WHAT ABOUT THE MANDATE FOR PEACE?
Earl J. Prignitz
December 19, 2006
Last week I raised the question of the American people not speaking loudly enough on November 7th, soundly repudiating the current Bush policy, with the Iraq war/occupation at the top of the list? I stated that obviously the Bush administration didn't get the message. Then the Iraq Study Group delivered its report, which despite its timid recommendations on actual troop withdrawal again sent the message that something had to change immediately. Once again the Bush administration did not get it. Instead we are told that Bush is on a "listening" tour, apparently desperately trying to find some person somewhere, actually anywhere, who will tell him what he wants to hear, that no fundamental change of course is necessary.
They say that Bush is asking all the "tough questions. " We are told that Cheney is taking "copious notes." One has to wonder how intelligent decisions could have been made by any other previously insular method. But at the same time we hear that Bush is "resolutely defiant," and in fact plans on sending even MORE troops to Iraq. So what we are witnessing is yet another Karl Rove photo-op, a dog and pony show of attentiveness, with absolutely no intention of taking any advice they would not have given themselves in the first place.
Now I have to wonder if the Democrats weren't listening either. What in the world are they thinking about? Wasn't the November 7th election a strong enough voter mandate for peace? It certainly wasn't an encouragement for escalating the war in Iraq! The American public is passionately opposed to such an ill-conceived escalation that will only lead to more dead and wounded American soldiers, and more dead and wounded Iraqis. This action will only lead to more violence and further inflame anti-American sentiments throughout the region.
Following the historic November 7 election, this is no time for the Democrats caving into the Bush war agenda. It's about time for honoring the peace sentiment of the American people. It's high time to oppose any escalation of US troops and firmly demand a timetable for bringing our troops home.
They say that Bush is asking all the "tough questions. " We are told that Cheney is taking "copious notes." One has to wonder how intelligent decisions could have been made by any other previously insular method. But at the same time we hear that Bush is "resolutely defiant," and in fact plans on sending even MORE troops to Iraq. So what we are witnessing is yet another Karl Rove photo-op, a dog and pony show of attentiveness, with absolutely no intention of taking any advice they would not have given themselves in the first place.
Now I have to wonder if the Democrats weren't listening either. What in the world are they thinking about? Wasn't the November 7th election a strong enough voter mandate for peace? It certainly wasn't an encouragement for escalating the war in Iraq! The American public is passionately opposed to such an ill-conceived escalation that will only lead to more dead and wounded American soldiers, and more dead and wounded Iraqis. This action will only lead to more violence and further inflame anti-American sentiments throughout the region.
Following the historic November 7 election, this is no time for the Democrats caving into the Bush war agenda. It's about time for honoring the peace sentiment of the American people. It's high time to oppose any escalation of US troops and firmly demand a timetable for bringing our troops home.
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