Never mind that thousands of Iraqi civilians and hundreds of coalition troops have died needlessly (I say needlessly, not in the sense that the war shouldn't have been fought (it shouldn't), but in the sense that the transition from Saddam's rule to the American occupation was SO mismanaged,that needless suffering and death were allowed to set up camp). Had the coalition authority listened to ordinary Iraqi outrage at the looting and anarchy at the fall of Saddam, and had sent in enough troops to establish martial law initially, there wouldn't have been the resentment or the despondency of Iraqi citizens we've seen in places like Fallujah, or Najaf, or Kosul. The world's greatest military under our illustrious Pentagon management became the world's most shamed military.
What really irks me, is that if things turn out well in Iraq (and I actually hope they do) with the new appointment of Allawi as the new [interim?] Iraqi Prime Minister, then all of the Pentagon and Bush's efforts will be seen in a very positive light. And this issue alone could be the one that pushes public opinion into approving the record of the incumbent. Now we're starting to see the makings of a government that can assume some sovereignty. Now, the truth is, as promising as this appointment is, there is still going to be a long difficult road ahead. This is by no means over.
Does it make sense for Kerry to start talking about bringing the troops home? It isn't an option I've been in favor of ever since we made the plunge, but perhaps some intimations towards that point might be Kerry's piper. It would certainly diffuse some of Nader's support. If the new Iraqi government truly begins to take shape, this issue might not seem too drastic.
The bottom line is, Bush really needs to go. And I'm not a Bush-hater. I think the man's unfaltering sense of purpose has its place in the American psyche. And Bush is very, very good at it. Unfortunately, his supporters and close aides, see so much opportunity to push their anti-America value agenda under the shield of Bush's appearance of strength and determination, that we're truly headed for a disaster. I'm not talking about terrorism, or another war (though both are extremely high in the list of probables), but about implosion of the American social-political state. We're losing the middle class, the consumers. We're losing earnings. Yes, the economy is rebounding at a great rate, but it will be short lived as consumers and the country itself, receive the credit card payment due notice. Says Cheney, "...deficits don't matter...", and an entire body of political minds are with him on that. And that's indicative of a whole slew of issues that this Administration embraces.
Please, let Bush lose public referendum, despite a victory in Iraq. America needs to be rescued from occupation, too.
