Surge.
The Bush administration is split over the idea of a surge in troops to Iraq, with White House officials aggressively promoting the concept over the unanimous disagreement of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to U.S. officials familiar with the intense debate.
Surge.
Proposed by a handful of retired generals, pushed internally by officials in the National Security Council, and advocated in public by Sen. John McCain, the “surge” has become the hot tactical idea of the season. The debate over a surge is now under way — both about how big to make it and about whether to do it at all. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said over the weekend that he was not convinced a surge in troops would work, while Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said his party would support a limited, short-term jump in troop levels.
Surge!
Here’s an idea: Let’s send more U.S. troops to Iraq. The generals say it’s way too late to even think about resurrecting Colin Powell’s “overwhelming force” doctrine, so let’s send over a modest “surge” in troop strength that has almost no chance of making any difference — except in the casualty count. Oh, and let’s not give these soldiers and Marines any sort of well-defined mission. Let’s just send them out into the bloody chaos of Baghdad and the deadly badlands of Anbar province with orders not to come back until they “get the job done.”
I don’t know about you, but that strikes me as a terrible idea, arguably the worst imaginable “way forward” in Iraq. So of course this seems to be where George W. Bush is headed.
The airwaves are filled with talk of a surge. What does the term mean or more accurately, what will it mean for our troops, their families, their friends, and for our country. Perhaps we might consider the significance of a surge for those living and dying in Iraq. After all, that nation and its people that will feel the greatest impact. Nevertheless, we do not or at least our President does not. He has his own mission.
Typically, when we speak of a surge, we are referring to electrical power systems, not administrative antics. However, this is a New World and the Order differs. An aggressive attack is termed “spreading democracy.” A brutal “regime change” is now righteous. A few rapidly fleeing allies are considered a “broad coalition.” Innocent civilians are killed routinely and the public is told they are merely collateral damage. Doublespeak seems too much in recent years.
Since the war in Iraq began, Americans are unsure whether they are coming or going, winning or losing. Perchance they are merely locked in. We were told we broke it; we need to fix it. Reluctantly Americans decided to do so.
In frustration, voters in the United States voiced their concern. They expressed their distress and requested a return of the troops. The Iraq Study Commission declared there is no hope. We cannot stay the course; a win is not in our future. We must seek alternatives. Diplomacy is the best option.
However, the President is unwilling to push back. He only wants to move “forward.” Thus, the planned surge!
Many disagree with the “decider;” yet, he presses on.
President Bush said today that the United States should expand the size of its armed forces, acknowledging that the military has been strained by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and would need to grow to cope with what he suggested would be a long battle against Islamic extremism. “I’m inclined to believe it’s important and necessary to do,” Mr. Bush said. “The reason why is, it is a accurate reflection that this ideological war we’re in is going to last for a while, and that we’re going to need a military that’s capable of being able to sustain our efforts and help us achieve peace.”
As the President speaks we can only accept, this man is proud of his ignorance, or “mindful” of his decision to ignore the polls. The Iraq Study Group gave him no reason to pause. Military advisors that disagree with his plan did not sway him. Mr. Bush, a man unfamiliar with battle, is our Commander-In-Chief. We must acknowledge this.
The people of this nation [supposedly] elected George W. Bush. He is our leader. However, in our heart of hearts we know to our core, he does not represent us [the United States of America.] Still, we are stuck. He is the “decider.” He has determined death and destruction are best. Peace be with us all as we power up and surge on.
Peruse the power surge . . .
Betsy L. Angert
BeThink.org
