The Greatest Strategic Disaster in American History

[norml]

The Greatest Strategic Disaster in American History
by Mike Whitney


http://www.opednews.com

A few months ago, retired Army Lt. General William Odom called the war in Iraq, “the greatest strategic disaster in American history”. Since then, he’s added to his criticism saying that, “The army is broken” and “we need a basic strategic change of direction” or “we’re going to pay a higher and higher price over a longer period of time.”

Odom’s sober analysis of Iraq is a stark contrast to the optimistic braying of the Bush administration. Just this week, Bush said that America will prevail in Iraq and that we will persist until “victory” is achieved. Vice President Dick Cheney is equally confident of success, although he has backed off his earlier predictions that the “insurgency is in its last throes”.

Odom’s recent appearance on The Jim Lehrer News hour puts him at the heart of a growing debate between rival factions of the war party. Odom is a charter member of the “reality-based” foreign policy team and a staunch opponent of the ongoing occupation. His opinion is only slightly different from that of John Murtha, the hawkish congressman who called for an immediate withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. Odom belongs to the “old school” of American militerists; along with Brent Scowcroft, Lawrence Eagleburger and Bush 1, who believe that running an empire is serious business and shouldn’t be left to ideologues and fanatics.

“People are becoming more and more aware that it is not in our interest to be (in Iraq)”, Odom opined. “There’s a refusal to look back and see whose interests were really served best. It is clear that Iran’s interests were served by our invasion and Al Qaeda’s interests because it could not break in until we broke in.”


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http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_mike_whi_051126_the_greatest_strateg.htm

[Redstone]

1. Yes, it is.

And I guarantee that in 20 years, every high-school history textbook will say so.

Redstone

[Erika]

2. History will show the only profiteers were corporate globalists

There are dozens of tyrannical dictators running around. It's getting old to hear that justified our invasion and continued occupation of another country. If the Iraqis wanted democracy, they would have fought their own revolution. Allawi has already said Iraqis who fight against the "resistance" are neither terrorists or insurgents.

We've drained our tax base. Our taxes go to corporate globalists. W's redistribution of wealth.

[confludemocrat]

3. the politicos (R&D both) studiously and assiduously ignore people like him

"the military is broken" People like Odom know it (as do many congressmemebers like Murtha) but won't admit it, a conspiracy of silence based on the fact that Bush and his Republican and Democratic enablers are responsible for this broken military.
Nothing short of withdrawal (redeployment if you want) is going to alter that situation.

[TahitiNut]

4. 362 US Dead while the "insurgency is in its last throes" - so far.

F*ck B*sh/Cheney with red hot pokers! :grr: