Missed opportunity
More to come on the Iraq Study Group when I have some time to sort out my thoughts, but until then...
The NH Register is reporting (by Mary E. O'Leary) that our state delegation is hailing the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. But based on my reading of the article, our elected officials continue to fail us.
"Iraqis are facing increased violence, yet their government is not showing the political will to make the tough decisions that will begin to resolve the conflict," U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4, said Wednesday.Huh? Iraqis are facing increased violence? What about our American troops? And in what way is our government showing the political will to make tough decisions? That is, who in our government is willing to take the initiative and end our "addiction" to Mideast oil?
Few words have been spoken by the Executive branch since last January. And our newly remade delegation in the Legislative branch seems (based on the article) to be missing the point too.
At a moment when our "leaders" are getting headlines, they seem to simply applaud the recommendations of the ISG. Nary a word about moving America away from our "addiction" to Mideast oil. Yet another missed opportunity by our "leaders."
Tim White
Town Council, 4th District
8 comments:
As I have stated in previous posts, the ISG mission statement did not involve coming up with an energy plan.
It about stopping body bags and coffins of our soldiers from coming back home.
Do you really think that if we never use Middle East oil again, the terrorist still won't hate us and want us dead.
Your oil addiction line is great rhetoric but the ISG is dealing with the situation on the ground in Iraq, in which our troops are acting like Pinkerton security guards for the Iraqi Army.
If we go biodiesel, wind solar whatever... the middleeast will still hate us and we will always be on the brink of war or worried they will attack us here again.
List of reasons they hate us, that will not change even if we end our Addiction to Middle East Oil:
Democracy
Freedom
Fair Justice
Support of Israel
Secular Societies
The hatred of the US by the Muslim world is driven by one key item; our support of Israel. A simple solution, stop our support of Israel, pull out all of our troops from the Middle East, stop the importation of MidEast oil and stop trying to push democracy down the throats of people who may not want it.
How would we, the US, feel if another country wanted to impose a different form of government on us.
Why do we wonder why we are having problems.
Anon 2:39, syou are actually advocating that the United States end its support of Israel, pull all troops from the middle east, stop importing oil and encourage brutal dictatorial government? You are kidding right?
Quite Frankly, and this is speakign as a conservative republican, the Bush Presidency has been a failure. With the exeption of handlign the aftermath of 9/11 and the war in Afghanistan, which made great sense, everything else the administration has done has been disastrous. Why should energy policy be any different.
Its apparent the only reason he got re-elected is that John Kerry's snobbish holier than though personality combined with numerous campaign miscalculation doomed his chance of winning. Not that Kerry would be a good President dont get me wrong. I certainly didnt vote for the man.
Going into 2008 however, we need a President who is open minded, focused and respected. Unfortunately, President Bush failed to meet up to any of those standards over the last 3-4 years. Personally, on the republican side, I can only see a few candidates who could really gain my support. The first tier would be Rudy Guliani and Mike Huckabee and maybe Chuck Hagel. I have no use for anyone else of the projected GOP candidates.
There is one Democratic possibility I could support, Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack. I have followed this guy for years and he is pretty much right down the middle with mainstream america. As for the social issues, quite frankly a candidates position on abortion and gay marriage is truly irrelevant. The President and very little control over the ultimate direction those issues take.
Bluecoat, Guliani was a terrible mayor according to whom. I know abotu a dozen or so people who liv ein NYC and di when he was mayor. All have said the same thing, he turned a crime ridden, depressed, gutter of a city back into a place where people can walk the streets at night with families, where the streets were cleaner than they had ever recalled, where folks became prouder again to live and work in NYC. So what do you speak?
You may not like his stand on abortion or gay marriage, but fact is, most americans dont care or consider those the great troubles of our day.
anon 8:16... "they hate us"
that statement is a bit sweeping I think. I've met plenty of people who live in the middle east who would love to come to America... not to kill us, but to do what most everyone in the world wants to do... Live the American Dream... have the opportunity to make a better life for themselves and for their children.
anon 2:39... I think it is appropriate for the US to engage the world, including Israel, Syria and the rest of the countries in the world, including Venezuela, Iran and North Korea. But for the US to do much good in the middle east, (I believe) we need to end our dependence on mideast oil... then and only then do we have a real chance of being viewed as an "honest broker" in any discussions/negotiations (Iraq/Iran, Syria/Lebanon/Israel, Kurdistan, etc.). I'm not saying that will get people to see the US as an honest broker, but I think it is a necessary step if we have any chance of being viewed as an "honest broker."
About Giuliani... He was amazing on 9/11 and thereafter... he maintained his composure under some of the most difficult circumstances... but I want to see the rest of the Rs who come out of the woodwork. In the end though, I think McCain will get it. Although that's contingent on Iraq... which is still a big ?
Obviously, you have not read the Saudi Crown Prince's comments that the whole Middle East is a powder keg ready to explode.
9:44am... is that for me? I'm not sure where that comment is directed.
Regardless, could you add a link to the saudi prince's comments? Then maybe I'd understand a bit better.
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