Just a sliver of hope here…

There’s at least a strong possibility that a lot of the chaos in Iraq isn’t actually happening.

floppingaces.net

I find it interesting that reports of mayhem from Iraq, especially if the report hurts the US, require zero confirmation. Reports showing the opposite require very large amounts of confirmation before being ignored.

Greg

Time for Marshal Law in Iraq. That means an instant freeze on all assetts within the country, and attached outside the country. Then we can shut down the funding streams that support terror. And the borders need to be closed down and armed… no one in, no one out without extensive clearance.

Syria and Iran continue to prosecute their war on the US and Israel vicariously through Iraq and Lebanon. I’m all for talking, right after Damascus is neutralized, Hezbollah and Hamas lay down their arms, and every nuclear development site in Iran is destroyed by air attack. Oh, and I forgot the naval blockade… lets do the right thing and stop oil from supporting terror.

Syria seems to have a “get out of jail free pass”, even when it is obvious they are a major perpetrator of arms and expertise up the Bekaa Valley. I’m with Israel on this one… bomb every terrorist stronghold in Damascus, and get the party started.

Grudgingly, I have come to the same conclusion as you, that President Bush has become a huge part of this problem. While his intentions are valid, namely to protect the American public, where he is now failing is to lead. He has not led in quite a long time now in my view, and it is starting to become apparent to our enemies as you point out. And I am a two time voter for the President, and would not rescind those votes today, but Bush has faulted badly in the last 2 years.

The way Rumsfeld was jettisoned opened my eyes to the President. If you really think back on it, he has never really taken into account how the American people feel on many issues (remember I am expressing this as someone who acknowledges being on his side in both 2000 and 2004). His self-righteousness and arrogance had to be proven wrong by the voters before he would see the light on his decision making. Once it was, a perceived political liability (i.e. Rumsfeld) was cut loose like a piece of meat. Personally, I never felt Bush lied to me until how he mishandled Rumsfeld. Now, I will keep a healthy scepticism to anything he spouts off about for his last 2 years in office.

The USA is in severe trouble politically. No one can defeat us militarily, but that is not how wars are lost in the 21st century. Our enemies have mastered our MSM better than we, and they watch closely the will and support (or lack of) of the American public. The war in Iraq was never really about Iraq, it was about the United States and the concept of freedom. For the first time, I am fearful we will lose this war on political grounds, rather than military, and much of this is directly due and responsibility of the MSM and other media. I am beginning to believe the advent of the internet will bring about the collapse of the remaining superpower long run, as our enemies use this device to plot and plan our destruction. We are so divided now, I do not see how this division will change for quite a few years to come. My son will see this collapse, the real question to me is whether I will see it and at age 50 I think there is still a very good chance I will see a political collapse of the USA still in my lifetime as everyone else in the world gangs on us. The Islamists are masterful on how to debilitate, degrade and then defeat an enemy with low intensity conflict.