Would open debate about the war harm our side?

I mentioned to Allan Wall, who is serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq, how difficult it is to get anything published in the mainstream conservative press making serious criticisms of the Bush war policy. The reason for this, I said to him, is that because of the Democrats’ hateful anti-American stand against Bush, pro-Bush conservatives feel that any criticisms of Bush from the right (or, rather, any criticisms of Bush from the right that go beyond a polite ineffective peep such as we hear from the likes of George Will and William Buckley) will only serve to harm Bush and help the anti-American left. The result is that we have had no rational mainstream debate on Bush’s fatally flawed policy, or any discussion of what a better policy might be.

Mr. Wall replied:

I’m sorry to see that we have to let the Democrats establish the parameters of what’s acceptable for conservatives to say about the war.

It’s like, since the Democrats are so irresponsible, then Republicans must pledge 100% blind faith to the Bush Administration’s handling of the war, despite the fact that it’s riddled with contradictions.

Speaking as an American soldier who is actually in Iraq, I’m not offended at all by legitimate policy discussions over the Iraq War. In fact, I think it’s a shame that such discussions aren’t taking place. It’s exactly what you said, Larry. You have one side screaming, “Bush lied!” and the other side intoning the mantra, “Stay the Course,” apparently not willing to face the fact that there is no course to stay!

Meanwhile, our soldiers continue to die over here, and now the majority are killed just driving down the road! And the government we are propping up publicly stabs us in the back and is developing close relations with our enemies in Tehran! (Prime Minister Jaafari, by the way, laid a wreath at the grave of Khomeini.) Plus, Operation Iraqi Freedom has paved the way for a Sharia-based legal system in Iraq. Should we rename the operation Operation Iraqi Sharia?

And despite all this, we can’t openly debate the issues or criticize the administration, because it might give strength to the Democrats? Come on! The Bush administration’s incompetence is the biggest factor strengthening the Democrats!

It’s time for the Kurdistan option! Instead of trying to please people we never will please, how about helping the Kurds—the only major Iraqi faction who actually helped us overthrow Saddam Hussein! During the invasion, the Kurdish Peshmerga militia was on the ground with us, actually helping us overthrow Saddam. What thanks have they gotten?

Oh, but we can’t debate the issues, because it might help the Democrats?

If there’s not some real discussion of the issues and the options available, we may be looking at a big disaster that will be even harder to dig ourselves out of.

Debate the issues? We can’t afford not to!

It’s time for the Kurdistan option!

Allan Wall
Iraq

Posted by Lawrence Auster at November 25, 2005 10:00 AM | Send