To summarize:
Armed resistance continuing in Afghanistan?
"We destroyed the Taliban!" (May 2).
New foreign terrorists pouring into Iraq in the most bungled occupation in US military history?
"Bring 'em on!" (July 3).
Does the president regret trying to invade and occupy a huge country on the cheap, even after being warned by Army leaders against too small a contingent?
"We've got plenty tough force there right now!" (July 3). "We're not going to get nervous . . . we're realists in this administration" (July 3). "We will hunt them by day and by night" (July 7).
A mounting serious security threat to the lives of our troops?
"We're going to deal with it person by person" (July 11).
The sniper, bombing and other killing of Americans continues?
"The terrorist cause is lost!" (Aug. 19).
Innocent humanitarian officials from the United Nations killed? Continuing sabotage and murder in Iraq?
"We're bringing order to that country" (Aug. 26).
These long months of weirdly combining tough talk with inadequate force have not only stood on its head Theodore Roosevelt's sage advice to "speak softly and carry a big stick" but also seem almost to dare, taunt, and provoke our enemies into renewed attacks on American and British troops, friendly Jordanian officials, and supportive Iraqi police and religious authorities.
Perhaps, in order to induce other countries to send their troops to serve under an exclusive American command in Iraq, the president should promise to keep quiet. Unfortunately, on Tuesday at the United Nations the president was back at it again, declaring, "Across the Middle East, people are safer" and proclaiming that the terrorists in Iraq "will be defeated." So, do not blame the speechwriters for the president's willful, wishful prevarications. Do not blame the US military for his initial unilateralism and inadequate force. And to our critics in Europe, I have this: Do not blame the American people -- they voted for Gore.
from
boston.com
lurqer |
