Arianna Huffington wrote a brilliant response to those who say we need to finish the job in Iraq:
"Whenever I raise the idea of bringing our troops home from Iraq, I'm stunned by the consistency of the response I get, even from Democrats: "But we can't leave now; we have to finish the job." This argument has somehow congealed into the conventional wisdom. So, for those of you who find yourself confronted with this idiocy, here is my handy, two-part "elevator message" rebuttal: 1) withdrawing our troops from Iraq does not mean abandoning Iraq 2) withdrawing our troops from Iraq does mean eliminating the insurgency's best recruitment tool. You should be able to get that out between the lobby and the mezzanine."
I have now memorized this and will keep it in my mental back pocket. Hey, if the Republicans spout prepared talking points, why can't Progressives?
2 Comments:
Amen, Stu.
It's like saying "I have to finish the job" when you find out that, while sawing through that piece of wood you have on your lap, you see that you're also halfway through cutting off your leg. If it was a bad idea to begin with, going through with it to completion is certainly nothing sensible.
RIGHT ON. I totally agree.
We should continue to support our troops, but bring them home quickly (months, not decades). If Haliburton needs bodyguards to protect their business interests in Iraq, let them hire and pay for their own police force, and stop using taxpayers' money and the lives of US troops.
---allen
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