When President Bush ignored the advice of just about every active-duty and retired military officer in America and ordered the Surge™ in January 2007, he tapped General David Petraeus to carry it out. Of course, Petraeus knew what answers to give, as he had already seen what happened to uniformed officers who dared disagree with the Decider.
As the Surge™ took place, the predictions came true. Some reduction in violence in that war-torn country did occur (and then started climbing again) but the stated objective of the Surge™ - giving the largely ineffective Iraqi government breathing room to achieve some form of political consensus - mostly failed. And so now, more than a year after Bush hitched up his six-guns and ordered more Americans into the meat grinder that is Iraq, Petraeus went before Congress to report on the progress of a military maneuver that nobody in the military wanted.
To no one's surprise, their testimony revolved around a number of GOP talking points:
As planned, the war hawks seized on Petraeus' comments to beat the drums for war with Iran, preferably right now. Senator John McCain continued his tradition of being unable to tell Shi'ite Muslim from Sunni Muslim, claiming that the militantly Sunni al Qaeda is supported by the equally militantly Shi'ite Iran. And Petraeus was once again hailed as the Savior of All Things Good and Wonderful.
Of course, the people who proclaimed that Petraeus walks on water studiously ignored his act of once again kicking the Iraq can down the road. Indeed, his claim that the future of Iraq would be decided in the next six months was instantly and widely ridiculed by those who pointed out that the Iraq War has been a continual series of six-month increments. Each time, we were told this latest interval would win the war. And each time, when one "Friedman Unit" ran out another one started in its place without pause.
So the Petraeus testimony, just another redress of "stay the course," can be summed up thusly: no, we're not getting out of Iraq any time soon. In fact, we have no idea when - or even if - we'll leave. There is no real way of telling when we can withdraw, and anyone who says otherwise is a delusional soul who wants Iran to take over.
With Bush still in office and McCain essentially running for Bush's third term, there is simply no way out.
As the Surge™ took place, the predictions came true. Some reduction in violence in that war-torn country did occur (and then started climbing again) but the stated objective of the Surge™ - giving the largely ineffective Iraqi government breathing room to achieve some form of political consensus - mostly failed. And so now, more than a year after Bush hitched up his six-guns and ordered more Americans into the meat grinder that is Iraq, Petraeus went before Congress to report on the progress of a military maneuver that nobody in the military wanted.
To no one's surprise, their testimony revolved around a number of GOP talking points:
- American troops will stay in Iraq indefinitely, fighting and dying with no time-frame for pulling out.
- Whatever the question is, the correct answer is to stay the course.
- The continued American occupation of Iraq is not unconditional, but there are no conditions by which we will withdraw.
- The new Worst Enemy Ever is Iran, which is guilty of "nefarious activities" and "malign...influence" in Iraq.
- Any discussion of withdrawing from Iraq should be put off for another six months or so.
As planned, the war hawks seized on Petraeus' comments to beat the drums for war with Iran, preferably right now. Senator John McCain continued his tradition of being unable to tell Shi'ite Muslim from Sunni Muslim, claiming that the militantly Sunni al Qaeda is supported by the equally militantly Shi'ite Iran. And Petraeus was once again hailed as the Savior of All Things Good and Wonderful.
Of course, the people who proclaimed that Petraeus walks on water studiously ignored his act of once again kicking the Iraq can down the road. Indeed, his claim that the future of Iraq would be decided in the next six months was instantly and widely ridiculed by those who pointed out that the Iraq War has been a continual series of six-month increments. Each time, we were told this latest interval would win the war. And each time, when one "Friedman Unit" ran out another one started in its place without pause.
So the Petraeus testimony, just another redress of "stay the course," can be summed up thusly: no, we're not getting out of Iraq any time soon. In fact, we have no idea when - or even if - we'll leave. There is no real way of telling when we can withdraw, and anyone who says otherwise is a delusional soul who wants Iran to take over.
With Bush still in office and McCain essentially running for Bush's third term, there is simply no way out.
No comments:
Post a Comment