Democrats and War Escalation

[laststeamtrain]

Published on Monday, April 6, 2009
by CommonDreams.org

Democrats and War Escalation

by Norman Solomon

Top Democrats and many prominent supporters -- with vocal agreement, tactical quibbles or total silence -- are assisting the escalation of the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The predictable results will include much more killing and destruction. Back home, on the political front, the escalation will drive deep wedges into the Democratic Party.

The party has a large anti-war base, and that base will grow wider and stronger among voters as the realities of the Obama war program become more evident. The current backing or acceptance of the escalation from liberal think tanks and some online activist groups will not be able to prevent the growth of opposition among key voting blocs.

In their eagerness to help the Obama presidency, many of its prominent liberal supporters -- whatever their private views on the escalation -- are willing to function as enablers of the expanded warfare. Many assume that opposition would undermine the administration and play into the hands of Republicans. But in the long run, going along with the escalation is not helping Obama; by putting off the days of reckoning, the acceptance of the escalation may actually help Obama destroy his own presidency.

Ideally, in 2009, Democratic lawmakers would see as role models the senators who opposed the Vietnam War -- first Wayne Morse and Ernest Gruening, and then (years later) others including Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy. Earlier and stronger opposition from elected officials could have saved countless lives. The dreams of the Great Society might not have been crushed. And Richard Nixon might never have become president.

Now, everyone has the potential to help challenge the escalation of the Afghanistan-Pakistan war -- on a collision course with heightened disaster.

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http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/04/06-5

[tekisui]

1. knr!~

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. For now, until more bodies come home, it's chic to be a hawk. K&R

It won't last when the born again supporters of colonialist wars see the results of another futile venture to prevent falling dominoes.

[Echo In Light]

3. From the comments: "so-called patriotism masking naked aggression."

Spot on

[Democracyinkind]

4. Oh come on we'll win this thing ASAP

..it's not like more than half a million russians tried so and failed miserably...

I can't wait to see the hawkish Conservadems reaction to the stinger missiles that Pakistan has been delivering to the Afghani Resistance ( are we still fighting the "Taleban"? or "al-qeada"? Seriously, whom are we fighting there if not the Afghan people?)...
I believe things will change pretty quick once we start loosing aircraft en masse over there. I just hope the conclusion won't be to send even more troops.
Any war is futile, although some are justified.
This one really beats me. There's nothing to gain. Never was. Not for us, not for the Afghans.

[Octafish]

5. Who runs Bartertown?

The War Party runs Bartertown.

[ConcernedCanuk]

6. "the acceptance of the escalation may actually help Obama destroy his own presidency."

.
.
.

And continue losing what wee bit of respect the World has for the United States.

Heck

The fumbling around in Iraq and Afghanistan?

USA has even lost the fear factor of most of the World.

Neither of those countries had an effective Military, Air Force or allies.

Typical bully mentality.

Pick on the weaklings.

BUT STILL LOSING!

amazing

. . :freak: . .

[Echo In Light]

7. One has to figure there's a behind the scenes plan to coax the public back to supporting the Right

In one way, shape or form, the shadow corporate/govt will provide the scenario, and M$M will then sell the script to get "hearts & minds" back on track. Count on it.

[bvar22]

8. I STAND with those OPPOSING the escalation.

No Military Objective + No Exit Strategy = Quagmire.

The ONLY people that will benefit from this are the War Profiteers.
My Party Allegiance is secondary to my opposition to these elective WARS.

[Truth2Tell]

9. K&R

I was about to post this, and then voila, there it was at the top of the page. :)

Thanks LST!

[Mithreal]

10. I stand with those against more wars and continuing occupations. nt