The American Spectator

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(Page 2 of 15)

p>Kipling was a good pote (sic) but was out-kipled by a cockroach (see here ). br> -- Richard Parker br> Siargao Island, The Philippines. br> (My website is about the island and its people, coastal early humans, fishing, coconuts, bananas and whatever took my fancy at the time. You might notice I quote Kipling's pome, in the Siargao guide section.) /p>

William Tucker has set himself up as this generation's Henry Kissinger, advising us of the unwillingness of the American people to deal with the hard realities of foreign affairs.

The original Kissinger advised Richard Nixon that Americans would be disinclined to make the sacrifices and expend the patience needed to defeat Soviet hegemony. I've often wondered at the degree of chagrin he must have felt upon seeing Ronald Reagan lead us to victory over the USSR. Apparently he learned nothing, however, for he has recently declared the Iraq war un-winnable.

So it is with William Tucker, who left for embedment convinced the war was un-winnable, and who has arrived home with his opinion intact. Along the way he tried to convince our forces they were fighting in vain, I wonder with what degree of success. Perhaps during WW II the Battle of the Bulge would have convinced him of the futility of attempting to finish off the Nazis.

His advice to us, reduced to essentials, consists only of this: "It's going to be a tough job, so give it up, never mind the effect that failure in Iraq will have on fanatical Islamists around the world. Take the easy way out, America. Surrender now so as not to risk losing the 2008 election. So what if before we're through with the terrorists we'll have paid for Iraq many times over."

p>Shortsighted? The word is too mild. Tucker shows no foresight at all.

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