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The Iraqi Parliament, by President Bush's own admissions, has not bothered to meet more than a few of the many "benchmarks" the President is insisting are absolutely critical to give "victory" even a minimal chance. Adding insult to indifference, the same Iraqi politicians have decided to disappear on vacation for an entire month while our own troops are giving their lives and limbs in hellish 130 degree heat.Since the Iraqi government doesn't seem to care about our expensive "surge" to protect their perks, how about our own President setting a good example for once by either not taking his usual month long vacation this year or, better yet, taking it in Baghdad -- with our troops in the field instead of loafing at his air conditioned ranch in Crawford, Texas. If he's been able to conduct business remotely from his ranch and on foreign soil such as the long G-8 Conferences, then he can do it from a bunker in the Green Zone.
Besides, he doesn't seem to be doing any good in Washington anyway. And, there would be several bonuses for him. It might shame others to treat this as a real war requiring sacrifices by other than the overburdened military. It might make up for his ducking combat in Vietnam. It might prove his constant claims he "supports the troops" are something more than mere rhetoric. He might end up learning something first hand which would allow him to see whether he actually should remain so unshakably confident about "staying the course." Plus, if he is worried about his "legacy," he can rest assured history would be wowed by the self styled "War President" actually risking harm appearing in a war zone.
