Moving the Site

In order to begin the pursuit of a Congressional race, I am moving the blog to Northingon '08. This site and its posts will be archived to remain available. Thanks for visiting. See you at the new site.

The Failing Surge

Despite the slight drop in American deaths in Iraq during July, the month remains the worst July since the invasion. August is off to a bad start already with American deaths averaging nearly 3 per day. We see reports in the news of shortages of drinking water at a time when temperatures are at a peak. Electricity production remains far below pre-invasion levels. And now the Kurds in northern Iraq are planning their own oil control in apparent frustration over the failure of the central government to make any progress toward a better resolution.

In spite of all the evidence to the contrary Bush and his administration continue to claim success for the surge in Iraq. What price success? How many more Americans must die before our country recognizes the failure and begins withdrawal? What is an American presence offering to the benefit of the Iraqi people? We must leave Iraq as soon as possible lest the cost to America be one too great to pay.

A Timetable for Withdrawal from Iraq is Necessary

Democrats in the Congress are as divided in some ways as the American public seems to be. Many Democrats in Congress wish to see a withdrawal date as part of any ongoing Iraq resolutions. Republicans are resolute in opposing any such defined date. House Speaker Pelosi has turned her direction toward the Republican side in opposition to her colleagues in an apparent bid to compromise A bill in the House would order Presiden Bush to formulate a plan to redeploy American troops within 2 months of the bill’s passage. Many House Democrats wish to see such a bill passed but with the provision of a withdrawal date.

Turning away from a defined date for leaving Iraq is a failing course on so many levels. The United States can ill afford to continue either the monetary or the human costs of the occupation. American put more than 100,000 troops into Iraq in less than 6 weeks at the time of the invasion. We should be able to withdraw at least as quickly. The time is here to set a timetable for full and complete withdrawal from Iraq. The country is suffering a slow and painful death from a million cuts as we remain mired in Iraq. We must end the war and withdraw now.

Poor Performing President

The local newspaper has a letter to the editor asking people to support the President. The writer puts forth a view that he would be doing a better job if only the Democrats would stop their collective foot dragging.

I beg to differ. The President is doing a very fine job of running our country right into the ground without support from any of us on the Democrat side. President Bush and a Republican controlled Congress led the country to invade Iraq on the basis of contrived evidence. Even the President has admitted there was no connection between Iraq and 9/11. Our continuing occupation of Iraq is a monetary and people drain the country cannot afford and certainly cannot sustain.

Dissent is a high form of patriotism. Without dissent and the allowance of such we would have a full dictatorship. I submit the President would be much better advised to listen to the voice of the people instead of the voices of the sycophants surrounding him in Washington. Maybe then we could restore our country to its rightful place in the world as a leader instead of an example of moral turpitude.