Happy New Year

Okay, alright already, I didn’t last a week into the new year. So who said I was strong? Besides, this isn’t really about Iraq – not all about it anyway.

Many have opined that there are three major schools for jihadists in operation today, the Caucuses, Afghanistan, and Iraq, with the last being the largest, most advanced, and of our own making. It is clear that President Bush is preparing to withdraw most of our forces from Iraq and to permit the government in Baghdad sink or swim, and we’re getting set to turn over only partially completed infrastructure to the Iraqis all the while declaring that the police and army look better to us each day.

This must be killing the neocons and Bush’s other core supporters of the war. All they talk about is how well things are really going over there and how the media isn’t telling the real story. When we walk away, they’re really fearful that they were the ones dreaming.

Even more cynical than I, some, including Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post, speculate that our troops will pour out of Iraq until after the ’06 Congressional elections and then – after a close but positive outcome for the Republicans - be reinserted based on new dangers on the ground. “Who could have known?” being the innocent reaction from the White House.

The Republicans are having a hard time. Their scandal – yes it’s theirs; it’s their government lock, stock, and barrel or should I say executive, legislative, and court – exposes once again that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Their shenanigans on K Street show that politicians must be checked at every turn. I’m truly an admirer of pols, but you have to remember two things about them: they are the cleverest among us and they’re still just human beings. If you understand those two points, you can see why they must be held in check by every means possible, with divided government being the most effective tool in the citizens’ kit.

The GOP is petrified. Their values coalition crumbled in the face of the Terri Schiavo horror show. Deficits are killing those few in the party who label themselves true conservatives. Libertarians are going bonkers over civil liberties. Iraq has isolated the neocons within the coalition. And the defense contractors see their hard bought dollars flying into the desert having bought old fashioned bullets instead of high priced weapons systems. Brownie and the FEMA crowd have jeopardized the outcome in all those scarlet Gulf States. And now the K Street crowd has got the values tongues wagging all over again. There are flu symptoms everywhere Republicans gather.

So, in addition to perp walks for those caught and Medals of Freedom ceremonies for all who avoid indictment, the boys – and girls - have to come marching home so that the Republicans can get through 2006. That’s too cynical? Don’t bet on it.

Blog on!

Wild Bill