Comments on: McCain On Iraq War: “I have no Plan B” http://donklephant.com/2007/04/14/mccain-on-iraq-war-i-have-no-plan-b/ Big Teeth. Huge Ass. Surprisingly Reasonable. Sat, 30 Aug 2008 06:47:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Abu Nudnik http://donklephant.com/2007/04/14/mccain-on-iraq-war-i-have-no-plan-b/#comment-310627 Abu Nudnik Thu, 19 Apr 2007 18:55:39 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3378#comment-310627 Why pack up? Why not dig in? Why not establish and defend a Kurdistan? Why not force the Iranians to disarm? Why not park right there like they parked in West Germany? Hmmm? Why pack up? Why not dig in? Why not establish and defend a Kurdistan? Why not force the Iranians to disarm? Why not park right there like they parked in West Germany? Hmmm?

]]> By: Tom http://donklephant.com/2007/04/14/mccain-on-iraq-war-i-have-no-plan-b/#comment-309176 Tom Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:20:54 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3378#comment-309176 Hold on a sec. I'm sick of McCain, but you're being unfair. Plan A is to try to throw in some extra troops (as many as is politically possible) to try to keep things reasonably secure, to give the Iraqi politicians a bit of time, while at the same time telling them that this is it - our last ditch effort. McCain doesn't have a plan B because there is no such thing as a Plan B that anyone would go along with - except to pack up and go home, and let things go to shit. Plan A is the only possible plan - the only decision now is how much time we give it before packing up and calling it a day. I don't know what the chances of it are working, but it's the only chance we have. Hold on a sec. I’m sick of McCain, but you’re being unfair.

Plan A is to try to throw in some extra troops (as many as is politically possible) to try to keep things reasonably secure, to give the Iraqi politicians a bit of time, while at the same time telling them that this is it - our last ditch effort.

McCain doesn’t have a plan B because there is no such thing as a Plan B that anyone would go along with - except to pack up and go home, and let things go to shit.

Plan A is the only possible plan - the only decision now is how much time we give it before packing up and calling it a day. I don’t know what the chances of it are working, but it’s the only chance we have.

]]> By: Abu Nudnik http://donklephant.com/2007/04/14/mccain-on-iraq-war-i-have-no-plan-b/#comment-309005 Abu Nudnik Tue, 17 Apr 2007 16:30:12 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3378#comment-309005 By the way, what's wrong with two bloody factions of the enemy killing one another? By the way, what’s wrong with two bloody factions of the enemy killing one another?

]]> By: Abu Nudnik http://donklephant.com/2007/04/14/mccain-on-iraq-war-i-have-no-plan-b/#comment-309003 Abu Nudnik Tue, 17 Apr 2007 16:23:07 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3378#comment-309003 Having firm convictions does not mean you lack intelligence or imagination. The mind is like a parachute, it's been said: It only works when it's open. But if you can't close it and fold it up, you can't use it twice. On September 11th a message was sent to the American people: you will obey us and take our dictates or you will face violence. We do not recognize your right to determine your own leadership, your own policies. We have a veto. President Bush's response was not only reasonable, it came almost too late and, when it came, it wasn't vigorous enough. That's his fault as Commander-in-chief. But this war can and must be won. The US has soldiers on either side of Iran and is ready for the next phase. What is unrealistic is the idea that there's an undo button here. Plan Bs are great... as long as they don't include giving up in the middle of a war. I was in cadets once. I had to run around a huge field with a rifle over my head. I gave in to weakness and let it slip. Believe me, once you let it slip, you may never get it up again. Ignoring Patton was bad enough, falling short in Korea worse, failing in Vietnam a tragedy, '91 a stupid blunder (not to take out Saddam): this war might be America's last stand. Don't believe me? Look at the history books. The Assyrians fell in a flash from the height of power over the succession. Now think 2000. Are there really two Americas? There better not be. I don't relish another dark ages. It was announced in a mosque in Karachi that cell phone calls can make your ears and nose bleed, like in a horror movie. Think about that! Having firm convictions does not mean you lack intelligence or imagination. The mind is like a parachute, it’s been said: It only works when it’s open. But if you can’t close it and fold it up, you can’t use it twice.

On September 11th a message was sent to the American people: you will obey us and take our dictates or you will face violence. We do not recognize your right to determine your own leadership, your own policies. We have a veto.

President Bush’s response was not only reasonable, it came almost too late and, when it came, it wasn’t vigorous enough. That’s his fault as Commander-in-chief. But this war can and must be won. The US has soldiers on either side of Iran and is ready for the next phase. What is unrealistic is the idea that there’s an undo button here.

Plan Bs are great… as long as they don’t include giving up in the middle of a war. I was in cadets once. I had to run around a huge field with a rifle over my head. I gave in to weakness and let it slip. Believe me, once you let it slip, you may never get it up again. Ignoring Patton was bad enough, falling short in Korea worse, failing in Vietnam a tragedy, ‘91 a stupid blunder (not to take out Saddam): this war might be America’s last stand.

Don’t believe me? Look at the history books. The Assyrians fell in a flash from the height of power over the succession. Now think 2000. Are there really two Americas? There better not be. I don’t relish another dark ages. It was announced in a mosque in Karachi that cell phone calls can make your ears and nose bleed, like in a horror movie. Think about that!

]]> By: sleipner http://donklephant.com/2007/04/14/mccain-on-iraq-war-i-have-no-plan-b/#comment-308356 sleipner Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:23:16 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3378#comment-308356 The problem is winning in Iraq became impossible a few years back due to utter incompetence at the helm. The only thing possible now is damage control...and our presence incites far more violence than it prevents. The problem is winning in Iraq became impossible a few years back due to utter incompetence at the helm. The only thing possible now is damage control…and our presence incites far more violence than it prevents.

]]> By: dj http://donklephant.com/2007/04/14/mccain-on-iraq-war-i-have-no-plan-b/#comment-308248 dj Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:41:46 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3378#comment-308248 One more reason why I wouldn't vote for McCain now, even though a few years back I would definitely have considered him. One more reason why I wouldn’t vote for McCain now, even though a few years back I would definitely have considered him.

]]> By: Transplanted Lawyer http://donklephant.com/2007/04/14/mccain-on-iraq-war-i-have-no-plan-b/#comment-307715 Transplanted Lawyer Sun, 15 Apr 2007 20:04:41 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3378#comment-307715 SaneinSF and Stevend, I appreciate your praise of steadfastness and I agree with you (and Senator McCain) that at this point there are no other good options but to see things through. At the same time, your comments suggest a dismissive condemnation of intellectual curiosity that goes beyond a desire to see the war through. Having a broader scope of intellectual inquiry is, aside from its inherent value, a way to advance our national interest in ways that don't necessarily involve hundreds of thousands of our troops committed to a dangerous and grueling war. SaneinSF and Stevend, I appreciate your praise of steadfastness and I agree with you (and Senator McCain) that at this point there are no other good options but to see things through. At the same time, your comments suggest a dismissive condemnation of intellectual curiosity that goes beyond a desire to see the war through. Having a broader scope of intellectual inquiry is, aside from its inherent value, a way to advance our national interest in ways that don’t necessarily involve hundreds of thousands of our troops committed to a dangerous and grueling war.

]]> By: SaneInSF http://donklephant.com/2007/04/14/mccain-on-iraq-war-i-have-no-plan-b/#comment-307675 SaneInSF Sun, 15 Apr 2007 18:56:31 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3378#comment-307675 Amen, Stevend. Unlike some armchair analysts, he isn't dumb enough to think that withdrawing behind our borders will magically make everything safer. Only idiots think that. Winning in Iraq is our only option. And the stupid monkey business that the Democrats are playing are just reminding everyone of the great old days of the Jimmy Carter Presidency and his cowering from killer rabbits. Amen, Stevend. Unlike some armchair analysts, he isn’t dumb enough to think that withdrawing behind our borders will magically make everything safer. Only idiots think that.

Winning in Iraq is our only option. And the stupid monkey business that the Democrats are playing are just reminding everyone of the great old days of the Jimmy Carter Presidency and his cowering from killer rabbits.

]]> By: SaneInSF http://donklephant.com/2007/04/14/mccain-on-iraq-war-i-have-no-plan-b/#comment-307673 SaneInSF Sun, 15 Apr 2007 18:53:23 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3378#comment-307673 At least he isn't a armchair analyst thinking that withdrawing behind our borders will somehow magically get us out of trouble, like Justin here. At least he isn’t a armchair analyst thinking that withdrawing behind our borders will somehow magically get us out of trouble, like Justin here.

]]> By: Center of Attention | The Moderate Voice http://donklephant.com/2007/04/14/mccain-on-iraq-war-i-have-no-plan-b/#comment-307618 Center of Attention | The Moderate Voice Sun, 15 Apr 2007 16:50:53 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3378#comment-307618 [...] Simon at Stubborn Facts examines Rudy’s position? on abortion and Roe, while Justin Garnder at Donklephant questions McCain’s lack of a “Plan B” on Iraq. [...] [...] Simon at Stubborn Facts examines Rudy’s position? on abortion and Roe, while Justin Garnder at Donklephant questions McCain’s lack of a “Plan B” on Iraq. [...]

]]> By: Stevend http://donklephant.com/2007/04/14/mccain-on-iraq-war-i-have-no-plan-b/#comment-307281 Stevend Sun, 15 Apr 2007 05:36:00 +0000 http://donklephant.com/?p=3378#comment-307281 When fighting evil, the president (and the country) need to be steadfast, not curious. When fighting evil, the president (and the country) need to be steadfast, not curious.

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