atching network news yesterday I realized how "happy talk" is still, apparently, needed to enthuse and hold an audience. After reporting briefly on the tragedy of the day in Iraq, which included five more American men felled in action and the death of dozens of Iraqis, the quick-to-smile anchor said, "But there is also good news from that country. An Australian reporter, held hostage, has been freed."
Now there are, at last, a growing number of Republican Senators and Congressmen calling for the start of troop withdrawals but not for well over a year from now. And who can foretell what the situation will be a year from now? Don't hear much mention of the role of the "coalition forces" these days. And the American public is growing saddened by the loss of lives and the thousands of injured American troops coming home. Last poll I read showed that now only some 47% approve of what we're doing.
And the question is still there ...asked by those of the left and right ...liberal and conservative ...Republican and Democrat; what, was the reason for the war? Can the goal be achieved? Is it attainable?
How I wish that Colin Powell was still in office. His doctrine of overwhelming force is part of what is missing. Donald Rumsfeld has been a disaster, starting with the whole misbegotten idea of invading Iraq. Maybe one day we'll learn what it was that convinced President Bush, and his crew, including Cheney, Rice, Rove et al how we could achieved the stated aims without the necessary manpower.
At this time we don't even have an ambassador in Afghanistan, Jordan and Iraq, though word has it that a donation to the Republican leadership of between $100,000 to a quarter million dollars could qualify you.
We are not winning this war and Democrats should be ashamed for not being more vocal. I understand why, because they are fearful of being labeled as "un American" ...or "Unpatriotic." Let us not forget that initially a very large percentage of them were against the conflict.
Watch the TV news, so little time is given to the issue. There is greater appeal, it appears, in the verdict in the Michael Jackson case. Fortunately yesterday afternoon's California earthquake forced Jackson off the front pages for a while.
We are training thousands of Iraqi troops but they are having a rough time being successful in their quest to quell the insurgent forces. I wonder how long it might be before the various key communities in Iraq start preparing their own militias. I don't see much evidence as yet of the various communities building a democratic Iraq.
My wife and I returned two days ago from a couple of weeks in Spain, Portugal, France - we did not have conversation with a single person (with the exception of a Basque taxi-driver) who respected our president. Mr. President, do you feel you are enhancing America's standing in this world. I don't.