U.S. WAR PLANS...AN UPDATE
Finally, on the 173rd day of mr bush's war with Iraq, he has finally emerged from the woodwork to present to the world, his plan to continue waging this war, and his plan for continuing with the American occupation of Iraq. A war that mr bush entered into under false pretenses that he himself created. A war that was opposed by some 70% of the world's population. A war that was opposed by the 192-member body of the United Nations. A war in which, as of this writing, 287 brave and dedicated American soldiers have left their last drop of blood buried deep in the burning sands of some unknown Iraqi desert. Not to mention the estimated 4,000 american soldiers wounded in action. Or the 7,800 Iraqi civilians killed by the U.S. bombardment. Or the estimated 10,000 Iraqi citizens left homeless because their homes were blown to bits by the "pinpoint" bombing of American armaments.
But none of that was mentioned by george-w of course. He chose instead to concentrate on the centerpiece of his plan: An $87 billion request to continue his effort in the war-ravaged country of Iraq. An amount that will bring the budgetary deficit to just about $600 billion for fiscal 2004. A staggering amount by any criteria. And when you tack on the $350 billion dollar surplus that mr bush inherited from the previous administration, that amounts to some $950 billion squandered by this administration. Where did that surplus go? Where did any of that money go? Shouldn't we citizens, as the ultimate payors of this war, have some indication of how this money was spent?
That is the bank account of the body-politic. You and me. And mr bush is depleting that account at a very rapid rate. With no accountability to speak of on his part.
I listened patiently, waiting for g-w to tell me how this deficit was going to be paid for. How would it be funded, I wondered to myself. Would there be a series of tax increases, and if so where? Or would mr bush roll back the future tax cuts for the rich to help pay for this deficit? Certainly that would be in the spirit of sacrifice mr bush is exhorting all of us to take part in would it not? But alas, no such language was forthcoming.
One other theme of the bush plan was for the UN to play a bigger role in the reconstruction of Iraq. I was not surprised that was part of his plan, but I was a little surprised at his choice of words. He phrased it as "The UN has a responsibility to help out in the rebuilding of Iraq." Strange language from mr bush in that he thumbed his nose at this 192-member body last spring after the UN refused to give him the go-ahead for his invasion of Iraq. Now,six months later, mr bush is telling the U.N. that they have a "responsibility" to, in effect, bail out mr bush from his illegal war. A war that has, very quickly, gone sour for mr bush and his government.
Columnist Paul Krugman, writing in today's (9/9/03) edition of the New York Times made this pointed argument:
"Mr bush created this crisis, and if he were a true patriot he would pay a political price to resolve it. Maybe it's time for him to do a couple of things he's never done before, like admitting mistakes, and standing up to the hard (political) right."
czechmate 9/9/03
9:38:06 PM 
|
