Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Patrick Cockburn on the Iraq War's fifth birthday

Dick Cheney in Iraq Napoleon in Spain

I generally dislike use of the "Munich analogy", for reasons I've blogged about more than once. But I thought I would pass this one along, from A gross failure that ignored history and ended with a humiliating retreat The Independent by Patrick Cockburn 03/17/08:

How we got into this situation needs to be inquired into and also how we avoid falling into it again. The worst failings were political. In many ways Tony Blair in 2002-03, when he decided to join America in the war, resembled Neville Chamberlain in 1938. He ignored expert professional advice. He had no alternative plan if anything went wrong. He lived in a world of propaganda and fantasy. He would spring from his plane in Baghdad to be greeted by Iraqi politicians who did not dare leave the Green Zone.
But, of course, I don't like people using the "Munich analogy". So naughty, naughty, reporter for doing that!

This is a good quote, too, from Cockburn's article: "The Duke of Wellington, who had seen what had happened to Napoleon in Spain, said that 'Great powers do not have small wars'." What "happened to Napoleon in Spain" was that he ran into a nasty guerrilla war. In fact, I believe that's where and the term "guerrilla" was first used. The Spanish war of independence against France broke out 200 years ago this year, in 1808. France lost.

Tags: , , ,

| +Save/Share | |




FEATURED QUOTE

"It is the logic of our times
No subject for immortal verse
That we who lived by honest dreams
Defend the bad against the worse."


-- Cecil Day-Lewis from Where Are The War Poets?


ABOUT US

  • What is the Blue Voice?
  • Bruce Miller
  • Fdtate
  • Marcia Ellen (on hiatus)
  • Marigolds2
  • Neil
  • Tankwoman
  • Wonky Muse

  • RECENT POSTS

  • Iraq War news
  • Ho Hum
  • Ah Yes, The Green Hummer
  • "Maverick" foreign policy
  • Luck of the O'Bama
  • Herbert Hoover economics
  • Still trying on Iraq War videos
  • Winter Soldier 2008
  • Another sad commentary on the US media
  • How Many More Years Must We March?

  • ARCHIVES




    RECENT COMMENTS

    [Tip: Point cursor to any comment to see title of post being discussed.]
    SEARCH THIS SITE
    Google
    www TBV

    BLUE'S NEWS





    ACT BLUE











    BLUE LINKS

    Environmental Links
    Gay/Lesbian Links
    News & Media Links
    Organization Links
    Political Links
    Religious Links
    Watchdog Links

    BLUE ROLL


    MISCELLANEOUS

    Atom/XML Feed
    Blogarama - Blog Directory
    Blogwise - blog directory

    Blogstreet
    Haloscan


    Blogger

    hits since 06-13-2005

    site design: wonky muse
    image: fpsoftlab.com