Neocon Richard Perle Renounces His Role In Iraq War

Think Progress:

Over the past few weeks, many Bush administration officials have begun rewriting history in an effort to burnish President Bush's legacy. Following suit, neoconservative war hawk Richard Perle has taken the opportunity to polish his own record during the Bush years -- mainly on Iraq.

In the latest issue of The National Interest, Perle devotes 4,600 words -- not to congratulate President Bush for invading Iraq -- but to wipe his, and the whole neoconservative movement's, hands clean of the whole affair. In the essay, he categorically denies that both he -- and neoconservative ideology in general -- had any influence on the Bush administration in its decision to go to war:

Read the whole story: Think Progress

Comments

[lthuedk 1]

11:37 PM on 01/21/2009

http://www.light-to-dark.com/genocide_forgiven.html

[1differentdrummer]

12:18 PM on 01/13/2009

Stated another way, he lies.

[rasit]

11:23 PM on 01/12/2009

It is about time Mr. Perle, that you owned up your part, in launching an unnecessary war, which cost this country thousands of lives and half a trillion dollars, in addition to thousands of Iraqi deaths....

You may want to advise the Isr@elis that WAR is not the answer, ceasefire is, peace is, coexistence is.....

[lthuedk 1]

10:52 AM on 01/11/2009

http://www.light-to-dark.com/genocide_forgiven.html

Round 'em up and prosecute.

[getoffmedz]

10:58 AM on 01/11/2009

yep

[SharonWantsToTalk]

01:54 AM on 01/11/2009

These men defy logic. Whats wrong with them? How did they become so perverse?

[getoffmedz]

10:58 AM on 01/11/2009

Avoiding prison can be strong motivation.

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

01:40 AM on 01/11/2009

Lots of great comments on the linked-to original board. My favourite is right at the top:

[Re: Perle] "That's funny, because Iraq is the only reason I know who this sunken-eyed schlub is."

[WoodyGrant]

01:05 AM on 01/11/2009

Ineresting phenomenon. All the neocons and right-wingers and Cheney all say it was Bush all the time, not them, like rats deserting a (sunk) ship while Bush embarks on an almost comical attempt to bumbingly emphasize the positve aspects of his legacy like (failing to) privatize social security and no child left behind reform. So there we have it. Only the "Decider" made the decisions and he thinks he was a success. Anyone else think we are observing the "Mad Hatter's Tea Party?"

[lunchlady]

09:07 AM on 01/11/2009

LOL! Yes, ITA. In history the buck stops at the President's station. All the advisors, minions and corporate donors slink off into the background.
No one wants to touch Iraq now that public opinion is finally turning against it and there is international discussion of war crimes and general wrongdoing.
I hope the public doesn't get so excited about future war opportunities. I haven't forgotten the general glee and the waving car flags when we bombed Afghanistan and then Iraq. I recently saw a guy wearing a shirt that said something about going into Tehran. I think a lot of people like having a war going on. Excitiement, muscle-flexing, manly, tough guy mentality. Puts a quick end to all that wimpy endless negotiations and diplomacy, which is "elitist".

[NoSillyName]

11:45 PM on 01/10/2009

Denial ain't just a river .....

[scottymac11]

08:45 PM on 01/10/2009

In my opinion Richard is a chicken hawk dime store plutocrat who has done all he can to trade our soldiers lives for higher profits. There will be a reckoning Ritchie. You'll see.

[Harrier]

08:32 PM on 01/10/2009

President-is commander and chief of the US Military-I thought Republicans and Neocons were constitutional originalists I guess the constitution means nothing to those who wish to revise history.

[ctman47]

07:58 PM on 01/10/2009

Brings the chicken in chicken-hawk to a whole new level.
If had any shred of integrity left, it is gone now.
Sad little man.

[Roman777]

12:43 PM on 01/10/2009

Pearle = War Crimes.

[LeftCoastLarry]

12:19 PM on 01/10/2009

In years past, the Extreme Right has been very successful in rewriting history. They successfully glorified Reagan, they successfully demonized Carter, trashed Clinton (admittedly, he cooperated). Now, they are desperate to somehow distance themselves from the stench they brought into the room. It's like the guy who passes gas and tries to blame the other guy.
This time around, they will be less successful. Of course, the Mainstream Media will go along as well as effective mouthpieces like Rush, Sean, Bill'O.
Now, there are alternative sources of information to keep things honest.

[Sonny50]

11:36 AM on 01/10/2009

Pearle, just clam up.

[thinkagain2]

09:24 AM on 01/10/2009

Pearle is featured frequently in the movie 'Why we Fight'....he was very definitely involved in decision making during the build-up to war and talks about it extensively.