Is this leadership?
President Bush outlined his "Victory in Iraq" PR strategy today. Seems about time, since our soldiers were sent in two and a half years ago. Today more than 2,000 of them are dead, thousands more have been injured, and approximately 160,000 soldiers (that's about two and a half Metrodomes filled to capacity) remain the target of insurgents and face the possibility of being blown up at any moment.
Most Americans have concluded we shouldn't be there and the world was lied to by the most powerful "leaders" in the world, but we're beyond that discussion now. But while now many skeptics are pushing for immediate withdrawal, I'm not anymore convinced we should pull out than we should stay.
I'm so sick of hearing about "staying the course." I want action and to hear about actual progress. That could come with actual proof or evidence that Iraqi troops are stepping up to task. Today, Bush said about 200 Iraqi army and police battalions are ready to help or already in service. That's one measly number considering how long we've been in the country and beyond that, where the heck are they? Iraqi forces are the key to success, and it must be a top priority with daily improvement that will lead toward the official handover of power. The Iraqis need to learn fast how to provide security to themselves. An impetus could be having us set a date to leave. Iraqis, Democrats, and even some Republicans seem to even agree on this point. Yet for now, I see no proof to suggest the Iraqi soldiers are any more important than "our little brothers" who try to help put silverware on the dinner table while we cook the dinner. They're clearly in no shape to secure the country if we leave now. At this pace, it won't be happen, period. I believe it's a near certainty that the country will erupt in civil war, no matter we leave tomorrow or in 10 years. The country's ethnic base is too divided and bound to split into smaller governments. I just see no point in jeopardizing the lives of good Americans any more than those who have already made the sacrifice.
We learned this lesson in Vietnam -- and we're heading in the same direction. We are creating more insurgents by the day and more Islamic radicals seem to be rallying more and more around the world, threatening the U.S. in new ways and planning or implementing more attacks. Forget Iraq, the U.S., and Afghanistan, the world is not safer than we were before Sept. 11. I'm sick of hearing that we are, simply by fighting terrorists abroad so we don't deal with them here. We're fighting a never-ending battle. I say give an approximate date of departure, refocus attention on securing our borders and ports, and let's start promoting discussion without carrying guns in our hands. Let's change our reputation.
A change in philosophy just might be the first ticket to actually changing hearts and minds -- not some 30+page book about strategy that's more than two years late and undoubtedly filled with empty words and lack of vision. It's just one more sign that the President refuses to listen to those who voted him into office, and calls those who disagree with him "un-American" and "un-democratic." Sounds like Bush has forgot how important dissent is to a democracy. You'd also think after five years in office, he'd get better at your job. Let's recap: No link between Al Queda and Saddam, WMD weren't in Iraq, Harriet Miers wasn't fit to be on the Supreme Court, the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts were far from adequate, the adminstration caused the CIA leak scandal, the deficit has grown substantially, Bush's job approval rating continues to drop, and your oil-buddy Dick Cheney is like a slimy mob boss. What a presidency. When is the President actually going to follow through with something? How is this representation?
Most Americans have concluded we shouldn't be there and the world was lied to by the most powerful "leaders" in the world, but we're beyond that discussion now. But while now many skeptics are pushing for immediate withdrawal, I'm not anymore convinced we should pull out than we should stay.
I'm so sick of hearing about "staying the course." I want action and to hear about actual progress. That could come with actual proof or evidence that Iraqi troops are stepping up to task. Today, Bush said about 200 Iraqi army and police battalions are ready to help or already in service. That's one measly number considering how long we've been in the country and beyond that, where the heck are they? Iraqi forces are the key to success, and it must be a top priority with daily improvement that will lead toward the official handover of power. The Iraqis need to learn fast how to provide security to themselves. An impetus could be having us set a date to leave. Iraqis, Democrats, and even some Republicans seem to even agree on this point. Yet for now, I see no proof to suggest the Iraqi soldiers are any more important than "our little brothers" who try to help put silverware on the dinner table while we cook the dinner. They're clearly in no shape to secure the country if we leave now. At this pace, it won't be happen, period. I believe it's a near certainty that the country will erupt in civil war, no matter we leave tomorrow or in 10 years. The country's ethnic base is too divided and bound to split into smaller governments. I just see no point in jeopardizing the lives of good Americans any more than those who have already made the sacrifice.
We learned this lesson in Vietnam -- and we're heading in the same direction. We are creating more insurgents by the day and more Islamic radicals seem to be rallying more and more around the world, threatening the U.S. in new ways and planning or implementing more attacks. Forget Iraq, the U.S., and Afghanistan, the world is not safer than we were before Sept. 11. I'm sick of hearing that we are, simply by fighting terrorists abroad so we don't deal with them here. We're fighting a never-ending battle. I say give an approximate date of departure, refocus attention on securing our borders and ports, and let's start promoting discussion without carrying guns in our hands. Let's change our reputation.
A change in philosophy just might be the first ticket to actually changing hearts and minds -- not some 30+page book about strategy that's more than two years late and undoubtedly filled with empty words and lack of vision. It's just one more sign that the President refuses to listen to those who voted him into office, and calls those who disagree with him "un-American" and "un-democratic." Sounds like Bush has forgot how important dissent is to a democracy. You'd also think after five years in office, he'd get better at your job. Let's recap: No link between Al Queda and Saddam, WMD weren't in Iraq, Harriet Miers wasn't fit to be on the Supreme Court, the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts were far from adequate, the adminstration caused the CIA leak scandal, the deficit has grown substantially, Bush's job approval rating continues to drop, and your oil-buddy Dick Cheney is like a slimy mob boss. What a presidency. When is the President actually going to follow through with something? How is this representation?
posted by The Divoteer at 11:12 AM
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