Thursday night, President Bush addressed the nation. He wanted to speak about the need to stay the course in Iraq. He made a most curious statement: “We thank the 36 nations who have troops on the ground in Iraq and the many others who are helping that young democracy.” Thirty-six countries have troops in IraqContinue reading “On the President’s Fuzzy Math”
Tag Archives: Iraq
On John Edwards’ Address to the Nation
An e-mail I received today from the John Edwards presidential campaign. Tonight, he’ll be addressing the nation on MSNBC following the President’s speech about Iraq and the report General Petreaus delivered to Congress. Tonight, after President Bush makes yet another argument for continuing the war in Iraq, John Edwards will speak directly to the AmericanContinue reading “On John Edwards’ Address to the Nation”
On the Things He Knew Then
In 1994 a former government official articulated a number of reasons why invading Iraq was a very bad idea. Can’t secure the country. Can’t hold Baghdad. Unsettle the region. It would be an occupation. It would be a mess. This former government official’s name? Dick Cheney. Currently the Vice President of the United States. AndContinue reading “On the Things He Knew Then”
On the Next Step in the “War on Terror”
The United States is going to go to war with Iran. It will happen. The noise machine is already working. It is going to happen. And there’s not a thing Congress can do about it now. Why? Because President Bush has designated Iran’s Republican Guard, their elite military force, a “global terrorist.” And the AuthorizationContinue reading “On the Next Step in the “War on Terror””
On an Appalling Editorial
The headline says it all: “To save America, we need another 9/11.” I’m not sure what there is to say about Stu Bykofsky and said piece. I’ll let Stu speak for himself: Remember the community of outrage and national resolve? America had not been so united since the first Day of Infamy – 12/7/41. WeContinue reading “On an Appalling Editorial”
On Scooter Libby's Sentence
Scooter Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney’s former Chief of Staff, was convicted earlier this year of perjery and obstruction of justice in stemming from the revelation of Valeria Plame’s identity as a covert CIA agent. Today, Scooter Libby will be sentenced. Twenty months. That’s my guess. ETA: And I was wrong! It was thirty months!Continue reading “On Scooter Libby's Sentence”
On Memorial Day
Today is Memorial Day, the day where we stop to remember the soldiers who gave their lives in the service of our nation. The best way to remember their ultimate sacrifice is to keep others from being added to their number. On this Memorial Day, the fifth since we invaded Iraq, we should be askingContinue reading “On Memorial Day”
On Cracks in the Republican Facade
The day was coming. Yesterday, eleven Republican Congressmen went to the White House bearing a message for President Bush. Their message for the President? He’s lost credibility on Iraq. The President’s approval rating is south of thirty percent. That Republican Congressmen will start to peel from the monolithic bloc in support of the President’s failedContinue reading “On Cracks in the Republican Facade”
On Rescinding the President's War Powers
Senators Hillary Clinton of New York and Robert Byrd of West Virginia will be introducing legislation to rescind the 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF), the legislation that allowed the invasion of Iraq, in October 2007 on the fifth anniversary of the AUMF’s initial passage. From Senator Clinton’s speech on the SenateContinue reading “On Rescinding the President's War Powers”
On Mission Accomplished, Plus Four Years
Said President George W. Bush on May 1st, 2003: Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country. Wrote I in September 2006, for the Star Trek: Constellations annotations: On May 1,Continue reading “On Mission Accomplished, Plus Four Years”