Since most Republicans never seem to let facts get in the way of a good story, maybe a good story can help them get into some facts.
A REAL AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY
Sure, Johnny wasn't the best student in his excellently rated suburban high school, but he was unquestionably bright, well liked, good looking, and boy, could he talk his way out of (or into--wink, wink) anything. In fact, he was so overflowing with potential that he was accepted into a pre-med program at a prestigious university. It didn't matter to Johnny that his acceptance was based--at least in part--on his glowing, albeit self-written, letters of recommendation. So what if he fudged the truth. After all, his whole life was ahead of him and he was certain that the ends would someday justify the means.
A REAL AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY
Sure, Johnny wasn't the best student in his excellently rated suburban high school, but he was unquestionably bright, well liked, good looking, and boy, could he talk his way out of (or into--wink, wink) anything. In fact, he was so overflowing with potential that he was accepted into a pre-med program at a prestigious university. It didn't matter to Johnny that his acceptance was based--at least in part--on his glowing, albeit self-written, letters of recommendation. So what if he fudged the truth. After all, his whole life was ahead of him and he was certain that the ends would someday justify the means.
College life was unbelievable--everything Johnny had ever dreamed of. New friends, parties, late nights. It seemed the whole school had welcomed him with open arms. Unfortunately, he had trouble finding his way to class in all of this excitement. Not surprisingly, Johnny flunked out after the first semester with little more than a newly developed double chin. Oh yea, and a $15,000 debt.
Back home, Johnny wiggled his way into the local university. Once again, his ability to stretch the truth helped him get in. Instead of accepting and admitting his initial mistakes, Johnny concocted a great tale while explaining away his lost semester. This time, Johnny set his sights a bit lower. He couldn't fail as a communications major--it was a natural fit.
"You Got's to Have More Than a G.E.D. If You Wants To Get With Me"
Johnny quickly realized that a B.S. in communications required more than just B.S. While he managed to limp his way through a year-and-a-half, his G.P.A was lower than a bench warmers scoring average. With a little push from the dean, Johnny was shown the door. By now his (mis)adventures had added another 15 pounds and, coincidently, another $15,000. Realizing he had to salvage something of his college experience, Johnny set his sights even lower. Community college was just the remedy. Johnny used his natural abilities to complete a two-year program in the culinary arts. Finally, Johnny was a success.
By earning a degree, Johnny had done something most high school graduates don't do. He had given himself a way to elevate his resume above those with diplomas and G.E.D.'s. He had learned an important skill that would hopefully provide a living for years to come. He was a real American success story. But wait! Hadn't Johnny partied his way out of a golden opportunity? Hadn't he spent loads of money and abused his body beyond belief? Worse still, hadn't he committed the mortal sin of failing to live up to his God-given potential? Not all was lost though. Johnny had discovered his new lucky number. 45 pounds gained, $45,000 in debt, and the realization that he would be 45 years old by the time he paid off his college loans. A real American success story?
"Now That Iraq is a Success..."
I was reminded of Johnny's tale after I read an on-line columnist declare what a lot of Republicans have been saying in the past couple of weeks. That is, "Now that Iraq is a success..." Wow, I guess success is a lot like beauty--it lies in the eyes of the beholder. Have we collectively lowered our expectations, bought into the constantly-changing rationales, and completely lost our minds about the costs involved, to now classify the almost two year occupation of Iraq as a success?
Just to make sure I hadn't lost my own mind, I checked my trusty American Heritage dictionary. Success: "The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted." Simple enough, now let's see. According to The Administration, we all know our top "desire" in Iraq was to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction. I can hear Condi now, evoking images of mushroom clouds. Even the most ardent supporters of this war have to admit (although they still won't publicly) that the American invasion of Iraq did not accomplish this. Rather, a well-constructed series of steps designed by past U.S. presidents and the good work of the United Nations did. No big deal--let's move on. Remember, Bush supporters may be a lot like Johnny in that they have a tendency to stretch the truth, but you can never accuse them of being lazy.
As soon as it became apparent that there were no WMD's to be found, The Administration, along with a cooperating media, changed its tune. The new reason for the invasion, becoming popular right around the time the presidential election was heating up, was "To get the terrorists before they get us." Brilliant scare tactic and a nice try, but I stopped falling for the hidden ball trick a long time ago. The number of known terrorists in Iraq has, by any estimation, skyrocketed since the invasion. Terrorists have been flooding into the country, terrorizing the very Iraqis we said we were trying to help. In fact, pre-war Iraq was not even mentioned on Bush's own list of 45 countries supporting Al Queda. Now, it's number one when it comes to training new terrorists. Never a group to worry about facts, The Administration simply developed a new rationale when the media finally got around to reporting this disturbing trend.
And how could anyone argue with this one? The Iraqi people are infinitely safer without Saddam in power. We've all heard stories about rape rooms, mass executions, and the poisoning of innocent Iraqis. Case closed, right? Not so fast. Over 100,000 Iraqis have been killed since the 2003 invasion. 100,000! That's more than half the population of the city of Tacoma, Washington or Montgomery, Alabama. And, for more perspective, that's 30 times the amount of Americans massacred on September 11th, 2001. Without question some terrorists are included in that figure, but the majority of those killed have been Iraqi armed forces members and innocent bystanders. Now, no one will ever defend Saddam's reign of terror as being safe for the Iraqi people, but, you do the math.
Finally, the latest rationale for the invasion and occupation of Iraq has been to give the Iraqi people a fair say in their government, to allow a democratic form of government to take hold. That's a great idea and I sincerely applaud everyone that contributed to the recent Iraqi elections. But can we all hold off on the fireworks and parades until it's safe to eat a pita sandwich at a Baghdad café. You can't have any sort of democracy with a foreign power patrolling the streets. Imagine Thomas Jefferson declaring independence and then asking King George (how ironic) to "stick around until we have this unalienable rights thing figured out."
"A Bunch of Haters?"
Looking back at what could have been, how many of you would call Johnny a success? Wasted potential, wasted opportunities, lowering of expectations, general abuse of himself, in debt for life. Using that same retrospect, how many would now call the war and occupation of Iraq a success? No WMD's, more terrorists aiming to kill Americans, a less safe Iraq, thousands of Iraqi and Americans killed, over $200 billion already spent at a time when our country is slashing its budget, and to top it all off, a military that is not meeting its targets for new recruits for the first time in over a decade. You know, a real American success story.
Based upon their own track record, we already know what Bush supporters will say to these facts. I must be un-American, a pacifist, or simply a hater. In return, all I say is to take a look at American history. How were abolitionists met? How were progressive-era reformers met? How about Vietnam protestors? Was it un-American of them to question the practices of their government? If you answered no, it's not too late to jump onto the right side of history.