Ken Berwitz
Did Donald Trump immediately oppose the war in Iraq, as he claimed during Saturday\’s debate?
If so, where is any proof? Even a little?
Trump had plenty to say about the Iraq invasion after it hadtaken place. In the early days, when it wasn\’t going well, he called theinvasion a mess. But we at Power Line made the same observation. This doesn\’t amount toopposing the invasion.
Trump voiced public opposition to the war for the first time(so far anyone has been able to confirm) in the summer of 2004 during aninterview with Esquire, an interview with Larry King, and an article byReuters. By then, as I noted in the post linked to above, he was following afairly large pack. Nor, as I explained, was Trump\’s analysis at that timeparticularly cogent.
In any event, opposing our actions in Iraq once they wentpear-shaped is just Monday morning quarterbacking – a Trump specialty. It\’s notthe same thing as opposing the invasion, and it doesn\’t establish that Trump isinsightful about foreign policy.
This is exactly what a barroom loudmouth does.
A barroom loudmouth tells anyone who will listen that he/she “knew” something, which most people think did not go well, was a loser right from the start….just as the barroom loudmouth will tell anyone who will listen that he/she “knew” it was a winner if it did go well.
And, when it comes to barroom loudmouth types, Donald Trump is right out of central casting.
How can anyone buy into this BS?
The sad truth is that, over time, this has become less an example of what Donald Trump is than an example of what a large segment of Republican voters is. The louder Trump blasts off, the faster that segment will jump up and salute, no matter what Trump is saying or whether it is in any way believable.
How disheartening.
