War in Iraq: Wisdom of Crowds
As we approach the September reports on Iraq, the public debate over our military presence there has once again intensified. Both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue are ratcheting up the rhetoric about the best course of action, with the president using a pit stop in Iraq as a backdrop for his latest remarks. Meanwhile, Republicans and Democrats on the Hill are engaged in heated discussions -- both within and between their caucuses. Adding to the heat, several third party groups have begun advertising efforts to try and push elected officials one way or the other.
As the Beltway ramps up the debate, I believe it is a good and appropriate time to reflect on the opinions of the people those in our nation's capital serve -- the American public -- and specifically what they believe is the right direction in Iraq. I write this because I am a big believer in the "wisdom of crowds," which is to say that I put just more trust in the collective opinion of 300 million decent, honest and caring Americans than in the elites living in Washington, DC.
This is not to say politics and polls should determine substantive public policy especially regarding a war, but politics and polls should also not be used to thwart the will of the citizens of this country.
Having been a rather keen observer of the American public for more than 20 years and having helped elect and re-elect folks from the State House to the White House I wanted to share with you an analysis of where the public currently stands on the war in Iraq. I share these thoughts as neither a Republican nor a Democrat. While I did serve as Chief Strategist for President Bush in the 2004 campaign, I now consider myself an independent and feel it is a good time to offer what I hope you will find is a measured, reflective and objective analysis of where Democrats and Independents and a large portion of Republican voters stand on the Iraq war today.
1. In the public's mind, the Iraq War was a mistake, and continuing the status quo is simply continuing on with a mistake. As a result, most Americans now view the situation in Iraq as a "rearview" mirror issue -- meaning that the public believes it is time to focus on the process of ending our involvement and getting out quickly. They see American troops as targets in a place we aren't wanted, and they desire a plan which achieves responsible withdrawal in the quickest and safest way.
2. The public does not see withdrawal from Iraq as a signal America doesn't support the troops. In fact, the public sees removing the troops from harm's way and having them in a place where the mission is supported, welcomed and understood as the most proper way to support our troops.
3. The public is waiting for leaders from both political parties to stand up to the president and say enough is enough. They would like this situation resolved -- and soon -- and there is no other solution acceptable to them other than bringing the troops home. The public will support leaders who would use funding decisions as a way to encourage and push the president to resolve this situation quickly.
4. The war in Iraq is now seen exclusively as a foreign policy concern, and the American public no longer supports the initiative as part of national security. This is in stark contrast to the war's beginning -- at inception, the public perceived it as directly related to fighting terrorism, and thus it was seen as a domestic policy issue connected to homeland security. Not surprisingly, the public gave it broad support. Today, this is no longer the case -- the dynamic has changed and most of the public sees no "positive" relationship between the fight against terrorism and the war in Iraq.
I hope this analysis helps bolster the leaders who are ready to stand up for the troops and for the vast majority of Americans in this country. Not only is truth on those leaders' side, but politics is as well. It is my opinion that the best leaders are those who trust the will of the public, even if that means changing direction or admitting a mistake. This is true leadership and the kind of leadership our nation has always desired.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
It doesn't really matter what Mr. Dowd or anyone else thinks. The fact is, Bush is going to drag this out until he leaves office, and pass it on to the next president, which could very well be a Democrat. Then, when things go badly, he'll be pointing the finger at someone else, placing the blame on him/her for not being able to clean up the mess he created. Having other people clean up his messes is the story of Bush's life. Mark my words, the Repukes and Bushies will try to lay the blame for this unresolvable mess at the feet of the Democrats. They're still trying to blame the failure in Vietnam on the Dems, even after the loss of nearly 60,000 American lives, bombing the country all to hell, and spending billions of dollars. Bush is trying to save his sorry legacy, and if he can, the Republican party.
Accountability. Responsibility. Lost arts? None of us have all the answers and the shape shifting inherent in American politics is hard to deny. But if elected officials are meant to be a reflection of the soul of the American public, then why does it feel like we have to lobby for our truth to be heard? Honestly, though, polls always make me a bit nervous because the wording and order of the survey can elicit data in many different ways. But the more we discuss and debate the perceptions of those charged with leading us, the better. And if we are brave enough to re-evaluate even our own decisions, perhaps we’ll spend less time judging and more time listening and learning.
The invasion/occupation of Iraq is not a war. There was no declaration of war, hence, there is no surrender. Republicans have the idea that if we withdraw, we lose and we are surrendering. To whom would we surrender?
Had Bush taken the opportunity to withdraw all of our troops following the "Mission Accomplished" speech, people would have thought that we "won" the war, his popularity would have risen, and the country would be better served.
When we put honor before lives, it is dead wrong.
The ONLY war in Iraq is a civil one. Our part there is as an illegal occupier. That's why the huge majority of Iraqis still left in the country think it's okay for our soldiers to be attacked.
We'd feel the same way if the situation was reversed.
Deep down, in even the most informed among us,
the situation is simply Unbelievable. We don't have the birth-of-t
in our experience. Add pre-emptive nuclear war and we're a national deer-in-th
Mr. Dowd, despite the fact that you now claim yourself an "independent" and have finally come to see what a disaster this President has been for America, you are not excused for helping him get elected in 2004.
With all due respect sir, you preyed on the ignorant to find the votes to make this man President again, and I hope it haunts your dreams. You will be turned back from the gates of heaven for your sin, no change of heart will prevent that.
Yeah - get out -- with "we break it -- we fix it " riinging in our ears. but just get out. At the same time don't use the rationel that the troops are there -- lets have a go at Iran. I realize that what I just suggested sounds crazy but with this gang in the White House crazy seems the norm.
Another rat jumps from the sinking Bush ship. Seems like there is a epidemic breaking all over Washington.
Gee, Matthew, you helped dump Dubya on us, and now you say it was a mistake? Didn't you know it after the first stolen election?
Why should we trust your judgment NOW?
The rats have already abondoned the sinking ship. These are the fleas hopping off the rats.
Dowd helped to get Bush elected. I'd rather he write an article on what he ever saw in Bush in the first place.
I appreciate your "current thinking/analysis" Mr. Dowd, but as an aside, was your job during the 2004 election just a job? Do you feel your efforts in that vein were/are justified? You refer to the American people being amenable to an apology for this "mistake" of a war. I'm sorry, but I didn't hear one from you. You, obviously, seem to feel differently now. Is there a mea culpa hiding in your "independent" status?
i have to wonder why Huffpo is removing my remarks critical of Hillary Bush..
Mr Dowd, change hinges on whether or not the "Washington Elite" feel they answer to anybody outside of K Street, and whether or not they dismiss the rest of the American people as Serfs.
It may very well require a People Power movement to remind the pompous, self-serving idiots who are steering our nation to disaster how exceptionally small they actually are.
If the Democrats and Republicans in the Congress keep making excuses why they can't heed the voice of the American people at large and withdraw our troops from this Iraq crucible of hopeless mayhem, and if this pathetic, quivering mass of madness that inhabits the Oval Office can't rise above his fugue state and recognize that his responsibility to the Nation is greater than looking good in the History book ...
... Then the American People have to act.
Whether it is a Mass March on Washington, and Wall Street, and State Houses across the entire nation ...
... or a Consumer Boycott of all purchases for a set number of Days.
... or any other Creative and Peaceful Act of Civil Disobedience.
... our "leaders" have to be reminded in a tangible way whose country this is (ours) and for whom they work ...
US
Hopefully a spine will develop within Congress, the funds for this war will be cut, and our troops will come home to a Parade of Heroes for their efforts on our behalf.
If not ... it's time for Americans who still give a damn about their country, to deliver a cold slap of reality to the fools who think they actually have power.
Pretty much right on, FogBelter.
How many people who read this site are aware that most of the world's best know psychics have said there will be a revolution in America within the next 10-20 years? I don't put much stock in the 1-800 psychic people, but there are some real "seers" in the world, who are rarely wrong about they say.
You are right GardenGoddess.
Well, we haven’t to go far. The same seer that feeds into the Armageddon Crusaders ideology, predicts of a politician supported by false prophets twisting the word of God for his purposes, would start a war in the Mid East, specifically, Babylon. Stand astride the Tigris and Euphrates and offer to the world the plunder of these lands.
Of all that had been thought an Anti-Christ who can claim this?
The Pope? Not hardly.
Hitler? Not even close, he stuck to oil in Egypt Algeria and Romania.
Franco of Spain or his son? Suspected yes, books even pointing to them.
Bin Laden. Some today would try to say so.
It is NOT that we need to believe any of this. But others DO!
Now here is a twist directly out of the Twilight Zone.
Just think a moment.
What if those that sought to preemptively thwart that which they feared most, this Anti-Christ, by prideful action without caution and in usurping authority from God, themselves became the unwitting fulfillment of their own misinterpreted prophecy; and forced the horror described in these texts, upon the world? So soiled and discredited the very image of Jesus, and violated his teachings of peace and brotherhood and compassion, where none would ever hear his name again without cringing?
We hear that God works in mysterious ways.
If this is even close to what was foretold from a cave on Patmos, we are in for it now.
Like in boastful haste and negligence, grabbing a bucket of fuel oil and throwing it on a fire, when you thought it was water but failed to check carefully.
Hum??? Odd. I think I need to go read some more. Check deeper.
Humm? Odd though.
We got the area right; no one else did.
I need to think on this more.
All the best
Knute
Thank you Matt - and how many newspapers will this be in?
This evening I watched "Iraq for Sale - the War Profiteers", Robert Greenwald's fim. The game is still pay to play. Congress for sale - all of them. They only do what the companies who donate to them and hire their former buddies tell them to do. We the people are not in the equation.
First, Mathew Dowd coming here to post this mea culpa is akin to Herman Goering saying, well, I used to be Hitler's right hand man and yes, I helped do all those horrible things because I believed in him but now I am bi-partisan or independent. Well, BS! Anyone who would work for money to get an man who has gutted everything this country stood for should stand in the docket with him when he is tried for War crimes. With me, you have come to the game so late because you are scared shitless of what will happen to you and your ability to make money. You put making the shrub President before serving your counties best interests! You should be ashamed of yourself!
Someone posted that the people were to blame for this mess and then tried to back away from it. The statement was true. The citizens of every country have an obligation to be informed and to participate in their governance. The People have gotten distracted with shiny new toys and words of no consequence from elected leaders who mean them ill. Where was the outrage at the true terrorists? Saddam wasn't it. Why haven't they demanded that the people who lied to them to engage in an unnecessary and illegal war be driven from office? Every American who has not protested when they copuld have, every American who did not vote in their own best interest and the interest of their country is to blame for this. No if, ands, or buts!
So follow this link to find out some more of what you have not been told about this war and why you haven't. The Truth is Out There! you just have to do a little work and that is why we are in the mess we are in, because people didn't work at it!
http://www
They said it would be a cakewalk.
They were wrong.
They say withdrawal will unleash chaos. But so said Cheney in his '94 interview and his term, 'quagmire', certainly proved correct.
If they are right about leaving chaos behind -- more than it already is -- hard to believe, hmm? So be it. It will be Iraqi chaos, fueled by a schism that well predates the birth of America.
Most of the commentary by Iraqis tends toward the belief the violence exists because we are there.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
