Barack Obama's debate strategy of portraying the Bush administration as a complete failure is running into one big problem: Bush's Iraq policy appears to be succeeding. How embarrassing! Well, at least the Democrats can try to make sure that no one finds out about this.
During his foreign trip, Obama tried to take advantage of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's statement that America should work out a withdrawal plan for Iraq. Obama triumphantly declared that now is the time for Iraqis to work out their own destiny. Obama failed to mention, however, that if he had been president, Iraq would still be ruled by Saddam Hussein. The only destiny that Obama would have consigned Iraq to is oppression, torture, and mass graves.
To understand what is going on in Iraq, we must distinguish between two approaches: the Bush doctrine and the Reagan doctrine. Unlike the Bush doctrine--which seemed to require invasion and occupation--the Reagan doctrine was one of assisted non-intervention. Reagan believed that people in foreign countries should fight for their own freedom. We do not fight for them. But if they are willing to fight, we are willing to help. And so in Afghanistan, in Nicaragua, in Angola and to some extent in Ethiopia, Reagan supported rebels who sought liberation from Marxist tyranny. For intance, Reagan supplied Stinger missiles to the Afghani mujaheedin who were fighting to repel the Soviet invasion of that country. Reagan did not, however, send large numbers of American troops to Afghanistan.
Now in Bush's defense it should be said that the Reagan doctrine could not have worked in Iraq. Unlike in Afghanistan, which the mujaheedin turned into a Soviet "bleeding wound," there was no Iraqi resistance that could substantially threaten Saddam Hussein. Bush's choice was either for America to get rid of Hussein, or to leave Hussein in power. But from the beginning the administration understood that, even in Iraq, over time the Bush doctrine must metamorphose into the Reagan doctrine.
It has taken longer than expected. But that's because Saddam's Baathist minority--let's call them the Saddamites--ran not only the government but the entire society. So it has been quite a process to train a Shia elected government to learn to govern a nation in which they were victimized for a quarter century. Slowly, however, the Iraqis have been rising to the task, assisted by able U.S. forces under the competent leadership of General Petraeus.
So now, finally, Iraqis are getting to the position where they can defend their own country and fight for their own freedom. This is what "success" means in Iraq: not the end of the insurgency, or the end of terrorism, but a situation in which Iraqis take the helm and America moves into a supporting role. Of course America is going to get out of Iraq. The only question is whether we will leave recklessly, precipituously, with the risk of escalating violence and chaos and perhaps even a return of the Saddamites. This seems to be the approach the Obama Democrats want. The other option is to leave cautiously, deliberately, in a way that leaves Iraq a self-governing society, the only pro-American Muslim democracy in the Middle East.
Postscript: Due to internal re-organization at AOL, it seems that this and other blogs are going to be suspended effective the end of this month. The blogs we have posted will still be online, but no new blogs will be posted. What a pity, especially as the election debate is heating up. I have enjoyed doing this blog and I want to thank my readers--yes, even the Dineshophobic atheists--for checking in and posting comments. (Sometimes I wonder if some of you atheists who post several times a day have regular jobs.)
AOL has informed me that the company is hiring a new blog manager and I will be negotiating the resumption of this blog--perhaps in a new format--with that person. This however could take a month or two. In the meantime look for my columns each Monday on Townhall.com and also consult my website dineshdsouza.com for forthcoming speaking events and updates.
Reader Comments ( Page 7 of 979)
91. The bird and I had a shower together just now.
This might seem off-topic to the 'rev' so I'll just say that me and Pretty-boy had a good conversation about the Bush Doctrine.
Seems that he knows about as much as Sarah Palin, can't fault him on that I suppose.
Right now he has plans to sneak up on, and attack 'Mommy's' bare toes so I think it is obvious that he would make one helluva V.P. especially if I can teach him to say, "I'll get back to y'all on that!"
not-pboyfloyd at 3:13PM on Sep 29th 2008
92. Does anyone besides me miss rita and dina? No? Me neither.
Linda at 10:57AM on Sep 29th 2008
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I miss 'em Linda ;-)
But I've been practicing, I'll git 'em sooner or later.
mac at 6:54PM on Sep 29th 2008
93. "OMG BRANDON!!!!
i have missed you terribly!! i never got to hear about your proposal to your girlfriend!!
Richelle"
Hi Richelle!
Can you write me off of this infernal blog? I did indeed propose, and it went very well!
email addy off of here:
getmeoffthisblog@gmail.com
brandon at 7:03PM on Sep 29th 2008
94. "86. OMG BRANDON!!!!
i have missed you terribly!! i never got to hear about your proposal to your girlfriend!!
Richelle"
Hi Riohelle!
I did indeed propose, and it went very well...great story!
Write me off of this blog so we can communicate elsewhere.
getmeoffthisblog@gmail.com
brandon at 7:05PM on Sep 29th 2008
95. Rita and Dina? I guess I did miss 'em, because it's always more fun when you've got a stark raving mad poster adding spice to the mix. I even miss brain small "b" somewhat. I think the only person that I won't miss one little bit is Thomas Gassett. He's hard to like, in any manner or fashion at all.
Hope to keep in touch with all of you at my blog. And Botts' of course.
I'll try to keep it interesting.
http://saintbrianthegodless.blogspot.com/
Saint Brian the Godless at 7:49PM on Sep 29th 2008
96. Angie; that's the beauty of liberals and atheists! We don't like reading only stuff that we agree with.
Ryan Anderson at 8:47PM on Sep 29th 2008
97. Yours has been the one blog I wanted to read at each new post. Thanks for sharing the thoughts.
I will just have to look a little harder to keep
up with your latest helpful ideas and insights.
Best Regards
dwain at 9:08PM on Sep 29th 2008
98.
Angie,
It would seem, to me, like you are the one advocating censure....shut all those atheists up !!
How dare they disagree with DD on his blog ???
I see it all so clearly, freedom of choice - as long as we all make the same choice !
mac at 9:46PM on Sep 29th 2008
99. Actually I hate what D'Souza stands for but I think this is a terrific public forum to have a bash at each other.
I was agreeing with you, right up until you said this, "I think AOL should shut people like you down..."
Seems like your 'pretend' objectivity went flying out the window right about then!
Seems that you are no better than the worst calling for D'Souza to be shut down, isn't that right now?
not-pboyfloyd at 12:15AM on Sep 30th 2008
100. 93. To those "athiests" that want this guy shut down because "he feels he has the right to insult athiest" and that the "atheiest should not have to be subjected to the rantings of a Catholic like Dinesh". Well, guess what?? You don't have to be! Don't come to his blog! That's a simple one! That's the BEAUTY of the internet. (Etc, etc...)-Angry Angie
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I think most of the people that wouldn't mind seeing DD shut down (such as myself) object to him because he lies about us, not for any of the reasons that you mentioned. Lies just thrown out there for the purpose of divisiveness... Isn't that supposed to be evil or something? Help me out with chapter and verse here, I'm sure it's evil...
Saint Brian the Godless at 12:49AM on Sep 30th 2008
101. If you don't agree with what Dinesh says, find another blog that praises Obama that you OBAMANITES love & post to adnauseam.
-Angie
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It really hurts, doesn't it? That he's so much better than your guy, I mean. Obama/s passing all the tests, and McCain's turning out to be a real flash in the pan. And his alaskatross, Sarah Palin. What a joke, huh? I bet you wish your party had advanced real candidates, huh? Real, ADULT candidates, instead of the pair of children that you're going to hold your nose and vote for? :-)
Saint Brian the Godless at 12:55AM on Sep 30th 2008
102. And by the way...
Far better a decent, upstanding, caring Obamanite than a ravening, scheming, lying McCainiac any day. Just sayin' is all. I mean, unlike you, I have to be able to look myself in the mirror every now and again.
Saint Brian the Godless at 1:02AM on Sep 30th 2008
103. This is still up and it is Sept. 30th... hmm.. I feel duped. It must be the all the atheists' faults collectively. I knew it.
Shannie at 10:08AM on Sep 30th 2008
104. Shannie; the site is staying up indefinitely but there will be no new articles.
Ryan Anderson at 11:09AM on Sep 30th 2008
105. Hi Ryan... that is kind of sad. Like an abandoned warehouse.
Shannie at 11:29AM on Sep 30th 2008