The mountain undermined - Derrick Jackson - Boston Globe

[Submariner]

Excellent rundown of Bushco con jobs.

By Derrick Z. Jackson | December 20, 2005

Vice President Dick Cheney’s surprise visit to the troops in Iraq Sunday was supposed to be a heartwarming precede to President Bush’s upbeat message to the nation from the Oval Office. It had the effect of undercutting the president.

Bush told the nation, ‘‘Our forces in Iraq are on the road to victory.’’

But a few hours earlier, soldiers asked Cheney for his 2006 Rand McNally Road-To-Victory Atlas.

‘‘From our perspective, we don’t see much as far as gains,’’ Marine Corporal Bradley Warren said to Cheney in a round-table discussion. ‘‘We’re looking at small-picture stuff, not many gains. I was wondering what it looks like from the big side of the mountain — how’s Iraq looking.’’

Back at the Oval Office, Bush told Americans, ‘‘I have never been more certain that America’s actions in Iraq are essential to the security of our citizens and will lay the foundation of peace for our children and grandchildren.’’

A few hours earlier in Iraq, Corporal R.P. Zapella asked Cheney, ‘‘Sir, what are the benefits of doing all this work to get Iraq on its feet?’’

Back at the Oval Office, Bush said, ‘‘Our troops in the field, who bear the burden and make the sacrifice, do not believe that America has lost.’’

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http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/12/20/the_mountain_undermined/