IRAQ: THE LEFT’S CRITICISMS – IV
IRAQ: THE LEFT’S CRITICISMS—IV
by
Ken Eliasberg
Having dealt with the criticism of the left directed to the validity of the war—i.e. the appropriateness of our engaging in it—let’s take a look at their criticism directed to the manner in which the war is being conducted. Here again, there is no shortage of criticism, and, here again, it is all sound and fury possessed of little or no substance. What are they saying? The following things: (1) there was an inadequate plan as to how to conduct the war; (2) our losses have been excessive; (3) there appears to be no exit strategy; (4) the war in Iraq is incompatible with, and dilutes our effort with respect to, the war on terror; (5) the war in Iraq is attracting terrorists to the region and making our troops a target (help me here; try to reconcile 4 and 5); (6 ) Bush is politicizing the war by referring to 9/11; (7) the war in Iraq will be another Vietnam; (8) miscellaneous tid bits such as Abu Ghraib, Gitmo, torture, NSA, etc