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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009

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OPINION

Without Bush, Left Forgets Wars

By Kevin Spak| Posted Aug 18, 09 12:24 PM CDT|

(Newser) – It wasn't exactly back in the Crusades that opposing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan was the left’s most passionate cause, uniting activists and voters alike. Then George W. Bush left office. Now, even though there are still around 130,000 troops in Iraq and 68,000 and counting in Afghanistan, those anti-war voices are silent, writes Byron York in the Washington Examiner.

Back in 2006, activists at the YearlyKos devised strategies not just to unseat Republicans, but to pressure Democrats to oppose the war. But in a straw poll at last week’s YearlyKos, attendees ranked ending the war dead last among their personal goals. Some, like Cindy Sheehan, are still banging the anti-war drum. “But her days are over,” York concludes. “For many liberal activists, opposing the war was really about opposing George W. Bush.”

Anti-war demonstrator Jordan Tower, right, a former US Marine corporal who served in Iraq, holds up a sign at the front entrance to Chevron headquarters in San Ramon, Calif., May 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

John Walsh of Los Angeles wears a mask of Barack Obama as he marches with anti-war activists through Hollywood to voice their opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, March 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)

Former President George W. Bush speaks at the Manufacturers & Business Association's 104th annual event in Erie, Pa., Wednesday, June 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

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44 comments

VIEWING:

Caps
Aug 18, 09 12:26 PM CDT

Yes we oppose GWB, he is the AH that started these wars. Reply

-3

IN RESPONSE:

r.carollin
Aug 18, 09 1:06 PM CDT

i'm going to politely disagree here and remind you that it was the atrocious acts of the taliban that began these wars

IN RESPONSE:

Reader60610265
Aug 18, 09 1:22 PM CDT

Thank you carollin. Sometimes they seem to forget about the 5000 dead and injured and who did what to whom first.

IN RESPONSE:

Nwambe
Aug 18, 09 1:43 PM CDT

Sorry, no, it was the hunt for weapons of mass destruction that started the war in Iraq, and an ill-fated attempt to find Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan that started that one. Morality was only invoked midway through the war, after the atrocious "Mission Accomplished" incident.

-4

IN RESPONSE:

reasonator
Aug 18, 09 2:16 PM CDT

And it was the Congress who approved of the wars

IN RESPONSE:

Spudsy
Aug 18, 09 5:09 PM CDT

Afghanistan was a result of 911. Iraq is a vanity war by conservatives.

IN RESPONSE:

BackAgain
Aug 20, 09 8:07 AM CDT

Who cares who or why it started the Left and their messiah have continued it with out a peep of protest. The hypocrisy of the Left is staggering. Where is Hollywood, the big nose bitch Cindy Sheehan and all the rest of the orchestrated and financed crew of the DNC ?

| 0 minutes ago

Odaecom
Aug 18, 09 12:27 PM CDT

I didn't realize I was suppose to forget about the wars, my bad. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Thinker
Aug 18, 09 12:29 PM CDT

Wrong. Opposing the wars is about protecting our children, our resources, innocent civilians and our reputation abroad. These wars are criminal and, if you don't see the protests that are still going on, you don't have your eyes open. Reply

-5

IN RESPONSE:

r.carollin
Aug 18, 09 1:11 PM CDT

have you people forgotten completely?!?? you say you care about protecting your children and the innocent civilians, but do you not remember 9/11? Or the ongoing struggle in afghanistan where innocent civilians are being viciously murdered simply for thinking of voting? Apparently you are the one with your eyes not open.

IN RESPONSE:

Adapt-Overcome
Aug 18, 09 2:46 PM CDT

Thinker, I agree with the fact that wars are about protecting our loved ones and our country...but our reputation? Everyone has an opinion and no one will ever agree 100% with anyone, so "opinion" I struggle with. War is just that war. Fighting for a cause and much loss and bloodshed. In our own country, French-Indidan Wars, Revolutionary War, Civil War...they fought on our own ground that we now share as a United State, but none the less it was a war and there were many casualties both soldiers and civilians. In battle, innocent people always die and there is absolutely NO WAY around it. American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan could easily go in there with all the power and might that is our military and end the war....but there would be much loss of life..innocent and not. Americans' can't understand that and refuse to understand that and as long as that is the case. We will fight LONG WARS and our soldiers will die.

| 0 minutes ago

PosterNutbag
Aug 18, 09 12:37 PM CDT

End the Iraq war. End the Afghan war. In the meantime, lets not start any new wars and lets stop funding the Israeli military. Bring the troops home and lets work with the international community towards the dismantling of all nuclear arsenals. everywhere. A better world is possible. We've got to find a way to bring some lovin' here today. Turn up the Marvin Gaye music, only love can conquer hate... Reply

-3

IN RESPONSE:

r.carollin
Aug 18, 09 1:17 PM CDT

you are looking for a better world everywhere?? and yet want to stop miliary funding to Israel? maybe you don't realize that without our funding and support, Israel would not exist. the reason they were able to stand up against more than 10 countries and to win the defensive six day war was because of the US. does your "better world" include the annihilation of Israel?

| 0 minutes ago

Newser001
Aug 18, 09 12:41 PM CDT

No one forgets... Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Newser001
Aug 18, 09 2:41 PM CDT

As a VRA Vet, no one forgets war(s)... Just as in the Vietnam War, I see Afghanistan - I see no way out - No way to win - A lost cause... Their vision of theocracy is theirs, not mine. I'm OK with aide. But combine this new Afghani law requiring wives to submit to unwanted sex, a minimum of every 4 days or you may starve them, etc... NO ! That's utter BULLSH!T ! This is what we fight and die for...? This is where aide goes...? No thanks. Notice how the Taliban (Pashto) were OK in our book until 9/11...?

| 0 minutes ago

PosterNutbag
Aug 18, 09 12:41 PM CDT

This comment has been removed by Newser’s community. You must be logged in to view this comment. Reply

-5

IN RESPONSE:

r.carollin
Aug 18, 09 1:26 PM CDT

bring them home so that we can forget about those who are unable to protect themselves. bring them home so that more terrorist attacks can take place on our home soil. bring them home so that the terrorists can hack and murder the afghani's that want to vote. bring them home because our world will be better by allowing the taliban to continue without threat. bring them home so that they can watch as all that has been worked for is left to waste. bring them home so that all who have died can have their sacrifices be for vain. bring them home so that we can focus on self preservation and going green while the rest of the world burns. - bring them home, yes, but not until it is finished.

| 0 minutes ago

PosterNutbag
Aug 18, 09 12:50 PM CDT

Lets also not forget that private military contractors now out number US troops in Iraq, with Afghanistan moving in that direction too. Reply

-1

| 0 minutes ago

Reader65069154
Aug 18, 09 1:17 PM CDT

Didn't BHO campaign on the promise to end these wars and bring troops home? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

2-bits
Aug 18, 09 2:10 PM CDT

He did. Which is part of the reason why I'm not too thrilled with him. Now he's expanding the war in Afghanistan. BS.

IN RESPONSE:

Unaffiliated
Aug 18, 09 2:19 PM CDT

I remember him campaigning that he would end the war in Iraq and "return the focus to where it should have belonged all along", in Afghanistan.

IN RESPONSE:

prowlerzee
Aug 18, 09 10:39 PM CDT

That's because you're "unaffiliated so are reality-based. The Hopium huffers simply projected all this make-believe on their OMessiah and didn't notice that he's lied, used lobbyists, kowtowed to big business, all along. He never campaigned as a "peace" candidate.

| 0 minutes ago

vendetta
Aug 18, 09 1:19 PM CDT

We oppose them at every turn, we put a canidate into office because he campaigned on removing the troops, and he lied to us. Infact, he increased the troops in afgan. That deafing sound you are hearing is APATHY. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

r.carollin
Aug 18, 09 1:29 PM CDT

he campaigned on removing the troops, but circumstances have changed, thus resulting in having to change his stance. i support his current decision.

-3

IN RESPONSE:

NewserScooter
Aug 18, 09 9:55 PM CDT

There has been no change in circumstances other then he is now getting the same briefing GWB got, and is making the same decisions Bush would have made.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

prowlerzee
Aug 18, 09 10:41 PM CDT

r. carollin is an operative : "we've always been at war with Oceana." Zero told the nutcases who thought he was a "peace" candidate that he would focus the war on Afghanistan. As Jon Stewart says, Zero's reasonings are identical to Bush's for war but Zero "makes the kids like it." Morons.

| 0 minutes ago

hamsammichs
Aug 18, 09 1:28 PM CDT

One thing Obama is failing, yes failing, to do. Among other things, of course. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

freethemall
Aug 18, 09 1:32 PM CDT

Opposition to the war in Iraq diminished after Donald Rumsfeld was replaced Robert Gates, and the strategy and tactics in Iraq were changed for the better under General David Petraeus. As for Afghanistan, there was never very much opposition to that war. Obama has consistently regarded the war in Afghanistan as a war of necessity, and the War in Iraq as mistake, and a distraction, but he has consistently maintained that we should be as careful in getting out of Iraq, as we were careless in getting in. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Reader60610265
Aug 18, 09 1:36 PM CDT

Oh ye of little Faith. Didn't you know the new masia can't make mistakes. It's not enough that he's a two faced liar . He's going to part the waters and save us all . Just ask him or any other liberal. Yes Bush screwed up but he didn't make promises he couldn't keep . He did what he said he was going to do, but he had his head up his butt when he did it. Reply

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Adapt-Overcome
Aug 18, 09 2:34 PM CDT

What is it you religious nuts say, you have to believe in order to be saved...so in your eyes, you wouldn't be saved because your not a part of "us all". Hello......Mission Accomplished wasn't a promise he made to the American people. That he would end the rain of terror on the American people. Ask the families of the 150+ that have died this year if he broke any promises. So, you are also saying that he "promised" to rob our children of funding for education, our military and elderly of funding for their medical needs, he "promised" to sell out the middle class so his rich friends could get richer? Hell, I wish he hadn't kept any of those promises because then we wouldn't be fighting to get out of this recession and people wouldn't be losing their jobs and their homes.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

Corona_Kinq
Aug 18, 09 3:11 PM CDT

"masia" LOL. You got the first letter right.

| 0 minutes ago

Snowleopard
Aug 18, 09 2:14 PM CDT

well, we're drawing down troops in Iraq, so that's a start. as for Afghanistan, I'm torn. It seems like it could be another quagmire, just as the Russians had to deal with, but it seem irresponsible to totally pull and have the Taliban topple the government. Reply

-1

| 0 minutes ago

Adapt-Overcome
Aug 18, 09 2:27 PM CDT

You think? People are still opposed to the war and want our troops home overall, but people are struggling personally with finances and making ends meet right now and so there is less time to march and picket. The sentament, however, I believe is still there. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

archibaldarmstrong
Aug 18, 09 4:48 PM CDT

coulda fooled me. I think it's just another example of liberal hypocrisy. but that's just me.

| 0 minutes ago

DarkFrancis
Aug 18, 09 5:04 PM CDT

I can't believe people have deliberately cloudy memories about how these wars started. We all know the truth of it. Afghanistan was as a result of 9/11 and Iraq was a singularly ignorant act of shitty intelligence & crass unilateralism. Now, from what we've all been hearing, Iraq is being drawn down. Given that the bulk of protest was about the Iraq war, what are people supposed to be protesting? Are they supposed to be out in the streets yelling 'hurry up, go faster'? That kind of meaningless gathering seems more reminiscent of recent 'rallies'. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

mlp1258
Aug 18, 09 5:07 PM CDT

There is SO MUCH going on that we have NO CLUE about in regards to the war. Unless you are in the position where you have ALL the info, how can any of us really have an opinion on the war. There may be reasons that we just do not know. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

AnnieChrist
Aug 18, 09 5:34 PM CDT

The entire premise of this article is wrong from the get-go, with its claim that liberals have 'forgotten the war.' That's BS. We (liberals) know that competent people are in charge now, and the execution of the war will be based in reality and good sense, both lacking in the previous administration. For those of you claiming Obama has betrayed them, you obviously did not pay attention during the 08 campaign. As Unaffiliated points out in his comment: I remember him campaigning that he would end the war in Iraq and "return the focus to where it should have belonged all along", in Afghanistan. Obama also promised that we would have the combat troops out of Iraq within 18 months of his inauguration, a time table that will be met, if for no other reason, because that 's what the Iraqi's want. Some 80% of the populace supported going into Afghanistan after 9/11, and you don't have to be a math Ph D to conclude that the 80% includes a lot of liberals. So if the liberals are 'silent,' it's because we got what we expected: a focus on Afghanistan, where the 9/11 attacks were gerrminated, and withdrawal from Iraq which was an unwarranted, unnecessary cluster f@@k from the get go. Some commenters, trying to justify the Iraq war, are asking "how can you forget, they attacked us first?" "They" were 19 Saudi Arabs, trained in Afghanistan, and as far as anyone has ever shown, had no ties whatsoever to Iraq. Lastly, I would like to point out that this idiot bryon york penned a screed in the Globe a month or so back, chiding us liberals to hang our heads, because the Iraq war " is over, and we won." If the war is over mr york, why should I still be protesting it? Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Corona_Kinq
Aug 18, 09 5:59 PM CDT

Well said Annie.

IN RESPONSE:

prowlerzee
Aug 18, 09 10:44 PM CDT

That's gonna be one hell of a Hopium hangover one day, Annie. Hahahaha.

-1

IN RESPONSE:

matteo
Aug 19, 09 3:17 AM CDT

and the comments as well !! ...the laws of physics cannot be bent but some how people believe that they just don't apply to 9/11...

| 0 minutes ago

archibaldarmstrong
Aug 18, 09 6:21 PM CDT

If the war in Iraq is over, that's great, and if it's not--and it's not--then, even if it's being handled by "competent" people, the surge, and any "success" associated with it, has nothing to do with Obama--in fact I think he was against it. I don't think anybody needs to hang their head, but be honest. Reply

-1

| 0 minutes ago

stormy7
Aug 18, 09 7:10 PM CDT

Hey, I'm a lefty still protesting the continuation of the wars that the evil bastards Bush and Cheney started and that lying bastard Obama continues. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

cognitivefilter
Aug 19, 09 10:22 PM CDT

i've never heard of fair-weather opposition, which is what this sounds like. just because obama started a war (the afghan war? 68000 troops ALREADY?) instead of bush doesn't mean democrats should support it. i would hope most sensible people are opposed to involving the country in violent affairs Reply

| 0 minutes ago

EvilPoet
Aug 20, 09 2:55 AM CDT

Consider the source http://www.huffingtonpost.com/terry-krepel/right-wing-tilt-drives-wa_b_191379.html Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 44 comments »

Cindy Sheehan • anti war movement • YearlyKos • Iraq war • Iraq exit strategy • George W. Bush • activists • Afghanistan war • Netroots Nation

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