Millionaire wanna-be travels to Iraq- and finds what?

Posted By The Wolf

Dot-Com millionaire and 2d Congressional candidate (Boulder, CO) Jared Polis recently traveled to Iraq to see what he could see.  Not part of any CODEL or other 'official' visit, Polis took it upon himself to try to find out the ''ground truth'' in Iraq.

As if you could tell that from the lobby of the al Rashid hotel.

This is the story of a complete idiot- no, more like a lunatic.  And one that wants to run for Congress?  Somewhat like Mark Cuban, wherein both got rich in spite of themselves, Polis now believes he can take Mark Udall's place as a Congressman from Colorado.  His view make Pelosi right of Charleston Heston.

This posting is to try and debunk, debauch, refute, and  show you what these people that think that by just going to Iraq in a drive-by makes them immediate experts.  FAR FROM IT, POLIS.

This may well be one of the longest postings I've put up on Blackfive; but guys like this boil me over, and I want him punk'd. 

A wee bit about said Polis:  founded and sold two internet companies (including BlueMountainArts) for around 1.1 billion, combined, his take was a little over 175 million, back in 1999, just prior to the dot-com implosion; founded 2 schools for immigrants and non-English speakers; contributor to Moveon.Org (surprise, surprise- and one of the LARGER ones at that); film-maker wannabe (The Dwarf, anyone?); was on the Colorado State Board of Education; and he's openly gay (this has an important element into his Iraq trip).

So, here's Mr. Richie Rich, scratching for Congress, looking for an 'in', and decides to fund a trip to Iraq; see the natives, bash the Bush, just to say 'been there, seen that'.  Unfortunately, about all HE saw was the inside of a hotel and the view from a car window.  So, he's ready to be ambassador, now?

So why do I care about this?  Because I despise people showboating about the situation over there; needlessly putting themselves at risk, and saying their experts because they've seen 1/1,000th of what actually goes on over there.  Its like going to the zoo for the afternoon and then claiming you're an expert zoologist because you spent  time in the chimp exhibit.

His two-faced approaches to a 'solution' in Iraq are obvious; among them: 

* Commitment from the United States and other countries to contribute long-term financial aid for rebuilding infrastructure as well as providing security training and ongoing anti-terrorism support.

Ok, genius- so WHO exactly is going to provide the training and security?  You complain about all the contractors and 'mercenaries' over there- the training and security just doesn't happen without someone to train them!  If not the contractors/police experts, then the troops do a great job of it.

Those 'mercenaries' are not hired just by US firms- South African, British, Iraqi, and others hire people from all over to provide expertise and capabilities they themselves don't have access to.  Again, an amateur who has no grasp whatsoever of what it takes to do these missions.

Polis says he follows mil-bloggers- for some reason, I highly doubt he follows this one or any others in either military.com or milblogging.com realms.

He posts that the schedule called for 3 days in Iraq,  which is hardly long enough to check out a DFAC, let alone get a grasp of the situation.  He met for a couple days in Jordan with Iraqi refugees; nowhere does he mention Syria (where quite a few also live) or any of the other GCC countries.  Its kinda like trying to find out what America is like by visiting Mexico or Canada. 

He also didn't do his homework- he's surprised by the commercial service available from Amman; had he tried another airline we know *grin* I would have liked to have heard his comments about THAT.  Its readily apparent that he went in with the expectation that he was dropping into the middle of Iwo- and we can blame the MSM (MTBIH) for this; additionally, I blame him for the sources he obviously chose.   

Another focus he had- meeting and trying to 'understand' what is against the gay and lesbian Iraqi's in Baghdad; uh, Polis, Muslims as a whole have a HUGE problem- why not just visit say, Yemen?  You'd get the same results.  Or, say, Saudi.  But, I highly doubt that the Saudi embassy would allow an openly gay person into the country (but, I'm not certain- but wouldn't surprise me).  Try visiting Iran- you could be the first gay person there. 

It appears he's gotten most of his information from books like FIASCO.. I recommend a few others- ever considered COBRA II?  how about BLOG OF WAR?  Try learning about VALOR in life, huh?

The configuration was a like a normal airport

he says of Baghdad Airport; what did you expect?  Mos Eisley?  He was shocked that he could use an automated kiosk in Amman to get his boarding pass.

His comments on contractors are surprisingly stupid-

Apparently, this is modern warfare. Private armies hired by nation states and controlled by corporations. For example, one of our checkpoints was staffed entirely by a Guatemalan contingent of armed people not under the flag of Guatemala or the UN, but rather under the flag of their contractor. Yes, presumably they were working for either the US or the Iraqi Defense ministry, but fundamentally they would work for whoever would pay their bills, and their uniforms proudly sported their logo.

The contractors owe allegiance to the corporations who employ them more than any particular nation state. More scary yet, the corporations who employ them and profit from marking up their labor create a corporate-military complex that can seek to perpetuate policies than increase their bottom lines. I met several Peruvians and Chileans and in fact spoke more Spanish today than I did English, which was certainly a surprise. It is terrifying to think what will become of all these military contractors who are trained and deployed here when the occupation ends and they return home to South America and Southeast Asia, unemployed and only knowing how to do one thing well. Any Ideas for solutions so these contractors don’t inadvertently spread strife to new areas?

Unlike the insurgents, who seem to prefer burkhas and women's bridal wear, contractors and soldiers in Iraq wear logo's to show who they work for, so we can help visually ID who we are working with, who you MIGHT be, and NOT for some 'allegience'; are you saying no one in any of your companies wears a logo shirt?  Or do you only allow UN? 

As far as your second paragraph, why were you surprised?  Ever been to some parts of Texas or Arizona?  You can speak more Spanish there than English- and I bet you don't complain.

One quote he posted that was that of the Iraqi government ministries- ''well-intended but impotent''.  Kinda like some Congressmen I know...  he was trying to describe how where 1 in 5 elected officials have been killed (THATS relatively high- where are those figures from?  Redacted?) he fully does not grasp the threat in Iraq, and what people face with the Islamo-fascists.  Intellectuals, oficials, all are primary targets- guess what?  So would you if you were in a like situation.  Given your 'preferences' you'd last even less time in any other Muslim nation.

On NGOs-  what you REALLY failed to grasp is why we don't hear much, why they don't get overt cooperation with the coalition people- they don't WANT it!  NGO's that get ANY kind of help are immediately targeted and summarily killed by the Islamo-fascists in the region.  While coalition personnel help where able, we learned long ago to 'stay in the background' lest even Sadr alliances get involved.  Examples of what they do are numerous.

The Iraqi economy has been a basked case for decades- long before Saddam was toppled.  Its the result of state-run corporations.  It seems Polis hasn't been to former countries behind the Iron Curtain and seen the results there.  Our involvement in Iraq had less to do with it than Saddam's policies; in fact, most factories were never touched, as the locals KNEW that someday they would have to again try to rely on those for an income.  Previously, even tho a factory made goods, salaries were paid by the government, regardless of factory output.  But you didn't meet with THAT task force, did you?

He laments that he couldn't relate with 'real Iraqi's' while in Baghdad, and that he'd get more 'normal Iraqi's in Jordan'.  He doesn't take into account that those that had options (due to influence or money or both) are those in Jordan- 'normal' Iraqi's are still IN Iraq. 

I think it likely that there will be a mutiny from within the lower ranks of contractors.

I REALLY, REALLY want to know why he thinks this- he was in an Angolan compound (South African) in the 'red zone' when he made this observation- he TRULY does not understand those outside his own mind-set.  Something tells me NONE of his companies have veterans employed.  Or Reservists.

One telling point- The United Way has now disavowed any association with Polis, as the executive in Colorado accompanied Polis as well on the trip- outside the directives of the National council and seemingly in support of Polis' campaign.  (Now I know WHY I NEVER give to United Way charities via the United Way; this after I grew up with my father on the local executive board; its a shallow hull of its former self.  I give directly to charities or to Soldier's Angels and the Salvation Army). 

I think I've made my point here.  At least, I hope I have.  You go to his sites, and you truly get an idea of what the left thinks, or those who THINK they are 'intellectual' about it.  They have no clue about what Iraqi's face, what the US faces, or any true way to understand.  And probably, until the fear is on their doorstep, never will.

Mr Polis, I've made NUMEROUS attempts at contacting your office to schedule an open debate with you- any time, place, or group.  In or out of uniform, I'm open to discussing face-to-face, any audience.  But I have yet to hear from any of your representatives or staff.  Probably, never will.  But, you'd never hold up to someone who's truly worked for a living and understands honor and commitment.

Pols like Polis we don't need.  Ever. 

-Wolf

PS- if any of you in Iraq saw or interacted with him, drop me a note.

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Comments

[Uncle Jimbo]

Get some Wolf, get some!

HYEAH!

Cordially,

Uncle J

[Some Soldier's Mom]

could you possibly expect less from the the peoples republic of boulder? I have always assumed it was the altitude and lack of O2 but it could also be something in the water there... 'cause you just can't be that uninformed intentionally...

[Ken]

I assume that this guy is local to you Wolf because you seem way too worked up over a seemingly run-of-the-mill lefty.

[The Wolf]

All- received this nice note via email; wanted to share it with you (with Ross's permission) here on the blog...

-Wolf

Gentlemen,

I saw your posting on Jared Polis and thought I'd offer a couple comments.

I'm a libertarian-leaning Republican whose parents both served in the Navy, and I support the troops and the mission in Iraq (which is not to say that I think the administration has done a good job.) I sometimes write for HumanEvents.com. Your comparison between Polis and Mark Cuban reminds me that you might enjoy my review of "Redacted" which you can see at:
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=23595

Jared Polis is a liberal, and he's against the war, but he's no Mark Cuban (whom I consider to be basically a traitor).

I live in Colorado's 2nd congressional district where Polis is running for office.

Your views on his political positions, his being gay, his being rich, and his being against the Iraq War are all true.

BUT, and this is really important, there is no Republican candidate in this race. I don't mean "no viable Republican candidate". I mean no Republican candidate at all. Of the choices available to me, Polis is clearly the best. The other serious candidate is Joan Fitz-Gerald who just left the Colorado State Senate to campaign for this seat. She is like a more liberal Hillary Clinton without the personal warmth. She's socialist, she's a cold calculating political operator, and she's every bit or more anti-war and anti-soldier than Polis.

I would note that Polis' primary criticism when he came back was against the level of use of foreign and private contractors rather than against our soldiers. He might or might not have a point, but he wasn't slamming the troops and even noted in print that "the morale of our military is reasonably high". You're right that a short visit in protected areas can't give an accurate picture of what's going on in Iraq. You're right to question his sources and therefore his conclusions. But his conclusions weren't nearly as repugnant as you imply. They're nothing like what you'd expect from Mark Cuban, for example, or from many other liberals.

Keep in mind when reading Polis' stuff that he knows he's competing in a Democratic Primary (under Colorado law, only Democrats can vote in it) and that there is less than zero political benefit for him to support anything about the war or this administration at this time. I don't mean that he doesn't believe what he's saying. I'm sure he does. But you really need to look at what he's saying and compare it to what other candidates are saying.

What I am saying is that of the candidates available to us here, Polis is the only one who is intelligent and open-minded enough to actually learn things if he wins and who might not reflexively vote against anything which might help the war effort or the military in general. It's true he'll rarely vote in a way I agree with on many or most issues. But at least I know he'll listen to and consider other points of view and I could imagine him being swayed by an answer better than the one he was considering. Fitz-Gerald will only vote in a way calculated to further her career and the redistribution of money from taxpayers to unions. Politicians don't get any worse than she.

I understand that your issues are primarily military, but to the extent that we must also care about our representatives' views on economic issues, at least Polis has had some experience in the business world whereas Fitz-Gerald has no relevant real-world experience that I can find. She's a pure socialist, owned by unions (who mostly oppose Polis because they know he has some free-market tendencies), and wildly disliked by many I know who have worked with her or met her. Polis at least is pleasant in person, very intelligent, and willing to listen to other points of view. I know that he'll vote against my views most of the time, but I also know he'll vote based on what he believes to be right and best for the country. Indeed, the fact that he's rich makes that easier for him whereas Fitz-Gerald will always need to keep her union masters happy and will never vote against them and against the tax increases and regulations they regularly demand of their puppets like her. The same will go with military issues, there's some chance that Polis will vote the right way if that's really what's best for the country. There's no chance with Fitz-Gerald.

So, while I truly understand your problems with Jared Polis' trip to Iraq, I hope you'll consider our horrible alternative here in the People's Republic of Boulder. And to the extent that you do want to go after him, you should also aim at his competition because a victory by Joan Fitz-Gerald will make you (or at least me) wish that someone only as liberal and only as anti-war as Polis would have won.

You may post this on your site if you like. Please include a link to my blog at http://www.rossputin.com if you do.

Thanks very much and thanks for your service to our country.

Regards,

Ross
Nederland, Colorado

[Caper2]

Come on, Wolf. Don't hold back. Tell us how you actually feel.
:)

El coqui