Thanks for your response. I think all of us tend to get a bit carried away. I try to be sincere and objective but find that I react to those who find nothing good in Bush or the US and to those who claim a tiny minority controls the world. I certainly don't want to be someone who is perceived as finding nothing good in France or the French.
I was not a Bush supporter and was actually shocked that he was successful in getting elected. However, I do feel that he is basically a decent man, sort of trapped by events, and doing what he believes is right. I won't go into my criticisms of his administration as I've done that. I also believe that Americans will continue to support him so long as critics are just critics and have no real plan or proposal. Most Americans realize that it is no cake walk, despite some misleading statements by Generals and people in the administration.
His trip to Baghdad was brave and a great morale booster. Even those who would never vote for him recognize that. (See e.g. Hillary Clinton's comments.) Yet, you have extremists here saying that he is a coward and it was all for show. Hey - there are a lot safer and easier ways for cowards to make a splash with Presidential power. (Of course, there probably will be a few posts that say Bush never went to Baghdad. It was just a movie put together by Spielberg and his brethren. <ggg>)
I am very concerned about the cleric's call. It was very smart given the political climate. It looks like he is calling for democracy and the world would react favorably. My fear is that it is just a power play to put a Shiite theocracy in power, to the detriment of the Sunnis, Kurds and minorities. It's a quandry obviously. If the US leaves too quickly, the Shiites will gain power and the result will likely be a disastrous civil war. If the US doesn't leave quickly, then the criticism continues.
Many have argued (from the right) that Saddam should be supported as being preferable to a Shiite theocracy. I see a real danger to the world in the latter but I never could see any reason for right wing support of Saddam. I do hope that somehow they are able to get moderates in power in Iraq and that the final result is something like what seems to be happening in Iran. The people generally abhor religious extremism. The problem is that zealots tend to be the loudest and carry the best weapons (in cyber and real world both <ggg>).
That's why I urge the administration to "call the bluff" of the UN as I've posted. I know readers here hate that quoted expression but I sincerely believe it. Again, I would love to be proven wrong.
I would love to see a scenario where Bush goes to the world and says, "You know we miscalculated a bit and were a bit too hasty. We had some bad intelligence and we were negligent. But our intentions were good and we have really tried to make the world a better place. We need some help here and we are willing to give up total control. We are willing to work within a military command structure that is viable."
It's easy to say - "shouldn't have invaded." However, the US does not suffer attacks well. 9/11 was an attack and it's hard for me to argue that we should sit still and do nothing. What to do is a very difficult question and obviously the administration or a future one must make these difficult decisions. What voters here do not go for are critics who just criticize. |
