First, I am assuming that the stories are true that Bush is going to call for an escalation of troop levels in Iraq, for the "surge" and "sacrifice" news about which news reports have spoken this week.
Second, I am assuming that there is no realistic chance that such a "surge" will accomplish anything of practical value, even assuming the Bushites' goals as the standard of value. This assumption may or may not be true --it is, indeed, one of the matters that I believe the Democrats would be wise to hold hearings on, bringing in experts not in any way beholden to the administration-- but I'm betting that this policy of escalation will be futile (and worse). As Keith Olbermann says in his most recent "Special Comment," with this proposal Bush "has settled on the only solution all the true experts agree cannot possibly work..."
Given those premises, the question arises: Why, after the report of the Iraq Study Group and all this dramatized presidential pondering, is THIS foolish surge --this throwing of good money after bad, as the poker expression has it-- the decision our self-proclaimed Decider has arrived at?
On Wednesday's COUNTDOWN, Olbermann spoke as if he imagined that Bush's purpose was the rational, if immoral one, of kicking the can further down the road-- in other words, delaying the day of reckoning so that Bush can obscure the reality of his failure until someone else takes office and can thus leave to the next American president the task of packing up and bringing home the troops from a failed mission.
THE UNYIELDING "ME"
It could be. But I am inclined to see it not as a rational move, but as a manifestation of the darkest aspect of this presidency: A PERVASIVE INSISTENCE ON SERVING THE DESIRES OF THE EGO AND A CORRESPONDING UNWILLINGNESS TO BOW TO ANYTHING WHATEVER.
This is a presidency in which the common good seems never to have outweighed the lust for political advantage.
This is a presidency which has refused to allow the Constitution to limit its exercise of power, even its sadistic exercise.
This is a presidency that has run rough-shod over laws --both domestic and international-- that would have restrained its quest for domination.
This is a presidency that has been wholly unwilling to restrain the drive toward short-term enrichment for themselves and their cronies in behalf of earth's stressed and imperiled biosphere.
Common among all these is a posture toward the world, which might be stated: I COME FIRST, AND THERE IS NOTHING BEFORE WHICH I WILL YIELD.
There's one other part of this pattern of unyielding. It's been evident now for several years that the Bushites have also REFUSED TO BOW BEFORE REALITY, REFUSED TO YIELD TO THE TRUTH.
The Bushites have consistently "fixed the intelligence" about every matter at hand to suit their purposes. They have believed what they wanted to believe; they have ignored the experts; they have distorted the science; they have sneered at the "reality-based," evidently believing in their own ability to "create" reality. (See my article, "Connecting the Dots, or, The Spirit of Falsehood," written almost two years, which can be found at www.nonesoblind.org/blog/?page_id=18.)
Andrew Bard Schmookler's website www.nonesoblind.org is devoted to understanding the roots of America's present moral crisis and the means by which the urgent challenge of this dangerous moment can be met. Dr. Schmookler is also the author of such books as The Parable of the Tribes: The Problem of Power in Social Evolution (SUNY Press) and Debating the Good Society: A Quest to Bridge America's Moral Divide (M.I.T. Press). He also conducts regular talk-radio conversations in both red and blue states.
I just want to add one more component- racism. Bush is a racist and he plays the racist card. If Iraq was Ireland or even Russia, he would not behave that way. It is racism. And racism is irrational always.
by
Mark Sashine (53 articles, 19 quicklinks, 250 diaries, 3574 comments)
on Thursday, January 4, 2007 at 4:06:09 PM
I found this link on a Truthdig discussion about Ike's warning about the Military (Congressional) Industrial Complex. Having served in the Marine Corps from 1982 - 1986 on active duty I have heard plenty about Major General Smedley Butler a two time recepient of the Congressional Medal of Honor. This link will bring you to "War is a Racket" published in 1935, and written by Smedley Butler.
I think it is a good read written by one who has witnessed the full experience of WAR.
This surge is expressly because War is a Racket and one of the cheif racketeers is our Vice President. The value of his stockholding in Haliburton increased in value 3000% in 2005 because of his company receiveing these no bid contracts with practically no oversight on how they spend their money. I imagine that there may be similar reasons why other politicians have not stopped this madness.
Gen. Butler advised that the profit needs to be taken out of War. As long as a few can make a bundle then those who risk nothing will continue to send soldiers into battle where they risk everything and the ones making money don't care about winning they only care about the War continuing.
by
Sleeper (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 276 comments)
on Friday, January 5, 2007 at 10:16:16 AM
If I felt the need to enrich myself and enjoy the fruits of my efforts I would head up my family organization with a fall guy who could take the heat at the same time I was filling my pockets. Now the War Profiteer,in chief, picked his own son to take the heat.George Senior knew little Georgie was a mean spirited bully but he put him out there. He helped engineered his elevation to the commander in chief with the help of the other son Jeb, without a care for the damage he would cause and to finish the job Senior had no stomach for. Little Georgie surpassed all his Daddies expectations. Marvin helped too with 9/11. It was good that the family history was steeped in War Profiteering for it got a lot of other greedy collaborators on board. Great granddaddy Samuel would be proud .Who would have thought that his great grandson could wreak such havoc in the World. Prescott was good in his support of the Nazis and George Senior did his best with CIA machinations and Dessert Storm .But little Georgie has outdone them all. With his lack of insight and limited intelligence, he has single handedly set back civilization a good 100 years and trashed the Constitution. See, you all, it is in the Genes. A total lack of conscience is developed over generations. The ability and the right to sacrifice others for the good of the few, needs a worthy cheerleader. Little Georgie has found his niche. Losing a war against a small but feisty country maximises the profits and at the same time developing a multitude of enemies for the next 100 years. Little Georgie has done his job well. If he quits tomorrow it would be eons before his mess was cleaned up. It is in the Genes. War Without End. A family event. Mission Accomplished!!!
by
cluelessfl (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 184 comments)
on Sunday, January 7, 2007 at 12:19:06 PM
"It could be. But I am inclined to see it not as a rational move, but as a manifestation of the darkest aspect of this presidency: A PERVASIVE INSISTENCE ON SERVING THE DESIRES OF THE EGO AND A CORRESPONDING UNWILLINGNESS TO BOW TO ANYTHING WHATEVER."
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I think that's an unwarranted speculation, albeit a charatible one, relatively speaking. This is partcularly true, as Bush doesn't make the decisions. I see this as part of a plan that was put into operation years ago. This is more of a stall, so that the permanence of our presence will solidify. Additionally, it has the added benefit of exhausing the military so that upon its return here it would be ineffective in participating or initiating some form of revolution, the greatest threat to the Neocons. These people don't have the luxury of indulging their whims, as may have been the case in monarchies.
by
Moss David Posner, M.D. (7 articles, 1 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 43 comments)
on Thursday, March 1, 2007 at 2:12:03 AM
5 comments
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