Do not direct your anger at the messengers, who many think are in charge in Iraq because they are given the impossible task of articulating the progress — or lack thereof — of the war in Iraq. Granted, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker are calling many shots in Iraq. But, by-in-large, the overall decision-making comes from the man upstairs — of the White House, anyway — President George W. Bush.
The W. administration has Petraeus and Crocker stepping to the beat handed down from above. The reports given this week were merely rehashes of what the White House public relations department conjured up as to the best “spin words” to translate the “realities” (or fantasies) of war for public consumption.
(Think of this in terms of parents spelling out words as they argue back-and-forth, under the assumption their kid cannot spell and therefore cannot comprehend what they are really talking about.)
Far be it for W. to need to worry even further about Americans falling into a deep state of panic if they found out their beloved soldiers were fighting in a war that apparently cannot be won.
Does anyone know what would constitute an American “win” in Iraq? Unless I am mistaken, the “win” would consist of assisting the Iraqi people in establishing their own democracy with police and soldiers to protect and defend themselves. That would constitute the U.S. as official “liberators” (W.’s favorite word) of the Iraqi people and a victory parade would follow. Come to think of it, weren’t the Iraqi people supposed to be giving out roses and applauding all of the American soldiers’ valiant, hard-fought efforts, as Iraq was liberated from Hussein’s tyrannic rule? (Hear that one before, have you? Still applies.)
In both the long- and short-term viewpoints, the war in Iraq is doing more harm to Americans than W. and his administration will admit. Casualties are rising not only of our own American troops, but also citizens of Iraq. Their family members — those ones declining to hand American troops roses and smile everyday — will inevitably hold a grudge. Some will bury the hatred deep, taking it with them to their grave. Others will wear their hatred on their sleeve, seeking revenge for U.S. occupation.
When W. and the gang tell you the troops will be reduced “soon,” what they mean is that, figuring in the surge, essentially the numbers will be “less increased” than they really want.”
Here’s The Washington Post’s Eugene Robinson on the issue:
Here’s something solid: Early last year, before the surge, there were 130,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. In November, when Americans choose the next president, there are likely to be 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. The White House will blow a lot of smoke about how there’s a “pause in the drawdown” or some such nonsense. There’s no troop reduction; there’s been an increase.
No one should be surprised that Petraeus and Crocker asked our elected representatives for more time. That’s what George Bush always wanted, and he wasn’t about to be deterred by anything so inconsequential as the clearly expressed will of the American people. As Dick Cheney said of anti-war opinion polls: “So?”
W. does not care what Americans think. His veep told us straightforward, without any frosting or creme filling.
If W. cared what we thought, he would have resigned when his approval rating dropped to the low 30s. He would be back in Texas, on his ranch, obsessing about baseball, fishing and book deals. Instead, W. is in his ranch in Texas obsessing over baseball, his legacy (funny that he tries hard to spin his double-term into a positive in spite of record deficits and a war with no end in sight), and words with more than 2 syllables (low blow, I am slightly apologetic). Resigned, W. would only be in a seat at his house, flipping channels controlling a large-screen LCD television. In power, W. sits in the biggest, most important house in America, and as he flips “channels” (war in Iraq, American economy, China loan sharks, his potential successors), he unfortunately controls real lives with every button-press.
W. did the Iraqi people a favor by taking out Saddaam Hussein. He was a tyrannical ruler, and has the blood of thousands of innocent Iraqi people on his hands.
W. did the Iraqi people a disservice by not understanding the complexity of the Iraq region, and the chaos and instability that would come from an entire people suddenly being freed from oppression.
Iraq is in the midst of a civil war and American soldiers are standing in the crossfire. And, just for standing on Iraqi soil in general, American soldiers find themselves in Iraqi crosshairs as well.
Green zones — those areas designated as “safe” for its zones where its inhabitants are supposed to be safe — are being attacked, Baghdad is a war zone, “splurge” would be considered both helpful and yet still yield very little for stability in Iraq. What can be concluded from the report this week from the top American general in Iraq is that while there have been gains in the war on terror in Iraq, those results are very instable, fragile and in as soon as a few days could be completely reversed. Bush is in complete “delegation mode” right now, pushing off this Iraq debacle to the upcoming commander-in-chief.
It is long past time for America to back out of the war they surged into with a purpose but no competent plan of exit.
Understandably, not everyone agrees on this war. Lives continue to be lost, and the last thing any of us want is for the soldiers who laid their lives on the line for this global war on terror to be lost in vain.
As Congress received the Petraeus and Crocker briefing this week, W. presented an award, posthumously, to a heroic Navy SEAL for his heroic efforts, saving the lives of his comrades:
Navy SEAL Michael A. Monsoor had fast thinking to do when a live grenade came out of nowhere to bounce off his chest: Take the clear path to safety that he had but his comrades didn’t, try to toss it safely away, or throw himself on top of it.
With barely an instant’s hesitation on that Iraqi rooftop, Monsoor took the last course, sacrificing his life to save the men around him. For that, President Bush on Tuesday awarded him the Medal of Honor.
Most Americans know of a family member or friend fighting in Iraq, or the Middle East. When on American life is lost, we all feel the pain. To steal the Edward R. Murrow quote: “We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.” Speaking out against the war in Iraq does not mean Americans are un-American, as the current administration would have you believe.
Speaking of my own dissent against the war in Iraq, I think of Monsoor and those 4,000-plus casualties as I voice my disagreement with W. and his administration’s poorly planned, chaotic, indefinite occupancy in Iraq. The ideal number for casualties of war: ZERO. The sooner we average that per day, the sooner Americans will be better off.
So to those jokesters, ditch those quirky “Crock brought us a bunch o’ crock” and “Petraeus = be-tray” lines; they are aimed at the wrong targets.
Instead, dissent and blame should be placed solely on President George W. Bush and his inadequately brained, overcompensated power-filled administration. Keep the American casualties in mind as you disagree — they fight with weapons, so we can have the right to fight with words.
No need to follow every second of the Democratic National Convention stuck in front of the television.
One would hope that having a billion dollar empire, the protection of one’s ass(ets) would be a priority. But, of course, hindsight is 20-20, and now Sir Paul McCartney has officially learned the hard way.
I have to side with the boyfriend on this case, as hard as it is right now, considering there’s more of this story to come out. He stood by his lady through a very traumatic, odd experience and finally called the authorities when he knew her life was in danger. His logic in maintaining his relationship, rather than “flushing it,” — so to speak — baffles me. But, nevertheless, he supported his “potty princess” through it all and should be commended.
One of the most intriguing figures in the now infamous “Spitzer Scandal,” is Governor Eliot Spitzer’s estranged wife, Mrs. Silda Alice Wall Spitzer.
The New Jersey girl named as “Kristen” in the scandal, 
