Political Whispers: A Look Into Today's World of Dark Politics

NO REALISTIC WAY OUT OF IRAQ; NO MATTER HOW WE PLAY IT

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

At this point in time, it’s safe to say that Bush is certainly wishing that he had never invaded Iraq on flawed and possibly fixed intelligence in the first place. (The debate over this will most likely intensify in the months to come.)

But Bush felt that the time came for America to take the opportunity to expand its sphere of influence in the Middle East–after invading Afghanistan in October 2001 shortly after 9-11–and take out Iraq as well; by establishing a series of strategic and permanent bases in that beleaguered country from which to do…what? Spread democracy and freedom abroad in some kind of ambitious plan of American influence and power?

Possibly.

However, the whole grandiose plan fell apart more quickly than anyone had originally hypothesized. True to form, we invaded Iraq just as quickly as we did Afghanistan–but based on the fears that Saddam still was a threat to the United States somehow, and needed to be dealt with swiftly.

And just like Vietnam, we believed that both of these countries would benefit from some kind of sweeping idyllic democracy based on our own Western foundations.

Unfortunately, things didn’t come to pass in either war. In LBJ’s or the current sitting President's. Both wars fell apart more quickly than either administration had imagined; leaving both Presidents severely disillusioned that–if given enough time–things would work out for the best and we can leave on some kind of victory note. One of which would vindicate both administrations and silence those critics whom have been verbally attacking the policies upon which had led to both conflicts.

And now–32 years after Vietnam–we are basically in the same position LBJ had placed our troops in so long ago.

With the insurgency unabated in its attacks and Malaki’s government unable to stem–let alone contain–the violent attacks and secure the country, we are now faced with the all too real possibility that we will not be able to withdraw our forces for the next ten years (2016 at the latest), or even win the war militarily long enough to even constitute a significant drawdown of US forces.

Recent suggestions point to the likelihood that the Bush administration will be bogged down in serious indecision and a tug-of-war of its own as it tries to grapple with what it sees as a winnable situation. (Keep in mind that this is the Bush administration we are talking about here. Nothing proffered would faze the White House in the slightest.)

And while the administration continues to rally against those who are trying to seek an end to this failed war and those who are calling for withdrawal, events on the ground may end up forcing Bush to prematurely do what he’s accused his Democratic opponents of doing all this time: Cutting our losses and running.

After all, Bush has a legacy to think about. And a lame-duck one at that.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

posted by Schuyler Thorpe @ 7:18 PM