Winning
"However they put it, the Democrat approach in Iraq comes down to this: The terrorists win and America loses" President Bush declared Monday in Statesboro, GA.
The Republican strategy this week has been to repeatedly pose a question of Democrats: "Answer yes or no: Do you have a plan for victory in Iraq?". The question appears innocent, but is a game, just like the age-old, "Answer yes or no: Have you stopped beating your wife?"
The difficulty the answerer experiences in answering the wife-beating question is that the entire question is based on an incorrect assumption. The Iraqi war question is also based on assumptions inquirers will not admit exist.
The first assumption is the definition of victory. We may very well find that the President's definition of the word "victory" as it pertains to Iraq is different than our own. When you keep the details of your victory plan a secret, if something doesn't quite work out, it's easy to go back and rationalize it as part of your plan. A presidential, "I meant to do that", as it were.
The second assumption is that victory is possible. Given the reports of record numbers of civilian deaths as well as the fourth highest month of military casualties in Iraq, the escalating violence does not appear to indicate that progress is being made. Retired generals are, more and more, speaking out against the current Administration's conduct of the war. Under the current circumstances, and given that the US has stretched its resources to the breaking point already, the biggest victory might be to quit providing more weapons for insurgents to steal.
What truly matters is not whether or not the Democrats can answer a trick question. What matters is the fact that none of Bush's secret plans have worked. His plans have created more terrorists when he began the war. The fact remains that Al Qaida was not in Iraq in substantial numbers before we invaded. In terms of terror, they have only had successes in Iraq.
And, speaking of successes, where is Osama Bin Laden? Why has his terrorist network only grown in strength while the Administration pats itself on the back for foiling an internet terrorist plot to blow up a nonexistent football stadium?
You tell us that if we elect the Democrats, America loses and the terrorists win. We ask you now, Mr. Bush: When have the terrorists actually lost under your regime?
The Republican strategy this week has been to repeatedly pose a question of Democrats: "Answer yes or no: Do you have a plan for victory in Iraq?". The question appears innocent, but is a game, just like the age-old, "Answer yes or no: Have you stopped beating your wife?"
The difficulty the answerer experiences in answering the wife-beating question is that the entire question is based on an incorrect assumption. The Iraqi war question is also based on assumptions inquirers will not admit exist.
The first assumption is the definition of victory. We may very well find that the President's definition of the word "victory" as it pertains to Iraq is different than our own. When you keep the details of your victory plan a secret, if something doesn't quite work out, it's easy to go back and rationalize it as part of your plan. A presidential, "I meant to do that", as it were.
The second assumption is that victory is possible. Given the reports of record numbers of civilian deaths as well as the fourth highest month of military casualties in Iraq, the escalating violence does not appear to indicate that progress is being made. Retired generals are, more and more, speaking out against the current Administration's conduct of the war. Under the current circumstances, and given that the US has stretched its resources to the breaking point already, the biggest victory might be to quit providing more weapons for insurgents to steal.
What truly matters is not whether or not the Democrats can answer a trick question. What matters is the fact that none of Bush's secret plans have worked. His plans have created more terrorists when he began the war. The fact remains that Al Qaida was not in Iraq in substantial numbers before we invaded. In terms of terror, they have only had successes in Iraq.
And, speaking of successes, where is Osama Bin Laden? Why has his terrorist network only grown in strength while the Administration pats itself on the back for foiling an internet terrorist plot to blow up a nonexistent football stadium?
You tell us that if we elect the Democrats, America loses and the terrorists win. We ask you now, Mr. Bush: When have the terrorists actually lost under your regime?
posted by Lurkitty at 7:12 PM
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