There is just no other way to explain it. Arrogance? Sometimes, but not always. Stupidity? Maybe, but nobody, let alone a group of people who have risen to the powerful positions they occupy can be this stupid. Greed? Sure, but there are so many other egregious acts that don’t reek of greed.
No, I think the only truly appropriate word to describe the actions of certain members at the highest levels of this administration – especially since November 7 and moreso this past week – is insanity. Because not one, not two but three stories over the past couple of days makes me believe that there is no possible other word to describe what twisted shit is going on with our “leaders”.
Not surprisingly, all three articles have a direct bearing on Iraq and the direction we are headed. The couldn’t be louder and clearer referendum on the illegal occupation of Iraq means that the voters want a big change, and a big change right now. And even now, it is still by far the most important issue on people’s minds.
Now let’s take a look at the three years too late “bold and scathing” Iraq Study Group report. One of the big recommendations was to engage in talks with Iran and Syria (bonus link from FoxNews). Another of the big recommendations was that we should draw down troops (another bonus link from FoxNews).
How popular were these two recommendations with the American public? Well, let’s just say that we are not talking about those “fringe lefty loonies” anymore:
But public opinion polls suggest the president may come under increased pressure to start withdrawing troops. The latest National Public Radio poll found that 47 per cent of Americans strongly favoured starting to withdraw troops over the next seven months, even though 44 per cent of those polled believed it would make Iraq less stable.
Nearly half of Americans polled what a withdrawal to start within seven months. Let me repeat that for you: NEARLY HALF OF AMERICANS POLLED.
What about engaging Iran and Syria? Surely, these two enemies of freedom™ – one of which is a card carrying member of the Axis Of Evil™ – don’t deserve our time, right? Well, actually….. 3/4 – 4/5 of Americans believe that it is time to get serious and talk to Syria and Iran. Over 70% of Republicans. Nearly 80% of Democrats.
Good news, no, GREAT news, right?
Not so fast….cuz Condi and Georgie know better. You know, Georgie can feel it in his gut. The Decider. Plus, those people on the ISG are daddy’s friends and are only out to make him look bad. So, fuck em. And Condi. She has lots of degrees. She is a doctor. She is so adept at foreign policy that her big speech that she was going to give on September 11, 2001 was all about the biggest security issue to America – missile defense. Yup. These two know best. And oh boy, we are in deep doo-doo.
From yesterdays Washington Post: Rice Rejects Overture to Iran and Syria:
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday rejected a bipartisan panel’s recommendation that the United States seek the help of Syria and Iran in Iraq, saying the “compensation” required by any deal might be too high. She argued that neither country should need incentives to foster stability in Iraq.
“If they have an interest in a stable Iraq, they will do it anyway,” Rice said in a wide-ranging interview with Washington Post reporters and editors.
“They will do it anyway”? What the hell is that? I think we saw how “cowboy diplomacy” has worked out so far in the Middle East. Or the rest of the world for that matter. Um, Condi – do I need to remind you who pays your salary?
As for the Decider – he “decides” to take the advice of his newest also-insane bestest friend, John McCain, and add 20,000 troops to Iraq:
The Bush administration is leaning toward temporarily sending as many as 20,000 additional U.S. troops to Iraq, even as the Democrats taking charge of Congress demand a drawdown of forces.
U.S. officials say the increase is needed to make a new push to stabilize Baghdad and to bolster efforts to train the Iraqi army. The emerging plan is facing opposition from Iraqi officials adamant that more U.S. forces aren’t the answer. U.S. military commanders in Baghdad have drawn up plans for the country that don’t require any new personnel. The debate over whether to send additional U.S. forces to Iraq is the most visible manifestation of the high-level tumult roiling the Bush administration as it works to find a way forward there ahead of a presidential address to the nation early next year.
(scratching head quizzically…..)
20,000 troops? Isn’t that just a wee bit like putting a band aid on a shotgun blast wound? Seriously – if you want to talk about increasing troops in Iraq, at least don’t be a total pandering failure ass covering hypocrite and call for the right amount of troops. You know, something like, oh, 300,000 more. Otherwise, you’re just sentencing another 20,000 of our children, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers and friends to a criminally negligent death sentence. Or a lifetime of PTSD. Or maybe a debilitating injury.
All because of lies.
But the most insane of the three stories is the one relating to the two men who are arguably the most responsible for the horrible situation this country and world is in right now. Yesterday, Bush and Cheney were at a ceremony honoring Rumsfeld for his service.
And even with the overwhelming disaster in Iraq – even with the overwhelming number of people around the world, and right here in America who would piss on the graves of these three men if they ever got the chance – they live in an alternate reality. Because here is a man – Rumsfeld – who everyone except Mrs. Rumsfeld and Bush himself wanted out of a job, and you would think that he had actually saved the world instead of singlehandedly nearly destroying it.
President Bush called Mr. Rumsfeld “one of America’s most skilled, energetic and dedicated public servants.”
—snip—
“I’ve never worked harder for a boss and I’ve never learned more from one, either,” said Vice President Dick Cheney, who began his career in politics as an intern for Mr. Rumsfeld in 1969.
Mr. Cheney praised Mr. Rumsfeld as a man with “near perfect recall.
speechless….can’t even come up with a smart ass comment…
It takes skill to have this much incompetence, deviousness, stubbornness, arrogance, greed, stupidity and gall. Lots of skill. But they aren’t this smart either. That is why the only explanation is that they are insane. The whole lot of ‘em.
May God bless help us all.