by John M. Curtis
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Copyright April 24, 2007
All Rights Reserved.

ushing his same worn out talking points, Vice President Dick Cheney slammed Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for telling the unvarnished truth: That Iraq is a lost cause. Cheney and President George W. Bush are at loggerheads with the Congress over a $124 billion supplemental spending bill in which the Democrats want time limits on continued U.S. military involvement. Reid and the vast majority of Americans see Iraq as a disaster for the U.S. military. Cheney promised that the insurgency was in its “last throes” two years ago, despite the escalation in U.S. casualties. Growing numbers of Republicans don't buy Bush and Cheney's unrealistic forecast for victory. “Some Democratic leaders seem to believe that blind opposition to the new strategy in Iraq is good politics,” said Cheney, cleverly turning the antiwar crowd into coldly calculating political operatives.

      Bush and Cheney can't stomach the inescapable reality that Iraq's insurgency won't end until the U.S. gets out. Both have gone to great pains to sell the idea that Saddam's Iraq supported the terrorists responsible for Sept. 11. That red herring, of course, justifies the costliest foreign policy blunder and boondoggle in U.S. history. Democrats score political points when Republicans ineptly manage foreign and domestic policy. Bush's Iraq policy has been a disaster for the GOP and presents a major obstacle to Republican candidates heading into the 2008 presidential election. “Senator Reid himself has said that the war in Iraq will bring his party more seats in the next election,” said Cheney, once again stating the obvious. Unpopular and disastrous policies always help the opposition. Bush and Cheney can't answer war critics that see no light at the end of the tunnel.

      Reid antagonized the White House calling Bush “in denial” over the Iraq war. Cheney sees Democrats playing politics over Iraq but doesn't see the military's untenable position. Bush's troop surge helped push a bigger perimeter around Baghdad but has done nothing to stop the countries, insurgents and terrorists fighting U.S. occupation. Bush talks about how Washington shouldn't meddle in the Iraq war, leaving the battle up to military commanders on the ground. Bush and Cheney didn't listen to Centcom commander John P. Abizaid and Iraq commander Gen. George Casey when they warned against a troop surge causing more U.S. casualties. Since the surge, U.S. death rates have steadily risen. No U.S. commander started the war and no U.S. commander can end it. Cheney finds it OK to start the war but not OK to finish it. Military personnel don't set policy, they follow it.

      Reid called Cheney Bush's “attack dog,” blindsiding the Nevada senator for daring to tell the truth. Bush and Cheney continue to fan unrealistic expectations that the war can be won. With Russia, Iran, Syria and a host of other Islamic countries supporting the insurgency, there's little hope for a military victory. “I'm not going to get into a name-calling match with the administration's top attack dog,” said Reid, standing his ground in what promises to be a brutal fight on Capitol Hill. Bush and Cheney want an unrestricted funding bill, with no timetables for withdrawal. Supporting the troops involves more than throwing good money after bad. Iraq commander David Petraeus needs more than money, he needs a realistic policy that protects the troops and recognizes the limits of American power. Bush and Cheney must do more than blame Democrats for playing politics.

      Bush sees Democrats as playing politics because that's the only way he can defend the indefensible: A war that can't be won militarily and lacks popular support. Ignoring the polls isn't a sign of principle, it's a stubborn attempt to push the disaster off to the next president, blaming weak-kneed Republicans and spineless Democrats for giving up. In reality, White House political operatives at are busy trying to salvage Bush's legacy, marked by his colossal miscalculation in using the U.S. military for nation-building, something he promised he would never do. “They chose to make a political statement,” said Bush. “That's their right but it is wrong for our troops and it's wrong for our country. To accept the bill proposed by the Democratic leadership would be to accept a policy that directly contradicts the judgment of our military commanders,” blowing more smoke.

      Bush's won't listen to any of his military commanders, certainly not former Centcom commander Gen. Abizaid and former Iraq commander Gen. Casey. Both told Bush to reduce forces in the Iraq. Gen. David Petraeus has been given a mission impossible to salvage Bush's disaster that he'll try to blame on Democrats, pacifist Republicans and antiwar activists. If Democrats capitalize on Bush's failed Iraq policy, it's because the president hit a brick wall and has refused to change. No U.S. commander establishes the mission or sets military strategy. Bush won't accept the inescapable truth that the U.S. military can't fight a protracted guerrilla war without sustaining massive casualties. “The American people did not vote for failure,” said Bush. “That is precisely what the Democratic leadership's bill would guarantee,” pinning the blame on everyone but himself.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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