Oh, c'mon. Anyone who didn't see this coming when the chatter suddenly veered from how we have to capture OBL to how we have to invade Iraq for no logical reason is too stupid to remember to breath.

We are rapidly running out of money for such ventures..

Other nations, most of them far less well off than we, are eventually going to weary of lending us money to go stomping around as the world's largest bully.

By the time that happens though, things will be truly dire here at home..

Glenn, given the many ways in which you've documented the self-deception, arrogance, vapidity, and other failings of the liberal hawks, you can't honestly be surprised at this outcome, can you?

I am not surprised .. most people who advocate war .. do so for its own sake .. I have to think most people realize that war invovles loss of life .. and if they are willing to take that step .. that aren't much concerned with the consequences ,,, if they can be assured(often times falsely) ... that everything will go swimmingly

Digg it here:

http://digg.com/politics/Lessons_not_learned_2

When we kicked Grenada's ass.

The only reason Americans, Liberal or otherwise, are "unhappy" (as opposed to the Iraqi's who are "dead") is that America lost that war.

I remember a time, not so long ago, when everyone in America was for the war.

What did they think? That Saddam would be scared off that damn hill? That no children would die?

I know this is too broad a brush. That there were many in America who were "against" the war. But you take my point.

there anywhere where people are actually talking to those who got it right from the beginning? I did read this from Hans Blix

it may be that the spectacular failure of ensuring disarmament by force, and of introducing democracy by occupation, will work in favour of a greater use of diplomacy and 'soft power'".

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23408014-23109,00.html

Reading these "liberal hawks", I'm simply not sure this will be the case. They seem to still be in the mood of America Good and nothing we ever do will be bad, just badly planned.

It's that the people who we wish would love us, don't. Saloniks want to be loved, yes loved by Arabs, Muslims, Persians, Marxists and criminals of all stripes. Now that they hate us (as if that's a new thing) Saloniks do what comes naturally. Blame themselves. If you hate yourself enough, the people who hate you, who you want to love you, will love you. Works every time.

the US was on it's only remaining superpower high and was more economically, politically and culturally dominant "the indispensable nation", etc. than it will be. It won't really be an internationally politically practical option for the US to go around the world fighting wars, at least not without international support.

"Some claim -- like the job interviewee who cites "excess diligence" when asked to name their worst fault -- that they were simply too starry-eyed in their Goodness and purity"

WHAT???!!!?? You mean that doesn't work? No wonder I'm not getting any call backs...

Seriously, though. This is one of my main bones with Obama (and the rest of the Dems, this goes without saying). He is the anti-war candidate who vows to increase the size of our military and bomb areas of Pakistan and doesn't rule out a strike against Iran. Obama has shown he can lead rather than follow on other issues, this would be a great time to cast off the lichen and take the Democratic party in a new direction. He has the mandate if he knows how to use it.

The only reason 'everyone' in America was for the war was because the Media said so. There were no voices against the war because they were effectively silence by lack of exposure, and the drum beat of 'inevitability'.

How many times have we seen Homer reach into boiling water for a hot dog, scream, pull his hand, then immediately reach back in again.

How can America remember anything, when everything, everything, not rose coloured and wrapped in the flag of glory, goes down the memory hole?

Most Americans think they "won" in Korea.

As a result of these claimed "lessons learned" from Iraq, perhaps our media and political elite will weigh the costs and benefits a little more carefully the next time around. Perhaps they will be marginally more skeptical of uncorroborated government assertions.

Perhaps monkeys will come flying out of my butt.

Sadly, the media seems to operate on an amazingly counterproductive wavelength when it comes to whose opinions on the war to trust:

The more wrong you were on the war, the more right you must be after the fact.

That's the only thing I can think of to explain why those who got it right and were ignored are STILL ignored.

Whose media?

Don't Americans know about used car salesmen?

What about ordinary, decent, human restraint?

Where was that?

These war advocates, I would wager to a one, have learned nothing for one simple reason: They have no actual investment in the conflict they cheer for.

They and their families have not or will not serve in the armed forces.

They and their families are not at economic or emotional risk of losing loved ones overseas.

They and their families have insulated themselves through distance and willing ignorance against the devastation they've cheered for.

Bring back the Draft (sans any exemptions) and these idiots would 'learn' their lessons in record time.

This is one of my main bones with Obama (and the rest of the Dems, this goes without saying). He is the anti-war candidate who vows to increase the size of our military and bomb areas of Pakistan and doesn't rule out a strike against Iran.

Obama is just lying about this, we all know he is a man of peace.

Tell the electorate what they want to hear in order to get elected and then do what you damn well please is the order of the day for politicians.

Why should Obama be any different?