The soldiers in Iraq have done their duty.
Bring them back to the green, green grass of home.
It's About Time, Bush: Now Change the Course, Bring Troops Home
President Bush needed to make his secret trip to Iraq to raise his poll numbers. It was a great photo op, but it will be meaningless unless a change is made now.
Newt Gingrich, with politics on his mind and before he knew of the secret plans for Bush to visit Iraq, sniped at Bush who he'd thought was at Camp David:
"Are they really changing anything that we're doing in Iraq? Or is this designed basically to shore up and win public support."If Bush uses this opportunity as a turning point - convincing the new Iraqi government that the U.S. needs to change its course in Iraq and turn this into a successful political effort with an earnest attempt to fully internationalize it, and to begin redeployment of U.S. troops now, he will begin to heal what are now almost non-salvageable wounds - the deep and bleeding gashes - felt by the American public for all the lies and misleadings about why the Bush administration made pre-emptive war upon the government of Iraq and many of its people while there was no WMD, no imminent threat to the United States, and no connection found by any reputable journalist to the planning and carrying out of the 9/11 attacks. It will also force the Iraqis to get on the stick and become responsible for themselves. Bush has been covering for their responsibility for too long.
We'd won WWII in the time it's taken for our President to TELL the Iraqis that they must take responsibility for their own security. What kind of leadership is that?
Karl Rove, who has apparently snaked his way out of charges in the Patrick Fitzgerald investigation, says that Republicans owe no apology to the American public for all the lies and misleadings on the Iraq war. Karl's a day late and a dollar short. The apology was already made by Condoleeza Rice months ago when she admitted the thousands of mistakes that were made in Iraq. Public polls have been withering on the issue of our reasons for being in Iraq since then. Any apology made now is well beyond the point.
Bush said:
"...the enemy doesn't stand for anything. They have no message of hope. They have no positive philosophy. All they can do is kill and hope that the government splits up, or that the American people lose their will."America's will to do what? Our military presence for the past three and a half years has contributed to the Iraqi people's sectarian strife. If our "will" is to win hearts and minds, it's high time for Iraqis to take responsibility for themselves and it's time to end the U.S. occupation of their country.
A significant percentage of hearts and minds of the Iraqi population has been lost to us forever because of the way this action, never necessary for U.S. security, was led by the Bush administration. There is a civil war and an increase in the terrorists' presence in Iraq today because of the inept commander in chief. In Iraq, now that he has safely snuck himself under the radar of so many Iraqi citizens who'd just as soon target him than welcome him, he has some serious repairs to do. It's been three years since he visited anyone in Iraq. It's about time. Now let's see a change.
Bring those American men and women home from Iraq. They've served you well, President Bush. Bring them home with honor - and begin now.
* Bush's remarks to Prime Minister Maliki of Iraq sound more "PR" than a move toward any substantial change.
* LA Times: Poll: U.S. Disapproves of War in Iraq ' - The death of al-Qaida leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq came as more Americans than ever thought the war in Iraq was a mistake, according to AP-Ipsos polling.'