Webb - Recycling His message

James Webb, from the New York Times via his blog:

ARLINGTON, Va. — President Bush has not only embarked on his own voyage into the Persian Gulf, that Bermuda Triangle of Presidencies.
...
The debate over our role in the Persian Gulf crisis has focused on national, rather than specific military goals. The fundamental questions, upon which all others inevitably rest, have not been addressed. Why did we send such a huge contingent of ground troops in the first place? And under what conditions are we going to use them or bring them home?...
Answers are not forthcoming. Military officials intimate that the question would expose tactical options. Administration officials talk in vague terms: ... Cheney is telling us to prepare for a commitment that may take years. Others have been quoted as saying we may be there for a decade.
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The U.S., whose interests in the region are far less than Kuwait's, Saudi Arabia's, Israel's, Europe's and Japan's, is carrying the overwhelming burden. ...
And now we are out on the international hustings, asking for financial contributions for our effort. Mr. Bush hastens to assure us that this does not make our soldiers mercenaries, but anyone with a relative or loved one ... will quickly argue that this is not a fair trade....
And what is the impact, strategically, of the introduction of all these ground forces? In grand sum, it can only be judged as negative.

Those who have called for massive, pre-emptive air strikes against Iraq must now contemplate the detriment of tens of thousands of American soldiers within range of Iraqi chemical weapons, as well as possible terrorist attacks from Iraq and now Iran.

Those who worry about the possibility of crisis in other parts of the world must recognize that a large percentage of American maneuver forces -- including as much as half of the Marine Corps -- are tied down in the waiting game in the desert.

Those who believe we should use these forces offensively should realize that this would galvanize the Arab world, invite chemical retaliation and an expansion of the hostilities, produce great numbers of casualties and encourage worldwide terrorism -- in short, open up a Pandora's box.
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Others wonder about the predominance of Texans in the Administration, and the dual benefit that higher oil prices will bring to the Southwest

James Webb, soothsayer? Visionary predictor of the future?

Nope. That's James Webb, in September of 1990, arguing against the first Gulf War invasion.

At least he's consistent?