Sunday, August 13, 2006
Double Talk
I couldn't resist another quick Iraq war post when I saw this story. To his credit, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace stood before 1,300 troops today on his first visit to Fallujah to hear what was on the minds of Marines doing battle with the insurgency.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Marines get the same double talk we get back home:
How much more time, one Marine asked, should the Iraqi government be given to achieve the political unity necessary to stabilize the country?
"I guess they have as long as it takes," Pace replied, quickly adding, "Which is not forever."
Pace argued that setting a deadline by which the United States would withdraw its support would risk pushing the Iraqis into political decisions that are unviable. On the other hand, he said, "You do not want to leave it open ended."
As long as it takes but not forever? No deadline but not open ended? Did George Bush write those lines himself? Afterall, "there's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
Unfortunately, it looks like the Marines get the same double talk we get back home:
How much more time, one Marine asked, should the Iraqi government be given to achieve the political unity necessary to stabilize the country?
"I guess they have as long as it takes," Pace replied, quickly adding, "Which is not forever."
Pace argued that setting a deadline by which the United States would withdraw its support would risk pushing the Iraqis into political decisions that are unviable. On the other hand, he said, "You do not want to leave it open ended."
As long as it takes but not forever? No deadline but not open ended? Did George Bush write those lines himself? Afterall, "there's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
# posted by Jeff Briscoe : 11:53 AM
