's none of your damned business and it has nothing to do with the topic at hand.
The funny thing about people who use the chickenhawk argument is...
...they'd rather engage in personal attacks (see ad hominem--unless liberals have removed this term from their dictionaries) and attempt to equate courage with serving the country rather than debating the real issue. It's a diversionary tactic designed to get the conversation away from an argument they know they cannot win.
Thanks for admitting you have no intention of debating the issues, and that you'd rather question my courage. It screams, "Don't take me seriously." So, I won't.
Alright--I've said enough. I can see this probably isn't going to go anywhere so...have a nice weekend. I know I will.
Thanks both Tom for your opinions. Your comments are always welcome.
ReplyDeleteVienna, thank you too.You are a busy woman, and in time the sacrifices that are needed for this war will become apparent. When and if you have time or interest, feel free to express them.
Have a great weekend....it is beautiful here in D.C.
I have a little response for H.G. when I have another minute or two....
Vienna:
ReplyDeleteI forgot one more very important thing. I want to thank your husband for serving my country and defending me and my family, and thank you, too, for taking his service so seriously. I hope your husband completes his service on his own terms, as well as safe and sound.
And again, very sincerely, have a nice weekend.
You too, Web.
I want to echo everything Tom just said, Vienna. What we stateside people can do is show appreciation and pray for his, your and all our troops and their families' well-being.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Ahem, HG.
ReplyDeleteWhen start calling men like Victor Hanson amateurs, then you don't disparage him, but rather yourself.
Just a part of his bio from his webpage---VDH Privat Papers-- which I link to on Webutante on the sidebar will reveal the following about this "amateur;"
"Victor Davis Hanson is a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, a professor emeritus at California University, Fresno, and a nationally syndicated columnist for Tribune Media Services. He is also the Wayne & Marcia Buske Distinguished Fellow in History, Hillsdale College, where he teaches each fall courses in military history and classical culture.
"He was a full-time farmer before joining CSU Fresno, in 1984 to initiate a classics program. In 1991, he was awarded an American Philological Association Excellence in Teaching Award, which is given yearly to the country's top undergraduate teachers of Greek and Latin."
Shall we go on, HG? Yes, of course we shall...
"Hanson was a National Endowment for the Humanities fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, California (1992-93), a visiting professor of classics at Stanford University (1991-92), a recipient of the Eric Breindel Award for opinion journalism (2002), and an Alexander Onassis Fellow (2001) and was named alumnus of the year of the University of California, Santa Cruz (2002). He was also the visiting Shifrin Chair of Military History at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis , Maryland (2002-3).
He received the Manhattan Institute's Wriston Lectureship in 2004, and the 2006 Nimitz Lectureship in Military History at UC Berkeley in 2006.
Hanson is the author of hundreds of articles, book reviews, scholarly papers, and newspaper editorials on matters ranging from Greek, agrarian and military history to foreign affairs, domestic politics, and contemporary culture. He has written or edited 16 books, including Warfare and Agriculture in Classical Greece (1983; paperback ed. University of California Press, 1998); The Western Way of War (Alfred Knopf, 1989; 2d paperback ed. University of California Press, 2000); Hoplites: The Ancient Greek Battle Experience (Routledge, 1991; paperback., 1992); The Other Greeks: The Family Farm and the Agrarian Roots of Western Civilization (Free Press, 1995; 2nd paperback ed., University of California Press, 2000); Fields without Dreams: Defending the Agrarian Idea (Free Press, 1996; paperback, Touchstone, 1997); The Land Was Everything: Letters from an American Farmer (Free Press, 2000); The Wars of the Ancient Greeks (Cassell, 1999; paperback, 2001); The Soul of Battle (Free Press, 1999, paperback, Anchor/Vintage, 2000); Carnage and Culture (Doubleday, 2001; Anchor/Vintage, 2002); An Autumn of War (Anchor/Vintage, 2002); Mexifornia: A State of Becoming (Encounter, 2003), Ripples of Battle (Doubleday, 2003), and Between War and Peace (Random House, 2004).
His newest book, A War Like No Other: How the Athenians and Spartans Fought the Peloponnesian War, was published by Random House in October 2005. Click here to read more about the book. It was named one of the New York Times Notable 100 Books of 2006."
So HG, I think that should be enough of all this "amateur" nonesense, and we haven't even gotten to Michael Totten.
Teflon Don might be considered and amateur. I can be considered an amateur. But for heaven's sakes, don't put Victor or Michael in such company. Unless you want to appear.....perhaps....foolish......
your ever defiant conservative watchdog amateur friend...
....sigh....
ReplyDeleteOk. Tom, you and I have gotten off on the wrong foot. It is entirely my fault, and I assume all responsibility for the hurt feelings and misunderstandings. I am actually a very nice person off line - at least I think I am - but I have not done a good job at presenting my best side to you here.
Tom, if I have ever said anything to personally offend you, I'm sorry. I don't recall attacking you personally (I think even Web would agree that's not my style), but if you say I did, then I take your word for it, and I apologize.
I actually feel horrible that I'm the reason you're not blogging anymore. I mean, I don't even know you very well, and I don't really feel like you and I have any sort of online relationship, so it really bothers me that something I've said or written has turned you off to something you seem to enjoy doing. It definitely was never my intent in anyway, and I really mean that with all sincerity.
It's up to you whether or not you want to take me seriously on this matter, or any other. I'm a pretty straight shooter, and like everyone else who posts on this blog, I have my own opinions which I'm not afraid to express.
Although I disagree with about 75% of Web's posts, it is without question never my intention to hurt anyone's feelings, or make them feel badly about the discussions here or anywhere else. I value everyone's opinion, as I think they do mine. Just because we disagree politically doesn't mean that at the end of the day we can't be friendly.
That's my $.02, for whatever it's worth.
And thank you both for your very kind words about my family. My husband is not one for accepeting accolades, but I appreciate them nonetheless, and will be happy to pass them along to him.
Vienna:
ReplyDeleteI do take you seriously on that, and I thank you for your sincerity.
I should clarify something; I think I was unfair with the "people like you" statement. It's definitely not you specifically that's burned me out on blogging or commenting. So, I apologize to you for that comment, it wasn't fair to you.
"I value everyone's opinion, as I think they do mine. Just because we disagree politically doesn't mean that at the end of the day we can't be friendly. That's my $.02, for whatever it's worth."
Now that's something I respect and admire in people, and something we agree on wholeheartedly. And it's worth a whole lot more than $.02 to me--it's priceless. We need more of that attitude today.
Once again, apology accepted. Forgotten and forgiven, in my book.
So...heh-heh-heh...ummmm...how about that weather we're having? We Ohioans hit 90 on Monday and now it's down to 60 today...
:-)
Yes, let's definitely talk about the weather. I thought maybe you'd say, hey, how 'bout that World Series? Me being a Red Sox fan, and seeing that you're from Ohio...maybe that's not such a good idea. :)
ReplyDeleteYou can go ahead and thank me though for serving up my Big 10 team (Northwestern) to OSU for an easy "W" earlier this season. 58-7 as I recall? I'd be nervous about having OSU undefeated at #1...that hasn't worked out to well for too many teams this year as they usually lose the next week. Kinda like the Sports Illustrated jinx I guess.
Northwestern is actually my husband's alma mater - my team, the mighty Orangemen of Syracuse, haven't had a winning season in years. It gets harder and harder to believe that Donovan McNabb actually played there - and was successful - bring back Coach Dick McPherson I say!!
Vienna:
ReplyDeleteI'm not a Cleveland fan per se, but my father-in-law is, so I feel obligated to cheer for them. The truth is--I'm a long-suffering Reds and Bengals fan. I was really happy for Boston and their fans though, when they won the World Series, and I can't stand the Yankees, even though Steinbrenner is an OSU grad. That's his only redeeming quality, in my book.
Northwestern is having it tough lately, and I think it all started when Coach Randy Walker tragically and shockingly died of a heart attack. I have a soft spot for them due to that and the fact that they're perennial underdogs.
You're definitely right with me being nervous (and excited at the same time!)about OSU being #1, and they have 5 big games left that will determine if they really deserve it. Big, big target on their backs. I think all the craziness this year is proof positive that CFB needs a playoff to decide the winner of the National Championship. Lots of parity!!
Syracuse--yeah, it's getting tougher for them isn't it? They need to find someone similar to Rutgers' coach. They're usually strong in basketball, though, so at least you have something to look forward to.
Gosh, you both are getting me more interested in paying attention to this!
ReplyDeleteSee, we can agree on something: mutual hatred of the Yankees. I grew up in NY, and was a fan until we spent the 2003-2004 academic year outside Boston while my husband was a FEF. The Sox lost the ALCS in game 7 when Grady Little left Pedro in for too long...ahhhh..it's just to painful to continue writing about that game.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about watching the '04 series is that we were in Egypt, so by the time the games showed up on AFN (taped, at about 3:00 am), the scores were already on the internet, so I could watch them already knowing the Sox would win!
I keep thinking I've got to take my boys to a 'Cuse basketball game - being in the Carrier Dome is so awesome...Jim Boeheim is a good guy and definitely deserved to win the championship in '03 -which, was like the first year in about 10 years that I didn't take part in a March madness pool. Figures that's the year my team wins the whole thing! My husband was deployed and our boys were 5 and 2, so I definitely had too much to do and too little time to get everything done...