Bush's 'Feel Good' Speech Unlikely to Bring 'Victory'

Despite a speech given by President George W. Bush on his new plan for 'Victory in Iraq,' the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate, as does the president's level of support, both amongst the general public and the Congress. According to this editorial from the Khaleej Times of the United Arab Emirates, there is little reason to believe Bush's new plan will work any better than his past ones.

December 2, 2005

Khaleej Times - Original Article (English)    

For President Bush, the more things change, the more they stay the same. In a desperate attempt to check the growing opposition to Iraq war at home and around the world, the White House has unveiled what has been touted as the roadmap for "victory in Iraq." Bush followed it up with yet another feel-good speech in the comforting presence of U.S. troops vowing not to "cut and run" from Iraq as long "as he is the commander-in-chief."

But how long can the U.S. leader hold his ground? How long can he go on like this in Iraq, blundering from one disaster to another? Maybe Bush is right to fear that talk of a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq could further embolden the insurgency and encourage the militants to step up attacks on U.S. forces. But for all his tough talk, even Bush knows that the situation is fast getting out of control, and that soon he will have to take drastic measures to address growing frustration over Iraq at home.

It isnít only opposition Democrats and the media that have consistently and severely attacking the President over Iraq, but his own party, Republicans, are getting increasingly and dangerously unhappy with the messing up of Iraq and the consequences of this on their own political survival.

With the opposition to Iraq war touching an unprecedented 60 per cent, the Republicans themselves have started pressuring the President to bring troops home, regardless of the situation in Iraq. The Republicans will be facing a crucial re-election battle in 2006 and they wouldnít like to lose their jobs and enormous power and perks they bring. The Republican lawmakers and politicians have already started feeling the heat of Iraq flames with the ranks of those fallen in the war constantly swelling.

Thus the pressure from all parts of American society on Bush to "cut and run" - whatever his public pronouncements - have reached dangerous levels. Unless there is dramatic improvement in the situation in Iraq - which appears unlikely - Bush will be forced into a corner - sooner rather than later.

The optimistic assumption that after the Iraqi elections and a "democratic" government in Baghdad, things would dramatically improve, have proven false. In fact, they have gone from bad to worse, if that were possible.

As if the deadly violence raging across the country wasnít enough, there are now frequent reports of killings and abuse of Sunnis at the hands of Shiia militias and security forces. This, as the former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has rightly pointed out, is far worse than what happened under the totalitarian regime of Saddam Hussein and his cronies. In Iraq, the more things change, the more they remain the same.

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