Vietnamization, redux
So how many Friedman Units (F.U.) will this take?
Bush is trying to limp the end of his reign, dump this mess on the next president and go build his library. Then the noise machine will proceed to blame the next president, because the next president could very well be a Democrat.
My crystal ball needs a needle because the old one was scratching the grooves on my records, but offhand I'd say we're just screwed. The occupation of Iraq must continue no matter the cost or result, so that our precious elites don't have to face the sickening errors they have made. They've been screwing the troops and the American people on this deal for so long they probably can't even recall what an actual democracy looks like.
A Democratic landslide next year, while some cause for hope, would be small consolation for an even worse situation in Iraq. Which is probably what we will face with the absurd choices being made in Washington, D.C. Sure, our troops do their jobs well and deserve praise and thanks, but that doesn't change internal Iraqi politics much at all.
F.U. forever!
Against the background of the latest violence, the US ambassador, Ryan Crocker, began a second round of talks on Iraq with his Iranian counterpart.It's utterly astounding the lengths to which this administration will go to avoid facing the reality of its failed Iraq occupation policy.
Meanwhile, details of a classified campaign plan drawn up by Mr Crocker and General David Petraeus, the top US commander in Iraq, emerged in the New York Times.
The plan, covering a two-year period, does not explicitly address troop levels or withdrawal schedules. It anticipates a decline in American forces as the "surge" in troops runs its course later this year or in early 2008.
None the less, it assumes continued American involvement to train soldiers, act as partners with Iraqi forces and fight terrorist groups in Iraq, American officials told the Times.
Bush is trying to limp the end of his reign, dump this mess on the next president and go build his library. Then the noise machine will proceed to blame the next president, because the next president could very well be a Democrat.
My crystal ball needs a needle because the old one was scratching the grooves on my records, but offhand I'd say we're just screwed. The occupation of Iraq must continue no matter the cost or result, so that our precious elites don't have to face the sickening errors they have made. They've been screwing the troops and the American people on this deal for so long they probably can't even recall what an actual democracy looks like.
A Democratic landslide next year, while some cause for hope, would be small consolation for an even worse situation in Iraq. Which is probably what we will face with the absurd choices being made in Washington, D.C. Sure, our troops do their jobs well and deserve praise and thanks, but that doesn't change internal Iraqi politics much at all.
F.U. forever!
