They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Such might be the case with Time columnist Joe Klein, who despite a seeming parade of liberal journalists and analysts admitting that withdrawing troops from Iraq might not be a good idea right now, Klein has made it clear that he's not jumping on that bandwagon without a fight.
Hours after members of the Brookings Institution published a shockingly optimistic op-ed in the New York Times concerning the improved situation in Iraq, Klein felt it necessary to throw cold water on the celebration at Time's Swampland blog.
In fact, Klein seems so incensed by this Times piece that he forgot how to spell that which he's so anti (emphasis added):
I agree with many, but not all, of the conclusions Ken Pollack and Michael O'Hanlon reach in this NY Times column, but you really can't write a piece about the wae [sic] in Iraq and devote only two sentences to the political situation, which is disastrous and, as Petraeus has said, will determine the success or failure of the overall effort.
You think that misspelling was caused by the foam dripping out of Klein's mouth as he hurriedly pounded his keyboard with "anti-wae" venom? Fortunately, he must have wiped it off just in time for this dour conclusion:
Yes, progress has been made in the fight against the most extreme jihadis (AQI), but that should not be extrapolated into anything resembling optimism....And if we manage to put a major hurt on AQI--which is Bush's (current) rationale for us being there--what rationale remains for us staying there if the Iraqis themselves are intent on slaughtering each other?
It appears Klein has set himself up as the last "anti-wae" man standing regardless of what information might come out of the region suggesting that things are indeed improving, and this is a war we just might win.
That's the spirit, Joe!
Update 11:25 | Matthew Sheffield. Villainous Company has more on the Brookings op-ed and its implications for the media and the public.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Let's see, Klein has written hundreds of sentences, right?
July 30, 2007 - 11:04 ET by acaiguana"...but you really can't write a piece about the wae [sic] in Iraq and devote only two sentences to the political situation, which is disastrous..."
Isn't that just one sentence fragment? Klein's whole take on the War and America can be summed up over the past 6 years as:
1. Bush is Stupid.
2. I hate Bush.
3. Loop
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
Better Loop
July 30, 2007 - 11:36 ET by pickersenior1. Klein is Stupid.
2. I hate Klein.
3. Loop
Pickersenior
"If Liberals didn't live it, it doesn't exist."
[but you really can't write
July 30, 2007 - 12:41 ET by Beowulf[but you really can't write a piece about the wae [sic] in Iraq and devote only two sentences to the political situation, which is disastrous and, as Petraeus has said, will determine the success or failure of the overall effort. - Yes, the political situation is currently disastrous, but they've been at it, what, a whole 3 years? How long did it take the fledgling United States, in a much simpler time, to establish and consolidate our government? And I love how people such as Klein are suddenly quoting Petraeus. No one on the Left seemed to want to hear anything from him earlier.
Yes, progress has been made in the fight against the most extreme jihadis (AQI), but that should not be extrapolated into anything resembling optimism....And if we manage to put a major hurt on AQI--which is Bush's (current) rationale for us being there--what rationale remains for us staying there if the Iraqis themselves are intent on slaughtering each other? - Making progress toward our avowed purpose should not generate optimism? Followed by "if" we have hurt AQI? Which is it Slick? First you admit to making progress against AQI then question your own statement? And the rationale for staying is to at least attempt to keep the Iraqis from "slaughtering each other". We will do this by staying until a stable government has a chance at controlling the violence. But, of course, if you did get your way and we withdrew, followed by wholesale slaughter, what a wonderful Bash-Bush talking point THAT would provide, huh? And in the meantime, you do everything in your power to undermine all efforts at suceeding.
You just must be the pride of your profession...
The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers
Whom do you trust?
July 30, 2007 - 12:46 ET by GalvanicO'Hanlon and Pollack are national security and military analysts; I believe Pollack is a retired colonel. Joe Klein is what? From what I've seen and read of Klein's work, he's more concerned with how the war impacts US domestic politics, and not what the prospects are for the war itself.
No, Joe Klein's sole concern
July 30, 2007 - 17:25 ET by Del DolemonteNo, Joe Klein's sole concern with the war in Iraq is how it can be turned into Vietnam and used to return the Democrats to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 2009.
Oh, and he hates Bush too.
Joe Clown's only valuable
July 30, 2007 - 12:50 ET by fitzfongJoe Clown's only valuable contribution in life was when he was anonymous. Oh, and he wrote "Primary Colors".
If cutting and running were
July 30, 2007 - 15:26 ET by JDWIf cutting and running were a winning issue for the dems the news media would not create a bridge to focus on domestic problems.
The time they continue to spend on the Bush administration witch hunt has prevented them from passing promised legislation.
Somebody is simply bringing it to their attention.
JDW
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
It's quite simple,
July 30, 2007 - 17:27 ET by Del DolemonteIt's quite simple, really...Klein would rather be smeared with feces and thrown into a Halliburton prison camp than dare to admit that Bush might have been right about something, especially something having to do with "Iraqnam".
Klein and the Soros
July 30, 2007 - 17:42 ET by bigtimerKlein and the Soros leftists aren't about to back down...
Sestak from Pa. just was on Matthews expounding just this same crap...Murtha and Pelosi are going ahead with their slow bleed plans in the House.
It does get old, tiring, defeatists usually are always proven wrong, in other words defeated in the long run....
Their turn is coming in '08 for the Prez...again.
Can you say Pres.Thompson...lmao...
Of course this is just my opinion...and I am right, just ask me.