Why Bush Fights: It's the Morality, Stupid

[marmar]

from CommonDreams:

Published on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 by CommonDreams.org
Why Bush Fights: It's the Morality Stupid
by Ira Chernus

Question: What do Mark Twain and the neoconservatives have in common? Answer: The reports of their deaths are greatly exaggerated. We’ve been hearing reports of the demise of neocon influence for over half a year now. Yet every time a major decision has to be made in the White House, the neocon view seems to prevail.

They are certainly still in charge of Iraq policy. Despite overwhelming opposition from the pundits and the people, they’ve persuaded Bush to embrace their troop “surge” plan. It seems downright crazy -- until you see it through the squinty corkscrew eyes of the neocons. Then it takes on a perverse logic all its own.

It’s not the logic of blood for oil. When the big oil companies want to make U.S. foreign policy serve their interests, the man they turn to is James Baker. If more troops were likely to help big oil, Baker would have put the “surge” into his plan.

But Baker and the oil moguls know that as long as U.S. forces are in Iraq, the country will be in such chaos that most of the oil will never reach the corporate refineries. It’s a safe bet that Baker recommended withdrawing U.S. troops because (among other reasons) he figures it’s the quickest way to get the oil flowing, and his friends in the oil companies can still get their hefty cuts without masses of U.S. troops on the ground. It’s a safe bet that most of the pundits agree.

The neocons who are running the show overruled Baker and the pundits because they follow a very different logic. As Michael Lind, a former editor of a neocon journal, once explained, their policies do “not reflect business interests in any direct way. … Explanations involving big oil or American capitalism are mistaken.” If neocon policies help the oil companies get richer, that’s a welcome bonus. But it’s not the heart of the story.

In the last few days, Bush aides have been out baring their heart to the White House press corps. According to the Washington Post, they’re saying that Bush “has few other dramatic options available to signal U.S. determination in Iraq.” The New York Times has them explaining that the troop surge will “illustrate Washington’s increased resolve to deter adventurism by regional adversaries.”

At a press conference a few weeks ago, Bush warned: “They can't run us out of the Middle East. They can't intimidate America. … They think it's just a matter of time before America grows weary and leaves. … That's not going to happen.” He suggested that he’s guided by the wisdom of his “buddies” in Texas who “are saying, 'Are you doing enough?' … They want to know, this mighty country … are we doing what it takes to win?" .....(more)

The complete article is at: http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0110-21.htm

[Solly Mack]

1. recommended

[efhmc]

2. Bush does not fight. He sign up other people's children to fight!

[ShortnFiery]

3. Let's start to take a diplomatic stance instead of blow shit up?

"But too many will shed blood for an old-fashioned morality that equates virtue with deadly displays of brute macho strength. That’s the essence of The Decider’s message as he stumps for his “surge” plan. And he seems so sure of his righteousness, he may actually get away with it -- unless we can argue convincingly that the truly moral path leads us out of Iraq, now."

There's nothing to be salvaged from an immoral and illegal invasion and occupation of a sovereign country. All we can do is LEAVE NOW so the civil war can sort out the winners and cease with the blood-shed.

Stop the KILLING and MAIMING ---> redeploy the USA troops OUT OF IRAQ NOW!