Brent Budowsky: Iraq Descending To Chaos. Military Times Calls For Rumsfeld To Go.
A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
by Brent Budowsky
To save any semblance of rationality for American policy in Iraq new leaders, a Democratic Congress and the resignation of Secretary Rumsfeld are urgently needed.
This past week something extraordinariny and ominous happened. An American soldier was kidnapped. Going all out to leave no one behind, our mlitary established checkpoints. What happened next? The government in Iraq, under the control of pro-Iranian Shi'ite leaders, surrending to the will of murderous Shi'ite militia, ordered the checkpoint closed.
This is the government that more than 2800 Americans have given their lives for. This is the government of rampant corruption. This is the government that has virtually no police force to speak in the fourth year of this war and whatever police force does exist is heavily infiltrated by even more of these murderous military.
Meanwhile secretarian violence and bloodshed continue to rise in November and every day brings news of more carnage and corruption.
And the Republican Congress now wants to cashier even the Republican Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, to protect those who have been stealing, pillaging, misusing, losing and corrupting more than $10 billion of our money.
Now, in one of the most extraordinary and important moments in the history of this war, the Military Times newspapers are calling for the removal of Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld.
Marine Corps Times, Army Times, Air Force Times and Navy Times are taking a principled and courageous stand sending a powerful pre-election message about what must be done.
In fact, what I and others have been arguing for some time is that what the Military Times now publicly calls for, is what the commanders and most troops have believed for some time.
Lack of armor.
Lack of protected vehicles.
Lack of bandages and helmets.
Lack of adequate pay for troops.
Lack of respect for commanders from the President and his neoconservatives who are now cutting and running themselves by blaming each other for their shared value.
Arrogance, dishonesty and delusion from Republican leaders in Washington.
Corrupted Iraq Reconstruction.
Crony deals, stolen money, wasted programs in which American troops give their lives and limbs for a government dominated by Iranian supported militia. While the blood of our troops is spilled multi-millionaire crooks, with ties to one party Republican government lard their bank accounts, and use our money to pay for their super bowl parties.
As the Miltary Times editorial says, for years the sergeants and captains have reported back that their urgent efforts to train Iraqi troops were not succeeding because those they trained were not loyal to the cause, and were in it for the money.
As the Military Times editorial says, the Secretary of Defense is a disaster and it is time for him to go.
As Vanity Fair reports, the pathetic theorists of neoconservativism are now turning against the President, saying they would have opposed the war if they knew how he would mismanage it. Meanwhile the President parades around the country name calling Democrats, and the pro-Iranian government of Iraq stiffs American troops, while the Republican power barons in Washington stiff the Inspector General to protect the crooks who pay for their campaigns.
This is like the end of one of those old Fred Astaire movies where everyone is on the stage as the curtain closes: Iraq mismanagement, the culture of corruption, the partisan president dishing his dirt, the Republican Congress trying to gut the Inspector General, the Republican candidates drenching the aiwaves with lying and smearing ads, neoconservatives running for cover, the intelligence community saying the war creates more terrorists, commanders warning of the descent to chaos, and while the carnage continues the Vice President makes his cameo appearance saying that he was always right and this catastrophic policy must stay the course.
MIlitary Times, Marines Corps Times, Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times: they speak for the troops, they speak for the families, they speak for the commanders and it is time for this madness to end.
Brent Budowsky
A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
Brent Budowsky served as Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, responsible for commerce and intelligence matters, including one of the core drafters of the CIA Identities Law. Served as Legislative Director to Congressman Bill Alexander, then Chief Deputy Whip, House of Representatives. Currently a member of the International Advisory Council of the Intelligence Summit. Left goverment in 1990 for marketing and public affairs business including major corporate entertainment and talent management. He can be reached at brentbbi@webtv.net.
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