Caught Between Iraq And An Impotent Executive Office

There has been a lot of discussion in recent days about the next steps for Iraq. It is no secret that the President of The United States wants to increase the troop level by authorizing a surge into Iraq. The Democratic Congress has indicated that they will fight that endeavor with every fiber of their beings. What's, shall I ask who's left hanging in the balance? If your answer is the men and women wearing our nation's uniform, I would say you are totally accurate. Let us take a look at this picture from some different angles.

When we consider a troop surge, let us take into account the reason when we would surge in the first place. Oh, I am sorry, let us define what a surge is first. Surging is the act of combining multiple units into one powerful punch. If used right, a surge could weaken a military from and overwhelm the enemy with the first blow. Total victory is assured when multiple surges are used simultaneously, thereby ensuring the enemy forces will be stretched beyond their operational capacity. Of course, this tactic is best used against a large forces. So why is Bush surging troops into Iraq? His answer is to quell the ever growing insurgency, but is that the true reason? Let us be practical, to surge troops against an insurgency would have the same effect as shooting a jello mold with a B B Gun. Yeah, we may poke a few holes, but they just fill right back in. This is especially true when we consider that this is a Muslim Insurgency, and every one that dies is considered a Martyr. I think the White House is clearly aware of this, and perhaps the notion of surging additional troops is not so much a means of shoring up Iraq as it is a ploy to get additional boots on the deck for an attack on Iran. Bush calls himself a Reagan Republican, but it seems he missed the lesson on covert activity which was the hallmark of the Reagan Administration. Some things are just obvious. Why would you need a tank to kill a fly? No, this troop surge is a prelude to something larger, and the White House has been rattling Iran's cage for a few months now.

On the other side of the stage, we have the new Democratic Congress, and their pledge to withhold funds for Bush to carry out the war in Iraq. Well, let's be nice, they said there would be no "Blank Check" for additional funding of a troop surge. That can be look at in a few ways. One way would be to say that the Democrats are trying to force Bush to do what is right and bring our boys and girls home. The flip side of he coin is the power play by the Democrats can been seen as an assault on our troops. Remember what Bush did to John Kerry recently. Look, I will be the first to admit that I do not agree with the war in Iraq. It was an unnecessary expenditure of US Military resources; however, I do believe that as long as we have boots on deck in Iraq, we need to keep them funded to support the current operation. When military budgets are cut, the ammunition runs out. Sorry, but the "Don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes" theory will not work in modern warfare. When you cut military budgets, the medicine and medical supplies run out. When you cut military budgets, the gas for the tanks, the trucks, and the planes run out. When you cut military budgets, the food runs out; have you ever tried to fight on an empty stomach? I agree with the Democrats when it comes to ensuring that we do not further escalate the situation, but I disagree when it comes to the point of cutting the life blood of the soldiers in the field. Hey, they did not ask to go over to Iraq, Bush ordered them there. If you have a fight, go after the right person. Take your beef out with Bush, but do not leave the troops high and dry.

There is never going to be real agreement about the war in Iraq. Personally, I could give a rat's butt about Iraq. I just want our men and women back home safely and with their families. Sleeping in their own beds, hugging their children, fishing with their dads. When you really look at it, the true victims of the conflict between the GOP and the Democrats are the soldiers, the sailors, the Air persons, and the Marines. Let's do what Freda Payne said, and let's bring the troops home alive.