General Petraeus, the point (sales) man on the Bush administration troop “surge” in Iraq, is now predicting that he will call for a reduction in troops in the fall. How this plan differs from providing a “timetable for surrender”, as this administration has characterized other calls for reductions, is not clear.
The timing is especially odd, since the General is also predicting that an upsurge in violence will force a delay in the Iraqi elections. But the timing is simply perfect for the US elections!
The General didn't get to be a General without knowing how careers and reputations are made. Petraeus is scheduled to turn over his honcho-chief title to a new guy in several months. If things fall apart when the troops come home, then the next guy blew it. If things work out, then the General fixed the mess. He cannot lose! If only the war planning were as solid as the career planning.
But let's not look a gift camel in the mouth. Let's take the reduction and keep 'em coming home.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Black, White, and 'Red'
Barack Obama was inducted today into the Crow native American nation and given a name that means "one who helps all people of this land". Apparently “all the people of this land” includes its original owners. "Barack Black Eagle" should be patriotic enough for any johnny-come-latelies. "Now that I'm a member of the family I won't break my commitment to my brothers and sisters", said Obama. This man really can bring us together, yes, he can.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Protracted Wars, Prolonged Deceptions
"The first casualty of War is Truth" - author disputed, truth indisputable
Bush used the occasion of Israel’s 60th birthday to accuse unnamed ‘others’, widely assumed to be Obama, of appeasing terrorists. In Bush’s confused, twisted mind, feeling trumps thinking, posturing beats leading, contrary facts cannot challenge beliefs, and discussion is surrender.
McCain promptly added his own layer of deception. In McCain’s confused, twisted history, Iran released the American hostages on Reagan’s inaugural day because Reagan was strong and Carter was an appeaser. The illogic of this assertion is only apparent if you think (bad) instead of simply believing (good).
In fact, Iran was obviously currying favor with the Reagan administration. That favor was returned when Reagan administration broke American law to sell arms, secretly, to Iran in order to buy arms, secretly, for the Nicaraguan contras. A little further back, Henry Kissinger used 'back channel' (i.e., secret) communications with the South Vietnamese leaders to stymie the Vietnam peace negotiations, where even a hint of progress would’ve probably led to a Humphrey victory over Nixon. These Republicans went way beyond appeasement. I dare call it treason.
Bush used the occasion of Israel’s 60th birthday to accuse unnamed ‘others’, widely assumed to be Obama, of appeasing terrorists. In Bush’s confused, twisted mind, feeling trumps thinking, posturing beats leading, contrary facts cannot challenge beliefs, and discussion is surrender.
McCain promptly added his own layer of deception. In McCain’s confused, twisted history, Iran released the American hostages on Reagan’s inaugural day because Reagan was strong and Carter was an appeaser. The illogic of this assertion is only apparent if you think (bad) instead of simply believing (good).
In fact, Iran was obviously currying favor with the Reagan administration. That favor was returned when Reagan administration broke American law to sell arms, secretly, to Iran in order to buy arms, secretly, for the Nicaraguan contras. A little further back, Henry Kissinger used 'back channel' (i.e., secret) communications with the South Vietnamese leaders to stymie the Vietnam peace negotiations, where even a hint of progress would’ve probably led to a Humphrey victory over Nixon. These Republicans went way beyond appeasement. I dare call it treason.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
