How to PWN a Nut 101

So, Thomas Friedman, our ever wrong NYT pundit decided to give is ever wrong opinion on Iraq, again.

In the comment section, me and a poster named Patriot have been discussing terrorism, Iraq, oil, you name it.  The article itself is crap, but, the comment sections may give people help in how to counter wingnut lunatics they encounter.

(Author note:  Those here at docudharma have seen what my posts look like when I get a bit drunk.  And no, I’m not now, but, do apologize for posting the last two drivels.)

Now… class is open…

As I said, the article itself is more Friedman crap.  Go to the comment sections at the bottom of the page, and, make sure you set the parameter to “oldest first”.  I have put the http links in most of my responses if you care to see where the information came from, btw.

Here is a preview:

Michael_Gass wrote on 10/28/2009 09:27:04 AM:

Thomas Friedman. The man who started saying in 2003 that we’d see if Iraq stabilized “within six months”. It’s only been six YEARS. Why shouldn’t the Middle East hate us? We’ve supported one brutal dictator after another in the Middle East; the Shah of Iran for 26 years, Saddam Hussein in Iraq in the 1980’s, General Musharraf in Pakistan. As T. Boone Pickens just said, we invaded and occupied Iraq, we lost soldiers, so we are entitled to their oil.

The top three countries that hold the most oil reserves not already dominated by the United States are Iran, Iraq and Venezuela. The CIA assisted in the attempted coup of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela in 2002. We invaded Iraq in 2003. We have heard a continual drumbeat for regime change in Iran (again, because we learned nothing from our coup in 1953).

Our attempt to dominate the world’s remaining oil supply is what is destabilizing the Middle East.

Patriot wrote on 10/28/2009 09:12:14 AM:

In 2008, Obama campaigned on the rhetoric that Iraq was “unwinnable”, and “The real war is in Afghanistan.”

The Surge worked in Iraq. We took control of the entire country. Obama and Democrats then had to gin up an economic crisis, with McCain ahead by 5.5% in the polls in July.

Now, Obama stalls on Afghanistan, failing to meet with Sec Gates, and General McCrystal. Joe Biden spends two days there and the White House announces, “The Biden Strategy” of launching missiles and bombs instead of using infantry. Isn’t that the same failed strategy Bill Clinton tried on Iraq in 1998, 1999, and 2000?

Michael_Gass wrote on 10/28/2009 09:36:09 AM:

Patriot,

The only “failed strategy” is our continued attempt to dominate the world’s oil resources. It has failed for sixty years.

If you think we “control” Iraq, you are fooling yourself. Try traveling in Iraq without a parade of armed escort. We control nothing in Iraq but some of the politicians, just like in Afghanistan.

Patriot wrote on 10/28/2009 09:56:22 AM:

The US obviously didn’t go to war for the small amount of oil in Iraq.

We rebuilt their oil fields, and the oil is being sold to the highest bidders on the open market: some US firms, some European, some Asian.

We do have a legitimate interest in preventing aggressors like Saddam Hussein or Iran from invading the surrounding Arab nations.

We do have a legitimate interest in stopping their production of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, especially since they financed terrorists, and harbored them, and trained them on their soil. Iran still does.

Patriot wrote on 10/28/2009 09:59:48 AM:

Bill Clinton’s war strategy in Iraq was a complete failure.

That’s a fact.

98% of Democrats supported it. That’s also a fact.

They just lack the backbone and the ability for foreign policy, including war.

Michael_Gass wrote on 10/28/2009 10:12:31 AM:

Patriot,

I would suggest you learn your history and facts.

https://www.cia.gov/library/pu…

Iran and Iraq rank #3 and #4 in oil reserves.

Iraq started the 1980’s Iraq-Iran war. It was our continued support of Saddam in the 1980’s that allowed it to continue as long as it did. It drained Iraq and that prompted his invasion of Kuwait.

I was part of Desert Shield in 1990. Iraq was contained and totally drained militarily from our continued strikes throughout the 1990’s. It was no threat to anyone, much less our country.

Iraq didn’t have the programs you claim, as Tyler Drumheller’s interview with 60 Minutes proved. The CIA had turned one of Saddam’s inner circle months before our invasion in 2003. There was no Al-Qaeda/Iraq connection and never was as even Dick Cheney finally admitted and reported by CNN.

Al-Qaeda is all but gone in Afghanistan now.

Michael_Gass wrote on 10/28/2009 10:27:26 AM:

Patriot,

Bill Clinton’s “war strategy” was the same as George H.W. Bush’s – contain Iraq. THAT worked.

Clinton’s “Middle East” strategy was the same as every President’s since 1953 – get into the Middle East with our military and stay there. THAT worked.

It was this strategy that caused the blowback against us, just as it has since 1953.

If you want war so bad, go sign up for it. I’ve been there, done it.

That’s your teaser.  There is about 3 pages of me debunking every wingnut myth he’s asserted as fact.

Class closed.