"George Bush is talking again, and I don't have a clue what he's saying. It's not that he's mangling his syntax. That's par for the course. And while it's as amusing as it is disconcerting, I usually think I know what he's trying to say (though I do confess to being stumped by "more and more of our imports are coming from overseas").
Bush is talking about Iraq, which is always confusing for those of us who like our words and facts to match. He's saying he'll "settle for nothing less than total victory". And I'm wondering: what in the world is total victory? Does it mean large numbers of American troops will stay until Iraq is a fully functioning democracy with a vibrant economy and the political will to help spread freedom across the Middle East? That could take, like, 100 years. Or does it mean that we'll stay until we stand up enough Iraqi police officers and soldiers to claim with a straight face that they can handle their own security? That could mean substantial troop reductions in time to prevent total defeat in next year's mid-term elections. I just don't know."
That's one viewpoint among many, which you can read here.
By "total victory", of course Mr. Bush means the American elections up through the next presidential election. I am used to politicians speaking from both sides of their mouths but I'm not accustomed to one speaking without his brain (well, after Dan Quayle). I think W. utilized no child left behind so that he could catch up with 4th graders.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays everyone!
Or does it mean that we'll stay until we stand up enough Iraqi police officers and soldiers to claim with a straight face that they can handle their own security?
ReplyDeleteWe will always have a military presence inside Iraq. We _are_ building permenant military bases, unfortunately.
However, if the "insurgency" (Patriots really...) organizes to the point that the Viet Kong and North Vietnamese did during our war in Vietnam, we will be forced to leave.
The American public does not want to pay to slaughter people by the score.