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Sept. 29, 2004 With the Presidential Debates only a few days away, and the General Elections on the horizon, a few thoughts are weighing on my mind. The War In Iraq I am aware this is a touchy subject. However, the killing of our Military personnel, beheadings of Americans, foreign civilians who are trying to rebuild the infrastructure, and the Insurgents determination to negate all efforts to bring Iraq into the 21st Century, has yielded pause for thought. What was the Bush Administration's mindset, when they initiated this Grand Plan to "liberate" Iraq? In my opinion, in a perfect, Utopian world - the thinking was: The United States needed to invade and conquer a country which had been under the rule of Saddam Hussein, a vicious dictator - who imprisoned, tortured, and killed anyone who opposed his rule. There were suspicions that Saddam Hussein was in the process of building Weapons of Mass Destruction, and was in league with the loosely organized masterminds of the 911 attack. Through Intelligence reports, it was indicated that Iraq was a "staging ground" for terrorists camps. Financing for future terrorist attacks against the United States and its Allies, were filtering through the banks and borders of that country. All attempts by the United Nations Arms Inspectors to verify that Weapons of Mass Destruction were not hidden in that country, were thwarted by Saddam Hussein and his followers. Through representatives of an exiled Iraqi opposition leadership, it was reported that the population of Iraq, would "Welcome, with Open Arms" removing the tyrant Saddam Hussein and his followers from power. There would be "little resistance" to the invasion. Then, after "Operation Iraqi Freedom" was complete - The United States and its Allies would rebuild, and bring Democracy to Iraq. Stability and Peace, would reign throughout that region of the Middle East. Reality Check I fail to see how the current Administration did not foresee and take into account the "Ignorance Level," and the entrenched Religious influence aspect of the population of Iraq. This is a country whose average educational level is below the 3rd Grade, and subscribes to ancient religious rituals / tribal customs. Were the advisors to the President so blind with ambition, that they could not anticipate that the religious factions of Iraq would seize the opportunity that was handed to them on a silver platter, to gain control of an uneducated populous? Does Iran come to mind? If the sole basis of commerce, industry, and wealth are based on the production of oil, the population of Iraq will be subject to the egregious disproportionate dispersion of the rewards that it will bring. Nigeria, Russia, and other "Third World" countries are currently in the grip of this transformation. Fifty Dollars for a barrel of oil? Geez! Are the men and women of the United States Military, and its Allies fighting and dying for the elimination of Terrorism, and the Democratization of Iraq, or Oil? When the future pages of history are written, will the over 1,000 lives (and counting) lost in this "Theodore Roosevelt" War Campaign by President George W. Bush to liberate Iraq, be righteous and justified? The Media - ABC / NBC / CBS / BBC Each evening, the Media reports of continual car bombs and gorilla tactics initiated by Insurgents, in an ignorant attempt to derail the upcoming January elections in Iraq, and the November elections in our own country. These are the only reports we hear. Where are the news reports of schools being built in Iraq to educate the population? Where are the reports of progress being made to elevate the standard of living for the civilians of that country? Where are the reports of new commerce, industry, and job initiatives to occupy the idle hands of the Iraqi people? How has our over 85 Billion Dollars in Tax money been spent? Other than funding our own Military, hiring Police and outfitting the New Iraqi Military, infrastructure repairs - Where has the money gone? I saw a news report where one our Military Commanders handed $1,500 in cash to repair a Mosque, that was damaged in an attack. In another report, our troops were handing out radios - batteries included, so that the Iraqi population could hear our version of "Radio Free Iraq". The radios were then summarily smashed on the ground, by teenagers and Insurgents. Another report indicated that 700 newly minted Iraqi Police Officers were going to be fired, due to incompetence and or they have associations with Insurgents. What galled me, is that these terminated Police Officers were going to get "Severance Pay" (bought off), so that there would not be hard feelings. Excuse me! If you have knowledge that a person has associations with known Insurgents - Why would you give them money to fund terrorism? What kind of cockeyed thinking, is this? Also, I was stunned to witness a Media report of a protest of civilians in the streets of Iraq, that Iraqi Police were participating in. To top that off, Iraqi Police car patrols routinely ignore armed and mortar equipped masked Insurgents - who stand as gangs in the streets. Do you not think it would have been wise to alert the Military to surround, and disarm these men? Do they not have radios that can transmit the locations? Our Own Military Commanders in Iraq, have reported to the News Media, that they have no idea where the over 2 - 3 thousand armed Insurgents are located. The Military are resorting to "Surgical Strikes," that kill about 15 - 30 Insurgents at a time. I kid you not. These reports were recently aired on all of the Major Nightly News Programs in the United States, and overseas. The Presidential Debates Can you believe that the Presidential Debates are subject to the rules and regulations of a 32 Page "Memorandum of Understanding," that was agreed to by both political parties? The Debates are going to be sanitized and homogenized, as to "not put the candidates in a bad light." The camera can not randomly pan over to the reactions of a candidate, who may have an unflattering reaction to the words of the opposing candidate. The participants can not move away from their podiums. The questions of the moderators are pre-screened and are formulated, as not to generate discord. The candidates can not ask questions or address each other. The temperature of the room has to be at... The list goes on. Bring back the Rules that were in force during the Lincoln - Douglas, Kennedy - Nixon Debates. Geez! Do we want to see a Presidential Debate that was generated by computer 3D game program? In a normal debate, individuals react to what is said. Individuals are animated, and their body language, facial expressions indicate their thinking, more than the words. In the real world, our elected leaders interact with other world leaders. Would it not be in our best interests to see, that our elected leaders are "human?" The contortions of the human face, and body language can instill confidence or fear. The American people have a right to see how the candidates react; for this is the face and body movements that other world leaders will see. George W. Bush / John Kerry Each time I see George Bush address his supporters during a rally, that is reported by the Media - I get the impression that, when he smiles - What he is really saying "I can't believe everyone is buying into what I have said." His facial expressions remind me of a child, trying to convince a parent that he / she did not take money from their wallet. He always appears to be preaching to a group of parishioners, expounding his interpretation of what is written. The future of the United States is not open to interpretation. His word is not Gospel; for he brought the United States into a War, that was based on false information, and lies. George W. Bush is constantly corrected by his advisors - when holding a press conference in the Rose Garden. "I don't know what I will find, when I assume the Office of President of the United States," were the words uttered by John Kerry at a recent rally of supporters. This was the first true statement I have heard from a candidate. The fact remains, only the current President knows the entire story. John Kerry appears to have the facial expressions and confidence building body language, matching vision, and vocabulary of Franklin Roosevelt. He also has the tall stature, and communication skills of Ronald Reagan. George W. Bush's actions are reminiscent of the Administrations of Herbert Hoover (The Economy) Lyndon Johnson (Viet Nam), and the first term of Richard Nixon (Escalating the War in Viet Nam). John Kerry is reminiscent of Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and John Kennedy. John Kerry has yet to be tested as President of the United States. However, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman (At the time of FDR's death), and John Kennedy were all untested, as well. ------------ About the author Argile Stox: Visit the website: http://mysite.verizon.net/res8nrbr/ Email: argilestox@verizon.net Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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