Shock and Awe and Then What?

With a friend still serving in the Middle East, I cannot forget about Iraq, even if it no longer tops the lead stories in the news. From Friday's Financial-Times:

The US administration has quietly reversed its goal from whittling down troop numbers in Iraq. A Pentagon spokesman on Friday confirmed that US troop levels in Iraq rose to 132,000 during the past week – the highest since late May – from 127,000 at the start of the week.

However, analysts said an increase in troop numbers was more likely than a reduction because the number of sectarian killings in Iraq had almost doubled since the start of the year. The rise will prompt fears that the US is becoming increasingly bogged down in an unwinnable conflict. There were 3,169 Iraqis killed in June, compared with 1,778 in January.

However, US officials deny that the new campaign to stabilise Baghdad undermines Mr Bush’s promise that “as the Iraqis stand up we will stand down” – a phrase he has almost stopped using. In a departure from Mr Bush’s normally upbeat language, he this week said the violence in Baghdad was “terrible”.

Although the violence has shifted from an anti-US insurgency to a sectarian conflict between Sunni and Shia groups, Iraq experts fear Shia militias will see US troops as an easy target. There are also concerns that the combined US-Iraqi force of 75,000 will be insufficient to regain control of Baghdad.

Ok. Now we're back to increasing troop levels. It's odd how the administration is very vocal when it talks about reducing the number of troops serving in Iraq. But when more troops are sent to Iraq, there's hardly a word and it's done when other stories occupy the headlines.

I just don't have it in me to rail today against the continually awful planning of this war by Bush, Cheney, and Don Rumsfeld. Sadly, I think history will tell that story well by itself. "Shock and awe" may not be the way to win a war or a peace, afterall. Israel may be learning that lesson these days too. And, Georgie Boy, I'm still waiting for those Iraqis to stand up. Oh yeah, I forgot. They did stand up....for Hezbollah.

Soft and Hot

Don't worry. Despite the suggestive title, this post is rather tame. I'm even going to step away from my 1st and 2nd loves of foreign affairs & Bush bashing. Instead, I want to comment on the latest heat wave, the resulting power crunch in California, and the implications of both.

I live in SW Florida, so I must confess that I prefer it hot. I happen to like a 80 degree Christmas Day where I can do some fishing before sunset. And I'm fine with 98 degrees and 100% humidity around here in July. As a teenager I sometimes worked in a palm grove on such summer days and, while it was a little rough, I survived and even earned some extra cash "Mexican" style too. Only during a trip to what is just about my favorite place in the world, Costa Rica, did I begin to find it uncomfortably hot as the temeprature neared 110. But even then - amidst such beautiful distractions - the sun was far from being the hottest thing around!

So personally I'm fine with this global warming thing. However, I realize the issue is much broader than my personal hope of never seeing snow again. And I'm starting to wonder if there isn't something to the ideas that people like Al Gore have been talking about for years afterall. I haven't seen his movie, nor have I seriously studied the research. Therefore, I won't offer an uninformed opinion. Yet, as a layman, it does seem like I've witnessed a real climate change during my short lifetime.

OK - that's the hot part. Now for the soft. Watching the news makes me consider how soft we've become here in America in general. California is facing rolling blackouts once again in the wake of a heat wave. With temperatures today expected to reach 106 in Sacramento and 110 in the San Fernando Valley, Southern California Edison is reporting record energy use. Officials say they have no choice but to turn the power off if individuals won't turn the power down. In fact, Monday's usage was 15% higher than the peak day of use in 2005 and 26% higher than the peak day of use during the California energy crisis of 2000-2001.

Why is it that Americans (I'm not going to single out Californians) can't turn down the A/C when Israelis and Lebanese can live for weeks in small, smelly, and hot underground bomb shelters? Why is it that we have more problems going the 5 minute drive drive to the grocery store without running our car's A/C on high than Iraqis do making the life-or-death walk to the outdoor market during daily bombings?

I think it must be merely because we can. It's the same reason gasoline consumption hasn't dropped in spite of record high pump prices. And although we're not alone, we are probably the world's leader in this department. This is even a sore subject in my own household. Whereas I tend to keep the thermostat around 82, my wife prefers it at 78....if I'm lucky. She is 7 months pregnant, so I usually let her win that little argument. But still I occasionally consider the thousands of Israeli, Lebanese, and Iraqi pregnant women who only dream of a cool night of good sleep and feel just slightly guilty.

It also reminds me of a recent visit to my son's pediatrician. While we waited to get his school physical, I overheard a fellow parent complain to the receptionist of how uncomfortably hot it was in the waiting room. The staffer walked around the counter to examine the thermostat which was on the wall near our seats. It was set to 77 degrees. As she then lowered the setting to 72 degrees, the receptionist apologized to us suffering parents, "That's why it's hot so hot in here. Someone must have raised it. I'm sorry about that."

Don't misinterpret my intentions. I'm not bashing America. Afterall, no nation is perfect and most others have problems that dwarf our own. And I still thank God that I was born an American (that is, if I couldn't be a Costa Rican Tico!). But I do think there's something to the idea that we've become soft as a people. And not being able to turn down the A/C or live without that 8 cyclinder gas-guzzler might indeed be signs.

In conclusion, Tom Brokaw's simple, yet excellent, book The Greatest Generation comes to mind. The author's thesis was that the hardships of the Great Depression made American society strong enough to overcome the greatest challenge Western Civilization ever faced in World War 2. Makes sense. But will such a book ever be written about this generation? Or about the previous one? Or the next one? I dunno. Time will tell. I do know that this slow dial-up connection is really pissing me off and I wish Starbucks was still open because I'm thirsty. However, I'm not sure those inconveniences are book-worthy!

In The Best of Company

In the past 2 years I've been taunted and teased by family and friends alike for jumping off the Bush ship and describing our President's administration as an utter failure. But I have to smile on those occasions when I realize that I'm far from being alone. Just yesterday the father of modern American conservatism said this to CBS News:

"If you had a European prime minister who experienced what we've experienced, it would be expected that he would retire or resign."

Tough words. Our presidential system is indeed different than Europe. But political history tells me someone will still have to pay for this administration's failures. And it can no longer be Bush himself. That's why I've called for non-RINO Congressional Republicans and 2008 candidiates to run as distanced from Bush as possible. It appears Buckley would echo that call. He continued:

"I think Mr. Bush faces a singular problem best defined, I think, as the absence of effective conservative ideology — with the result that he ended up being very extravagant in domestic spending, extremely tolerant of excesses by Congress. And in respect of foreign policy, incapable of bringing together such forces as apparently were necessary to conclude the Iraq challenge."

Well said, WFB. So I suppose I'll just continue to be a left-winger along with George Will, Pat Buchanan, and now William F. Buckley. In such esteemed company, I feel better already.

Fear Not, Hizballah. Iraq's Got Your Back.

This time the news out of Iraq doesn't concern more American troops being slaughtered. That's a welcomed change. But I'm saddened to realize that it will likely prove to be short lived. Furthermore, the news similarly doesn't concern the ever-growing victims of the Iraqi civil war, even though another 100+ civilians were killed in Iraq on this very day. Let's forget about all that stuff like good pro-war, pro-Bush supporters, ok?

Instead, the disheartening news from Iraq reveals that (surprise, surprise) perhaps this new "democratically-elected" Iraqi government isn't all it's cracked out to be afterall.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's US backed government denounced Israel's "criminal" raids on Lebanon and Gaza and the prime minister warned of the risk of an escalation of violence.

In a rare public foray into affairs beyond its borders, the premier's office said in a statement: "Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki denounces the Israeli raids on Lebanon and warns of the consequences of escalation in the region."

"The prime minister calls on Arab foreign ministers to meet to take a clear stand that condemns the criminal acts in Lebanon and Gaza and affirms this assault will make Lebanon's people more united and cohesive in the face of the Israeli challenge."

You mean the very government the US created isn't echoing our own sentiments on the fighting in Israel? You mean this Maliki guy is actually sounding like Bashar Assad of Syria or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran? Wow. But wait, that's not all. There's more! Not only does Maliki condemn Israel, the Iraqi Sunnis who oppose him are chiming in too. The speaker of Iraqi parliament, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, accused "Jewish Israeli Zionists" this week of fomenting sectarian unrest in Iraq to thwart efforts by Sunnis and Shiites to build an Islamic state!

Yeah, it's not like the Israelis have anything better to do these days, right? They're secretly over there in Iraq trying to prevent the formation of an Islamic state. But wait! I thought the new Iraq was going to be an American-friendly democracy? What's this stuff about building an Islamic state? I never heard Bush, Cheney, and half the people here at TPS mention any of that. You mean Prime Minister Malaki's position on the war in Lebanon is kind of like, say, Saddam Hussein's?

Boy, $500 billion dollars (and 2,550+ dead troops) sure doesn't buy what it used to!

Who Needs A Message When You Can Give A Massage?

By now everyone has heard about Bush's dropping of an s-bomb during the G-8 summit. Personally, I think the sight of Bush talking with his mouth open and stuffed full of food was much more offensive than the use of the word itself. I'm a pretty big redneck too, but even I had to cringe when seeing such "cowboy diplomacy" at work. Reminds me of that recent hit song by Jake Owen Yee-haw!

However, continuing on the lighter note, the story getting much less airplay is how Bush strangely attempted to give new German chancellor Angela Merkle a back massage during the summit. Needless to say, Merkle was not impressed by those Texas ham hands. The pictures of her facial gestures hoping he'll soon stop are only topped in humor by the embarrassed expression on Bush's face as he realizes he just made an unwelcomed touch.

C'mon Georgie Boy, we already know you're enjoying even lower approval ratings than Bill Clinton during his impeachment, but do you have to try to steal his moves as well? Is Laura not giving you any until you get your ratings up? Talk about furthering the image of the ugly American. Check out TPS reader MQA's Blog to see the priceless footage Bush's unexpected and inappropriate massage.

More of Those Damn Polls

More bad news today for Republican chances of retaining control of Congress after the November 2006 elections. I know I'm likely to be reminded how polls don't matter. But with all due respect, I like polls and think they're a great tool. I think it's important that our elected leaders always keep a snapshot of popular opinion in mind.

Before I'm further reminded how we have a republic not a democracy, I should say that I too don't want our politicans to govern strictly by polling. However, why should our leaders also govern with a blind eye towards popular opinion, but for those fake, lie-filled months before an election? I want my leaders to be continually AWARE of what average joes think and I just don't think letter-writers to Congress are sufficient. The Bush administration and GOP Congress have buried their collective heads in the sand and ignored public opinion since Election Day 2004. Let them do so at their own risk.

Anyway, back to the poll. The July 10-12 AP-Ipsos poll put President Bush's approval rating at 36%. That's hardly news - Bush's numbers appear to have bottomed out and I'd be surprised to see them go any lower. The AP poll also showed its sample pool of "persuadable voters" (or moderates, if you will) to favor giving Democrats control of Congress by a 51% to 40% margin. However, the most revealing part of this poll is what the data reveals about the thoughts of Republicans, like me. The survey showed a respectable 24% of self-described "conservatives" plan to vote Democrat this fall.

Naturally I continue to feel vindicated by such poll results. Afterall, I too am a self-described conservative who plans to vote Democrat this fall to punish the GOP. Because the Republicans just don't seem to be listening yet. Rep. Chris Cannon (Utah), a strong supporter of Bush's plans for giving amnesty to illegal-immigrants, recently defeated his primary challenger, conservative John Jacob, by a healthy 56%to 44% margin. Cannon will likely be returned to Washington this fall. Aware of the tendency that two-term presidents have to lose Congressional seats in year 6, this voter hopes RINO Cannon will soon sit in the minority.

The End of Cowboy Diplomacy

Time has an interesting cover story this week entitled "The End of Cowboy Diplomacy." The sub headline poses, "What North Korea, Iraq and Iran teach us about the limits of going it alone."

I won't make this post a review of the article. But I do think the essay and its broader points are worthy of consideration, even by some of Bush's biggest supporters around here. The article's co-authors hit on the very same subjects that turned me off to Bush several years ago. For all his good intentions and his many failures, Bush's primary error will prove to taking those actions (both in domestic and foreign policy) in direct contrast to the principles by which he first campaigned.

Few television talking heads speak more to my own voice than MSNBC's Tucker Carlson. Tucker recently summed up Bush's legacy stating, "George W. Bush is no conservative and will be remembered by history much closer to Woodrow Wilson than to Ronald Reagan." A good point, I think. Both presidents were indeed inspired by great visions for the world. But Wilson was stubborn and Reagan was flexible. Wilson's policies failed and Reagan's worked. Into which category do we put Bush?

The Time article concludes by offering, "Global leadership can't be based on optimism alone. Until recently, Bush failed to acknowledge how much Iraq has eroded U.S. credibility or show that he takes seriously the criticism lodged against his policies by U.S. allies."

I agree. Iraq has put us in a difficult position to deal with Iran and North Korea. Optimism alone isn't going to work this time - but that's what we dealt in Iraq and it's all we ever get from these cards of Cheney, Rumsfeld, and Rice. It's hard to talk tough to the rest of the world with one voice and no ears on Iraq, but then sit down at a big table and hold hands with Kim Il Jong. Even someone whose never played poker can see this bluff coming: we got nothing. A sad, but probably fitting end to such "cowboy diplomacy." Hopefully we'll have a new president and much different direction in our foreign (and domestic) policy before we "bust."

Imagine Those "Your Mama Is So Ugly" Jokes?

LONDON — A 62-year-old child psychologist has given birth to a boy, becoming the oldest British woman to have a baby. Patti Farrant delivered her son, J.J., by Caesarean section on Wednesday. The baby was conceived after fertility treatments. Farrant has three grown children from a previous marriage. It is the first child for her husband, John, 60, an education management consultant.

Other older British mothers include Liz Buttle who was 60 when she gave birth to a son in 1997. The oldest woman in the world to give birth is believed to be Romanian Adriana Iliescu, who was 66 when she had a daughter in Bucharest in January 2005.

These stories always catch my attention when one comes along in the news seemingly every month or so. Does anyone have any particular feelings on the subject of the new wave of older parents? It used to be funny to hear about old geezers like Cary Grant, Anthony Quinn, and Tony Randall having kids later in life. As always, however, science has leveled the gender playing field. With the help of fertility treatments, a woman seemingly can carry a child and give birth to it well into her 60's. Even with my own third child on the way, I guess I need another "birds and bees" lesson because I don't get it. What about that whole menopause thing?

Anyway, the libertarian in me says there's nothing we can do to prevent this. Surely child birth is a protected freedom, even though society naturally has an interest in physical the well-being of the children. But what about the emotional well-being of that child? I'd love to see the science regulate itself by only helping younger couples who can't have children and not 62 year-olds who want one more to celebrate a new marriage. But I know that's not going to happen. Money talks, even to doctors. And once the cat is out of the bag, it's gone.

Yet I still feel uncertain about a child coming into the world with a pair of senior citizen parents. Sure, kids are raised by an older dad or even by their grandparents all the time. And I know that such children usually turn out fine in those situations. However, should science be encouraging that it be done this way intentionally? I lost my mother to cancer when I was 15 and that was hard enough. I couldn't imagine the idea of my mom fighting Alzheimer's when I was in middle school.

Hopefully, baby J.J. Farrant will have a happy childhood with his parents. I won't judge them to be unfit simply because they wanted a child late in life. But I must admit that I wouldn't want to be J.J. Farrant myself. He's going to have a tough time in many ways. Remember how cruel we are as 7 year-olds on the playground? That said, I'm sure this will continue to become more common so we'll just have to get used to it. Just another part of this brave new world.

Get Out Now

I hated to learn of yet another tragedy from the War on Iraq on this day before our Independence Day celebrations. But it's a story that must be told if we believe in those things that we'll commemorate on the 4th of July.

This morning, discharged soldier Steven Green of the Army's famed 101st Airborne Division, was charged with the rape and murder of an Iraqi teenager after killing her parents and young sister while serving as a soldier in Iraq. Three other troops are alleged to have been part of the crime occurring in March 2006. Abeer Qasim Hamza was apparently 16 years old when she was raped and killed.

And guess what? The family's killing was first attributed to the insurgency, naturally. That was the same modus operandi of the alleged killing of 24 unarmed civilians in Haditha from 2005. The bodies in this case were discovered burned. Abeer's sister Hadeel is believed to have been between 7 and 10 years old. Neighbor Omar Janabi was quoted by the Washington Post as saying Abeer Qasim's mother told him on March 10 the young woman had complained about advances made toward her by U.S. soldiers at a nearby checkpoint.

Last month alone, 12 other troops were charged with murder in two other cases, more than doubling the number of such charges during the war.

Before I get anyone too fired up, I want to say that I'm confident those who are pro-war in Iraq are equally appalled by this violence. I'm also confident that if Green and his conspirators are found guilty, they too will call for the same punishment of death for which I would seek. However, I have a broader question for those who remain in favor of this war. Is this and other recent appalling incidents not a sign that our troops are growing war-weary? That perhaps we've reached a point of diminishing returns in Iraq and redeployment is necessary?

On this Independence Day, I salute our troops and the fine work they generally do. I honor the bravery of those who have served in Iraq, and especially of those who died there. In fact, I applied for a commission to the U.S. Army J.A.G. Corps following law school and was prepared to go myself in that capacity. I respect our military more than any other institution of our government. But I also do not pretend our fighting forces are something they're not. I know personally several soldiers who have gone to Iraq. They're generally good people, but not perfect. They're probably capable of making mistakes under overwhelming pressure too, while hopefully not ones of this shame and magnitude. Because of the respect I have for our troops, I say let's stop putting them in a position in Iraq where they cannot win. Let's not pretend they're invincible and can defeat an enemy they cannot see for a cause that's not clear while winning the support of natives who have come to fear them. Our boys deserve better.

If you are guilty, Steven Green, may you die a painful death just like your victims. Because your crime is worse than that of any insurrgent. July 4, 1776 proved America would always hold itself to a higher standard. And the sacrifices of millions of American soldiers since have more than proved that true. May that those sacrifices always be for the health of this great nation. Happy 4th of July, America!