President Bush on Iraq: Dithering, Confused, Deaf to Solutions
"At least 112 people were killed nationwide, following a week that had already seen hundreds of deaths," noted AP yesterday, which also reported:
"... gunmen kidnapped Iraq's deputy health minister from his home in northern Baghdad, the Iraqi army and police reported... Al-Saffar was snatched nearly a week after dozens of suspected Shiite militia gunmen in police uniforms kidnapped scores of people from a Ministry of Higher Education office in Baghdad."
And in a November 18, 2006 editorial entitled "Close to Collapse in Iraq" , the Los Angeles Times wrote:
"The fig leaf that Iraq has a fledgling but functioning government that stands between its sectarian strife and full-scale civil war was blown away in a raging political storm this week.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), the Republican frontrunner for the 2008 presidential race, wants the US to send more troops to Iraq.
Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), incoming chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, believes that "troop withdrawals must begin within four to six months."
And Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), incoming chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, commented that he hopes the Baker Commission on Iraq will "assert that U.S. troop commitments are not open-ended; propose a clear political road map for Iraq; and recommend engaging Iraq's neighbors in a political and diplomatic solution."
You may not like Iraq proposals set forth by various senators or the Baker Commission, but at least they have plans and ideas. At least they're providing leadership and have a vision.
The President Dithers and Is Confused
More than 3 years after he led the US to attack and invade Iraq, the President is genuinely confused about his next course of action in Iraq.
AP reports today from Indonesia that Mr. Bush commented that "he hasn't decided whether to send more troops to Iraq or begin bringing them home."
It's no wonder a huge majority of this country is disappointed in President Bush's leadership. He provides none. He gets confused or he stubbornly doesn't like the inevitable answers... so he ignores the situation and he dithers.
Meanwhile, more US soldiers and contractors die and are radically injured. More Iraqi soldiers and civilians die. More families are shattered as their loved ones are killed or maimed.
And still, the President blithely, easily ignores advice from all quarters.
The President will celebrate Thanksgiving with his family as if the world is just fine. Because his insular world IS fine.
The Iraq War is a mess because President Bush's Iraq strategy is a mess. And yet, people continue to die while he dithers and enjoys holiday turkey and pumpkin pie...
Related Reading
Iraq War Statistics & Results as of November 15, 2006
Baker Commission Explained, by Keith Porter, About.com's Guide to Globalization
Comments
“The Iraq War is a mess because President Bush’s Iraq strategy is a mess. And yet, people continue to die while he dithers and enjoys holiday turkey and pumpkin pie…”
Because the liberal exit strategy is soooo mcuh better then anything we have heard before. You people dont have a clue for what you want to do. You believe all the bad that you hear but do you ever hear good. Ive been there and there is good happening over there. Unfortunately this is an instant gratification type country and I dont think America will be giving Iraq a chance and thats a sad thing because like I said, good things are happening over there.