Exposing the lack of compassion by conservatives and
debunking right wing hypocrisy at every opportunity.
Sometimes it takes a particularly insidious form of sophistry to pique my ire.
Many of us are reaching the conclusion that Bush has played us and the Iraqis so baddly well that not even the next president will be able to extricate us from the bottomless pit of treasure and blood in Mesopotamia despite his/her/our demands/promises that we get out as soon as possible.
I should be more outraged by notion that George W. Bush is "playing" a holding action for the next administraiton to actually act like a Decider -- going neither forwards or backwards, but only setting the stage that once Washington D.C. recognizes that it must either send in every able-bodied 20-something American to the Middle East to impose our version of "peace through strength," it will still take years to get out once we begin the process. Alas, I'm more crestfallen than spurred to action.
When I get that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, the one that says, "Why bother?" I'll perused the news, read the blogs, and find myself even more resigned to the inevitable, and that's depressing. Way too depressing to write about.
The one thing that usually gets me out of such funks is reading something that Just. Pisses. Me. Off.
Dean Esmay:
I see more death, more injustice, more useless rhetoric, more corruption, more Billions wasted. Will there be more rapes if we were to start the process of removing ourselves from this quagmire? More murder, more violence, bribery, thievery? Of course. The levels of horror may increase or decrease when and if we leave, but it will remain at unacceptable levels for a civilized society whether we stay or go.
The difference is that as long as we're there, we -- you and I -- have a hand in all this. We're responsible for it. I want no part of it and would much rather wash my hands clean. Unfortunately nobody is going to clean up our mess for us, and I fully appreciate the moral obligation to render assistance to a people who have no functioning government due to our actions.
What I fail to understand is the warped mentality that delights in this horrible reality -- that the Iraqi society is so traumatized our withdrawal would amount to infanticide. That we should be thankful to God above despite all the failed projections, all the corners turned that only revealed an impenetrable maze of more corners, more goals moved further downfield, more justifications retrofit to gloss over the last sales-job which underestimated the difficulties and overestimated the capabilities of our military to do the job our so-called diplomats cannot even fathom.
Praising a benevolent diety for locking us behind the gate to a hell of our own creation -- Just. Pisses. Me. Off.
Many of us are reaching the conclusion that Bush has played us and the Iraqis so baddly well that not even the next president will be able to extricate us from the bottomless pit of treasure and blood in Mesopotamia despite his/her/our demands/promises that we get out as soon as possible.
I should be more outraged by notion that George W. Bush is "playing" a holding action for the next administraiton to actually act like a Decider -- going neither forwards or backwards, but only setting the stage that once Washington D.C. recognizes that it must either send in every able-bodied 20-something American to the Middle East to impose our version of "peace through strength," it will still take years to get out once we begin the process. Alas, I'm more crestfallen than spurred to action.
When I get that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, the one that says, "Why bother?" I'll perused the news, read the blogs, and find myself even more resigned to the inevitable, and that's depressing. Way too depressing to write about.
The one thing that usually gets me out of such funks is reading something that Just. Pisses. Me. Off.
Dean Esmay:
It's becoming increasingly apparent that we aren't going to be leaving Iraq any time soon--thank God.Whaddah Ya Know. Dean and I see the same facts and come the the same conclusion -- with vastly different visceral reactions. It's a testament how differently our brains are wired that he delights in this realization, praising the heavens, while it sickens me.
I see more death, more injustice, more useless rhetoric, more corruption, more Billions wasted. Will there be more rapes if we were to start the process of removing ourselves from this quagmire? More murder, more violence, bribery, thievery? Of course. The levels of horror may increase or decrease when and if we leave, but it will remain at unacceptable levels for a civilized society whether we stay or go.
The difference is that as long as we're there, we -- you and I -- have a hand in all this. We're responsible for it. I want no part of it and would much rather wash my hands clean. Unfortunately nobody is going to clean up our mess for us, and I fully appreciate the moral obligation to render assistance to a people who have no functioning government due to our actions.
What I fail to understand is the warped mentality that delights in this horrible reality -- that the Iraqi society is so traumatized our withdrawal would amount to infanticide. That we should be thankful to God above despite all the failed projections, all the corners turned that only revealed an impenetrable maze of more corners, more goals moved further downfield, more justifications retrofit to gloss over the last sales-job which underestimated the difficulties and overestimated the capabilities of our military to do the job our so-called diplomats cannot even fathom.
Praising a benevolent diety for locking us behind the gate to a hell of our own creation -- Just. Pisses. Me. Off.
UPDATE:
Then again, there may be cause for celebration after all. It looks like there are other Generals to listen to besides the one whose future is contingent on remaining in Iraq indefinitely.
NEWSWEEK has learned that a separate intern l report being prepared by a Pentagon working group will "differ substantially" from Petraeus s recommendations, according to an official who is privy to the ongoing discussions but would spe k about them only on condition of anonymitI don't for a minute think that Bush will ever consider this report -- as if anyone would be brave enough to submit it to him or be able to get it past Cheney.
An early version of the report, which is currently being drafted and is expected to be completed by the beginning of next year, will "recommend a very rapid reduction in American forces: as much as two-thirds of the existing force very quickly, while keeping the remainder there." The strategy will involve unwinding the still large U.S. presence in big forward operation bases and putting smaller teams in outposts. "There is interest at senior levels [of the Pentagon] in getting alternative views" to Petraeus, the official said. Among others, Centcom commander Admiral William Fallon is known to want to draw down faster than Petraeus.
BUT, the good news is that someone at that 5-pointed building is sketching out the way home so that our next POTUS can say the word and we're outta dere!
Subscribe via Email
0 Comments:
POST A COMMENT