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2006-10-23 Home Front: WoT
VDH: "Looking back is a sure way to stumble"
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Posted by Mike 2006-10-23 12:01|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 The pull quote is kind of odd coming from a historian ...
Posted by Pholutch Elmitle9275 2006-10-23 12:07||   2006-10-23 12:07|| Front Page Top

#2 "Harrumph. Leave the stumbling to us, we're professionals!"

-National Hysterian Council
Posted by .com 2006-10-23 12:19||   2006-10-23 12:19|| Front Page Top

#3 Normally, I appreciate Hanson's writing. The problem with these intellectuals is that they think they're the fount of all wisdom. What I see is the absolute denial that there's internecine warfare going on here. We cannot force anything resmbling democracy on a herd of tribes who don't and/or refuse to accept the principles of democracy. We're nothing more than a truck in a mudhole spinning it's tires. The more you spin, the "stucker" you get. We are not going to live long enough for these idiots to grasp democratic principles. Sacrificing our people for " Noble Cause" gets grating. The futility is eventually noticed by the voters. That's where we are today. There was time to deal with Iraq. It has disappeared. The ball has been dropped.
Posted by SpecOp35 2006-10-23 14:11||   2006-10-23 14:11|| Front Page Top

#4 Let's not forget that millions of Iraqis turned out to vote in the face of injury and/or death. I'm not defending Hanson here but I think that says something about the Iraqi peoples desire for democracy considering they embraced it's most basic principle: one man, one vote.

Personally, I believe that principles are predicated on desire. You must want something before you are willing to sacrifice for it. The Iraqis have stated their desire for democracy but have seemingly failed to accept the sacrifices necessary for it.

However, I find myself wondering nowadays--considering how much is being sacrificed in the name of democracy-- is that not what we're seeing in Iraq right now?
Posted by eltoroverde 2006-10-23 16:45||   2006-10-23 16:45|| Front Page Top

#5 The “more rubble/less trouble” solution

While VDH may be a bit overly rosy about Iraq, he sure nails what will be required for Iran.
Posted by Zenster">Zenster  2006-10-23 18:24||   2006-10-23 18:24|| Front Page Top

#6 I believe the "more rubble/less trouble" phrase is John Derbyshire's. VDH is just replying to it.

Link
Posted by Parabellum 2006-10-23 18:39||   2006-10-23 18:39|| Front Page Top

#7 Here's a good summation of Derb's Rubble/Trouble theory.
Posted by Parabellum 2006-10-23 18:41||   2006-10-23 18:41|| Front Page Top

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