Ignore Those Who Got It Wrong on Iraq

Paul Waldman: “We have now reached the rather ironic situation in Iraq where we find ourselves allied with Iran in an effort to save the corrupt and thuggish government of Nouri al-Maliki, while the army we spent eight years training falls apart. I’m not going to pretend to have unique insight into Iraqi politics.”

“But there are few people who understand Iraq less than the Republican politicians and pundits who are being sought out for their comments on the current situation. As you watch the debate on this issue, you should remind yourself that the most prominent voices being heard are the very ones who brought us the Iraq War in the first place, who promised that everything was simple and the only question was whether we’d be ‘strong’ and ‘decisive’ enough — the same thing they’re saying today.”