For those of you who are still unsure about what moral clarity is

[John Kilduff]

[ QUOTE ]
Victory already happened in Iraq. When they hung that Mission Accomplished banner, that should have been the end. Had this administration not been so cowardly that they felt compelled (in the face of bleeding-heart criticism) to redefine the mission from "overthrowing Saddam Hussein" to "liberating the Iraqi people and spreading democracy" we'd have been out a long time ago and thousands of US soldiers would still be alive.

[/ QUOTE ]

One of the underlying (though less trumpeted) goals of the Iraq War has been to spread democracy in the Middle East. The Bush administration isn't really materially re-defining much, in my opinion, by publicly bringing it more to the forefront of concerns. The goal of spreading democracy in the Middle East has long been a part of Neo-Con philosophy, along with things outlined in The Project For A New American Century.

[tehox]

[ QUOTE ]
Victory already happened in Iraq. When they hung that Mission Accomplished banner, that should have been the end. Had this administration not been so cowardly that they felt compelled (in the face of bleeding-heart criticism) to redefine the mission from "overthrowing Saddam Hussein" to "liberating the Iraqi people and spreading democracy" we'd have been out a long time ago and thousands of US soldiers would still be alive.

[/ QUOTE ]

So the goal of "liberating the Iraqi people and spreading democracy" was institued because of "bleeding heart criticism"? I'm sorry but you are wrong. This was always the plan of the neo-conservatives that planned this war. Also what do you mean by "bleeding heart criticism"? A lot of people didin't want this war to begin with (most of them Democrats), and a vast majority of people don't want this war anymore, yet Bush still stays. This is because in his mind, and those of the neoconservatives, leaving Iraq without restoring order is defeat. This has always been the case and always will be the case.

[tehox]

I think it is quite interesting. In a way you have to respect Bush and Cheney, and I truly hope that they are doing what they think is right. They are sticking with this war even though it is helping to kill the Repulican party.

So while I respect the consistency and clarity of their vision, I don't see how their position is any more "moral" than those who didn't want to the war in the first place, or those who are now coming to the realiztion that the war is a disaster that is no longer worth the price that is being paid.