Here’s a poll question for use by any generic news giant that wants it: “Presume you could go back to March 15, 2003, as president. You have one advantage, that of hindsight. Knowing what you know now about Iraq, its people and its politics, do you give the order to invade, or do you back off?” What percentage of America would still say “Yeah, we should’ve gone?”
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There is no shortage of comparisons of Iraq to Vietnam, Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel being the latest to wag that way. Whether those comparisons are accurate or not, I couldn’t say. Far more applicable, it would appear, is that Iraq is becoming to us what Afghanistan was to the U.S.S.R.
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Let’s not sell short the prediction made two years ago by Vice President Vader, the one about our troops being greeted with flying flowers galore. That prophecy could very well come to pass one day, but with an ironic twist. It could be that the quaint vision left over from WWII will materialize, but only when we announce that we’re leaving. (But, then again, on the topic of leaving, what is one supposed to make of reports that Halliburton is now building at least 10 permanent bases in Iraq?)
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I’m guessing that when Cindy Sheehan went down to Crawford and set up Camp Casey, Our Fearless Brush-whacker did what he always does when he needs guidance. He consulted his “WWJD” bracelet. Obviously, Jesus must’ve told Dub to “just ignore the bitch and let her bake in the gutter. She’ll split soon enough.” One has to wonder what the President’s other two advisors, Card and Rove, told him when Cindy first set up camp outside the ranch.
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Henry Rollins, the old Black Flag singer/yeller, has a lively little movie show on IFC (Independent Film Channel). True to his roots, he always gives himself time for a rant or two. On a recent show, Henry opined “President Bush can’t talk about 9/11 without mentioning the word “Iraq” in the same sentence. This is shameful, misleading, manipulative and, in its way, censorship.”
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Most of our military people agree that pulling out of Iraq right now would be a disaster, that such a move would expose the Iraqis to continual violence and a likely civil war. Many Americans, even millions of those who have now become dead-set against the invasion, are swayed by these arguments. It’s important to remember, though, this fundamental reality: We’ve been wrong about a lot of things in Iraq; we’ve lied about a lot of things in Iraq; and we’ve bungled a lot of things in Iraq. So, when assessing the overall situation in your thoughtful meditations, you have to factor in the fact that the credibility of our government and military is pretty much shattered, shredded and smoked. And why exactly should anyone believe them at this time when they say … anything?