Neocon Adelman: If Iraq Doesn’t Improve By July 4, ‘I Will Say It Is Hopeless’

[RamboLiberal]

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/02/03/adelman-iraq/

Kenneth Adelman, “a lifelong neocon activist and Pentagon insider who served on the Defense Policy Board until 2005,” was a prominent advocate of the Iraq war. He famously claimed in a February 2002 Washington Post op-ed, “I believe demolishing Hussein’s military power and liberating Iraq would be a cakewalk.”

Two months ago, Adelman delivered a mea culpa in an interview with Vanity Fair. “I just presumed that what I considered to be the most competent national-security team since Truman was indeed going to be competent. They turned out to be among the most incompetent teams in the post-war era. Not only did each of them, individually, have enormous flaws, but together they were deadly, dysfunctional.”

This week, at a Denver City Club luncheon, Adelman said he sees the light at the end of the tunnel:

Adelman is not optimistic of a positive outcome to the American occupation of Iraq. … He said if by July 4th there is no progress made, “then I will say it is hopeless.”

Nevertheless, Adelman said President Bush’s escalation strategy is “worth a try,” even though its “chances of it succeeding are very low.” He also refused to express regret for promoting the war. “I expected an apology from you today,” said one attendee “who identified himself as a former intelligence officer for the United States Army during the Vietnam War.”

[Kurovski]

1. I shall await his July 4th deadline

as I once marked the days 'til Christmas morn. :eyes:

[Hissyspit]

2. Alternate Headline: "Neocon Adelman: If Iraq Doesn't Improve By Tomorrow, I Will Admit

I'm A Fucking Idiot"

[Erika]

3. When will they admit their shame and guilt

for backing W in this insane war? That's what the country expects.

[Purveyor]

4. When will they be held accountable for their "crimes"? n/t

[Downtown Hound]

5. Who are you going to blame when July 5th rolls around asswipe?

Yourself and your fellow neo-cons? Nah, of course not. Probably liberals, the enemy for having the gall to defend their own country from your illegal invasion, God, Satan, Clinton, Hollywood, The Dixie Chicks? Who, you son of a bitch? Are you going to apologize to the entire world for this fucking fiasco that you helped to create?

Nah, of course you aren't.

[twilight_sailing]

6. In the time it took us to beat both Germany & Japan

we lost the war in Iraq. The Republicans had complete power. They started the war and they lost the war.

But they will, as always, blame the liberals.

[maine_raptor]

7. July 4th, eh?

Did he say which year?

[ClintonTyree]

8. Even if there is relative quiet in Iraq by then....

which I greatly doubt, without a continuous American presence thereafter the country will revert back to it's civil war in a heartbeat. But I guess that's all part of the neo-con plan anyway, isn't it? Our good pals, the Saudis, wanted us out of their country but the U.S. needed somewhere to build permanent bases, and Iraq fit the bill. We'll be there forever, spend countless billions every year to stay there and that fits very nicely into the PNAC plan of world domination.
It doesn't matter what the outcome of Bush's surge is. The neo-cons will have their precious outpost in the middle-east and the way will be paved for the American corporatists to set up shop and steal the resources of the Iraqi people. Mission accomplished!

[Philosoraptor]

9. Well thanks hugely for that kenny, it takes a big man to admit he was wrong.

Fuck you adelman, now that it's too fucking late, fuck you very fucking much.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

10. Happy July 3rd Ken!

We are out of tomorrows for your folly.

You had no idea that dubya was an incompetent, and that he, rummy and the sneer had no clue as to how to prosecute any military endeavor?

I smell BS... err make that Eau DuNeocon.

[NNN0LHI]

11. If Adelman isn't charged with War Crimes by July 4, ‘I Will Say The US Is Hopeless’ n/t

[ima_sinnic]

12. "what I considered to be the most competent natl security team since Truman"

--together with "demolishing Hussein's military power and liberating Iraq would be a cakewalk," together with *'s escalation strategy "worth a try" even though its "chances of succeeding are very low" means that this guy is a Real Big Thinker, a typical repuke/neocon "genius" cretin whose intellectual capabilities are somewhere in the range of what they used to call "trainable." Certainly not "educable."

Hey, he was on the Defense Policy Board -- someone actually respected this guy's "ideas" enough to put him in a "think tank"!! Probably typical of the 30-watt bulbs on the rest of the board. Can you imagine the "brainstorming sessions"?

Adelman: "Hey, it will be a cakewalk! And when the rest of the world sees how they have been saved from Hussein and how happy and free the Iraqis are working in their new McDonalds and Wal-Marts, they will ask us to invade their countries, too!"
DBP IP* #2: "Well, then, what is the plan? Sounds like just a few battalions should be enough. first we pull down the statue -- we got that crew of extras yet? We need a few more "Iraqi people" costumes for the photo op, along with some black wigs and dark make up. Hey, how about if they carry those curved sword-looking things like they have in the "Aladdin" movie? And they need those funny pajama-looking pants that Aladdin wears, too."
DBP IP #3: "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Hey, I'm getting hungry. Should we order out to Big Boy, or how about if we just take a long lunch today and eat poolside at the club?"
Adelman: "Great idea! I'm starving after all this deep thinking!"

*IP = intellectual pygmy