Post #33

The political flailings of George W. Bush.

Oh, wait, that should be “failings” -- but “flailings” works just as well. :p

First, as I said in Post #31, Bush is making the mistake of defining “victory” as “a democracy that’s an ally in the War on Terror.” Unfortunately, Bush does not seem to realize that a democracy will not necessarily be an ally in the War on Terror – can ya say Lebanon? -- or that an ally in the War on Terror will not necessarily be a democracy – can ya say Saudi Arabia?

There were two chances to declare a “victory” that would have satisfied most people’s original reasons for supporting this mess. One, “victory” was achieved when our tanks rolled through the streets of Baghdad and our troops were not attacked with WMD. Two, “victory” was achieved when we found Saddam. At either point, had our troops come home, we would have begun adding Bush to Mt. Rushmore.

Now, the course we're on has no end in sight – thanks to Bush’s impossible definition of “victory.” Joe Biden’s plan – again see Post #31 -- can allow us to achieve the two objectives most American share: to leave Iraq without leaving chaos behind. And make us more secure. “Victory.”

Second, Bush is making the mistake of equating the Iraq folly with the War on Terror. No, it’s not – Iraq can be lost, as Bush seems determined to do, and the War on Terror won. We lost in Vietnam – tho Bush gallantly defended us from the hostile Mexican Air Force – but still won the Cold War.

Third, war? What war? To me, “war” means sacrifice, a shared sacrifice – Jen Bush patrolling the streets of Baghdad, Laura Bush planting a “Victory” garden on the White House lawn, Paris Hilton paying higher taxes. But I heard a Republican on TV justify fiscal irresponsibility by “war.” Huh?

With just a few of adjustments in his rhetoric, Bush can save his legacy. No, there’ll be no Mt. Rushmore in his future, but at least he won’t be ridiculed and hated as the President who ruined us. As Pat Buchanan said in “American Dien Bien Phu?” in his October 3, 2006 column:

“France's defeat at Dien Bien Phu in Indochina lead to a second war of national liberation in Algeria, the fall of the Fourth Republic and the call for Gen. de Gaulle to assume power. The general did, and he rang down the curtain on the French Empire.

“Are we facing an American Dien Bien Phu?”

Bush has lost Iraq by not claiming “victory” when it was his, and he’s trying to hand off closing the curtain on the American Empire to his successor. More than 100 Americans died in Iraq during October. Please, Bush, get it right….