Good opening. Thanking the right people (our military services). GWOT reached our shores on 9/11. "Murder in the name of a totalitarian ideology... they have continued to kill." Yup."They believe we're corrupt. They are mistaken." (Well, not totally.)
"ONLY ONE COURSE OF ACTION: To defeat them abroad before they attack us at home!"
Yeah, baby!
"We are removing a source of violence and instability and establishing a foundation for peace... is the sacrifice worth it."
Well, what will you ask of us?
The bad guys in Iraq are making common cause with similar ne'er-do-wells in Libya, etc. They see the abyss.
"Among the terrorists there is no debate that Iraq is central to the War. The outcome will leave them either emboldened or defeated."
Clearer one could not be.
"They failed to stop the transfer of sovereignty."
They failed to stop the formation of OUR VANGUARD. They cannot stop the advance of freedom. "This will not happen on my watch."
"Defeat an enemy and give strength to a friend."
The VANGUARD!
Iraqi responsibility. We have made siginificant progress. THE ELECTION. They rebuild. Progress is uneven, but real.
30 nations have troops in Iraq. The UN is there. 40 countries have pledged $34 Billion for reconstruction. The Donar Countries.
Iraq is critical. Iraq is critical. Iraq is critical.
Numeber and quality of Iraqi security forces has improved. Operation Lightning. Iraqis want to be defended by their own countryment.
OUR VANGUARD. (Who are we?)
"Our strategy has both a military and a political track... As [they] stand up, we will stand down!"
Good enough. Not complicated. Nancy Pelosi take note.
"NATO is establishing a military academy near Baghdad." Yikes! THE VANGUARD!
Three new steps:
Partnering with Iraqi units.
Embedding coalition teams in Iraqi units.
Working with Iraqi ministries to manage their forces.
(See Mont Ventoux)
Deadlines serious mistake. Wrong signal to allies, our troops, and to the enemy. We need to complete the mission. More troops? If needed.
[But it's not more troops that we need.]
Emerging from tyranny into a democracy. Our VANGUARD. ("We" includes the Arab Middle East.)
Transitional National Assembly must draft a robust and fair constitution, to be ratified by the people, and will then "bind their multi-ethnic society into a democracy."
Wouldn't that be a hoot?
Libya knuckles under. Our strategy to defend ourselves and expand freedom IS WORKING. There will be tough moments that test our resolve. They don't respect sanctuary. They create chaos. They will fail to shark our will. (Probably, most of us.) We're in a confliect that demands much of us. Demands the perseverence of our citizens.
"The rise of democracy will be the ultimate ... victory. We will stay in the fight until... the fight is won."
APPLAUSE APPLAUSE
Our troops can know our people are behind them. At every outpost across the world. FLY THE FLAG.
[OK, he's finially asking something of us. Propagate it. Ring the bell. Let's get it done.]
Loss. "The best way to honor the lives that have been given in the struggle is to complete the mission." Service.
"They" are no match for the United States of America.
Well, keep banging the drum. Good start. Finally asked us for something! Don't look to PBS for relevant commentary. Ask people you know whether they think it's important enough that they're willing to give up a carefree day... or two.
(Cross-posted by Demosophist to Anticipatory Retaliation and The Jawa Report)
Posted by Demosophist at June 28, 2005 08:38 PM | TrackBackWashington now faces a no-win situation in Iraq
The Daily Star Lebanon | Patrick Seale
Beirut
America is facing the real possibility of defeat in Iraq. The insurgency is as robust and as lethal as ever. U.S. troops are overstretched and thin on the ground, while Iraqi troops are far from ready to replace them. Sectarian violence is on the rise, suggesting that civil war is just round the corner. Every day brings its terrible tale of carnage. There seems to be no safety anywhere - and certainly not in Baghdad. Iraq under American occupation is slipping into uncontrollable chaos.
This is the backdrop to the visit to Washington that took place last Friday of Iraq's new Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari. For both Jaafari and U.S. President George W. Bush, this is an exceedingly difficult moment.
What should America do? Should it leave Iraq, or should it stay? No choice has been more difficult for an American president since the Vietnam War. For the first time, a leading American politician and potential presidential candidate, Republican Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, was brave enough to say: "The White House is completely disconnected from reality The reality is, we're losing in Iraq."
Even more dangerous for the "war party" - the neoconservative cabal that pressed for war against Iraq - is that it is losing the war in the United States. American opinion is tiring of the war. According to the latest Gallop poll, 57 percent of Americans think the war is "not worth it." Members of Congress report that their constituents are getting restless. As casualties mount, the word from the grass roots is "enough is enough!" Army recruitment rates have plunged, as have Bush's approval ratings, now down to 42 percent from 51 percent after the November elections. In the House of Representatives, a bipartisan group of Democrats and Republicans are drafting a resolution calling on Bush to present a strategy for getting the U.S. out of Iraq.
Posted by: BUSH LIES - SOLDIERS DIE at June 28, 2005 09:46 PM