Cut and run or Stay the course?

October 22, 2006 at 06:58:31

Cut and run or Stay the course?

by Joe Plummer

http://www.opednews.com


There are two ways to make progress toward a desirable goal:

1. Engage in activity that is clearly "productive."

2. STOP engaging in activity that is clearly "counterproductive."

As an example: Imagine spraying gasoline on a forest fire in an attempt to "put
out the flames." Within a reasonable amount of time it should be obvious the chosen course of action is not working. More importantly, it should also be obvious the chosen course of action is actually making the situation WORSE. In this example, it would be better to "cut and run" from the chosen course of action than it would be to "stay the course." (-Better for everyone, save perhaps those profiting from the sale of the gasoline.)

Now, let's apply this analogy to the situation in Iraq. Our top military leaders have told us repeatedly our approach is not effectively "putting out the fires." Worse, they've said our presence in the country is actually "fueling the flames." Now, I suppose we can keep dumping gasoline on the jungle that is Iraq. Who knows, maybe 20 years, millions of dead civilians, countless American lives and trillions of dollars later, the forest will be leveled and there'll be nothing left to burn. But is that REALLY our only option? And what other costs will America incur? What kind of "blowback" might we expect? (Not just from newly created "terrorists" incensed by the illegal invasion and subsequent slaughter, but also from an outraged international community?)

...it's clear Al Qaeda and their handful of followers are gaining the most from the war in Iraq, the loss of goodwill toward America and the erosion of our founding principles here at home. Since those responsible for these polices have no intention of changing their approach (despite their history of being wrong on nearly everything) I think it's fair to say: A vote to "stay the course" is a vote to weaken America and empower its enemies. The time is long past due to "cut and run" from those who've led our country astray.

"Who knows, maybe 20 years, millions of dead civilians, countless American lives and trillions of dollars later, the forest will be leveled and there'll be nothing left to burn..."

Maybe that was the idea all along?
Afterall, the people who make money from selling the "gasoline" are running this country.
Seems pretty obvious to me!

The GOP is feeling the heat.

of 'cut and run' to bushco AFTER the '06 elections, except when the rethugs DO IT, it won't be called 'cut and run'. These SCAM ARTISTS have spent all of their political capital and like EVERYTHING ELSE bushco, THEY are NOW running deficits.

I think that currently he has zero influence and that his influence after the 06 elections will only be with center right Democrats, assuming that we actually win. If TeamBush steals another election Baker can stamp his feet loudly and even spit, but nothing he says will have any effect on the assclowns in charge. They are insufferable arrogant criminals.

BUT if THEY DO, I believe there will be HUGE infighting within the rethugliCON party, specially with the '08 presidential elections looming straight ahead. bushco has screwed up royally and MANY in the rethug hierarchy KNOW IT.

yeah

Look we are obviously expecting too much from this administration. Did anyone expect anything actually sensible? I expect nothing but idiocy intended for the campaign media barrage, followed November 8 by either 1) a sneering proclamation of a new mandate for carnage (they stole another election) or 2) a sneering arrogant challenge to 'try and stop us' toward the new Democratic center right congress while they continue the carnage.

What I guarantee is that the carnage will continue as the new congress goes into session and that attempts to end it will be portrayed as a cowardly betrayal of the many already killed. Will a Democratic center-right congress stand up and do the right thing? Will they cut off funding and force a withdrawal? My guess is that they will not, but I retain hope that they will find the courage to prove me wrong. If they do, we will once again be blamed for the Iraqi Debacle, as we were for the Vietnam Debacle. If the killing stops I for one am ok with taking the blame again.