I'll Second That

Finally, some sensible people in the Democratic party are trying to reign in the mouth that is Howard Dean. As much as it delights me when Dean makes outrageous remarks like the one recently when he claimed the U.S. could not win the Iraq War, seeing as it makes most people realize how silly the fringe anti-war crowd is, it is still outrageous that Dean would see fit to damage the war effort in such a blatant way. I know Dean apologists will instantly muster the defense that dissent can often be a form of patriotism (a sentiment I agree with), but to declare a war hopeless while we're in the very midst of it is not an act of loyal opposition. It is rather an act of bald-faced panic and betrays the anti-war crowd's ignorance of the stakes involved, and their unsuitability for leadership on this issue.

Since everyone is looking for ways to compare Iraq and Vietnam, I will oblige. It is difficult to read a single book by a Vietnam veteran about that war that doesn't at least in passing mention the sense of alienation and loneliness the soldiers felt when they realized America was not united behind them. I can't imagine how utterly demoralizing such a revelation must be; now the soldiers currently fighting have to listen to the chairman of a major political party declare defeat. I can only hope they have the good sense to ignore Howard Dean and his stupid remarks, as most sensible people do.

--Josh