http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/comment/story/0,14259,1310662,00.html >>The tide of bad news is such that Mr Bush's vision of Iraq being rapidly transformed
into Texas-on-the-Euphrates is the stuff of fantasy. The more Mr Kerry can press
Mr Bush on his record and his inchoate plans for Iraq, the better for his chances,
and possibly for the people of Iraq - who may not have a vote but certainly have
an interest in the outcome.
>>Another person with an interest in the outcome is Tony Blair, who is now in what
management consultants call a "lose-lose" position. A Kerry victory based on attacking
Mr Bush's mismanagement of Iraq leaves Mr Blair friendless in Washington
and open to the same attacks on this side of the Atlantic. But a Bush victory
will surely be no better for Mr Blair, since he will remain shackled to his uncomfortable ally,
and continue to endure the stream of hostage-taking, civilian deaths and descent into violence
that the past few months have seen in Iraq. Mr Bush has given no sense of a meaningful
exit strategy, other than the increasingly untenable plans for an election in January.
Should Mr Bush be re-elected, the chances are for greater violence in Iraq, not less.
This is the worst of all possible worlds for Mr Blair: whoever wins in November, he loses. <<
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
