Last Throes
A year ago, Vice President Cheney gave a rosy assessment of the situation in Iraq, when he said: “I think the level of activity that we see today from a military standpoint, I think, will clearly decline. I think they're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency.” Cheney repeatedly tries to deceive voters, by attempting to put a positive face on some of the things that are happening in Iraq.
The Pentagon has released a report, which paints a bleak picture for the prospect of good news anytime soon in Iraq. It states in frank terms that the strength of the insurgency will likely remain steady throughout 2006. We’ve been in Iraq for more than three years, and Bush’s only strategy is to stay the course.
House Republicans put forth a resolution that would tie the war in Iraq to the global fight against terrorism. Instead of providing a meaningful policy discussion, the Republican majority offered a political document, less than five months before elections. House Republicans focused strictly on Iraq and refused to allow alternative resolutions or amendments.
The resolution states that the United States will prevail in the global war on terror and complete the mission to create a sovereign, free, secure and united Iraq. Republicans then asked: “Do we have the will to win? Many on the other side the aisle lack the will to win. The American people needs to know precisely who they are.”
This is the same false choice of “cut and run” or “stay the course” repackaged. By linking Iraq to the unanimously supported war on terror, Republicans put Democrats in a no-win situation. If Democrats vote for the resolution they appear to agree completely with Bush’s failed policies in Iraq. A vote against the resolution makes Democrats vulnerable to Republican charges they are on the side of terrorists.
Democrats insist that Congressional Republicans are failing to address the war in Iraq in the serious manner it deserves, but has instead chosen to create a debate that is a sham. In general, Republicans tend to accuse anyone that differs with Bush’s handling of the global fight against terrorism as less than patriotic. Patriotism is indeed, the last refuge of a scoundrel.
The Pentagon has released a report, which paints a bleak picture for the prospect of good news anytime soon in Iraq. It states in frank terms that the strength of the insurgency will likely remain steady throughout 2006. We’ve been in Iraq for more than three years, and Bush’s only strategy is to stay the course.
House Republicans put forth a resolution that would tie the war in Iraq to the global fight against terrorism. Instead of providing a meaningful policy discussion, the Republican majority offered a political document, less than five months before elections. House Republicans focused strictly on Iraq and refused to allow alternative resolutions or amendments.
The resolution states that the United States will prevail in the global war on terror and complete the mission to create a sovereign, free, secure and united Iraq. Republicans then asked: “Do we have the will to win? Many on the other side the aisle lack the will to win. The American people needs to know precisely who they are.”
This is the same false choice of “cut and run” or “stay the course” repackaged. By linking Iraq to the unanimously supported war on terror, Republicans put Democrats in a no-win situation. If Democrats vote for the resolution they appear to agree completely with Bush’s failed policies in Iraq. A vote against the resolution makes Democrats vulnerable to Republican charges they are on the side of terrorists.
Democrats insist that Congressional Republicans are failing to address the war in Iraq in the serious manner it deserves, but has instead chosen to create a debate that is a sham. In general, Republicans tend to accuse anyone that differs with Bush’s handling of the global fight against terrorism as less than patriotic. Patriotism is indeed, the last refuge of a scoundrel.
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