"Winning" in Iraq and losing faith in America

Mr. Bush insists on "winning" his war of choice.  He fails to understand that ending the war is the only way to win the peace.  His surrender to war-profiteering can only hurt this nation.  tmf

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"The 'Active Army is about broken,' Powell said."  But Powell's comments require some context...  he, like the study group, ignores the elephant.

 The United States of America is "about broken."

We are losing in Iraq, because we do not know what it is we are supposed to "win."
It is good that Powell has weighed in. It was also useful for the George Herbert Walker Bush Iraq Study Group to weigh in. Even Senator Gordon Smith's belated "awakening" was a useful wake-up call. But in the midst of these studies, assessments, and attempts at revisionism... we need to pay closer attention to the facts on the ground.

We are "winning"  according to the Bush agenda.  But is it worth the price?

1. Why did we invade Iraq?
a. George hears voices in his head.
b. George's father's friends wanted to control
     oil resources with military bases in Iraq.
c. So the Bush family and their friends can make money.

2. Why are we occupying Iraq?
a. Because God told George to do it.
b. To enforce no-bid, cost-plus contracts.
c. So the Bush family and their friends can make money.
     (including the Bin Laden family and other Saudi Royalty.

3. When and how can we leave?
a. When God tells George it is OK.
b. When we are sure that the no-bid, cost-plus contracts are enforceable, and that
     "privatized" Iraqi oil rights are secured by transnational cartels.
c. When we are certain that Bush, Cheney, and their ilk (Bechtel, Halliburton et al...)
    control Iraqi natural resources and profit from that control.

Are these goals achievable? Hmmm...

a. It depends on what voices George hears next.
b. An unending corporate occupation of Iraq will be expensive, lethal, and
     counterproductive, but as long as Americans remain willing to sacrifice ethics and
     lives for the corporate bottom line...   Yes... we can continue to exploit our position.
c. Everything so far is going according to plan: Long-term bases are under
    construction.  Saudi Arabia has signed onto the Bush agenda, and so far, the
    American people are willing to sacrifice fiscal responsibility, national security,
    international reputation, and American lives so that Bush and his "base"
.... can make money at our expense.

No response from the right-wing extreme?   Not surprising. They don't really want to talk about it. Easier to change the subject, offer false choices, distract people, lie, cheat,  steal, and betray our ethics, values, and nation.

It's wake-up time.   We must demand accountability: rebid, redeploy, and
begin reconstruction of Iraq, our infrastructure, and our credibility.

Impeachment, removal, prosecution, and a return to the rule of law and constitutional
supremacy is in order. Sooner, rather than later.

We have a lot at stake, it is time to face facts.
Studied ignorance is not working.

Who is winning?                       Bush and his ilk are winning.
What are we losing?                We are losing everything that makes America strong.
Are ethics "situational?"          Ethics are not situational.
Do real values matter?            Our values define who we are.
 

We know the right questions by now, and cannot avoid the answer.
It's time to do the right thing.

Tim
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