GANG AFT A-GLEY
It was a beautiful setup. Four different speeches in 2 weeks; some before military or right wing think tank audiences and then some before mixed audiences, something he hasn’t done for some time. In these speeches President Bush admits to some problems that are already well documented, like the poor intelligence about the missing weapons of mass destruction, but not about twisting or cherry picking the intelligence. And the fact that things have not gone as well as he would have liked them to have gone. And yes, for these things, as Commander in Chief, he accepts responsibility. He also, for the first time, gives an estimated figure for the number of Iraqis killed, albeit a probable lowball of 30,000. (30,000 is an approximate figure for all Iraqi’s lost, including civilians, since the U.S. invasion. This figure is one that is being maintained by a group that operates a web site: Body Count Web Page) Boy, he is really saying something new and significant here.
On Sunday, December 11, all the kings horses and all the kings men (and women) spread out on the talk shows. Oooh, where is Dick Chaney? Back in his bunker at an undisclosed location after his brief outing didn’t go too well the week before? And this week Jack Murtha is an honorable man! He is just wrong in this case. Nice recovery for the “coward” who was just recently described as part of the crazy Michael More radical left wing fringe element of the defeatist liberal Democratic Party.
Next, President Bush gives three interviews, one each to three different “respected” TV news anchors/journalists; Brian Williams of NBC, Brit Hume of Fox, and Jim Lehrer of PBS. The last time I saw softballs like those being thrown around, I was 14 years old and I was playing in a pick-up game in the Catskill Mountains. Once again it sounds like a new Bush speaking; one who is more available, candid, honest and direct with his constituents. What could possibly follow this?
Bush’s message is that after 9/11 everything changed and Iraq is the center for the war on terrorism. He says it is there that we have to fight the enemy rather than wait for them to attack us and fight them here. He again insinuates the false connection between Iraq and 9/11 in a subtle manner by claiming that al Zaqawi and “the terrorists in Iraq share the ideology of the terrorists who struck the United States on September 11.” ... “If we were not fighting and destroying this enemy in Iraq, they would not be leading quiet lives as good citizens.” He does not mention that before 9/11 and our invasion, Iraq was not in the business of supporting al Qaeda in any form.
He criticizes his critics for running from the fight when it gets tough. He reminds us that his critics voted to authorize the war and then continues to dissemble by saying that they all had access to the same intelligence that he had when they so voted.
The balance of Bush’s message emphasizes that he is a strong and resolute leader who will not back down and that “victory” in Iraq is his goal. He states that a “free and democratic Iraq is vital to our security.” He will not entertain the notion of pulling out of Iraq until Iraq has a stable government and is able to defend itself against insurgents and external enemies. “When Iraqi troops stand up, then we will stand down.” No timetable. Sound familiar?
When the latest polls came out earlier this week, the President’s approval rating among American’s supporting the war had risen 2 percentage points. Not great, but it does stop the slide and the coup de grace was yet to come! The election in Iraq.
Prior to the election all indications were that the election would be able to be presented as a success. It was forecast that the Sunni population would be out voting in great numbers this time. And viola! Record turnout. And in addition, minimum violence. Iraqis celebrate. General Casey talks about reduction of troops. (The reduction of troops after the elections in Iraq were planned well in advance, since before the pre-election military buildup, of about 30,000.)
The setup is complete. Bush has portrayed himself as positive, strong, with a plan in Iraq that is showing signs of working and ready to announce some troop withdrawals. Bush is looking good! It is the morning after the election and as the sun rises in the East (coast of the US) the New York Times reports on page 1:
“Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts”
The implications of all of the above? Well, the congress has been considering the reauthorization of the patriot act. There are some 16 provisions that are to expire on 12/31. Among these are those provisions that have been under the most scrutiny for being too intrusive, such as the Sneak and Peek provisions. There was a supposed agreement reached by a joint House Senate committee. However by the time the modifications reached the floor of the Senate, it was not what was expected and the Democrats began to talk filibuster.
The congress is due for a holiday (Christmas for my Christian friends) break. Now the National Security Agency (NSA) spy actions by President Bush have emboldened the Senate to filibuster the bill extension. Four Republicans have joined in with all but two Democrat Senators to filibuster the extension of the bill with the modifications proposed.
Bush spent his Saturday radio address to the nation defending his action in authorizing the NSA domestic spying. In so doing he attacked the press (The New York Times) for breaking the story and damaging national security by doing so, and also attacked the congress for filibustering the Patriot Act, also on national security grounds. He self righteously blamed the congress and the press for weakening our national security while self defining what he did as legal without specifying under which law he was operating that gave him permission to listen in on private conversations without court approval.
Bush announced that tonight, Sunday, December 18, 2005 he will give a prime time TV presentation from the Oval Office. It was supposed to be the cap of a 2 week successful PR campaign where he could announce the troop withdrawal, claiming a great vitory and regaining his forward momentum. Instead it will take place in a negative atmosphere with a cloud hanging over Bush and his agenda. Bush is in a negative position on the Patriot Act, after having already caved in to John McCain and the anti torture amendment.
It appears that the American public now understands that this President would destroy our rights to equal justice under the law and the preservation of our liberties to protect us from the terrorists who are doing just that, destroying our liberties using Bush as their instrument. Our forefathers were willing to pledge their lives and their fortunes and their sacred honor to earn these rights. This President is willing to sacrifice the lives of our volunteer soldiers, the fortune of our country and everyone's sacred honor in destroying those rights.
On Sunday, December 11, all the kings horses and all the kings men (and women) spread out on the talk shows. Oooh, where is Dick Chaney? Back in his bunker at an undisclosed location after his brief outing didn’t go too well the week before? And this week Jack Murtha is an honorable man! He is just wrong in this case. Nice recovery for the “coward” who was just recently described as part of the crazy Michael More radical left wing fringe element of the defeatist liberal Democratic Party.
Next, President Bush gives three interviews, one each to three different “respected” TV news anchors/journalists; Brian Williams of NBC, Brit Hume of Fox, and Jim Lehrer of PBS. The last time I saw softballs like those being thrown around, I was 14 years old and I was playing in a pick-up game in the Catskill Mountains. Once again it sounds like a new Bush speaking; one who is more available, candid, honest and direct with his constituents. What could possibly follow this?
Bush’s message is that after 9/11 everything changed and Iraq is the center for the war on terrorism. He says it is there that we have to fight the enemy rather than wait for them to attack us and fight them here. He again insinuates the false connection between Iraq and 9/11 in a subtle manner by claiming that al Zaqawi and “the terrorists in Iraq share the ideology of the terrorists who struck the United States on September 11.” ... “If we were not fighting and destroying this enemy in Iraq, they would not be leading quiet lives as good citizens.” He does not mention that before 9/11 and our invasion, Iraq was not in the business of supporting al Qaeda in any form.
He criticizes his critics for running from the fight when it gets tough. He reminds us that his critics voted to authorize the war and then continues to dissemble by saying that they all had access to the same intelligence that he had when they so voted.
The balance of Bush’s message emphasizes that he is a strong and resolute leader who will not back down and that “victory” in Iraq is his goal. He states that a “free and democratic Iraq is vital to our security.” He will not entertain the notion of pulling out of Iraq until Iraq has a stable government and is able to defend itself against insurgents and external enemies. “When Iraqi troops stand up, then we will stand down.” No timetable. Sound familiar?
When the latest polls came out earlier this week, the President’s approval rating among American’s supporting the war had risen 2 percentage points. Not great, but it does stop the slide and the coup de grace was yet to come! The election in Iraq.
Prior to the election all indications were that the election would be able to be presented as a success. It was forecast that the Sunni population would be out voting in great numbers this time. And viola! Record turnout. And in addition, minimum violence. Iraqis celebrate. General Casey talks about reduction of troops. (The reduction of troops after the elections in Iraq were planned well in advance, since before the pre-election military buildup, of about 30,000.)
The setup is complete. Bush has portrayed himself as positive, strong, with a plan in Iraq that is showing signs of working and ready to announce some troop withdrawals. Bush is looking good! It is the morning after the election and as the sun rises in the East (coast of the US) the New York Times reports on page 1:
“Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts”
“The best laid schemes o’ mice and menPulling defeat from the jaws of victory!
Gang aft a-gley;
And leave us naught but grief and pain
For promised joy.”
Robert Burns
The implications of all of the above? Well, the congress has been considering the reauthorization of the patriot act. There are some 16 provisions that are to expire on 12/31. Among these are those provisions that have been under the most scrutiny for being too intrusive, such as the Sneak and Peek provisions. There was a supposed agreement reached by a joint House Senate committee. However by the time the modifications reached the floor of the Senate, it was not what was expected and the Democrats began to talk filibuster.
The congress is due for a holiday (Christmas for my Christian friends) break. Now the National Security Agency (NSA) spy actions by President Bush have emboldened the Senate to filibuster the bill extension. Four Republicans have joined in with all but two Democrat Senators to filibuster the extension of the bill with the modifications proposed.
Bush spent his Saturday radio address to the nation defending his action in authorizing the NSA domestic spying. In so doing he attacked the press (The New York Times) for breaking the story and damaging national security by doing so, and also attacked the congress for filibustering the Patriot Act, also on national security grounds. He self righteously blamed the congress and the press for weakening our national security while self defining what he did as legal without specifying under which law he was operating that gave him permission to listen in on private conversations without court approval.
Bush announced that tonight, Sunday, December 18, 2005 he will give a prime time TV presentation from the Oval Office. It was supposed to be the cap of a 2 week successful PR campaign where he could announce the troop withdrawal, claiming a great vitory and regaining his forward momentum. Instead it will take place in a negative atmosphere with a cloud hanging over Bush and his agenda. Bush is in a negative position on the Patriot Act, after having already caved in to John McCain and the anti torture amendment.
It appears that the American public now understands that this President would destroy our rights to equal justice under the law and the preservation of our liberties to protect us from the terrorists who are doing just that, destroying our liberties using Bush as their instrument. Our forefathers were willing to pledge their lives and their fortunes and their sacred honor to earn these rights. This President is willing to sacrifice the lives of our volunteer soldiers, the fortune of our country and everyone's sacred honor in destroying those rights.
posted by Michael | 1:19 PM
5 Comments:
You are right so why don't we do better in selecting leaders? Getting a court order would have been easy. Why didn't they do that?
We accept this because we want someone to "to protect us from the terrorists". To give us certainty and to just make it all right.
Who will we elect next and how will that decision be made?
Michael yanofsky: How can I say it that you should run for leader of the Free world.
This is anonymous Hal.You are part of the persuasive team that convinced me not to vote for Bush.
I am still concerned that what we are talking about appears to be appeasement in the face of terrorism.
Anonymous Hal, you are right. It is something to consider. I made some references to the lies that we were fed to get us into the war but I did not address how to get out of Iraq in my blog.
The problem is that we are there inappropriately. We were misled into an unnecessary war and went to war without significant world support and without proper aforethought and planning. Now we have created chaos and destabilized Iraq, setting up a fertile field from which the terrorists can operate.
The lies we were told at the outset have created a situation where it will be impossible to maintain public support for the long term and we will be forced to withdraw before we can actually stabilize the region if that is at all still possible. You have heard of not being able to walk and chew gum at the same time. Well, this administration can't walk without tripping nor chew gum without choking.
If you conclude that we will have to leave Iraq without accomplishing the mission of leaving it politically, economically, and militarily stable enough to keep it safe from being an anti American terrorist safe harbor, then the questions that have to be answered are how long should we continue the insanity of wasting the lives and able bodies of our young men and women and the financial resources of future generations before we retreat? When does commitment through strength of will become a wasteful stubbornness in the face of a losing cause?
If President Bush should succeed in his goals then he may well go down in history as one of the greatest leaders the world has ever known. >From this writer's very short view of history that are the Bush years of 2001 through 2005, the Iraq intervention will be viewed as one of the biggest blunders in world history and we should look to end the insanity as soon and as safe and feasible to do so. Rather than a victory or defeat, black or white solution, we should seek other ways of protecting ourselves from terrorism through shared sacrifice by all citizens and world wide cooperation.
--
Michael
My Blog: http://myweb-blog.blogspot.com
"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
~H. L. Mencken
Pretty good Michael. It sounds as if you have been reading The Nation and The New Yorker and watching CSPAN; keep it up.
The Bushies misuse of language is beginning to wear thin as they lose control of the game. Even deeper than the civil liberties issue, which is very, very important, is the whole idea of constitutional government and the rule of law. These guys think they can do anything they want under the cover of national security and get away with it. So far, they have. But the tide is beginning to turn, however slowly.
The threat to our system is so grave that we need to be up in arms.
Keep up the good work.
Haskel
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