The insight and wisdom of William Kristol

From Tom Tomorrow’s This Modern World:

FAILING UPWARD

A small sampling of the wisdom and insight that has just earned William Kristol a weekly column in the New York Times:

Sept. 18, 2002: “[War in Iraq] could have terrifically good effects throughout the Middle East.”

Nov. 21, 2002: “[Removing Saddam] would start a chain reaction in the Arab world that would be very healthy.”

Feb. 20, 2003: “If we free the people of Iraq, we will be respected in the Arab world. And I think we will be respected around the world.”

March 1, 2003: “Very few wars in American history were prepared better or more thoroughly than this one by this president.”

March 5, 2003: “I think we’ll be vindicated when we discover the weapons of mass destruction, and when we liberate the people of Iraq.”

April 4, 2003: “There has been a certain amount of pop sociology…that the Shi’a can’t get along with the Sunni. There’s almost no evidence of that at all.”

April 28, 2003: “The first two battles of this new era are now over. The battles of Afghanistan and Iraq have been won decisively and honorably.”

March 22, 2004: “[Debates over an Iraqi constitution have shown] the willingness on the part of the diverse ethnic and religious groups to disagree—peacefully—and then to compromise.”

March 7, 2005: “The Iraqi elections of January 30, 2005…could be a key moment—perhaps the key moment so far—in vindicating the Bush Doctrine as the right response to 9/11.”

Nov. 30, 2005: “It is much more likely that the situation in Iraq will stay more or less the same, or improve. In either case, Republicans will benefit from being the party of victory.”

Aug. 13, 2007: “[Invading Iran] is not a bad idea.”