A Lack of Faith

Tonight, President Bush announced his latest strategy in concern to the war in Iraq. This “refreshed” strategy of sorts sounds a bit familiar to most, which is the reason why many doubt the sincerity of his message. Starting Monday, Bush plans to send roughly 21,500 more troops to the war zone. The additional troops, along with the troops already there will now be charged with training Iraqi forces in a more “hands on manner.” Now Iraqi troops will be embedded with American trainers as well as missions consisting of both American and Iraqi forces working together.

So what does this mean for the over all scheme of Iraq? Bush said that he would pull American support out of Iraq if the Iraqis do not start to maintain order within their own borders. He even said that he is taking responsibility for all of the wrongs that have occurred with Iraq. The president has two years left in his term and his latest strategy is more than likely his last great chance to affect the outcome of his personal war. Personally, I believe that this strategy is a case of more bark than bite. Military experts agree that sending more troops over will not fix the situation, but instead, make it even worse.

Even Lt. Colonel Oliver North, a staunch GOP member, disagrees with the new strategy. He belies that the addition of troops will not encourage the Iraqi forces to fight, but instead to rely on American forces even more. Even those of the president’s own party are starting to falter in their support of Bush and his foreign policy. How did the new Democratic Congress respond to all of this? They refused to “zip up” the pocket book on this new endeavor. The only power that Congress has over the executive in this case is the power of the purse. I am shocked by the lack of action from Congress. Something needs to be done in order to curtail this president’s dangerous assault on the Constitution.

But there lay in the danger of opposing a Bush policy, especially in concern to Iraq. If the Democrats were to challenge this latest plan, Bush could easily turn the tables. He would do this via a smear campaign of calling democratic congressmen and women “un-American” and slinging a variety of other propaganda. Either way, we are in a no win situation and it appears as if Congress will not take the impeachment route, at least not yet anyway.