George Bush will speak to Americans tonight.
We expect Mr. Bush to be forthright, honest, clear of purpose, articulate, and compassionate.
In that spirit, it is appropriate to ask Mr. Bush to be responsive to concerns many of us have had for some time.
Below I list some of those concerns and questions which many of his countrymen and women have had ever since we embarked on nation-building and terrorism-ridding in Iraq. If Mr. Bush is unable to answer these concerns and questions, perhaps his press secretary will be able to do so.
Do we really care about our military?
Does our Congress care about our military?
Do our Generals and Admirals care about our military?
Apparently, not.
For if they did, they would:
- Define the mission clearly in Iraq and the Middle East.
- Conceive and support a plan to accomplish the mission.
- Provide adequate resources, people and support to accomplish the mission.
- Monitor and evaluate progress toward accomplishing the mission.
- Communicate that progress or lack of progress to the major stakeholders involved:
- The military personnel being asked to carry out the mission. (Especially ranks below Captain who bear the brunt of the battle.)
- The people responsible for the decisions being made:
THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.
- The Congress, who theoretically represent those people. (Special delivery to
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.)
- Oh, yes. The Iraqi People who have borne the burden of this ordeal.
- General Petreaus, c/o the White House, from where his mail is forwarded.
- The rest of the international community. i.e., the 95 percent of the world
who are not currently residing in the continental United States.
- Please send cc's to OPEC, Saudi Arabia, and Halliburton, who may have
interests in the outcomes.
Thank you.