Endless War

The vastly over-rated and ineffectual Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice stated today that George Bush would not support a spending bill that contained benchmarks for Iraqi government commitment to make reforms in it's constitution, allocating resources and improving democratic participation. Ms. Rice, with a straight face, said they already had a plan.

"Why tie our own hands in using the means that we have to help get the right outcomes in Iraq?" Rice said. "That's the problem with having so-called consequences for missing the benchmarks."
Rice said that the Iraqi government is not moving forward fast enough, but "General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker have a plan and a way forward."

Of course, no one has tied their hands for the past four years and they have had a myriad of plans that promised a way forward that always went backwards.

Ms. Rice states that Mr. Bush is not going to allow the congress to compromise on a spending bill that he will veto this week. If he won't allow benchmarks instead of a timetable for withdrawal you would have to think he would spark a revolt within his own party. Unfortunately the republicans are so used to bending over for King George that they are no longer able to stand up.

I guess it's possible that self-preservation may stiffen some spines as almost 65 percent of Americans favor a timetable for withdrawal.

Rice said it makes sense to give Iraq's leaders time to meet the goals they have set. She said Bush has made clear to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that people in the United States have limited patience.

I would bet that the only date that will be imposed on the Iraqi PM is the date that has been imposed upon us, January 20, 2009.

Jim Martin