So Bush has finally made the announcement everyone was expecting - that another 20,000 young Americans are to be thrown into the meatgrinder in Iraq to die for his vanity. It's madness - the "plan" is predicated on Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki attacking one of the foundations of his own government, and backing a political programme he has neither any interest in or ability to pass - but Bush is so lost in fantasyland and unwilling to admit that the war is lost for good that he is willing to bet the farm on it. On the other hand, what is he really betting? The generals say it will take two or three more years - another three thousand dead Americans, another half million dead Iraqis - before we know whether it has succeeded or failed. And by that time, Bush will have safely left office. Essentially, this plan is about Bush dumping his problem in his successor's lap - which if you'd always had Poppy to bail you out, probably seems like perfectly acceptable behaviour.
Again, as reasons to die go, protecting the President's ego is a pretty piss-poor one - and its long past time US soldiers in Iraq stood up and said so, and told their political leadership to fight their own damn wars for a change.
Sadly I think of all the people who are in a position of authority to stand up to Bush and oppose his war, US soldiers must be right at the back of the queue (in front only perhaps of Iraqi soldiers and UN General Secretaries).
ReplyDeleteThe authoritive voices of disatisfaction need to come from people on US soil. In particular this should be (yet another) test for the US's system of govt checks and balances.
Over at kiwiblog there all "hey it's not going to work, and that's why it's such a good idea, shows he's got spirit". Or something.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of Blackadders version of Wellington. "It's all down to shouting. ROAAAAR"
Showing that your leader (who is coincidentally on the other side of the world, a long way from any danger) has "spirit" also strikes me as a piss-poor reason for people to be asked to sacrifice their lives.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, the comparison with Blackadder's Duke of Wellington is very apt. Shout, shout, and shout again!
"Shout, shout, and shout again!"
ReplyDeleteWith a few notable very exceptions - like, here ferexamaple - that's pretty much the nature of political bloggery.