Comments on: Boot and Hanson, Final Round: Fixing Our Mistakes

By: 2811f7e4caa9

2811f7e4caa9 — Sun, 11 May 2008 08:01:21 +0000

2811f7e4caa9…

2811f7e4caa928e37402…

By: Don

Don — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:56:48 +0000

I was under the impression that our soft glove approach in Iraq, and the immediate neighborhood, was driven by our over appreciation of Muslim sensibilities about infidels rather than U.S. domestic political considerations–in short, that we were waiting for Mohammed Gidot and moderates to show up and build democracy, out of political correctness. In the meantime, Gidot did show up in a blast from the past for a rerun of the sixties, in the wrong hemisphere however. I even got my turntable going and put on Sergeant Pepper and then Brewer and Shipley’s Oh Mommy (I ain’t no commie). I’m still waiting for someone to top Bertan Russel’s “Better red than dead” but in the jihad context. I know: better alive and Muslim then gay and dead?

By: David T

David T — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 02:40:23 +0000

>What would this generation of politicians and journalists have said after Cold Harbor ..?

Probably what the generation of 1865 did. They denounced Grant as ‘the fumbling butcher.’ They demanded an immediate end to the war and ran a war hero – McClellan – on a ‘Peace’ platform against Lincoln. They’d might well have won, too, if Sherman hadn’t taken Atlanta.

By: Sam Haldi

Sam Haldi — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 03:03:10 +0000

Dear Mssrs. Boot and Hanson,

Thank you for your illuminating correspondence. I hope, somehow, the administration is reading and taking note. As a veteran, I am appalled that we are just now waking up to the fact that the post-modern dictum of a “polite war” is a recipe for wasted men, time and material. Destroy your enemy completely and without mercy! Then go about the task of rebuilding a nation. War as practiced by the West, and particularly America, can be a blessing to millions. War as theorized by post-moderns is a complete waste and only serves to paralyze and prolong death and suffering.

Best regards,

Sam Haldi
Atlanta, GA

By: larrykohn

larrykohn — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 01:14:40 +0000

A key word left out is sanctuary; Syrian sanctuary. It has been playing the role Laos and later Cambodia played in Vietnam. We have left Syria alone despite its using its soil to protect and send the insurgents across the border. We act as if they couldn’t stop it. But the Turks stopped them with the PKK. What Victor and Max is the reason why Syria gets a pass? Yes, it withdraw troops from Lebanon but it has so far managed to use its KGB to kill off key Lebanese opponents who support democracy. Re: Sammy-yes intelligence is crucial but it is peculiar too that the two key pieces of correct intell have been discredited; the Saddam al qaeda links (plus links to other terrorists) and WMD. See Laurie Mylroie for details on the terror links; see Caroline Glick on Primakov’s role in moving WMD to …you guessed it…Syria!

By: Sammy Finkelman

Sammy Finkelman — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 00:14:06 +0000

Bush’s mistake was beleieving what he was told.

It’s true that he kept expecting the war to end at any moment.

The primary wrong assumption was assuming taht resistance however long it lasted, could only diminish with time.

This was a failure of intelligence. They didn’t understand what enemy they had.

What the Iraq war emphasizes more than anything else is how crucial is the role of intelligence.

By: BurtB

BurtB — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:35:07 +0000

I am as indebted as Steve in AZ.

By: Steve in AZ

Steve in AZ — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 19:28:18 +0000

Mr. Hanson, Mr. Boot,
Many thanks for letting us all listen in on your fascinating discussion. I would add my own opinion but that would be like a go-cart entering the Indy 500.

By: anon

anon — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 05:07:17 +0000

When there’s a leak in the roof, patch it. Don’t get more buckets.

By: max wyeth

max wyeth — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 15:48:38 +0000

Should any war be total war ? This engagement is being executed like a silly golf bet where you try to play the round with as few clubs as possible. Take out the driver when necessary and hit the damned ball as hard as you can if you need distance. Being subtle is fine for seduction, but woefully inadequate for much else. Diplomacy failed years ago, intelligence followed soon after. We have an array of weapons, yet we apply rules for different games as we choose them. It’s a bit like the quarterback having to tee up a ball as the defense rushes him, not much time for a practice swing !