Curious George goes to war

“A lesson of 9/11 is that allowing terrorists to find a sanctuary anywerhe in the world can have deadly consequences on the streets of our cities,’’ the president said. “It would embolden our enemies and confirm their belief that America is weak… It would be an invitation to the enemy to attack America and our friends around the world.’’
-George W. Bush

Last time I looked, before we went into Iraq the only threat we had to deal with was Saddam Hussein and that threat was relativley benign. He ran a secular government and yes inflicted damage on his own people but did not allow for terrorists in his country. Once his government was removed we saw the rise of fanatical Islamic groups on both sides, something not found prior the US invasion. Now Iraq is a hotbed of terrorists and is home to a branch of Al-Qaeda which it was not previously. It seems by removing an older and more predictable evil we have invited a newer and more volatile enemy into the mix.

“Last November, the American people said they were frustrated and wanted a change in our policy in Iraq… I listened,’’ Bush said, pointing to an increased deployment of forces announced in January and which is still amassing in Iraq. “The American people did not vote for failure, and that is precisely what the Democratic leadership’s bill would be.’’
- George W. Bush

The American people were frustrated and did vote for a change in policy and what they have received so far is more of the same. The troop surge simply continues George W. Bush's military strategy in Iraq that is accomplishing very litte rather than approaching the problem diplomatically and forcing the Iraqi government to honor its pledges. The bill will not be for failure but rather for accountability from people whom we went there to help who appear to have no desire to help themselves.

Retired Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste:

"This important legislation sets a new direction for Iraq. It acknowledges that America went to war without mobilizing the nation, that our strategy in Iraq has been tragically flawed since the invasion in March 2003, that our Army and Marine Corps are at the breaking point with little to show for it, and that our military alone will never establish representative government in Iraq. The administration got it terribly wrong and I applaud our Congress for stepping up to their constitutional responsibilities."

And retired Army Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton:

"This bill gives General Petraeus great leverage for moving the Iraqi government down the more disciplined path laid out by the Iraq Study Group. The real audience for the timeline language is Prime Minister al-Maliki and the elected government of Iraq. The argument that this bill aides the enemy is simply not mature - nobody on the earth underestimates the United States' capacity for unpredictability. It may further create some sense of urgency in the rest of our government, beginning with the State Department."

Last time I checked, despite Bush being the "commander in chief" it doesnt mean he knows anything about how to go to war. That has been proven true with his strategy, his ouster of generals who dont believe in it and his appointment of military yes men. I'm guessing these two life long military men might have had a bigger clue than curious George on capitol hill.