Hagel speaking honestly about Iraq

Now, this could be politics of convenience. But it is honesty, no matter what the motivation, and I think it shows the president’s support continuing to erode on Iraq.

Hagel today drew a comparison to Vietnam, and said we are losing this war and need to get out. He said we are a destabilizing force there.

“We should start figuring out how we get out of there,” Hagel said on “This Week” on ABC. “But with this understanding, we cannot leave a vacuum that further destabilizes the Middle East. I think our involvement there has destabilized the Middle East. And the longer we stay there, I think the further destabilization will occur.”

Hagel said “stay the course” is not a policy. “By any standard, when you analyze 2 1/2 years in Iraq … we’re not winning.”

- (AP)

I was strongly against this war from the beginning, I think the approach the administration took was criminal, and Hagel’s vote in support of the President’s Iraq stance was wrong. However, I am glad he is speaking out about the outrage and stupidity we are currently engaged in. I’d also note that Hagel has actually fought in a war, so it’ll be fun to hear the Bush Administration spend the next few weeks attacking his views on war.

Sidebar: Daily Kos has a good piece about Cheney’s attacks on Hegel a month or so ago which demonstrate how far this administration is willing to go to defend their misguided policies.