I've been wanting to hear from Bush what he thinks victory looks like.
Just today, I sent an email to a conservative friend, saying;
You're a military man. We had victory in WWII in Germany and in Japan. An enemy leader was defeated and surrendered. The idiot in the white house killed the guy who could have surrendered. How do you have victory in a guerilla insurrection? What does victory look like?
People putting flowers in their IEDs?
So, finally, Bush admitted in his unconvincing reading of his latest speechwriter's robo-speech,
The question is whether our new strategy will bring us closer to success. I believe that it will.
Victory will not look like the ones our fathers and grandfathers achieved. There will be no surrender ceremony on the deck of a battleship. But victory in Iraq will bring something new in the Arab world �" a functioning democracy that polices its territory, upholds the rule of law, respects fundamental human liberties and answers to its people. A democratic Iraq will not be perfect. But it will be a country that fights terrorists instead of harboring them �" and it will help bring a future of peace and security for our children and grandchildren.
Unfortunately, the plans Bush described offer just about zero likelihood that his vision of victory will be achieved.
It looks like Bush has decided to hand Iraq over to the majority Shia population there. We know what Shias do when they get their hands on democracy-- turn it into theocracy. Bush's fantasy of victory is not going to ever happen-- at least not without the continued presence of an escalated US military presence.
We've seen that the Iran funded and inspired Shia movements around the world are regressive cultures, aiming to take down democracy, install rigid, paternalistic, mysoginist autocracies that nurture and support terrorists, like we've seen the Taliban do in Afghanistan and Hizbollah do in Lebanon.
At the end of world war two, there were clear cut nations that could surrender.
There are no people to surrender. The Democracy Bush seeks is not going to suddenly pop up out of the dessert, or appear in the green zone of Baghdad. It will not appear when an additional 20,000 troops appear in Iraq. Ironically, you can't see democracy when a military police state is operating.
History will look back to see that Bush took a delicately balanced middle east, where Shia and Sunni states were, though fighting, keeping about even, and he destroyed that balance, opening up the opportunity for the Shia to gain power-- power that lead to advancing, aggressive theocratic armies aimed at grabbing territory and nations and subjecting them to domination by religious extremists.
History will characterize Bush as a liar who ham-handedly, with the help of his hyper-macho, power hungry, former jock Vice president, fudged the intelligence, defrauding Americans and the UN with the help of a Secretary of state front man, Colin Powell, sold his integrity and his country to be a part of the "team."
The term "Bush victory" may enter the lexicon as a way to describe an effort stupidly begun, unplanned and in which the leadership continue beyond any hope of success, to pursue "victory." A Bush victory will be used to describe a miserable failure-- digging a deeper hole, throwing good money after bad, putting salt in a wound...
Of course the other kind of victory, named after Pyrrhus-- the Pyrrhic victory-- describes a victory won at such a great cost that it leads to ultimate defeat and loss.
When Bush went into Iraq with his shock and awe, by taking down the greatest opponent to the spread of Shia theocracy, by destroying the baathist army, he injected such a massive increase of instability, everything changed. He basically won the battle and, in doing so, set into motion the processes that have lost him the war.
There is no potential for victory in Iraq-- none. The best we can hope for is to palliate the descent into deeper chaos that will occur when the US withdraws from Iraq, which it must surely do. This descent will be dangerous for some of the neighboring countries. They should be getting into Iraq now. But, because that would be seen as enabling the hated Americans, it probably won't happen. The US should be negotiating with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey now. Because they will surely be forced to step in once the people of the US get control of the crazinessonf Bush and themilitary.
Rob Kall is executive editor and publisher of OpEdNews.com, President of Futurehealth, Inc, inventor . He is also published regularly on the Huffingtonpost.com. He is a frequent Speaker on Politics, Impeachment, The art, science and power of story, heroes and the hero's journey, Positive Psychology, Stress, Biofeedback and a wide range of subjects. He is a campaign consultant specializing in tapping the power of stories for issue positioning, stump speeches and debates. He recently retired as organizer of several conferences, including StoryCon, the Summit Meeting on the Art, Science and Application of Story and The Winter Brain Meeting on neurofeedback, biofeedback, Optimal Functioning and Positive Psychology. See more of his articles here and, older ones, here.
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A few declarations.
-While I'm registered as a Democrat, I consider myself to be a dynamic critic of the Democratic party, just as, well, not quite as much, but almost as much as I am a critic of republicans.
-My articles express my personal opinion, not the opinion of this website.
Also, Iraq needs to heal it's own wounds, and in their own time, and by working, and rebuilding together. That is the healing journey which helps overcome the trauma...getting to work.
There has been excellent research on this, especially by 'Bessel van der Kolk, MD', a man who has done long, and extensive research on trauma, PTSD, and related...and who has a soul, and great integrity both as a physician, and person.
Our interference, and help, is not helpful to 'the people' at all. It will just cause greater Depression, and Illness, and resentment.
"The democracy won't be perfect."....I heard the speech. I give him credit only for learning how to pronounce some of the words written for him to speak, and he most likely didn't look up what they mean in the Dictionary.
Not 'perfect' like ours? His, especially?
by
Katrin R. (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 525 comments)
on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 11:27:35 PM
Republicans are always planning ahead for the next election, and the next and the next. Democrats on the other hand are perennial fall guys, chumps who always end up blindsided by Republican's underhanded tactics. For example, Bush's "surge" won't win the war in Iraq, it is only intended to postpone defeat until it can be dumped on the next president, whom Republicans have reason to believe will be a Democrat. Republicans are not stupid. They know their record of corruption and war profiteering will likely to cost them the next presidential election, but that is a slap on the wrist considering the incredible profits they have stolen for their masters.
By 2012 most Americans will have forgotten that Republicans lied us into an unwinnable, but very profitable war, and Democrats will be blamed for losing the war. Then their plutocratic masters will reward them with bountiful campaign contributions which will insure their return to power.
The best poker players know they can't win every pot, they know when to hold 'em, when to fold, and when to go All In.
by
rabblerowzer (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 227 comments)
on Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 6:50:39 AM
clean up e-voting, election money, lobbying. They have a short time-- maybe very short-- if they lose the senate due to Johnson's death or a flip to republican by LIeberman, Landrieu or anyone else. So they better work on their second hundred hours with just as much intensity. THen the third hundred. And maybe they'll clean enough shit out of the aisles of congress so a narrow path can be walked, though the stench will take a long time to clean up altogether. That will take ending corporate personhood and the corporate vultures who roost at every hallway and inside too many offices of congress.
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Rob Kall (760 articles, 3850 quicklinks, 320 diaries, 1642 comments)
on Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 6:59:24 AM
This is Bush's war, the neocon's war. I refuse to be sucked into this national sacrifice of "us, we, our" that Shrub keeps talking about to turn it into "our" war. His job, and that of the congress. is to represent "we the people", not his version of we, and it's obvious few of them are listening to the Cindy Sheenan versions of we. Soon enough we will see if the Congress has brass balls or if they've been nuetered. We'll see if the representatives that were given a mandate to get the troops out of this will have the tenacity to follow through. Critical thinking has reached a lethargic level in this country. True conservativism is long dead, so it's time for the Reagan era wave to not only peak, but crash on the rocks and fade back into the sea as the new progressive wave overtakes the madness of the past decades. It's either that or Facism is knocking at the door. It already has the proverbial foot in the door already.
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Mark Petersen (9 articles, 73 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 50 comments)
on Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 8:27:38 AM
but let's forget about Bush for a while. For us, people who live here first and foremost it has to be evident that our leadership attacked the sovereign country, killed its leader and destroyed it. After that the country fell into chaos and our people are in danger. So, it is logical to get out of it and accept that we were duped by SOBs. That's #1.
#2 is that it is not our business what the people will there do to each other. But if we here are concerned, we can deliver our concerns to the UN and legitimally ask the neighbors of that unfortunate place to take mandates over the territories. Yes, Iran too. First and foremost those people should be able to live in peace for some time and that is more important than anything else.
#3. We better now remember that Bush and Co do harm to us. They are our problem. So, let's not look at Shia or Sunni but look here. If we deal with our problem we would then a moral ground to offer help to others, those wom our goons so far had abused. But for now we have no right to do that. No right at all. And if we want security and peace we better turn the finger around: NO PLANS DEVELOPED BY BUSH CAN WORK! They can't because they are the Bush's plans.
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Mark Sashine (46 articles, 19 quicklinks, 235 diaries, 3359 comments)
on Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 9:46:23 AM
it is so obvious to me, that Bush is a 'Follower', not a 'Leader'. If he wasn't lead, his total ignorance would become manifest so blatantly...he doesn't even know what a shia is, or the difference between Iran, and Iraq. It must be embarrassing for him to have discussions with new Senate, and Congress, because he has nothing to say but 'for', or 'against'. The man is completely uneducated.
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Katrin R. (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 525 comments)
on Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 2:45:53 PM
without him, and Bush, a Democracy won't be perfect. But they can change that, and they really care. Bush should become the new President of Iraq, and show them how they can together..him, and the people...make a perfect Democracy.
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Katrin R. (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 525 comments)
on Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 6:39:29 PM
After watching Bush's address last night, I was struck by a couple of things:
1) That nice, neat college-boy haircut.
2) The pundits afterwards discussing '08 presidential candidates from both parties, and how necessary it was for them to take an "anti-war" stance to satisfy the public's view regarding Iraq.
What's the point of being an anti-war candidate for an election two years away unless you're figuring that the war will still be going on in two years? It's a sad comment on our times.
If the Dems and the new anti-war Repubs want to do something about Iraq, tighten the purse and press for impeachment of this guy. Set the example for the world that Americans are not represented by the imperialistic attitudes of this administration.
by
Angelo (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 160 comments)
on Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 2:13:55 PM
Iran fought the Taliban. They did not support it. There are distinct differences that put Taliban at loggerheads with Iran. You'll be good enough to correct that misreading. The total University attendees in Iran is ~ 70% women, Iran misogenous? That issue is more complicated than your shallow understanding.
Many around the world believe the US system to be regressive. What? You think attacking countries that pose no threat to us based on fraud and cooked intelligence is "progressive". I think not.
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bramdean (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 4 comments)
on Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 2:31:25 PM
I can barely watch Dubya anymore without physically having some type of reaction. He is such a bullshit artist that I can't figure out if he truly believes his own fantasy, or if he's just convinced that the American people are totally stupid. One thing for sure is that his administration has become the Theatre of the Absurd.
I am also fearful that he KNOWS that the American people won't take to the streets or to the airwaves or to the Internet and complain bitterly about this freakin' war and that's what gives him the impetus to get away with this.
Listen, we nearly impeached Bill Clinton for having an affair. Can you all believe any of that crap? Seriously. George Bush has broken more laws, run amok over the U.S. Constitution and has totally ignored the will of the American people and we cannot seem to demand he leave now and take his bulldog VP with him. It's up to us to determine his fate, not Nancy Pelosi. If we don't start demanding his impeachment, she'll keep it off the table. Shit, Dubya almost makes Richard Nixon look like a choir boy.
Let's get rid of this clown NOW. This country cannot wait until 2009.
