Tom Ricks, the Pentagon reporter for the Washington Post, and now best selling author could be heard over the air waves today on The Al Franken Show. Speaking in the most k
nowledgeable and humble manner about exactly what is going on in Iraq today, what went wrong in Iraq three years and two months ago, and what continues to be abhorrently wrong today, he is undoubtedly the best reason this country still has hope that saner minds will prevail.Has it occurred to you why so many books have been written about a 'war' our government and president started all on their own and have no idea how to finish? Their reckless ignorance about a region they should have known like the back of their hand (it was our government after all that kept feeding the hand of Saddam for decades before we decided to cut him off, both literally and figuratively) has started a highly profitable cottage publishing industry all on its own.
Yet in the midst of all this literary revelation, our president and his henchmen have continued to get away with lies upon lies and now, even after the magnificent midterm elections, they confidently tell us their aim is to send in more troops and further escalate our military presence in Iraq!
How can the rational center in this country keep silent any longer? How can this be happening while all these books pile up?After our constitution, the billions of words spilling out from these pages providing concrete evidence about the horrific arrogance behind this 'war' should be the only other words we hold to be self-evident.
These self-evident books are out there in plain sight. Talking heads appear every day on TV and cable news stations expounding on how little can be done to right the wrongs, even Fox News seems at times to report the news in a somewhat fair and balanced manner. The president himself changes his views from film clip to film clip. Just listen to what he has said and then refuted to have said about his top commander in Iraq, General Casey, and still the press corp does not demand explanations or reasonable logic.
How can the president and some of our newly elected congresspeople stand up today, TODAY mind you, after all their ranting and raving to get out of Iraq, and state they're in favor of sending in more troops, escalating our military profile in Iraq as a way to end a violence they have no idea how got started in the first place?
After so many years of listening to lies and watching the body count of American troops and Iraqi people mount, how can rational, sane people continue to turn off their TV sets each night and innocently drift off to sleep.
Bush just signed a new bill allowing your mail to be strip searched whenever and wherever any person in our so called intelligence agencies feels like it. That should make us feel safe and secure while a man, without a moral authority, who will always be a recovering alcoholic and ex-coke head looks out for our children.
He and his wife can not even be held accountable to look after their own grown up daughters. Both girls reportedly thumbed their noses at their parents and their host country back in November of last year by staging their very own 'girls gone wild show' in Argentine.We only know what the secret service guys couldn't contain. For the past six years these two women have embarrassed themselves and us by their persistent drunken and disorderly conduct. Knowing how poorly these women have controlled their impulsive behavior would you trust George and Laura to baby sit your kids? I didn't think so. Why then do we persist in leaving the fate of our children and our beloved country in their hands? Where is the rationale behind our thinking?
2 comments:
A NEW IRAQ SOLUTION
Here is a proposed solution to the situation in Iraq. It is a simple idea, but more often than not, simplicity is the best course. I propose that this plan be scrutinized by persons who have an international platform. Amend and refine it as necessary. Then announce it to the world. The reaction from various leaders will immediately tell us whether or not the solution is viable.
First, the United States announces an immediate, conditional withdrawal of its military. Second, the United States pledges to finance the costs of reconstruction in Iraq. This reconstruction would be done wholly by Iraqi workers, thus giving a significant boost to their economy. To avoid possible misappropriation of monetary aid, the United States would pay on a project by project basis. Rebuild a hospital, send the bill. If the bill is reasonable, it is paid. The costs of relocation of millions of refugees would also have to be borne. If you break it, you have to pay for it. It is a moral obligation of the United States. The cost of rebuilding in Iraq would be substantial, but undoubtedly far, far less than the cost of continuing our current military course, estimated at about $200,000,000 per day. Perhaps the “coalition of the willing” would also contribute, as might neighboring countries.
Our financial aid would be based on two important conditions. One, the civil war must end. Two, the Iraqis must expel the foreign insurgents. Why would such a plan have a chance of success? The people of Iraq certainly want peace and prosperity. The prospect of job opportunities and a burgeoning economy might just lead the Iraqi people to ask: “Do we want to continue the bloodshed, or do we want a peaceful life with economic opportunity?” This plan offers the hope that both peace among Iraqis and their suppression of terrorists can be achieved. They would have strong financial reasons for doing so. Again, the announcement of this plan would give Iraqi leaders and others of influence an opportunity to declare their willingness to end this insane massacre.
Certainly, to end the civil war, the Iraqis will have to craft power and oil revenue sharing laws. The Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites would have to be satisfied. Increased revenue from restored oil operations would also give the government of Iraq the opportunity to further stimulate the economy. The prospect of peace and prosperity would be a powerful incentive for all parties to work out compromises and to embrace this solution. Further, Muqtada al-Sadr has publicly proclaimed that the presence of U.S. troops adds to the violence. Our withdrawal, therefore, should make it easier to end the civil war, giving al-Sadr’s militia less motivation to fight.
The condition of having them expel the insurgents will allay the U. S. fears that Iraq will become a “haven for terrorists”. The Iraqis will want to do this because they will want U.S. financial aid, and they will not want violent people in their newly peaceful country. This plan will be a step for the United States to begin to repair its damaged world reputation. As is commonly acknowledged, this damaged reputation has been used as a recruiting tool for the terrorists. This would be a step in beginning to reverse that trend. The United States should admit its errors and begin to atone for them.
If such a plan were announced there would be an immediate reaction to it from the Arab world. Neighboring countries, in the interest of peace in the region, might be willing to aid in Iraq’s economic recovery. If the reaction is favorable, the United States can proceed to implement it. If the reaction is unfavorable, we can go back to Plan B, whatever that might be. However, the incentives to embrace this solution are very strong. People always want a vibrant economy so that they can pay for the necessities and enjoy the luxuries that a decent income can provide. With the financial help of the United Sates, and with reconstitution of the oil production, the Iraqi economy can begin to thrive. And, finally, the prospect of living peacefully, without fear of being killed or maimed, will certainly be a major incentive for the people of Iraq to end the civil war. Is this solution not worth trying?
David Nugent
San Francisco
415-777-5636
The girls could have waited until their father's time is up in 08 . It shows they have a lot to learn . Chelse acted like an lady when her parents were in the WH and still to this day she conducts herself like a lady.
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