Brent Scowcroft "Breaks Ranks" with George W. Bush

[Carla in Ca]

Scowcroft on Iraq and Neocon Idealism

A principal reason that the Bush Administration gave no thought to unseating Saddam was that Brent Scowcroft gave no thought to it. An American occupation of Iraq would be politically and militarily untenable, Scowcroft told Bush. And though the President had employed the rhetoric of moral necessity to make the case for war, Scowcroft said, he would not let his feelings about good and evil dictate the advice he gave the President.
It would have been no problem for America's military to reach Baghdad, he said. The problems would have arisen when the Army entered the Iraqi capital. "At the minimum, we'd be an occupier in a hostile land," he said. "Our forces would be sniped at by guerrillas, and, once we were there, how would we get out? What would be the rationale for leaving? I don't like the term 'exit strategy' -- but what do you do with Iraq once you own it?"

Scowcroft stopped for a moment. We were sitting in the offices of the Scowcroft Group, a consulting firm he heads, in downtown Washington. He appeared to be weighing the consequences of speaking his mind. His speech is generally calibrated not to give offense, especially to the senior Bush and the Bush family. He is eighty and, by most accounts, has been content to cede visibility to the larger personalities with whom he has worked.

James Baker told me that he and Scowcroft got along well in part because Scowcroft let Baker speak for the Administration. I learned from people who know Scowcroft that he finds it painful to be seen as critical of his best friend’s son, but in the course of several interviews prudence several times gave way to impatience. "This is exactly where we are now," he said of Iraq, with no apparent satisfaction. "We own it. And we can't let go. We're getting sniped at. Now, will we win? I think there's a fair chance we'll win. But look at the cost."

MORE. A great read.

<http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/001024.html>

Link courtesy of Americablog
<http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/10/scowcroft-blasts-bush-in-new-yorker.html>

[Captain Hilts]

1. He's been against this war since before it started. nt

[SlavesandBulldozers]

2. my main man Bwent Skowkrof.

big ups yaself.

[IndyOp]

3. What the F*** does he mean "fair chance we will win"?!?!?

Does every single person in DC have their heads up their asses? Even the ones with a glimmer of courage?

WIN WHAT? Permanent control of the 14 military bases we have built in Iraq so that we can invade Iran and Syria and, someday, Egypt ('The Prize')?

WIN WHAT? Human rights' abuser of the century award?

:grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke: :grr: :nuke:

[SlavesandBulldozers]

4. Win the fight. . . ya know. . . win the day. . . triumph. . . victory. . .

freedom. a dash of noble causes. . . a smattering of wmd. . . a little bit of that old "put an end to terror". .. . uh. . . . God's gift to the world? that mean anything to ya? umm. . .let's see. . . did I say freedoms? so you would prefer that Saddam stayed in power? . . . and <drum roll> 9-11!!!!! Boo!

Gotcha.

why oh why do you hate our kunchry Indyop?

___
"Human rights abuser of the century award"

:spray: :thumbsup:

[truthisfreedom]

5. because bushco took a big steaming dump right in the middle of it, and

now WE have to clean it up?

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

6. Control of their oil, that's what...

[SlavesandBulldozers]

8. Powell isn't a "dove"

that satire's a little weak actually.

[renate]

7. my favorite part:

And in the piece, George H.W. Bush is interviewed about Scowcroft -- and while Bush 41's comments are more elliptical, he stands clearly by Scowcroft's side in clear criticism of the decisions his son made.

My second favorite part (it'd be my most favorite, except this problem isn't really a secret any more):

A common criticism of the Administration of George W. Bush is that it ignores ideas that conflict with its aims. "We always made sure the President was hearing all the possibilities," John Sununu, who served as chief of staff to George H. W. Bush, said. "That's one of the differences between the first Bush Administration and this Bush Administration."