The Iraq Study Report

~Opinion
In the opening of the report one can only guess the kinds of shoe shuffling it takes to run a country. Our politicians once danced for our entertainment. Now a real piece of work has been introduced to us, the American People. We know we need Bi-partisanship. We’ve been trying to tell you. The American People are not to be sold, bartered, or ignored. We come in every shape and size, smart, and not so smart. We aren’t looking for a pot of magic beans to rescue us. You sold it, and buyer beware! We bought the war hook, line and sinker. We are looking for a solution to withdraw peacefully and in the interest of the Iraqi people. I for one, do not want to leave the Iraqi people with no military force. I didn’t want to go into Iraq in the first place but since my time machine broke and “I told you so mentality won’t work, I guess we will have to find a solution together. Working together we can fix a mistake made by our administration, and given to us in a fear salad of sorts.
The military made a lot of mistakes when they went in, by leaving weapons unguarded and continuing to march on Bagdad. The choices were made by bad advisers. I see Rumsfeld’s hands all over that mistake. Going against the generals who had field experience. The book by Bob Woodward, State of Denial, hints Rumsfeld knew but decided early in his administration he didn’t want to work with the top brass. So, Rumsfeld took the route of employing a Quinn, a Junior Flag Officer to assist him in the decision making process. While Quinn was having the “Best time of his life”, according to Woodward’s book. Rumsfeld was only mocking the JFO, and the chain of command. Quinn really wanted the job. Rumsfeld needed a way out, a fall guy so to speak. When Marty Hoffman hands Quinn a paper telling to write a note to the Secretary of Defense then delivers the note to Rumsfeld. Rumsfeld remarked, “I can’t read this” Quinn was hired, and the war games began. Quinn sat in the office taking up space. He couldn’t make any decisions, in the words of the retired officers, and enlisted, Quinn being of high rank, couldn’t even scratch his (A$$) nose without being giving direct at ease order. Poor Quinn, he’s a victim. The administration had no interest in the opinion of the Military and were only interested in personal gain, making a buck on the oil in Iraq.
The current administration couldn’t motivate the UN. It wasn’t going to back the war, no matter what. So Bush blatantly transferred his aggressions to Iraq via the War on Terror. Which undoubtedly was over not long after it began. Remember he proudly flew onto the battleship and declared a victory. This outrages move on the part of the Commander in Chief was obvious to the troops, enlisted, or retired. The war had just begun. We were making progress. But the powers of Executive orders were too constrictive it wouldn’t cover issues needing a full on assault. Black op’s! Undercover missions, The cold war! Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld, knew they had to do something, and they had effectively cut off the military’s input, having free reign to do what they wanted to do. They forgot about the people, they forgot about the enlisted, and the officers. They were finally in command of the Chain of Command. The media ate it, and began serving leftovers to our great nation. Quinn left to work in his office, backed by a broken chain of command, sitting under the artistic works of “The Horse Holders, a framed picture of a civil war generals’ aides standing around holding the reins of their bosses’ horses“, says Bob Woodward. That says it all Bob. At the cost of our dignity, freedom, and reputation.
So, We know right off the start line the report cannot contain a magic solution. The Iraqi report opens up with these words “The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating”. How could we possibly misinterpret that candid response from the reporters of this study? We lived it. The whole story is coming to the light. We welcome the media’s responsible questions to the Commander in Chief. So in the interest of National Security, please ask daring questions. Drop the script, and just get in there and get dirty. That’s what freedom of the press is for. As a matter of fact, Our founding fathers, Bush and his cabinet would call terrorists today!