White House Victory?
Dear editor:
There must be celebrations going on in the White House now that the Iraq War spending bill has passed both houses of Congress and the president has stared down those “cut and run” Democrats who wanted to put timelines for our troops to leave Iraq into the legislation. Of course the victory shows the power of the bully pulpit that Mr. Bush has with vetoes that cannot be overturned by the slim margin that the majority Democrats have in both houses. But what kind of a victory is it, and who outside of the administration is really celebrating?
This victory will see a “surge” in American troops killed over the current (and rapidly increasing) 3,438, and wounding over 25,400. And there is no end in sight. The president said in a news conference that August will be a very bad month for American casualties. The first five months of the year haven’t been any better (through May 25th) with a total of 430 killed as compared to 293 war deaths for the same period last year. Every month this year has seen greater losses among our troops as compared to last year. This is victory?
And the American people aren’t celebrating. According to the newest Times/CBS poll taken this week, a majority, 76% (including 51% Republicans) say additional troops sent to Iraq this year either have had no impact or are making things worse. 63% say the United States should set a date for withdrawing our troops sometime in 2008. 61% say the country should never have gone into Iraq in the first place.
As for Mr. Bush’s performance, the numbers show the same trend. 23% approve of his handling the situation in Iraq and 72% disapprove. His campaign against terrorism? 52% disapprove.
But these numbers don’t mean anything to “W” or his small cadre of hard core war hawks. The words of President Abraham Lincoln, well known to every school child in America, evidently have not made it into the White House thinking. Remember? “Of the people, by the people and for the people.” Mr. Bush should try to appreciate those ten meaningful words and stop this meaningless killing.
There must be celebrations going on in the White House now that the Iraq War spending bill has passed both houses of Congress and the president has stared down those “cut and run” Democrats who wanted to put timelines for our troops to leave Iraq into the legislation. Of course the victory shows the power of the bully pulpit that Mr. Bush has with vetoes that cannot be overturned by the slim margin that the majority Democrats have in both houses. But what kind of a victory is it, and who outside of the administration is really celebrating?
This victory will see a “surge” in American troops killed over the current (and rapidly increasing) 3,438, and wounding over 25,400. And there is no end in sight. The president said in a news conference that August will be a very bad month for American casualties. The first five months of the year haven’t been any better (through May 25th) with a total of 430 killed as compared to 293 war deaths for the same period last year. Every month this year has seen greater losses among our troops as compared to last year. This is victory?
And the American people aren’t celebrating. According to the newest Times/CBS poll taken this week, a majority, 76% (including 51% Republicans) say additional troops sent to Iraq this year either have had no impact or are making things worse. 63% say the United States should set a date for withdrawing our troops sometime in 2008. 61% say the country should never have gone into Iraq in the first place.
As for Mr. Bush’s performance, the numbers show the same trend. 23% approve of his handling the situation in Iraq and 72% disapprove. His campaign against terrorism? 52% disapprove.
But these numbers don’t mean anything to “W” or his small cadre of hard core war hawks. The words of President Abraham Lincoln, well known to every school child in America, evidently have not made it into the White House thinking. Remember? “Of the people, by the people and for the people.” Mr. Bush should try to appreciate those ten meaningful words and stop this meaningless killing.
posted by Sam Schoolsky | 7:22 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home