An historic victory

Speaking at the Pentagon yesterday, Bush reaffirmed his commitment to the US occupation of Iraq. Withdrawing US forces from Iraq, he said, would let “terrorists claim an historic victory over the United States.”

“The only way the terrorists can win is if we lose our nerve and abandon the mission. For the safety and security of the American people, that’s not going to happen on my watch,” he said.

But actually, that’s not the only way the “terrorists” can win. Ironically, Bush has put the “terrorists” in a win-win situation. For sure, if America retreats, it will look weak and ineffectual. This will be a great loss for America, and an equally significant gain for its enemies.

On the other hand, while America remains in Iraq, its reputation crumbles, its enemies multiply, its resources are depleted, its debt climbs, its “best and brightest” die in vain while Bush and his cronies reap enormous profits.

This is clearly a loss for America, even if it benefits Bush and his ilk.

Equally, it benefits America’s enemies, rivals and competitors.

Whether by coincidence or design, the Bush-Cheney agenda has reaped immense personal benefit for a select few at home, while the power and prestige of America abroad has dramatically declined.

Bush is the one who has given the so-called terrorists the opportunity to benefit from Americas trouble in Iraq, and he is the one who has left America with no alternative but to eventually leave Iraq, stained with humiliation and defeat.

With each passing day and every brutal killing, the role of the US in Iraq is questioned anew, their motives and objectives are reconsidered, the outcome is queried, strategy is scrutinized, tactics are criticized, principles are compromised, credibility is strained and trust is frayed.

Every day, the task gets harder, the resistance grows stronger, the losses accumulate, the costs rise, the opposition gets louder, the leadership loses direction, the rhetoric becomes repetitive, the assurances ring hollow, the killing continues, the grieving mounts, anger rises and Bush shrugs.

Bush doesn’t care, he doesn’t get it, he’s useless, incompetent, immoral and corrupt. He is a liar and a cheat, a mass murdering warmonger who has dragged his country into the mire of Middle Eastern conflict for secret reasons and personal advantage.

When America finally wakes up to the reality of what Bush has done, it will be shocked at how badly its system of government has failed to protect itself, its constitution and its people from the sort of criminality that pervades the Bush-Cheney regime.