Almost exactly a decade ago, I remember producing articles and speeches in which I questioned whether there were actually weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, predicting a prolonged conflict, and suggesting that the Bush administration actually had in mind to use Iraq as a military and political base to promote American power in the region. If that was the aim, I predicted, the U.S. ambassador would reign like an ineffective viceroy confined to quarters by ongoing sectarian strife all around him.
Now we learn that our new $750 million embassy, the largest in the world, as the centerpiece of an even more expensive "green zone" meant to house a massive city of 16,000 Americans, most of whom would be "contractors" and heavily armed private security forces to protect the 2000 "diplomats", will be cut back severely, both because we can't afford the projected annual operating budget of $6 billion (!) and because the "diplomats" cannot leave the complex for fear of violence.
This is a metaphor for the failed global ambitions of the hardline, regime change, neocons who got us into this mess.
Two lessons from this: the United States should always resist imperial ambitions, and the people of the world are not stupid.
Expressing a common sentiment among Iraqis, an Iraqi parliamentarian reflected: "The U.S. had something on their mind when they made [the embassy] so big. Perhaps they want to run the Middle East from Iraq, and their embassy will be a base for them here." I'm tempted to send her my articles from 2002.
Meanwhile, our isolated "diplomats" are eating MREs (meals ready to eat) because there are no more US troops to protect the supply caravans.
Instead of endlessly and ineffectively interviewing the Santorums of the world, wouldn't it be interesting if just one of the Sunday morning talk programs rounded up George W. Bush, Richard Cheney, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Richard Perle, and many others who dominated those same programs in 2002 to whip up public support, based on misinformation, calculation, and even deception, to hold them accountable for this monumental act of folly.
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Although the prolonged debates about Iraq War, the U.S. had to do it. Americans holds this responsibility. President Bush was right when he said that if we don’t go to Iraq to destroy the dictator, we will have to fight terrorists at home. Indeed, the war brought some trouble to the America. But this can’t change the conclusion. It only warns you that you should have done the work more carefully. The places in the world like Iarq or even more awful still exist and you can’t shirk your accountability. I am sure you can do the next one smoother and cleaner and without the death of a single soldier if the politicians of the U.S. would come to me to ask my sentiment and tactics.
After a speedy trial of our peers.
Would the US prefer those results?
And, all the war mongering accusations about the Bush admin should keep the current war mongering with Iran in mind. I don't hear democrats vilifying those who are demonizing Iran.
And ps. you're wrong about bush's unemployment rate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_policy_of_the_George_W._Bush_administration#Unemployment
And it's easy to spend less money when you're allowing the market to run roughshod over the economy. That bill came due after his departure from office. How convenient....
Didn't you get the memo about Iraq being a catastrophic success under the Bush Administration and President Obama being the reason for the current Iraqi situation since he followed the treaties signed by the previous administration. Our troops are out and the embassy is being downsized is good enough for me.
I think we should be talking about Iran on Sunday mornings. The neo-cons think war with Iran is a fine idea so lets focus on preventing the next catastrophic success.
Take a breath. Have a cup of coffee. And we will welcome you back to America and the reality of a government run amuck, and the governance of a great nation that has been hijacked and rigged to the hilt.
Our only peaceful and legal way out from under the thumbs of these present day robber barons is secession by a vote of the people in all 50 states.
50 State Secession !
Freedom !
A modern day Declaration of Independence !
Good serf.
You do know the founders were Locke liberal fighting against the Big money multinationals, the empire they had bought using money as free speech, right?
You know that was East India multinational Tea they dumping in Boston, not republic tea?
Move to Somali dude, you hate the republic, you would love Somali, no laws, or regulation or taxes of government. Paradise. What are you waiting for?