Quote of the Day...War: Just Deal With It



"Why do we soldiers have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass to up-armor our vehicles?"
-- Spc. Thomas Wilson, addressing Defense Secretary Rumsfeld during meeting with the troops at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, 12/8/2004
"You go to war with the Army you have, not the Army you might want or wish to have."
-- Defense Secretary Donald H. Runsfeld, responding to Spc. Wilson's question, Camp Buehring, Kuwait, 12/8/2004

Normally I don't comment on daily quotes, preferring instead to let them stand on their own. In this case, however, I just have to point out that Rumsfeld's pat response to the concerns of our troops in harm's way is so typical of the attitude of the entire Bush administration, that it certainly does lend credence to Bush's campaign assertions that he and his administration are "consistent!"

Of course in a real war, Rumsfeld would be right, and in fact, the question probably would have never been raised. What do I mean by "a real war?" I mean a war that was unavoidable; one in which we were given no other option but to engage. But what our soldiers in Iraq know, and what Rumsfeld and the rest of the Bush junta would like for them and the rest of the world to forget, is that going to war in Iraq in such haste was unnecessary.

Leaders of good conscience, with common sense and critical thinking skills, would never have put our military into the situation it now faces in Iraq. A good leader would have shown restraint while ramping up manufacturing to provide the equipment and logistical support our troops would need once the battle was actually engaged. Bush, however, placed his greed, ambition, and ability to capitalize on any remaining latitude left from the 9/11 attack, above the safety and success of our troops and sent them on this unnecessary, ill-planned, and ill-advised venture in Iraq. All for the benefit of Haliburton and his Saudi handlers.

My fear now is that after another four years of Bush's brand of "compassionate conservatism," we're all going to end up digging through garbage dumps for the things we need to survive.

Posted: Wed - December 8, 2004 at 02:14 PM          

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