Decision ‘08

Richard Cohen: Insurgency is a Legitimate Nationalist Movement

Richard Cohen (who recently suggested the test of a legitimate war is if you are willing to forcibly send your grown man of a son to, presumably, die in it, in the mode of the biblical Abraham) is back with another insipid, whimpering walk down memory lane as he attempts to relive the glory days of Vietnam. Cohen asserts, incredibly, that the terrorists have the support of the Iraqi people. Think I’m lying? Let’s take a look:

In Vietnam, it took the U.S. forever to recognize that it was not fighting international communism but a durable and vibrant nationalist movement led by Communists. Something similar may be happening in Iraq. Yes, foreign terrorists are flocking to the country. But the Sunni insurgency is a different thing. The Sunnis may work with foreign terrorists and gladly use their expertise, but their goals are not the same. The salient and depressing fact remains that no insurgency can survive for long without either the cooperation or the apathy of the populace.

Cohen takes time to scoff at our allies who are putting their lives and treasure on the line:

…Bush cited the “8 million Iraqi men and women” who voted, the “30 nations” with troops in Iraq (a total joke, and the President knows it), the “40 countries” and “three international organizations” that have pledged “$34 billion” in reconstruction assistance (another joke).

If those are jokes, Richard, I guess I’ve lost my sense of humor…but then, no one but you is laughing.

Thus, Cohen joins Bob Herbert, Paul Krugman, and Frank Rich as a charter member of the “Vietnam is the only point of comparison I have, so by God I’m gonna use it” club. Let’s get one thing straight…the ability to blow yourself up and kill others is not a strategy, and it sure isn’t victory. If it was, the Palestinian government would be holding court in Jerusalem…

6 Responses to “Richard Cohen: Insurgency is a Legitimate Nationalist Movement”

1 Two Dogs Says:
July 1st, 2005 at 2:40 am
This is the best post from an online magazine that I have ever read. Kudos, Mark, good work.
2 Mark Says:
July 1st, 2005 at 2:42 am
Two Dogs, thanks, and may I just say that I also enjoy your online magazine, as well…
3 Paul Deignan Says:
July 1st, 2005 at 3:46 am
I have a diferent take on the matter than Richard. It seems to me that the frequency and severity of suicide attacks are directly proportional to the lack of legitimacy of these insurgents. In fact, suicide bombing, as a method of attack has no direct relation to the presence of our troops in Iraq. It is a terroristic method designed specifically to distabilize democratic states.

I make my argument here.
4 Mark Coffey Says:
July 1st, 2005 at 4:11 am
Good point…if the insurgency is legitimate, why the need for suicide attacks?…I’ll link to the post next round-up…
5 Jacques Distler Says:
July 1st, 2005 at 4:20 am
“Meanwhile, a recent internal poll conducted for the US-led coalition found that nearly 45 percent of the population supported the insurgent attacks, making accurate intelligence difficult to obtain. Only 15 percent of those polled said they strongly supported the US-led coalition.” (Boston Globe, 6/10/2005)

I’ll assume that support for the US is strongest among the Kurds, followed by the Shiites. If correct, then that 45% means virtually all of the Sunnis and nearly a third of the Shiite support the insurgency.

I ’spose it’s possible that the polls are wrong, Richard Cohen is wrong, and you are right.

But, under the circumstances, I wouldn’t be quite so casually dismissive of the “pessimists” if I were you.
6 Mark Coffey Says:
July 1st, 2005 at 4:32 am
Jacques, I hate to seem willingly blind, but if that’s they way I seem, I can’t help it - I just can’t buy that. The wording, for example: nearly 45 percent supported (no qualifier); only 15 percent strongly supported the U.S.-led coalition - why the qualifier? How many supported, but not strongly? The missing 40 percent, perhaps?

Then there’s this, from the very same article you quote:

”The insurgents are getting a lot of passive support,” said Hughes. ”A lot of Sunnis know there are insurgents in their town. We’ve got to get the Sunnis off the fence.”

Passive support - not strong - again, this is no Vietnam. And that’s one internal poll, I guess, assuming the reporter is correct, since he gives no citation where we can see the particulars.

Finally, how surprising is it that the Coalition doesn’t have strong support? Sure, they want us out of their country…but if push came to shove, and the choice was between barbarians who behead hostages, and the soldiers who try to maintain calm and peace, I’m convinced that, yes, I’m right and Cohen is wrong.

Bull-headed? Maybe…but that’s the way I feel about this one…