The War in Iraq - Longer Than World War II

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bob Mulholland
California DNC Member
Campaign Advisor
California Democratic Party

This week marks the 5th anniversary of Bush Jr.’s invasion of Iraq when he sent our military in with too few troops and equipment and no occupation or political or exit plans.

One irony of this week – McCain and Cheney “visit” Iraq (with massive protection) while American military deaths are about to hit 4,000.

And McCain is so confused about all the lies (like Saddam Hussein was involved with 9/11) he and Bush Jr. have told over the years that on this trip McCain said that the Shia Iranian government is arming and training the Sunni Al-Qaeda. Another U.S. Senator had to correct him. Actually many wealthy Saudis are financing Al Qaeda and others in Iraq to kill Americans, while Iran is arming the Shias to kill Americans. Maybe McCain is in early stages of Dementia or Alzheimer’s.

We may never know what General David Petraeus (Commander in Iraq) really thinks about his Commander – Bush Jr. - and the Iraq war.

We do know that General Petraeus has said that the war in Iraq cannot be won militarily: “You can’t kill your way out of a problem like this.” Most likely, Petraeus has said this repeatedly to send a message to John McCain, Bush Jr., and Cheney that Iraq needs a political settlement, but this “Axis of Three” doesn’t get it.

How could Bush Jr., who figured out how to get into the Texas Air National Guard ahead of hundreds of others on the list, then get stationed in Alabama where he got paid about $2,000 a month to work (not doing that much) on a losing Republican campaign for the U.S. Senate, understand Iraq. He never will!

My guess, even today Bush Jr. doesn’t know that Saudis are Sunnis (85% of Muslims around the world are), Iraqis are mostly Shias and Iranians are Shia Muslims but not Arabs.

As you listen to McCain and Bush Jr., you don’t hear about how America will “win” in Iraq. You hear “the Surge is working” and “stay the course” and from McCain – a One Hundred Year War.

That’s the strategy of Losers!