Running in Place on Iraq has Americans Feeling Bushed
Mike Healy
November 21, 2005
A poll came out recently stating that only 30 per cent of Americans approve of the job their Congressman is doing. Apparently, historic deficits, corruption, and a war that is increasingly spiraling out of control aren’t the best way to cozy up to the American people. Although, maybe the American people are being a tad unfair. Being a member of Congress is tough. If you don’t believe me, just ask Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), who recently said of the mess in Iraq:
I feel like every morning, I wake up, get a concrete block and have to walk around with it all day.”
Poor guy. This whole Iraq thing seems to consistently ruin his day (at least, I think he’s talking about Iraq; I suppose it’s possible that Sen. DeMint was simply bragging to reporters about his tough new cross-training regimen). Clearly, the anguish Sen. DeMint feels on a day to day basis as a result of the Iraq war is something for which the American people will never be able to truly repay him. Sure, Iraq might also be something of a problem for the 2,083 U.S. servicemen who have given their lives there, but our real sympathy should be reserved for “leaders” such as Senator DeMint – patriotic officials who find themselves trapped in a situation that’s making was totally (save for authorizing the use of force in Iraq and spending two years taking absolutely no action to exercise any oversight whatsoever of President Bush’s war effort) beyond their control.
Making things even worse for our brave men and women in Congress is the growth of an increasingly rude anti-war movement. These war protestors aren’t just smelly, long-haired hippies, either, they’re normal looking people like you and me (well, like you). Normal people like Cindy Sheehan, whose son, Casey, just so happens to be among the 2,083 U.S. soldiers who have lost their lives in this Iraq venture. Sheehan isn’t alone among those who question the war, either. Increasing numbers of family members of U.S. servicemen have come forth to demand that Congress and the President start taking action to clean up this Iraq mess. When asked about this phenomenon, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) had this to say:
You’ll have a parent or two here, as you know, whose tragic grief from the tragic loss of a loved one, of a child, causes their mental thinking to be a little destabilized. That’s understandable.”
Oh! Now this whole “Gold Star Mothers” thing makes a little more sense to me. It’s not that these people feel rightly entitled to speak out on this war that took from them the people they loved most in this world. It’s that they’re crazy. A hearty thanks to Rep. Gohmert for enlightening us that family members of slain American heroes are deranged and not to be trusted.
(In fairness, I will take this time to point out that Rep. Gohmert, unlike many of his like-minded colleagues, did in fact serve his nation as a Captain in the U.S. Army for many years)
As easy as it makes my job, I’d honestly rather not have this absurd situation in Iraq to write about. At this point, it is clear that “staying the course” will truly mean “staying the course” (read: more of the same). It is also clear that “more of the same” will mean terrible things for America, terrible things for Iraq, and, probably, terrible things for Sen. Jim DeMint (we can’t expect him to walk around with that concrete block forever, you know).
I’m not going to be so arrogant as to suggest that I myself know the best thing to do in Iraq. Maybe we have become the enemy and the only thing we can do with any success is withdraw. Maybe success is still possible, but we need to dramatically increase the number of troops in the country in order to provide Iraq with the security it so clearly lacks. I don’t know. I am a member of the 63 per cent of Americans who disapprove of the way the situation in Iraq is being handled. I have neither the resources nor the expertise to concoct what could be considered a good and well reasoned plan for Iraq, but I know who does. People with names like Bush, Kerry, McCain, Feingold, Lugar, Murtha, and yes, even DeMint. Yet it seems that many would rather see how this war abroad can be used as a weapon against their political enemies at home, as opposed to how we can put aside our differences at home to bring a successful end to this war abroad.
I don’t just want to complain for the sake of complaining. What I, and I would imagine many others in my 63 per cent of America really want is for our leaders to lead. We don’t know what needs to be done, we just know that we can no longer afford to simply “stay the course.” We just wish our leaders would make up their minds to do something. If we need to withdraw, explain to us why, and we will not turn against you and label you cowards. If we need to escalate the “peace” effort, tell us why, and we are prepared to make sacrifices, or, should a draft honestly and truly be required, to serve ourselves.
This is why you were elected. Make clear what needs to be done, and, if it is a plan of real merit, you will find the American people more than prepared to do their part to ensure that the best possible result is achieved in Iraq.
Americans are prepared to accept an honest admission of a situation in which victory is not a possibility. Similarly, if victory is possible, Americans are prepared to do their part to make that success a reality, they just need to find out what that part is.
Just don’t tell them to carry a block of concrete.
I feel like every morning, I wake up, get a concrete block and have to walk around with it all day.”
Poor guy. This whole Iraq thing seems to consistently ruin his day (at least, I think he’s talking about Iraq; I suppose it’s possible that Sen. DeMint was simply bragging to reporters about his tough new cross-training regimen). Clearly, the anguish Sen. DeMint feels on a day to day basis as a result of the Iraq war is something for which the American people will never be able to truly repay him. Sure, Iraq might also be something of a problem for the 2,083 U.S. servicemen who have given their lives there, but our real sympathy should be reserved for “leaders” such as Senator DeMint – patriotic officials who find themselves trapped in a situation that’s making was totally (save for authorizing the use of force in Iraq and spending two years taking absolutely no action to exercise any oversight whatsoever of President Bush’s war effort) beyond their control.
Making things even worse for our brave men and women in Congress is the growth of an increasingly rude anti-war movement. These war protestors aren’t just smelly, long-haired hippies, either, they’re normal looking people like you and me (well, like you). Normal people like Cindy Sheehan, whose son, Casey, just so happens to be among the 2,083 U.S. soldiers who have lost their lives in this Iraq venture. Sheehan isn’t alone among those who question the war, either. Increasing numbers of family members of U.S. servicemen have come forth to demand that Congress and the President start taking action to clean up this Iraq mess. When asked about this phenomenon, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) had this to say:
You’ll have a parent or two here, as you know, whose tragic grief from the tragic loss of a loved one, of a child, causes their mental thinking to be a little destabilized. That’s understandable.”
Oh! Now this whole “Gold Star Mothers” thing makes a little more sense to me. It’s not that these people feel rightly entitled to speak out on this war that took from them the people they loved most in this world. It’s that they’re crazy. A hearty thanks to Rep. Gohmert for enlightening us that family members of slain American heroes are deranged and not to be trusted.
(In fairness, I will take this time to point out that Rep. Gohmert, unlike many of his like-minded colleagues, did in fact serve his nation as a Captain in the U.S. Army for many years)
As easy as it makes my job, I’d honestly rather not have this absurd situation in Iraq to write about. At this point, it is clear that “staying the course” will truly mean “staying the course” (read: more of the same). It is also clear that “more of the same” will mean terrible things for America, terrible things for Iraq, and, probably, terrible things for Sen. Jim DeMint (we can’t expect him to walk around with that concrete block forever, you know).
I’m not going to be so arrogant as to suggest that I myself know the best thing to do in Iraq. Maybe we have become the enemy and the only thing we can do with any success is withdraw. Maybe success is still possible, but we need to dramatically increase the number of troops in the country in order to provide Iraq with the security it so clearly lacks. I don’t know. I am a member of the 63 per cent of Americans who disapprove of the way the situation in Iraq is being handled. I have neither the resources nor the expertise to concoct what could be considered a good and well reasoned plan for Iraq, but I know who does. People with names like Bush, Kerry, McCain, Feingold, Lugar, Murtha, and yes, even DeMint. Yet it seems that many would rather see how this war abroad can be used as a weapon against their political enemies at home, as opposed to how we can put aside our differences at home to bring a successful end to this war abroad.
I don’t just want to complain for the sake of complaining. What I, and I would imagine many others in my 63 per cent of America really want is for our leaders to lead. We don’t know what needs to be done, we just know that we can no longer afford to simply “stay the course.” We just wish our leaders would make up their minds to do something. If we need to withdraw, explain to us why, and we will not turn against you and label you cowards. If we need to escalate the “peace” effort, tell us why, and we are prepared to make sacrifices, or, should a draft honestly and truly be required, to serve ourselves.
This is why you were elected. Make clear what needs to be done, and, if it is a plan of real merit, you will find the American people more than prepared to do their part to ensure that the best possible result is achieved in Iraq.
Americans are prepared to accept an honest admission of a situation in which victory is not a possibility. Similarly, if victory is possible, Americans are prepared to do their part to make that success a reality, they just need to find out what that part is.
Just don’t tell them to carry a block of concrete.
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