Quote:
Originally Posted by Lothair
That is exactly why I am not a democrat. I am an independent because I cant stand the fanatical ideas the parties put into play. On the one side you have the democrats who seem to live in a reality where Americans being unemployed is good. And on the other you have the GOP which sends us to war in Iraq with the worst stategy in history. Frankly we could have won that war if our president hadn't pushed us into it so quickly. Even now with the right strategy we could subdue the population and get out. However the government refuses to take the necessary steps to withdraw our exhausted troops. Too many Americans are on their third or fourth tour of Iraq. This is why Bloomberg should be president. An independent not willing to indulge either sides fanatiscm is exactly what this country needs.
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If the president had waited to build up to the troop levels recommended by the military, then either the weapons inspectors would have finished their work and declared Iraq in compliance with UN resolutions, or the buildup to war, which is politically unpopular, would have occurred during the 2004 election cycle. The war was timed with the election in mind, and was supposed to provide a huge victory, with homecoming parades for the troops attended by the Victorious Leader occurring throughout the months preceding the November election.
Afghanistan was considered a poorly timed war for political reasons, as it appeared that it would be over and faded from the public mind by the time the 2004 elections came. The example that was burned into the mind of the Bush political team was the victory in the Gulf War, which took Papa Bush to over 70% approval ratings, but had tailed off due the shrinking economy to the point where he lost to Bill Clinton in 1992.
The Bush team needed a war that would produce a "properly timed victory" for maximum election results.