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INCREASE SUPPORT BY WITHDRAWING
Former Reagan staffer Doug Bandow ridicules Australia’s level of military involvement in Iraq:
How very nice. Australia wants America to stick around in Iraq …
To its credit, Australia has provided some troops in Iraq—but not many. As Sen. Obama archly observed: “Mr. Howard has deployed 1400 [men], so if he is [ready] to fight the good fight in Iraq, I would suggest that he calls up another 20,000 Australians and sends them to Iraq” …
Allies can be useful, but only if they are willing to back up shared interests with manpower, money, and other resources. Advice is cheap, especially when it is Americans who are doing the dying.
That was Bandow a few days ago in the American Spectator. But in today’s Australian, Doug calls for our troops to be withdrawn:
Australians apparently are growing uneasy with the Prime Minister’s embrace of a US administration that has been thoroughly discredited at home … By refusing to send more troops, Canberra could begin to reassert Australia’s interest.
Indeed, instead of adding to its current garrison, Australia should begin withdrawing its troops, while advising Washington to do the same.
So much for “backing up shared interests with manpower, money, and other resources”. Bandow has previously beclowned himself on matters Australian; why is he even published here?
(Via Hal G.P. Colebatch)
Curse you, internet, checker of stories.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 02 19 at 03:33 AM • permalinkI think us Aussies need to do a bit of PR work about the Operations of the SASR Squadron in Western Iraq during Gulf War II!!!
It appears that because we Aussies have taken to heart Patton’s thoughts about nmaking the other bastards die for their country, we haven’t got enough skin in the game. Ungrateful pricks!
Razor,
I can say with a absolute confidence that I speak for millions of my fellow Yanks when I say Doug Bandow can go fuck himself.
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2007 02 19 at 03:42 AM • permalink1959-1975: We followed the Yanks into Vietnam, kicked arse and got shafted by the Democrats.
2003-2007: We followed the Yanks into Iraq, kicked arse and again are getting shafted by the Democrats.
201X: The Yanks can go F**K themselves! You’re on your own. No third time lucky you Democrat voting cunts!Anyone notice that any of these “flee Iraq, now!” calls are also so America-centric? It’s all about teaching the US a lesson.
No mention of what a premature withdrawal will do to the people of Iraq, noticeably.
Posted by Quentin George on 2007 02 19 at 04:45 AM • permalinkThis surprises me. Previously I’ve read several well reasoned columns by Bandow.
Posted by wronwright on 2007 02 19 at 05:21 AM • permalinkCurrently argueing with a dork who states Iraq was invaded to stop oil being traded ion Euros.
Jesus weeping Christ on a pogo stick, just how stupid do you have to get before you cant use a computer?By the way JoHo only sent more troops to assist in Iraq because Obama said he should. Its like mud wresting with a pig. I get dirty and the pig just enjoys itself…
Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2007 02 19 at 07:04 AM • permalinkAnd he GOT IT WRONG AGAIN!
50-70 more to go there as trainers for the Iraqi army.
Posted by curious george on 2007 02 19 at 07:08 AM • permalinkFor daring to disagree with Obama, Australia is public enemy No.1 among the North American left. Rarely quoted left-wing journalist devoted a whole article to hanging shit on Australian soldiers. He said if the US invade Mars, Australia would volunteer to look after the depot. Of cours, this ignores the fact that Australian soldiers were in the fighting from day one in Iraq and also in Afghanistan. Oddly, he hasn’t seen fit to upload this to his site http://www.gwynnedyer.net/. The article is titled to Deputy Sheriff Speaks, which fits nicely with Bandow’s collection of myths
Reagan did have a lot of idiots around him.
By the way, one of the strategies of the enemy (any enemy) is to try to drive a wedge through the allies. I wonder who’s really behind Bandow.
Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 02 19 at 09:34 AM • permalinkTo #9’s comment, I’ll add “and the dogs that follow them.”
IIRC, the entire mobilized Australian Army is 2 divisions + support troops. An Australian instructor in one of my Signal School courses in the late 1980’s mentioned that he had always wanted to go to Fort Hood, Texas, in order to see what the equivalent of the entire Australian Army would look like in one place.
1400 troops out of that is a pretty high percentage out of that total. Thanks!
Posted by Richard Cranium on 2007 02 19 at 10:06 AM • permalinkSome are born stupid (Jimmy Carter) some achieve stupidity (John Murtha) and some have stupidity thrust upon them (Doug Bandow).
Posted by John Fembup on 2007 02 19 at 10:34 AM • permalink"Advice is cheap”, says Bandow. Unlike those bribes he accepted as payment for columns.
Australia has troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor and Solomon Islands, a naval presence in the Persian Gulf and detachments of C-130 and AP-3C aircraft. The ADF also plays a permanent role (Operation Resolute) protecting and securing our extremely large borders. Not bad for a country with a population broadly comparable to metropolitan New York’s.
This is another Yank endorsing the collective “Fuck you, Bandow!”
I will also add a hearty “Fuck off and die, loser!” for good measure.
I also appreciate what the Aussies are doing....whether the idiot lefties know it or not, you are making a significant contribution to the Coalition.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2007 02 19 at 11:10 AM • permalinkI stopped reading AS when they endorsed Intelligent Design. You’d think a sofistickated noowanced rag like the Australian would recognize the company they keep…
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2007 02 19 at 11:20 AM • permalinkMan, what is up with “former Reagan staffers” these days. The old man must be fairly twirling in his grave.
I don’t fault EvilK for his comments. After all, it’s the way most of us feel about the prospect of coming to Europe’s rescue a forth time. But nevertheless, if, when, it becomes necessary, we’ll be there.
Democrats don’t want allies who will take up arms with us. They want allies who will engage in useless talk endlessly and pass non-enforceable resolutions and ratify agreements that don’t have a prayer of being kept and impose sanctions designed to enrich the very people they were meant to punish. Democrats, like Europeans, believe in the power of appeasement and, when that ultimately fails, they will blithely move on to capitulation and collaboration. Somehow, I don’t think Australia wants to be that kind of ally.
The part that really gets me is the lack of acknowledgement of Australia’s role and responsibilities in its own little corner of the world and how much we count on it to meet those many responsibilities. Imagine how much more difficult life would be without a strong presence like Oz in Oceania.
Democrats and former Reagan staffers. Feh.
Posted by Kyda Sylvester on 2007 02 19 at 01:23 PM • permalinkWhat the Dhimms don’t know about what is happening in this war is truly astounding. Some of the things Murtha has said show that he hasn’t a clue as to the facts on the ground.
I don’t blame any Ozzie for getting PO’d about this crap. Try to look at it this way: we are fighting a war within America, as well as without. We have people who are trying to bring this country to its knees and keep it there. When you hear nonsense like that from Obama, understand that you are hearing from an enemy of the America with which you’ve allied yourself. I don’t blame you for not recognizing the enemy within. I think there are many Americans who haven’t quite recognized the situation, either. It is so appalling that the mind reels and tries to deny the increasing facts.
EvilK is right, regardless of whether he personally supports the position or not. I have a hard time believing anybody whose handle is an homage to a great Americanreally doesn’t want the best for us, but how can any govt trust the US in the future if things have any chance of getting sticky
Well, this US Army officer is glad of all the help we get from Oz.
Bandow must be way down the list, you know, for when they need to trot someone out to beclown themselves in just the right way.
Posted by Major John on 2007 02 19 at 02:36 PM • permalinkTim, fellow readers, you are being too tough on Bandow.
It must be hard for him to make ends meet, what with his gravy train, Jack Abramoff*, in jail. A man’s got to do something to eat…
As an American who occasionally served with Diggers when serving, I’m grateful the Australians are on our side and participating, and just wish there were about a hundred million more of you’s. C’mon folks, One for Ma, one for Pa, a half dozen for Australia, and one for the Yanks, just in case civilization is endangered.
*Jack Abramoff, a man whose name is too long by Abram, you’ll remember was the ass clown who turned conservative lobbying into a business. Along with his cronies in D.C., they provided one or two too many enticements to a lot of conservative / republican legislators, thereby finishing their corruption, and generating the wave of public outrage that led to the last election debacle. Bandow was on Abramoff’s payroll, and like a fair number of Big “L” both Libertarians, oppose any form of war, and believe that if John Galt shrugs the world will stop turning. I would take Mr. Bandow about as seriously as George Monbiot, if Mr. Monbiot had any understanding of economics.
#23 RK-your math is wrong. The US is 15X as large as Australia, so in order for there to be a comparable commitment the Aussies would have to have 9600 troops on the ground.
That’s beside the point though, Australia has its own commitments and so any help is appreciated (I say this as one who flew on an RAAF C-130 from Kuwait to Qatar in 2003).
#7: “No mention of what a premature withdrawal will do to the people of Iraq, noticeably.”
That’s because the “run away” clowns don’t care.
Posted by Barbara Skolaut on 2007 02 19 at 05:06 PM • permalinkDoug Bandow is one of those libertarians whose comments on international and military affairs give Libertarianism its reputation for having ideas of grossly ignorant stupidity in those subjects.
Posted by Michael Lonie on 2007 02 19 at 08:23 PM • permalinkAnd three cheers for Oz. In a world where we have allies like the Germans, who won’t let their soldiers fight because it might hurt the enemy, and France, which considers itself our adversary and seeks to diminish our power (the Frogs think any crumbs of power that drop from the American table they will get to pick up), a country that will stand with us is a blessing, however many soldiers it can send to help us.
Posted by Michael Lonie on 2007 02 19 at 08:27 PM • permalink#17 evidently US leftists disparage Australia because, in their minds, to be an ally of the US is to support Bush and, therefore, an enemy of the Democrats. Conversely to be a fair weather friend (or, better, an enemy) of the US is to oppose Bush and therefore, in some twisted way, be an ally of the Democrats. My enemy’s enemy etc. The national interest of the US or its allies doesn’t enter into it.
Obviously this is an insane position, but it remains to be seen how it will play out. In Australia I think it will not work to the ALP’s advantage. After all, if the Democrats win and implement their policy of unilateral withdrawal (a policy which Rudd must necessarily endorse since it is also what he proposes to do) there can be no possible benefit to Australia because the US-Australia alliance will be devalued immeasurably. A devalued alliance means even greater emphasis on Australia’s defence and domestic security. Who’s strong on defence and domestic security? – certainly not the Hicks-lovin ALP.
I have no idea how it will go down in the US, but there has to be some chance that the Democrats will do a Latham, i.e. be so reckless and strident in their policy that they scare the electorate. One things for sure, if the Democrats win we’re all in for a wild ride.
To compound matters, Australia must choose its course long before the Presidential election is held (possibly, even before the candidates are nominated). While Australian doings would normally not register on the US electorate’s radar I’m pretty sure a unilateral pull out from Iraq by Australia would be used by the Democrats in the lead up to the presidential elections as an endorsement of their policy – and who could argue otherwise. Thus its in Australia’s national interest to vote Howard.
Interesting times on both sides of the Pacific.
If the Democraters force a cut & run and Iraq is abandoned to secterian genocide the repercussions will obviously be dramatic. After two failed major wars not only could the US’s allies question their resolve but I fear their own citizens will doubt whether they are any longer, the leader of the free world.
I sense the possibility of a drift towards isolationism prodded along by the Democrats desire to rely solely on “negotiations” with errant nations.
The closure of European bases and withdrawal from NATO would probably please some of those countries until such time as outside threats become a reality. Not only would Europe be fair game to the jihadis but Putin is chomping at the bit to be boss cocky in that part of the world. He’s already playing the oil/gas card.
I fear there are tough times ahead for us all.
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