NationStates Jolt Archive

Ex-NSA Head Calls For US Withdrawal From Iraq
The former head of the National Security Agency, General William Odom, has become the most prominent retired military official to call for the US to pull out of Iraq as soon as possible. He told the Wall Street Journal, "We have failed." He went on to call for U.S. forces to be pulled out "from that shattered country as rapidly as possible. The issue is how high a price we're going to pay-less by getting out sooner, or more by getting out later." Meanwhile the magazine American Conservative has also called for the US to hand over sovereignty and leave Iraq. The lead article in this month's edition begins "The administration's Iraq policy is in shambles. Iraq has become a geopolitical humpty-dumpty that America cannot put back together, and the time has come for the United States to withdraw." The cover of the magazine read "The No-Win War." Meanwhile in Vietnam, one of the masterminds of the Vietnam War is warning the US will suffer a similar defeat in Iraq. General Vo Nguyen Giap said "Any country that wants to impose its will on another nation will certainly fail and all nations fighting for their own independence will be victorious."

The real left - represented by Dennis Kucinich - want an immediate withdrawl

The real right - represented by Ron Paul - want an immediate withdrawl

The left, the right are in unison against this imperialistic war

The real left - represented by Dennis Kucinich - want an immediate withdrawl

The real right - represented by Ron Paul - want an immediate withdrawl

The left, the right are in unison against this imperialistic war

you know we're in trouble when the ultra left and the hard right start agreeing with each other on more and more issues

you know we're in trouble when the ultra left and the hard right start agreeing with each other on more and more issues

I dunno if I'd describe Ron Paul (http://www.house.gov/paul/bio.htm)as hard right, considering that when it comes to civil rights his real ideology (http://www.lp.org) is liberal.

you know we're in trouble when the ultra left and the hard right start agreeing with each other on more and more issues

I dunno if I'd describe Ron Paul as hard right, considering that when it comes to civil rights his real ideology (http://www.lp.org) is liberal.

If we only take the left-right axis into consideration, your average libertarian is dead center.

When you say left-right I assume you mean the economic one?

Surely libertarians are far-right (ie for less or no government interference in the economy and free-market capitalism) and liberal-democrats are centre? With communists and socialists on the far left and left respectively.

When you say left-right I assume you mean the economic one?

Surely libertarians are far-right (ie for less or no government interference in the economy and free-market capitalism) and liberal-democrats are centre? With communists and socialists on the far left and left respectively.

I was thinking of the 2D spectrum found in The World's Smallest Political Quiz (http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html)which describes "left," "right," "libertarian," and "authoritarian." Left is defined as being anti-market and pro-civil rights; right is defined as being pro-market and anti-civil rights. When left and right are defined this way, a Libertarian, on the World Smallest Quiz anyway, will usually fall somewhere in the middle of the left-right span. (EDIT: Libertarians tend towards the center of the left-right span in The World's Smallest Political Quiz because that quiz factors in civil rights as well as economic rights in its left-right axis.)

I'll admit that this description doesn't work as well on quizes, like The Political Compass, (http://www.politicalcompass.org/) which are set-up in a different fashion. On that quiz, Libertarians will probably fall far more to the (farther) right. I personally land in the libertarian sector, just right of center on this quiz.

there is a reason he's the ex-head of the NSA

there is a reason he's the ex-head of the NSA

What is that reason?

the heartless thoughtless suggestion that we leave Iraq

I'll admit that this description doesn't work as well on quizes, like The Political Compass, (http://www.politicalcompass.org/) which are set-up in a different fashion.

heh, isn't it about time for somebody to start a thread for the political compass again? it's been several months now...

the heartless thoughtless suggestion that we leave Iraq

what? Bush is murdering innocent iraqis and US soldiers alike all to loot the country for Cheneys employer Halliburton

the heartless thoughtless suggestion that we leave Iraq

uh-huh... that's weird since he was the NSA director from '85 - '88

http://www.eisenhowerinstitute.org/programs/globalpartnerships/missiledefense/Odom.htm

But little things like facts and reality never get in the way of an ill-conceved chicken-hawk diatribe...

what? Bush is murdering innocent iraqis and US soldiers alike all to loot the country for Cheneys employer Halliburton

yes, I'm sure that was the entire reason of the invasion of Iraq

what? Bush is murdering innocent iraqis and US soldiers alike all to loot the country for Cheneys employer Halliburton

yes, I'm sure that was the entire reason of the invasion of Iraq

No, there's also Rusmsfeld's Bechtel and Bush's Carlyle Group making lots of graft.

what? Bush is murdering innocent iraqis and US soldiers alike all to loot the country for Cheneys employer Halliburton

yes, I'm sure that was the entire reason of the invasion of Iraq

No, there's also Rusmsfeld's Bechtel and Bush's Carlyle Group making lots of graft.