Back to Your Studies - The unbearable shallowness of the Iraq Study Group

[qrayjack]

Back to Your Studies - The unbearable shallowness of the Iraq Study Group. Reuel Marc Gerecht, The Weekly Standard

For the second time since 9/11, Americans have been treated to the undemocratic phenomenon of private citizens assuming the responsibilities and prerogatives of elected officials. First we had the 9/11 Commission. Not content to present its findings and recommendations to the president and Congress, the commission went on a nationwide lobbying campaign to persuade America, and pressure its representatives, into accepting its "advice." Now we have the Baker-Hamilton Commission, officially known as the Iraq Study Group, self-consciously following in its predecessor's footsteps.

From its paltry discussion of America's counterinsurgency in Iraq, to its recommendations about troop levels, to its scathing condemnation of American diplomacy under Condoleezza Rice and Iraqi politics under Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, to its embrace of "engagement" with Syria and Iran, and to its unstated but clear call for American pressure on Israel to concede more "land-for-peace" to the Palestinians, the ISG report is strong on assertions but weak on arguments.
MORE (http://www.weeklystandard.c om/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/069znxce.asp)

*And the left is treating it like the Ten Commandments tablets given to Moses on the mountain by God. Uh... sorry. Poor analogy. Try this: The left views the ISD report as a mystical unassailable revelation directly from the hand of George Soros and the ACLU.

[qrayjack]

*And then there's this:

ISG Prescribes Vietnam All Over Again
Dennis Byrne, RCP

...[Y]ou have my assurance of continued assistance in the post-settlement period and that we will respond with full force should the settlement be violated by North Vietnam.That was a pledge by President Richard M. Nixon to Republic of South Vietnam President Nguyen Van Thieu that the United States would not abandon his nation, if he would only cooperate in negotiations with North Vietnam to end the war.

Nixon's word wasn't worth crap.

Nor, obviously, is our word to the Iraqi people, if the Iraqi Study Group has its way. We betrayed millions of people by abandoning our principles and trashing our promises when we stood by--willingly and intentionally--as South Vietnam fell to the tyranny of North Vietnam. Now, as the ISG provides us with intellectual cover for weaseling our way out of Iraq, we're about to do the same to the Iraqi people.
More (http://www.realclearpolitic s.com/articles/2006/12/isg_prescribes_vietn am_all_ove.html)

*The usual suspects, the left and the MSM, demonized and demagogued the war in Vietnam and intimidated our government until they forced the pullout. They are today attempting the same thing in Iraq. There are a number of differences, not the least of which is George W. Bush who isn't easily intimidated. It is incomprehensible to me that America cannot seem to see the left for what it is.

[Bill Dafence]

The ISG forgot a most important issue dealing with surrender...the defeated surrendering party does not dictate the conditions of the surrender. They should have waited one more day so we wouldn't have to remember two different days that will live in infamy. To me one of the grossest acts of treachery was in stating that they didn't reccomend additional troops becasue we did'nt have any to send. That ought to scare the pee out of our enemies.:surrender2: :cut_run: :f_footprints: :flush: :nopityA: