Sometimes You Got To Call It Like You See It Posted by Michael Cohen

I've been meaning to write something about Ross Douthat's really toxic op-ed in the New York Times today about Iraq, but Daniel Larison has done my handiwork for me. Douthat argues that: 

Our nation might be less divided, and our debates less poisonous, if more artists were capable of showing us the ironies, ambiguities and tragedies inherent in our politics — rather than comforting us with portraits of a world divided cleanly into good and evil.

I don't really disagree with Douthat's underlying argument - too often the machinations of American politics is shown in the most simplistic terms imaginable. But here's the thing: Iraq or as I like to call it "the worst foreign policy disaster in American history" is not the test case that proves Douthat's point. Cue Larison:

Yes, the problem might be that we do not have artists capable of rendering contemporary architects of a war of aggression that was based on shoddy intelligence, ideological fervor and deceit in a sufficiently subtle, even-handed manner. If only Hollywood were better at portraying the depth and complexity of people who unleashed hell on a nation of 24 million people out of an absurd fear of a non-existent threat! Life is so unfair to warmongers, is it not? Then again, the reason our debates are so poisonous and our nation so divided might have something to do with the existence of utterly unaccountable members of the political class that can launch such a war, suffer no real consequences, and then reliably expect to be defended as “decent” and “well-intentioned” people who made understandable mistakes. The unfortunate truth of our existence is that villains do not have to come out of central casting for comic book movies. They are ordinary, “decent” people who commit grave errors and terrible crimes for any number of reasons. Many great evils have found their origins in a group’s belief that they were doing the right thing and were therefore entitled and permitted to use extraordinary means.

Exactly. There is some serious whitewashing of history for Douthat to complain that Hollywood is simplifying the history of the Iraq War by portraying it in black and white terms, when this is pretty much the exact way that the Bush Administration sold the war in 2002/2003 . . . as a simplistic good vs. evil narrative.  If Douthat is really confused as why our political debates are so coarsened, perhaps he might want to dwell more on that irony.

FWIW, I would also add that I don't think George Bush is an evil man; instead he's a dim witted, intellectually incurious, close-minded, dry drunk bully who believed that by going to war in Iraq he was protecting the American people . . . and chose to ignore every available piece of evidence that indicated that his 'strongly-held beliefs' were wrong. I don't think Condi Rice and Colin Powell are evil people; I think they are cowardly individuals who deep down in the heart probably knew that the war in Iraq was a mistake, but for largely personal and professional reasons allowed themselves to be complicit in this terrible conflict. (In some ways both of these individuals seem far worse than Bush, which I'll admit is a strange emotion).

Is that evil behavior along the lines of Hitler, Stalin or Mao - of course not. But is it horrible behavior that should be judged in the harshest possible terms? Yes. And should those responsible for the unnecessary deaths of hundreds of thousands of people be excused because their intentions were pure? 

Do I really have to answer that?

Douthat complains that "radical sympathy, extended even to people who presided over grave disasters, is in short supply all across America at the moment." What's unclear to me is why this should even be considered a problem. My sympathy extends to the lives of those Iraqis and Americans who were gravely affected by the "decent, well-intentioned" actions of Bush Administration officials. As for those officials responsible for that war - and for the lying, misleading, lack of post-war planning and failure to admit mistakes and change course that defined that conflict - to hell with them. 

The more opprobrium the better.

Comments

[grabspecialsale]

First of all i have to say that this article speak out my mind loud and clear and thank you for post this article. i do believe that lot of people in this country are agree with this you and please keep post such great article like this forever... thaks.

[superbacnetreatment]

wow...such a strong word and i agree with you totally and hope there will be a way to change the pass but it is impossible so hope in the future we will use this example of what mistake that we made in order to make the right decision.

[dunk shoes]

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[iedge]

Ross offers some decent ideas for making the proposal less harsh on the middle class.Ross, young man, eliminate unnecessary wars of choice like the one your friend W waged in Iraq..

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[tensioner,truck tensioner]

Hope you are doing fine.
This is ROY from BOYE auto parts co.,ltd.
BOYE AUTO PARTS manufacture
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2:Crank shaft pulley
3: belt pulley
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You can also visit our website www.auto-tensioner.com

We have export to Europe, North America, South America, middle east, Africa and so on.

BOYE AUTOPARTS CO.,LTD
TEL:+86 577 65999887
FAX:+86 577 65999885
WEBSITE: www.auto-tensioner.com
E-MAIL: boyeautoparts@gmail.com
MSN: boyeauto@live.cn
Address: Shangzao Industrial Zone,Tangxia, Ruian,325200, China

[tensioner,truck tensioner]

Hope you are doing fine.
This is ROY from BOYE auto parts co.,ltd.
BOYE AUTO PARTS manufacture
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2:Crank shaft pulley
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You can also visit our website www.auto-tensioner.com

We have export to Europe, North America, South America, middle east, Africa and so on.

BOYE AUTOPARTS CO.,LTD
TEL:+86 577 65999887
FAX:+86 577 65999885
WEBSITE: www.auto-tensioner.com
E-MAIL: boyeautoparts@gmail.com
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Address: Shangzao Industrial Zone,Tangxia, Ruian,325200, China

[tensioner,truck tensioner]

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You can also visit our website www.auto-tensioner.com

We have export to Europe, North America, South America, middle east, Africa and so on.

BOYE AUTOPARTS CO.,LTD
TEL:+86 577 65999887
FAX:+86 577 65999885
WEBSITE: www.auto-tensioner.com
E-MAIL: boyeautoparts@gmail.com
MSN: boyeauto@live.cn
Address: Shangzao Industrial Zone,Tangxia, Ruian,325200, China

[tensioner,truck tensioner]

BOYE AUTO PARTS manufacture
1: Tensioner
2:Crank shaft pulley
3: belt pulley
4:Clutch release bearing.
5:Tensioner pulley
You can also visit our website www.auto-tensioner.com

We have export to Europe, North America, South America, middle east, Africa and so on.

BOYE AUTOPARTS CO.,LTD
TEL:+86 577 65999887
FAX:+86 577 65999885
WEBSITE: www.auto-tensioner.com
E-MAIL: boyeautoparts@gmail.com
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Address: Shangzao Industrial Zone,Tangxia, Ruian,325200, China

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