You Want Insane? How About This!

President Bush has warned Iraq’s Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki that the US won’t fund any more troop increases in Iraq unless Maliki starts winning the war in Iraq. But, according to the Washington Post this morning, Maliki told Bush on November 30 that he didn’t want any more troop increases in Iraq. So, watch out Mr. Prime Minister, if you don’t obey Crazy George, he’s not going to give you something you don’t want. I’m aware that the fine print says Maliki would welcome US money and more authority. Still, Maliki was very clear. He does not want an increase in US troops. And the Prez is equally clear…the money comes only if Maliki accepts the troops. But Maliki doesn’t want more US troops. I have said before, and I will say again: The Prez wants to get out of the mess he’s caused in Iraq as much as you and I want our troops out of Iraq. Of course Bush’s reason for wanting to be shut of Iraq and the war’s rising stench is simply because it makes him look bad. But George W. Bush has a problem. He can’t say he was wrong. Therefore, the Bush minders have a solution. They have set up Maliki to take the fall for Bush’s failed war because everyone knows there is no such thing as even the smallest victory in Iraq. This morning the New York Times quoted Bush’s national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley saying, “It’s going to be a little bit pay-as-you-go, and it’s going to depend a lot on Iraqis performing…as Mr. Maliki’s government follows through on its promises, the (Bush) administration will be in a much better position to resist any efforts to fence the funds (when the Iraq budget request goes before Congress).” Translation: When Maliki’s government starts winning the war in Iraq the US will make a request to Congress for more funds for Maliki’s government. So, does this sound like restricting funds for the war in Iraq? Yes, it does. Does this sound like the troops that Maliki doesn’t want won’t be sent to Iraq unless Maliki starts winning the war? Which, of course he can’t do. Yes, it does. Does this sound nutty as all get out? Yes, it does. But don’t look for Bush to strongly push his Iraq plan in his State of the Union Speech this coming Tuesday. He’ll talk in broad terms about fighting terrorism, he’ll give a broad overview of his health care plan which is already dead, he’ll talk about immigration, and energy and global warming which of course is not the fault of the Repubs, and blah-blah-blah. But what the SOTUS won’t be is a replay of last year’s rah-rah-rah, fire-up-the-masses, stay-the-course horseshit. SOTUS this year will be ignore-the-elephant-in-the-living-room horseshit.