The Loser

Link to original: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/101106Z.shtml

The Loser
By William Rivers Pitt
t r u t h o u t | Perspective

Wednesday 11 October 2006

Kill the headlights and put it in neutral,
Stock car flamin' with a loser and the cruise control ...

- Beck, "Loser"

There are some kinds of history presidents just don't want to make. Nixon sure didn't want to be the first president to resign the office in disgrace. Johnson didn't enjoy being forced to fold his hand. Hoover couldn't understand why so many laid the depth of the Depression at his feet. The list goes on.

George W. Bush is making some history of his own these days. When all is said and done, he will go into the books as the first American president to lose two wars at the same time.

Can't be that bad, you say? Chew on this: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist pretty much unilaterally surrendered to the Taliban last week after a quick tour of Afghanistan. Granted, Mr. Frist is not a noted military tactician by any measure, but the writing is on the wall over there for just about anyone to read. Frist read it, and ran up the white flag.

"U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Monday that the Afghan war against Taliban guerrillas can never be won militarily," reported the Associated Press after Frist's visit, "and called for efforts to bring the Islamic militia and its supporters into the Afghan government. The Tennessee Republican said he learned from briefings that Taliban fighters were too numerous and had too much popular support to be defeated on the battlefield."

Great.

Once upon a time, the war was being fought to get the Taliban out of the Afghan government. Somewhere along the line, however, Saddam became the single greatest threat in the history of the world, and the military resources being used in Afghanistan were funneled into Iraq. Not long afterwards, the Taliban surged back into prominence. The Afghan heroin crop is so huge this year that all the world's addicts are going to have to be permanently stoned around the clock to avoid having leftovers. I'm sure they won't complain.

How is that Iraq thing going? Swimmingly. 2,748 American soldiers are dead, with 34 killed in the first ten days of October. Somewhere around 20,000 more are grievously wounded or permanently maimed. Every day, bombs go off and bodies drop. Piles of tortured and bullet-riddled corpses turn up all over Baghdad; 60 more were found on Tuesday, with their hands and feet bound and their bodies beaten to jelly.

The Bush administration would have us believe there is no civil war in Iraq, and that we're still dealing with "insurgents," but few people are buying that line anymore. After three and a half years of this, we have bought ourselves front-row seats to a blood feud that we cannot even begin to calm down or control. The price tag for those seats, by the way, stands in the hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars.

But we're safer, right?

Wrong.

"The U.S. Army is showing growing signs of strain as it tries to sustain troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan," reported Reuters several days ago, "including stress on soldiers, lower unit readiness, equipment shortfalls and money worries. Many soldiers are facing second and third deployments. U.S. military leaders had expected lower U.S. troop levels in Iraq by now, but have been scrambling to sustain higher totals because of sectarian violence that has raised fears of a civil war. No significant cuts are expected until at least the middle of next year."

"The real question is: Can the Army do its job?" asked Reagan-era Assistant Secretary of Defense for manpower issues Lawrence Korb in the same Reuters article. "The Army is not going to be what it should be. There are going to be more deaths and longer wars because you're not at your peak readiness."

So, to recap: the United States military is on the verge of becoming dangerously ineffective thanks to protracted and wasteful engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan, both of which promise to continue unabated because "victory" in any real sense has moved beyond reach, but no one in government dares to say this out loud.

And now North Korea is popping off nuclear weapons.

"Nearly five years after President Bush introduced the concept of an 'axis of evil' comprising Iraq, Iran and North Korea," reported the Washington Post on Tuesday, "the administration has reached a crisis point with each nation: North Korea has claimed it conducted its first nuclear test, Iran refuses to halt its uranium-enrichment program, and Iraq appears to be tipping into a civil war 3 1/2 years after the U.S.-led invasion. Each problem appears to feed on the others, making the stakes higher and requiring Bush and his advisers to make difficult calculations, analysts and U.S. officials said."

Difficult calculations. Right. The administration will spend the next few days bouncing off the walls while secretly being pleased that North Korea's frightening debut on the nuclear stage got everyone's eyes off the Mark Foley page scandal. George W. Bush will be on television for interminable minutes mangling the pronunciation of the word "nuclear" while trying to sound like he has any idea what is going on. The rest of us will be hiding under our beds.

The first president to lose two wars at the same time is on the job, folks. I feel safer just thinking about it.

God Willing!

hmmm Should I vote for the party that let us be attacked and let North Korea get the bomb? Or should I vote for the party that actually prevented attacks and Nuclear Proliferation? hmmm

Your voice is one of the most important in the US today, IMO.

I hope America can change in November, I hope a voice like yours can be used to set the stage for a new time of positivity for Americans, instead of the ongoing distain. I hope America will use a talent like yours to provide insight into matters that are important to the people instead of the matters the government wish to hide.

I hope we up here in Canada, can see America as the power it once was. I hope your voice will help restore some class to a once great nation.

America....Please Vote.

what about y'all?

:sarcasm:


USA ruled by MORANS...

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

protecting you?

We're losing Asia too.

I was watching a news show here in Osaka, Japan and a foreign politics analyst on the show pretty much just said that for 6 years, the U.S. basically just let North Korea do whatever it wanted. He said to all the Japanese people who were "talking tough" about using strict sanctions and possible military force to open their eyes and realize that the U.S. is having no part of it. The Japanese (and I assume the S.Koreans) are on their own.

The other news commentators looked stunned and dazed.

Period. People and places that make the world a more dangerous place are actually encouraged as it provides a more credible backdrop of Fear. And Fear is their chief tool to motivate us into doing their bidding.

in which he was spitting fire--I'm convinced that he's nuts. Really nuts. There is something seriously wrong with that man.

He gets cranky when things don't go his way. What a brat. Time for a time-out!

that he doesn't become the first president to go down in history for losing three wars at the same time. I wonder if this idiot realizes how vunerable our nation is becoming as a result of his Katrina foreign policy?

And he lost the elections, so what do you expect from a loser?

Now, of course, if you think that he won any election to the office, tell me how.

And if you do, you will be telling me that the Dems are losers. I think the dems were winners, and given a fair election, will easily win this election.

Sometimes I wonder if it will ever be possible to fix what's been fucked up by this jerk. It'll take a couple of generations, at least. He's going to go down in history, alright. As the worst ever, and for the most reasons.

This is going to everyone in my address book, once again.
Please keep up the fight for Truth.

40,000 tons of dead humans. Stacked head to toe, 650 miles of dead humans.

:kick:

If he attacks Iran, then he will be losing three wars at once.

Then the Navy and the Air Force will feel the pinch then

who lacks the mental and moral depth to be a good mayor much less the chief executive. Aided and abetted by the most degenerate congress we've seen since the robber baron days. Rot like this at the top would cost the most talented and vibrant nation dearly.

(Please forgive the off topic statements following:)

Last night we got into discussion until the wee hours on election theft..

on this thread..:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2363468

My contention, along with a few others on that thread is we ARE going to be victimized once again come election day. We've gone over the past election thefts in other threads and have arrived at subjective conclusions. Based on the current attitudes of the GOP of not seeming to be bothered by the loss of control of the Senate and House...we are convinced they have another trick up their sleeve for the upcoming election.

I didn't want to publicly state how I felt the theft would be done, because quite frankly, it scares me to death thinking about it. I intended to send my hypothetical to you for your review and perhaps to put it in the right hands capable of preempting the commission of (stolen election) another crime.

Unfortunately, when I went to e-mail you, the e-mail was kicked back..

Do you have a private e-mail address, not on this site, I can sent this scenario to?

Thanks,

Tellurian

I said to my partner this morning after watching George W. Bush's press conference that as low as my expectations of him are, that today he actually scared me. I saw a pathetic creature who knows in his deepest soul that he has caused the deaths of millions now and will go down in all-time history as America's Caligula.

A privileged rich kid who was promoted far beyond his capacities to the great misfortune of the entire planet.

He lost two wars and, don't forget, Bill Mahr wrote only half in jest that Bush is the first President to ever lose an entire city: New Orleans.

William, I really think you have the final word here on Bush: Loser.

K&R

safe and cozy - I feel so PROTECTED!! :sarcasm: :puke:

Ugh!! I still have a hard time wrapping my brain around all that has happened, how far we have sunk, the disaster and misery and suffering that has been wrought these past six years. It's terrifying and sickening and so much more.

Great post, Will. You are the first I've heard frame it this way and it is, of course, absolutely correct. Yeah, what a great "WAR PRESIDENT"! He loses 'em two at a time!! Hmmm, three strikes and he's out??? Yeah, maybe he's just swinging that bat, hoping for a hit, eventually. God help us all. :scared:

http://bushcheated04.cf.huffingtonpost.com/

Loser version 2.0

In the time of chimpanzees Bush was a monkey,
Butane in Rove’s veins as he ran the junkie.
Newscasters lying while we tube feed the vegetables,
Dog food dinners for the grannies stealin’ Tylenol.
Kill all your brain cells and put it in neutral,
Iraq is flamin’ with the loser and the cruise control.
Babies in Gitmo is how Rummy plays D,
Gamble with democracy, try to kill diplomacy.

Someone came sayin’ I’m insane to complain
About a looted treasury and a stain on my country.
Can’t believe what they want us to breathe,
You get a lungful of mercury and a moron in the lead.
(Medicare, cut it)

So you change some votes with a few keystrokes
Doin’ cages in Florida, and lines in Ohio.

George says he’s emperor
But he’s a cheater baby
He stole the election (fascism meltdown)
George says he’s emperor
But he’s a loser baby
So why not impeach him.

Forces of evil in a bozo nightmare,
Playing all the rubes with a phony echo chamber.
One is a weasel as the others sport the flag;
A mother alone gets her son back in a bag

With the rerun wars from Mr. Cocaine nose job,
The devious bullshit of a race war flip flop
A GI hung himself with a guitar string;
A slab of cannon fodder and he’s hanging so he doesn’t sing.

I can’t write if you can’t relate,
Trade the cash for a gay bash for the body for the hate.
And this time it’s a piece of crack
We’ve fallen for the bad times, we’re choking on the nightmares.

George says he’s emperor
But he’s a cheater baby
He stole the election (fascism meltdown)
George says he’s emperor
But he’s a loser baby
So why not impeach him.

“If this were a dictatorship it’d be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I’m the dictator.”

George says he’s emperor
But he’s a cheater baby
He stole the election. (I can’t believe this)
George says he’s emperor
But he’s a loser baby
So why not impeach him.

George says he’s emperor
We’re all losing baby
So we’ve got to change it (Sprechen sie Deuthsche baby?).
George says he’s emperor
We’re all losing baby
So we’ve got to change it. (Or there’ll be nothin’ to be sayin’).

George says he’s emperor
We’re all losing baby
So we’ve got to change it. (I can’t believe this)
George says he’s emperor
We’re all losing baby
So we’ve got to change it.

Mission accomplished.

Controlling the world narcotics trade is almost as important to the US financial sector as controlling the world energy trade.

you don't need any more recommends to reach front page but i'm honored to add my little click anyway

a very nice summary

DUHbya will have lost two wars, one to a Third World nation, the other to a nation decimated by sanctions.

Plus, he will have lost the War on Terra, leaving us less safe than at any time since WWII.

Plus, he will have lost through inaction the war to protect the planetary climate from massive overconsumption.

Plus, he will have lost the war for the hearts and minds of the people of Iran, the Middle East, the Arab world, the Muslim world, and a large part of the Western world.

On the bright side, he will have won the wars on drugs and poverty by merging the two and fighting a successful war on poor people who use drugs.

And he sure got that Tommy Chong for calling a bong a bong!

Newsprism

(pass the word)

Good article, Will

Of course the Cat Killer wouldn't have the balls to file articles of impeachment, or perform any other oversight duties of Congress=Oh, no! For that, we'd need the Terminator!

I HOPE I feel safer after the elections. I sometimes wonder why anyone would want to take on the mess this administration has left, but I'm glad some people do.

Just found out McCain cancelled two appearances in Buffalo in support of "local republicans" - like maybe....Tom Reynolds. So many "scheduling conflicts" lately with those repukes. Looks like we'll be picking up a seat in NY, and that IS good news.

from the start. My vote is for the worst Administration in history moniker.


:hurts:

That needs to be repeated from now until November again and again. And then until the next presidential election.

From what I hear the Army can't even keep up with overhauling Humvees and Bradleys before being sent back over to the Middle East.

Thank you, Will.

:dem:

He's a loser, baby, ...

Don't look now Will but he's getting ready to go double or nothing in N Korea and Iran.

That said, I believe he will be remembered badly by history but I don't think it will be with such specificity unless we look at things like Habeus Corpus, he may well be remembered for destroying our bill of rights and waging a disasterous war in Iraq, but honestly, unless more attention is paid to the war in Afghanistan in the rest of the world as it is within America, I see that as just being a blip on the awfulness of the presidency that is GWBs.

Also, as I remember, we went into Afghanistan to punish them for allowing Bin Laden to be there with his Al Queda and since the Taliban were the rulers at the time, they were targeted. It sounds so noble to get rid of the Taliban and it is, if that's why we went. But again, as I remember it, we were enraged and just looking to make someone pay. It was just the necessary first step because no one would go with the Iraq angle without some serious prep, which sadly was later "accomplished".

Killer line: "The first president to lose two wars at the same time"