Keller Spanks Bush

by tristero

Nice to read, but it’s at least two, if not four, Friedman Units too late. Most interesting quote:

Americans, Iraqis and the rest of the world need clear, public signs of progress.

Mr. Bush can make the first one by firing Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. There is no chance of switching strategy as long as he is in control of the Pentagon.

Sigh. Everyone still colludes with the Junior Prophet From Crawford in passing the buck to someone else. Not that Rumsfeld is competent and shouldn’t be fired. Of course he should, and then tarred and feathered. But Rumsfeld or no, the strategy Rumsfeld is pursuing is the strategy of George W. Bush. And “there is no chance of switching strategy as long as he is in control of the” White House.

For even if the strategy was somehow changed, there is no chance in hell it will change for the better. For as incompetent as Donald Rumsfeld surely is, his boss is far worse. Therefore, until January, 2009, no matter what happens, the Iraqis and the American military in Iraq will suffer horribly, needlessly, and monumentally. And the security of the US will be further eroded. It is awful, sickening, and infuriating, but it is also a fact.

A different country, with a more involved population, would demand Bush and his cabinet immediately resign. Ain’t gonna happen. A different country, one which held its leaders accountable for its safety, would have impeached Bush by September 19, 2001. But the United States in 2006 is not that kind of country. Barring anything unforeseen, like Bush getting a brain transplant or converting to Islam – both far more probable than he will change direction and that he will do so in such a way that things will get better in Iraq – there’s at least 821 days filled with unspeakable tragedy ahead for Iraq, and the US.

Contrary to what the lunatic, man-on-dog right says, I don’t like saying so, I don’t want it to happen, and I certainly hope I’m wrong. But some six years of nearly total disaster and mismanagement by the Bush administration says I’m right.

And yes, dear friends, the “nearly” in the previous paragraph was pro forma only.

Eight hundred and twenty-one more days of George W. Bush. God help us.