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Political |
Published |
December, 2006 |
Synopsis |
Republicans respond badly to Iraq Study Group findings |
Iraq Study Group: Iraq Situation is Grave
By Al Owens
I just knew this would happen. The long awaited Iraq Study Group report would
have right wingers flying before cameras everywhere to discredit it.
Just minutes after the bipartisan group released its 140 page report on the
state of our involvement in Iraq, Bill Kristol, editor of the conservative
Weekly Standard appeared on Fox News. (He never appears on any of the other
cable news networks - and for good reason. Kristol has a great command of
Republican talking points)
“It’s not a serious report”, Kristol announced. “It’s a deeply irresponsible
report”. I had to laugh at Kristol’s characterization of a document that had
been developed through serious research by five serious-minded Republicans and
five serious-minded Democrats – statesmen and stateswoman all. I couldn’t help
thinking that the report’s conclusions just didn’t include the option of
outright victory for American troops in Iraq. So it was Kristol’s time to sulk.
The report and those who forged it claim, “The situation in Iraq is grave and
deteriorating”. That, “The Iraqi people are suffering”, and that “The ability of
the U.S. to influence events (there) is diminishing.”
In fact, the word victory doesn’t appear within the document. Something that may
have pleased Kristol and all of those un-battle tested neo-cons who think that
victory is still achievable. And maybe those weapons of mass destruction
Americans were sent to Iraq to find, can still be found.
The Study Group was comprised of people who’ve all served their country
honorably. When they came together, they traveled to Iraq, and afterwards they
spoke with 170 people in order to be objective about their findings.
I’m wondering why Kristol believes that if the 79 recommendations made by the
Study Group would be followed, they would lead us to disaster in Iraq? I have a
sneaky suspicion that some hard line right wingers may not be happy with the
findings because Democrats had already drawn many of the same conclusions a long
time ago.
Recommendations for a slow draw down of U.S. forces, and stepped up diplomacy in
the region – including with Iran and Syria, could have been lifted right out of
the Democratic pre-election playbook. In fact, one of the leaders of the Study
Group, Republican Secretary of State James Baker under Ronald Reagan, used these
words when announcing the report: “It’s time to find a new way forward, a new
approach.” Baker must have listened to too many Democratic campaign commercials.
He’s starting to sound just like them!
Tammy Bruce is a right wing feminist. Whenever she appears on TV, I watch her
just for the curious stands she takes. "I'm not sure why everybody is treating
this like the second coming", so says Bruce. I would agree! I really don’t think
that’s what the report was supposed to be. Just something that injects a little
common sense into a continuing argument that doesn’t seem to have a lot to do
with the return of Jesus Christ. Maybe Tammy Bruce was disappointed the report
didn’t reveal a miracle or two. She also mentioned on Fox News that nothing
short of calling for an all out victory in Iraq isn’t worthy of much attention.
All that Study Group suggested that, with a price tag that could reach a
trillion dollars, a military victory may not even be possible.
Oh well, I guess you just can’t please everybody. I’d suggest they form another
Study Group. one that will satisfy those hard-to-please Republicans. One that
will provide a roadmap for “victory” in Iraq – and spray the word all over the
place. One that will find the United States of America has unlimited resources
and will.
What’s that? There is already such a Study Group? It’s called the Bush
Administration? It’s been releasing its report for some time now, but nobody
seems to be paying much attention to it either?
Well, you can’t please everybody!
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