It appears that President Bush’s strategy in Iraq has changed from “stay the course,” to simply “stay.”
Bush said Tuesday that troops will remain in Iraq past his presidency. It will be up to a successor to finally bring our soldiers out of Iraq. With that, he added, “I’m optimistic we’ll succeed. If not, I’d pull our troops out.”
It sounds like reverse logic. If we’re successful, we should be able to pull out our troops, confident that we’ve stabilized the country and established democracy.
Failure to us means we have to stay and try to control the mess we’ve made. Bush says we’re staying. It’s a far cry from those heady days upon an aircraft carrier in which he declared victory in Iraq.
It’s also a far cry from the years that Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld insisted that the United States was making great progress in Iraq.
As we see it, the situation in Iraq has grown steadily worse. It is dire.
More than 1,000 Iraqis have died in secular violence sparked since the bombing a month ago of a Shiite Muslim shrine. Bodies are discovered by the busload.
Many military analysts assert that Iraq is embroiled in a civil war. According to a recent poll, 80 percent of Americans consider Iraqi civil war inevitable, including 70 percent of polled Republicans.
Bush says Iraq isn’t in a civil war, disagreeing with Iraq’s former interim prime minister, who says it is.
Whatever one calls it, violence in Iraq has claimed the lives of 2,300 American troops and still requires the presence of 133,000 U.S. soldiers.
Bush appears more and more isolated as more and more Republicans fall away. He swats away pleas from his party compatriots to shake up his staff.
The din will grow louder as mid-term elections near and Republican incumbents distance themselves from the unpopular president.
Regardless of how our war with Iraq plays within Washington politics, the truth is settling in that we’re in Iraq to stay indefinitely.
How sad for us. How sad for the troops fighting for their lives. How sad for their families who are awash in worry and fear.
Editorials
War in Iraq far from over
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Editorial: New 911 consolidation is good for county
When it comes to emergencies, a fast and proper response is sometimes the difference between life and death. Therefore it is important for 911 services to be coordinated for the best response time. It’s even better if those services are consolidated with one location fielding calls from multiple areas.
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Editorial: On Valentine’s Day, indulge in selfishness of volunteering
In the final analysis, we’re all selfish beings. Everything we do, at its core, is motivated by what is good for us.
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You Said It: About roundabouts, Mayor Smith’s firings, recycling, State of City address
The bottom line in Mayor Kevin Smith’s State of the City address Tuesday during the Anderson Rotary Club’s luncheon at Anderson Country Club was simple: To attract investment, you have to make investments. (Article published Feb. 4.)
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Editorial: Firings show inability to turn foes into friends
Politics is a double-edged sword.
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Editorial: Help celebrate city's strong black history
Many times we overlook the small achievements of residents long gone who made a better Anderson for those of us alive today. There is no better time to recognize and cherish those stories than during Black History Month.
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Editorial: Madison County needs vision for future tourism
Slot machines, gospel music, a beautiful state park and candy are all thriving as destination sites. Now is the time to explore a way to connect these valuable attractions and encourage new ideas.
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Editorial: AHS grad rates moving up, must be pushed ever higher
A diploma is a must, but it has to mean something. Anderson High School must do this the right way, not cutting corners and passing students through classes, but making them accountable for learning the subject matter.
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Editorial: With changes to program, why not begin recycling?
The public has to understand the importance of recycling aluminum and steel cans, cardboard, glass, newspapers and certain plastics. Besides minimizing a community’s waste, recycling saves energy, natural resources and the environment.
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Editorial: Reality returns after Super Bowl mania
While we loved what the Super Bowl did for our reputation, it’s time to get back to the real world. Let’s recap the lost week.
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You Said It: About contract, 'Teen Mom,' State of the City
Each Monday, The Herald Bulletin publishes “You Said It,” a compilation of reader comments from www.theheraldbulletin.com, coupled with responses by the newspaper’s editorial board.
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Editorial: New 911 consolidation is good for county
