February 3, 2005, The Boy who cried Wolfowitz
Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, widely acknowledged as one of the principle architects of the underlying neo-conservative dogma that supplied the phisosophical underpinnings for "the end justifies the means and the means are lying, lying, lying" entry into the Iraq war, denied that that the insurgency represented some "nationalist" movement. The evidence of this, according to Wolfowitz, is the high turnout in the national elections on Sunday, which "proves" widespread popular support for the new Iraqi government.
This, of course, is a yes-but situation. Yes, the turnout was very high-- higher than American turnouts as percentages of registered voters-- but such high turnout was confined to Kurdish and Shiite voters; Sunni voters-- widely believed to include Baathist elements and others who believe they will be screwed in a likely Shiite-dominated Iraq-- stayed home in droves, and had quite a low turnout. So low, that they will be virtually unrepresented in the new government forming the new Iraqi constitution. A group that constitutes some 20% of the Iraqi population, and controls something like 90% of its explosive material (or whatever percentage around 500,000 pounds... or is it tons... removed from unguarded ammo dumps constitutes).
Various estimates of the foreign fighters have varied wildly, as have every single estimate for everything with this war, from its cost, to its length, to its likely human toll, to the size of the opposition, to its ever changing rationale for even having taken place at all.
Well, thank you Secretary Wolfowitz: I feel much better now knowing that we are, in fact, battling "foreign fighters", meaning, I suppose, "terrorists", who we are doing a fine job of field and battle testing as they perfect their methods against us, and seek out fresh recruits among an Iraqi population we are, of unfortunate necessity, catching in the cross-fire.
Well, no matter... did you hear that Iran is harboring terrorists, trying to develop nucular weapons, and poses an immediate threat to the security of the United States...
Comments
What if Iraqi election were held before US election
Posted by Ashish Hanwadikar at February 3, 2005 10:20 PM
FOUR MORE WARS!!! DEATH TO EAST ASIA!!!
Posted by GlennK at February 4, 2005 8:24 AM
It is with tremendous sadness that Faber College must report the death of the great Dean Wormer. Yes, the man who brought us "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, Son" has passed on to a higher learning facility. Best known as Dean Wormer, actor John Vernon also gave a wonderful performance in "The Outlaw Josey Wales." I reckon he can tell Mr. Wales the war is over.
Posted by They Call Me Mr. Crabcake at February 4, 2005 11:22 AM
If you read Raed Jarrar's blog "Raed in the middle" he discusses common rumours among the Iraqi's that if one did not vote one would loose ration cards or not be issued a new one. This obviously affected voter turnout.
I wish I could believe that the voter turnout was a good thing, and that in spite of the Bush administration having their heads up their a#%ses that things are improving for the Iraqi's.
But I don't.
Posted by Michael at February 4, 2005 12:03 PM
"phisopohical"? TD, you've been laying a lot of bon moes lately.
Posted by Guy Who Hates Typos at February 4, 2005 12:07 PM
Watch for me on Sunday in the soon to be named TO Bowl. I'm going to have a career day, me and Donovan, the Soul 2 Soul Express. I'm gonna have that ho from the MNF commercial trade spit with me in the endzone after each time I score. Hey, you gotta love me.
Posted by TO at February 4, 2005 12:17 PM
Watch for me on Sunday in the soon to be named TO Bowl. I'm going to have a career day, me and Donovan, the Soul 2 Soul Express. I'm gonna have that ho from the MNF commercial trade spit with me in the endzone after each time I score. Hey, you gotta love me.
Posted by TO at February 4, 2005 12:17 PM