Some Thoughts II

1 – “Winning in Iraq”

According to an Associated Press report, “President Bush, campaigning aggressively ahead of the high-stakes Nov. 7 elections, said Saturday Democrats should not be trusted to control Congress because they have no idea how to win in Iraq.”

The AP article continued, quoting Bush, "’It's a hard fight,’ the president said of Iraq. ‘And we've got a lot of brave citizens of ours in the midst of the fight. But we have a plan for victory.’"

Really, Mr. President, you “have a plan for victory in Iraq.” Well, then I wish you’d share it with us, because it certainly isn’t apparent to me, nor I suggest to millions of other Americans, nor I’d further suggest to the millions of Iraqis who have to live day-to-day in the life-threatening chaos your bungled war has created for them. Perhaps it’s “Stay the course,” which I now understand you’re disavowing because most of us seem to have figured out it was nothing but an empty political slogan.

The AP article further quoted Bush as telling the audience, "’Five years after September the 11th, too many Democrats still do not get it,’ Bush said. ‘The best way to protect the homeland is to find the enemy and defeat them overseas.’"

Ah yes, as you always do, you fall back on your favorite Big Lie, that the Iraq war “is central to the war on terrorism.” What’s happening in Iraq is a civil war that has almost nothing to do with al Qaeda. What’s happening in Iraq is about revenge, it is the folks who were once “out” under Sadam now getting back at those who were “in.” What’s happening now in Iraq is about who is going to control Iraq’s wealth (the oil fields) in the future. If anything, the war in Iraq is a distraction from the real war on terrorism, not central to it.

#2 – Protecting Our Freedoms

The reports persist on the liberal blogs of a pattern of censorship by the U.S. military of Internet sites accessed by troops stationed in Iraq. Surprise, surprise! Conservatives blogs that support Bush get through just fine, while blogs that are critical apparently get this not-so-subtle warning flashed on the screen: “ALL SITES YOU VISIT ARE LOGGED AND FILED.”

Controlling what our people can access on the Interent… Let’s see, like Iran does, like China does, like North Korea does. All stalwarts of democracy.

So, tell me again which freedoms our troops are fighting to protect in Iraq. Apparently it’s not freedom of inquiry or freedom of thought.