Well, I don't know about you or the rest of the country. (Polls popping up and down like a pogo stick disturb me.) But, personally, I'm kinda laying low about reacting to the "great day" for democracy in Iraq. I'm not saying as of this moment it was not a "great day". I just have developed a very strong feeling that in our culture, mass media and all, we've become very, very short-sighted. Remember when "major combat operations" had ended in Iraq... on May 1 2003, nearly two years ago. What a "great day" that was! 139 young Americans had been killed up until the "great day" that Bush announced that major combat operations had ended.
139.
1,436 deaths later... y'know? I'm just not sure about that "great day".
Remember when the "mission" in Iraq was "accomplished". Yes... "great day!"
So... now the Shi'ite majority came out to vote in droves. The Sunnis stayed away. The Kurds voted... but, will likely have next to no power in the new Shi'ite controlled government. How compliant and ammenable the Kurdish people are going to be with that? Anybody's guess. Those Sunni fighters who are attacking both Iraqi and American forces may be anywhere from 40,000 to 200,000 strong. On either side, the regimes in Syria and Iran would both love to do anything they can to thwart a democratic government in Iraq.
So, Wednesday night the world will hear Bush make yet another speech about a "great day". Y'know, about success and... oh, what is it? Oh yeah, "freedom on the march".
All I can say is... hope so. We'll see.
But, events in recent history aren't very supportive of his "great days" and great successes. Speeches and rhetoric can be glorious and rosy. But, y'know, reality? Um... not-so-much so far. Still, half the country will probably wave flags and buy it.
We'll see. Hope for the best in Iraq. It's still a f**kin' mess. Just pray the killing stops.
http://www.thatguitarman.comDavid
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