I think most Americans appreciate the notion of “[tag]sacrifice[/tag].” Particularly after 9/11, the nation expected to give up on some luxuries in exchange for a national commitment. People appreciate hard work, altruism, and putting others’ needs above their own — the cornerstones of “sacrifice” — such as with parents who sacrifice for their kids.
I mention this because the Bush White House, after asking almost nothing of most Americans for six years except to go to the mall, is suddenly talking about “sacrifices.” At a year-end press conference two weeks ago, for example, the president said that the short-term future in Iraq will “require difficult choices and additional sacrifices.” The word came up again in a BBC report yesterday, which explained that the “central theme” in Bush’s upcoming address on Iraq policy will be “sacrifice.”
In another one of his must-see special commentaries, the word drew MSNBC’s Keith [tag]Olbermann[/tag]’s wrath last night. (C&L has the video, MSNBC has the transcript)
More American servicemen and women will have their lives risked. More American servicemen and women will have their lives ended. More American families will have to bear the unbearable and rationalize the unforgivable –“sacrifice” — sacrifice now, sacrifice tomorrow, sacrifice forever.
And more Americans — more even than the two-thirds who already believe we need fewer troops in Iraq, not more — will have to conclude the president does not have any idea what he’s doing — and that other Americans will have to die for that reason.
It must now be branded as propaganda — for even the president cannot truly feel that very many people still believe him to be competent in this area, let alone “the decider.” […]
The additional men and women you have sentenced to go there, sir, will serve only as targets. They will not be there “short-term,” Mr. Bush; for many it will mean a year or more in death’s shadow.
This is not temporary, Mr. Bush. For the Americans who will die because of you, it will be as permanent as it gets.
Olbermann’s passion and eloquence are not merely impressive, they are what is desperately needed — and desperately lacking — in too much of our discourse.
As is often the case, Olbermann’s articulate ire painted an ugly picture that needs to be seen.
On the message we’re sending to our enemies:
Then there is the argument that to take any steps toward reducing troop numbers would show weakness to the enemy in Iraq, or to the terrorists around the world.
This simplistic logic ignores the inescapable fact that we have indeed already showed weakness to the enemy, and to the terrorists.
We have shown them that we will let our own people be killed for no good reason. We have now shown them that we will continue to do so. We have shown them our stupidity.
On Bush in listening-mode:
Mr. Bush, your judgment about Iraq — and now about “sacrifice” — is at variance with your people’s, to the point of delusion.
Your most respected generals see no value in a “surge” — they could not possibly see it in this madness of “sacrifice.” The Iraq Study Group told you it would be a mistake. Perhaps dozens more have told you it would be a mistake.
And you threw their wisdom back, until you finally heard what you wanted to hear, like some child drawing straws and then saying “best two out of three … best three out of five … hundredth one counts.”
Your citizens, the people for whom you work, have told you they do not want this, and moreover, they do not want you to do this. Yet once again, sir, you have ignored all of us. Mr. Bush, you do not own this country!
On advice to the GOP:
We need you to speak up, right now, in defense of your country’s most precious assets — the lives of its citizens who are in harm’s way. If you do not, you are not serving this nation’s interests — nor your own. November should have told you this. The opening of the new Congress on Wednesday and Thursday should tell you this.
Next time, those missing Republicans will be you.
On advice to the Dems:
President Bush may not be very good at reality, but he and Mr. Cheney and Mr. Rove are still gifted at letting American troops be killed, and then turning their deaths to their own political advantage.
The equation is simple. This country does not want more troops in Iraq. It wants fewer. Go and make it happen, or go and look for other work.
On why Bush believes we’re fighting this war:
You have dressed it up in the clothing, first of a hunt for weapons of mass destruction, then of liberation … then of regional imperative … then of oil prices … and now in these new terms of “sacrifice” — it’s like a damned game of Colorforms, isn’t it, sir?
Again, here’s the video, and the full transcript. Send it around.