War is always a bad thing, but it gets even worse when the perpetrators are as clueless as these prominent "patriots." The following are quotes from when President Clinton was committing troops to Bosnia:
"You can support the troops but not the president."
---Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)
"Well, I just think it's a bad idea. What's going to happen is
they're going to be over there for 10, 15, maybe 20 years."
---Joe Scarborough (R-FL)
"Explain to the mothers and fathers of American servicemen that may
come home in body bags why their son or daughter have to give up
their life?"
---Sean Hannity, Fox News, 4/6/99
"[The] President . . . is once again releasing American military
might on a foreign country with an ill-defined objective and no exit
strategy. He has yet to tell the Congress how much this operation
will cost. And he has not informed our nation's armed forces about
how long they will be away from home. These strikes do not make for
a sound foreign policy."
---Sen Rick Santorum (R-PA)
"American foreign policy is now one huge big mystery. Simply put,
the administration is trying to lead the world with a feel-good
foreign policy."
---Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)
"If we are going to commit American troops, we must be certain they
have a clear mission, an achievable goal and an exit strategy."
---Karen Hughes, speaking on behalf of George W Bush
"I had doubts about the bombing campaign from the beginning . . . I
didn't think we had done enough in the diplomatic area."
---Senator Trent Lott (R-MS)
"I cannot support a failed foreign policy. History teaches us that
it is often easier to make war than peace. This administration is
just learning that lesson right now. The President began this
mission with very vague objectives and lots of unanswered
questions. A month later, these questions are still unanswered.
There are no clarified rules of engagement. There is no timetable.
There is no legitimate definition of victory. There is no
contingency plan for mission creep. There is no clear funding
program. There is no agenda to bolster our over-extended military.
There is no explanation defining what vital national interests are
at stake. There was no strategic plan for war when the President
started this thing, and there still is no plan today"
-Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)
"Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President
to explain to us what the exit strategy is."
-Governor George W Bush (R-TX)
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"Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President
to explain to us what the exit strategy is."
-Governor George W Bush (R-TX)
At no time has it been harder to hold to that belief than during the past 6 years.
You sir - or fiend or overachieving Halloween costume kid - are featured in the Nonconformists group.
Yeah, we're going to be over there for 10 or 20 years. I do support troops, but not the Prez.
We're building 14 permanent military bases and the world's largest embassy there. We're there forever.
Clarke, I agree were there for the long haul, but the permanent bases are for protecting the future just as are the ones we have in Germany are.(they replace the ones we moved out of in Saudi Arabia)
Kathryn, I love you, but I support all the troops the Commander in Chief to the lowliest grunt in the field.
Ron, I do believe in Evil, and therefore I believe in good, the two add contrast but even as I realize that it does not stop me from trying to stop evil and to do good.
Clare we are all politicians... just with different levels of bank accounts to spend from....
Comic-Relief (aka Anthony or luckky or who ever you truly are) --- funny as ever ... thanks for the laugh
Guess what people,
Bush said we would be at this war for 10 + years and 9/11 changed a lot of viewpoints... and do you ever learn or change? I do, sometimes I make mistakes... or thought I did but I was mistaken lol
So why can't our politicians change there minds? Or their perspectives at least? Oh no they must be the same yesterday today and forever I suppose.... There is only one who is that...
SO what is the democratic plan anyhow? I haven't heard one spoken of for years... What's the plan? Just hate George till he is out then hope for the best?
Pelosi better not be your plan... I don't care the party she is trouble.
So last I say, true peace was achieved with Japan, because we didn't allow polling data to run the war, we fought to win.
True peace was achieved with Germany because we didn't allow polling data to run the war... we fought to win...
And we ran the war with Generals who were not afraid of ruining their book publishing chances by their choices.
Let's win this one... or if we lose this one, there may not be another chance... diplomacy never made peace... just stalled wars a little and allowed the liars to re-arm... then fight harder when the truce gets broken...
---Rep Tom Delay (R-TX)
WHAT?! Since when?! And all this time, I thought I was a terrorist. :(
And taken completely out of context at best, complete fiction at worst!
Bosnia was a complete fiasco! Not because of comments from Republicans, rather in spite of them. Perhaps if Clinton had been able to transfer some stiffness to his back bone.....well, who knows?
The point is, our troops performed with honor in Bosnia under Clinton's command as they have in defended this great Nation against all threats in the past, and they continue to do so today.
What was Colonel Travis' "exit strategy" at The Alamo?
I have heard it was something like "Victory or Death"!
What shall history report your battle cry as?
You people need to either stand your watch on the wall or shut the hell up about "exit strategies". We have brave MEN and WOMEN over there that will get the job done and come home. Exit stage RIGHT!
You confuse immolation with actually having an outlook that supports the notion of troops coming home after a good day's work on the battlefield. Victory or death indeed.
I provided these quotes and can provide many others that reflect the same dialogue that Americans are using today. Just substitute "Iraq" for "Bosnia" and the arguments are the same. This link is to letters from parents, soldiers and average citizens. You will find no difference as Republicans oppose war and Democrats support it.
Mission: Peace feedback
What users have said about the war in the Balkans
So, our guys played partisanship, at some point. That doesn't mean that they didn't get criticized by the hawks, who criticized Clinton, as well. The Balkans is a nasty reigon, and one wishes that Bush had realized that Iraq would prove to be worse than all the worst assumptions that had been made about the Balkans.
I predicted a "Palestinian strategy" in Iraq, with the suicide bombs directed at us. I didn't get it exactly right in that old email, but I seemed to be closer than our people in charge.
Great post, I'm ashamed to say.