Read Rich's article, then read Norman Solomon's take at http://www.counterpunch.org/
solo...on08292005.html
I second Gary Zimmerman's recommendation. I read Solomon's article first, then came here and found your link to Rich. Rich's article is even worse than I expected. Not just "bumper sticker politics" and "the slick left-wing political operatives who have turned her into a circus", but "With a shove from Pat Robertson, her 15 minutes are now up...."
Avedon, have you ever seen that cartoon of a boardroom with several men and one woman in suits? The CEO says to the woman, "That's a very interesting idea, Ms. Jones. Perhaps one of the men here would like to suggest it." That's what Rich seems to be saying: now that Sheehan has gotten the nation's attention, she can go home and the Real People can take over. But we all know how well the Real People have done up to now. Besides, Sheehan is not alone: she's part of a movement that doesn't really need Rich or his approval. This is all too reminiscent of liberal foot-dragging on Vietnam.
Rich gives no reasons -- not even bad ones -- why immediate withdrawal is a bad idea. He merely resorts to loaded language like "cut and run," but gives no reason why dragging out the occupation for more than another year, with all the horrific costs that would entail to the Iraqi people. Here's a bumper sticker for Rich: It is the US that is the main and primary source of violence in Iraq. (Which reminds me, I watched the video clip of Hitchens and Jon Stewart. Stewart didn't go after him nearly hard enough -- but oh yeah, it's just a comedy show, I mustn't forget that. Hitchens is now lying as shamelessly as Bush.)
"The earth may not be worth inheriting if Iraq continues to sabotage America's ability to take on Iran and North Korea, let alone Al Qaeda." I see: we need to end this bit of US aggression so we can commit more aggression elsewhere. In this case, I favor the US' staying in Iraq; it will keep us out of trouble elsewhere.
Reading of the "Freedom Walk" in Franch Rich's Op-Ed, and trying to imagine anything remotely similar happening at St. Laurent sur Mer, or Tyne Cot, arouses feelings of disgust.
How sweet and fitting it is to die for one's country music.
i hate it when dems play their "see, i'm not a loony lefty" card.
You're so right, jello, I always want to smack them.
I see that, in spite of everything, Frank Rich is still talking like, well, a member of the press corps.
More Maddow! Yippee!
Great Site Thanks.
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