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Re: Friday, November 3, 2006
James, Which branch of the service did you serve in? Did your combat experience include Vietnam? What commendations did you receive from your government for your service? After you present your credentials, perhaps we will take you and other soft-bellied bellicose theorists seriously. Otherwise, we have to regard your theories the way entrepreneurs regard economists. Interesting, perhaps. Irrelevant, certainly. You act as if the US has the power to change the course in Iraq. Sorry. It's over. There is no number of troops that can salvage Iraq, because we develop warriors who want to become civilians again, one at a time. The jihadists develop warriors a hundred at a time, and they don't care if they live or die. You're right: There WILL be a Vietnam-style bloodbath. But the fact is that we can do nothing about it. Your fellow theorists have ensured that truth. This isn't about Republicans vs. Democrats. It's about theorists vs. clear thinkers. That's why John Robb and I and Jim Webb and every General you might talk to off the record will tell you that we need to get out while we still have blood and treasure enough to do some good in areas where we can make a difference.
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