THE WAR IN IRAQ:  AN OBJECTIVE VIEW

Everybody wants to ride but nobody wants to pay.  So the driver ends up footing the bill.  To be sure, the driver is also a passenger but the entire trip should not be at his expense.  And so it is in politics.

THE WAR IN IRAQ - -

 The war was touted by a broad spectrum of special interest groups.  It appears that many in the oil business wanted it; women's rights groups wanted to free the Iraqi female, many in the Jewish lobby wanted it, Mr. Bush wanted it, defense intensive industries wanted it, many in the news media wanted it (and became "embedded" in it), and God only knows the full range of others who wanted the war.  (I heard Mr. Rush Limbaugh say [words to the effect], 'This war will happen, it's going to happen'.)

Well, the war did happen and is still happening (and probably will continue to happen well into the future).  However, after more than a year the war isn't "happening" the way some had hoped and imagined.  The United States underestimated the amount of planning, time, resources, (and deaths) it takes to radically alter the flow of two ancient rivers.  Thus, our contemporary experiment in dredging and removing the political "pollution" from the the environs of the Tigris and Ephrates has cost us dearly in both human and financial terms.  Slated to exceed the hundred Billion dollar mark (and still virtually unwon) it has become one of the most expensive endeavors this nation has ever attempted.  (Give me five billion dollars [not a hundred and five billion] and I will make sure no American goes hungry or has to beg for bread for the next fifty years).

THE GAMBLE - -

All along Iraq was a gamble.  The risk seemed sensible because the "win" could really have been a windfall.  Control of the political, military and social systems of one of the world's oldest countries, coupled with the income and energy its petroleum resources promised, became an overpowering allure for those who cherish such and are willing to risk all to achieve the elusive "win.  Then there are the other "political" realities:  A major base of influence in the Middle East, more security for Israel, greater power among other Arabs and a check on Iran (right on its doorsteps) and the "gamble" appears to be a no-brainer.  However, as with many endeavors, the "vision" may come easy but the victory can cost more than one is willing to pay.  Secondly, "icing" on the cake for Mr. Bush would be the "victory" won in the "war" between the George Bushes and the Sadaam Husseins.  So, with so much to gain, the planes flew, the ships sailed, the tanks rolled and the troops rode and marched.

THE DRIVER DID IT - -

After more than a year the trip has not been at all what was predicted (remember "shock and awe"?) or expected.  Now the blame game starts.  Not only does the blame game begin, it must intensify and bloom before November.  So, now the passengers (some of the same ones who were so much for the war) are blaming the driver.  Recently I heard media reporters speak of "Mr. Bush's conduct of the war".  Had victory come as predicted it would have been the conduct of the war by the generals and the people in the pentagon.  But no, now that things have not been so glowing, it's "Mr. Bush's conduct of the war".  This is American hypocricy, pure and simple.  Yes, Mr. Bush seemed to have wanted the war and appeared to have pushed for it; however, he had many bedfellows (or I might say, "embedded" fellows).  Many of those bedfellows are now running and referring to "Mr. Bush's conduct of the war".  It is difficult for the driver to deny any blame for the quality of the trip; however, irresponsible passengers can hide behind the "innuendous" seat backs.

DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, OTHERS

I am not in a political party so I think of myself as being politically objective.  The Democrats (not all, but some) see the difficulties in Iraq as a pre-November plus.  This is not to say that they are unpatriotic.  No, not at all.  They are very American.  It's just that the biggest game in town is the possession and exercise of power and, in America, some will use anything to win that game.  So, many Democrats will blame the driver.  Some others will not blame the driver but will allow him to be blamed.  Still others will grab what profits they can (business and otherwise) from the Iraq experiment and let the blame fall whereever the unlearned allow it to fall.  Some Republicans will do political damage control while allowing Mr Bush to carry the burden of criticism.  Other Republicans will seek to use the situation to gain more control of the Republican Party.  Others, (those who are dedicated to neither the Democratic nor Republican Parties [but try to control the actions of both]) will seek to use the Iraq situation to gain greater control and political influence so as to promote their (not America's) interests.  (We've seen them active recently in the attempts to "dethrone" Condolezza Rice, Colin Powell and possibly others.)  The right- Right will probably stand with Mr. Bush.  The left-Left will seek every opportunity to blame Mr. Bush (though some of them were on the "war bus" [with hopes that they could superimpose their sinful agendas of the Iraqi society]).  The remainder of America will be swayed and convinced by the intellectual and media pools or cesspools in which they allow their minds to swim.

SPLITING HAIRS - -

Amercans are good at finding a way out.  We are excellent escapists.  If the war in Iraq is soundly won, the American shout will be, "We won!".  For us, the "win" is not just "the thing", it is the only thing.  Conversely, if the victory is not decisive, the refrains will be, "Our troops experienced some difficulties".  In other words, in victory, we won; but, in defeat, our troops lost.  No.  If you went to war with America (by watching it on television and pulling for the troops) then the victory is truly yours; and, if defeat, the defeat is also yours, not our troops'.  Much of America went to war with Iraq and those Americans won't really come home until all dispatched Americans there come home.  When our troops do come home, whatever we say about them we are saying about ourselves (because they are us).  So, America, let's wake up and stop splitting hairs.  Everyone on the bus is, in one way or another, responsible.