A Vote For Failure

John Boehner, the House Minority Leader, recently said about Democratic plans to change policy in Iraq that doing so would be a vote for failure. This is completely backwards. We have already failed in Iraq; 3,000 plus dead, 20,000 plus wounded, one million Iraqi’s having fled the country, and the US hated around the world. Therefore a vote to stay longer is a vote for continued failure. A vote to get out is a vote to end failure and to use our resources in a way that will counter the real threats we face.

Boehner also claims that the Democrats are micromanaging the war and that they should not interfere with the Generals on the ground. This is the height of disingenuous posturing. Bush interfered with General Shinseki who wanted 200,000 troops in Iraq following the invasion by removing him from command. Bush got rid of General Abazaid when he opposed the recent surge in troops. Generals follow orders. The orders are whatever political policy Bush wants to follow.

The Bush policy right now is to do everything he can to not admit to the failure he created in Iraq and “his” Generals will carry that policy out as ordered or be subject to early retirement. If Dennis Kucinich became President tomorrow, he would quickly appoint Generals who would further his view of the war. I doubt that Boehner would then be screaming to allow those Generals freedom to do what they wanted.