He added that he is "confident" that we'll win in Iraq.
This speech, one in a series in the ramp up to the positive news we will receive from the "Petraeus report", which will be authored by the White House, is not only designed to sway the public into believing that things are improving to such an extent in Iraq that to begin to withdrawal troops would be cutting and running just on the cusp of winning the war.
Using the terms, boat people, re-education camps, and killing fields, it's also a scare tactic meant to send a message to the democrats in Congress that amounts to, if you're thinking about pulling the plug on this occupation it is you who will be blamed for creating another Vietnam, while history sees Bush, the war president, the commander guy, as the visionary who could have made it all work if not for the obstructionist, "effete, elite, snobs" , that Karl Rove claims comprise Bush's critics.
That's bullshit of course, but judging from the congressional democrats' recent history, it's the type of bullshit that's effective.
I just want to hear loud and clear, no parsing words, no polite phrasing, no academic comparisons, just staight, unified talk from the democrats that refutes Bush's bonafides to even enter the same room as a veteran let alone pretend to understand the complexities of designing a "war plan", the personal legacy of having experienced combat, or the sacrifice made by the families who send their loved ones into battle.
When Bush mentioned Vietnam I was simply reminded that his dad got him out of that war and into the National Guard by jumping a line of about 100,000, and that Cheney got multiple deferrments because he, like Romney's sons had other priorities.
Bush's next "we're winning the war speech" will be made at an American Legion convention, a move that at this point would shame any person of conscience, having sent thousands of citizens to die for a lie, killed innumerable Iraqi citizens, and left countless Iraqi children in revolting orphanages without parents and without the hope of a normal life in the future. The Iraq war has also created a refugee crisis that nearly rivals the displaced of Darfur with over two million people having fled Iraq.
In the past, Bush has vehemently denied any comparison between the war in Iraq and the quagmire that was the Vietnam war and he draws the comparison now only to more widely divide.
With an approval rate on his handling of the war in some polls at only 26%, will raising that approval percentage a few points among republicans be another sure sign to fortify the democrats' timidity in standing up to this classic bully?
Look for TV ads to begin airing nationally soon that depict the planes flying into the Twin Towers juxtaposed with a veteran of the Iraq war discussing his service.
Another disgusting attempt to connect Saddam Hussien - Iraq, and 9/11. There is of course no mention of the fact that there were no Iraqis onboard or piloting these missiles.
I personally will never vote again for anyone who supports the contiuation of this war and I hope that others will join me in that pledge.
Iraq refugee video from The Real News Network - 2:15
