Mission… not accomplished

May 1, 2006

Guest Post by Michael J.W. Stickings

A new CNN poll reveals that “Americans have strong doubts that the United States will fulfill the promise of President Bush’s ‘Mission Accomplished’ backdrop”:

The CNN poll, conducted April 21-23 by Opinion Research Corporation, found that only 9 percent thought the U.S. mission in Iraq had been accomplished, while 40 percent believed it would be complete someday.

An additional 44 percent said the United States would never accomplish its goals in Iraq, where American troops are still battling insurgents three years after the invasion that toppled former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Not that this’ll change anything. Bush evidently thinks things are going rather swimmingly over in Iraq. According to The New York Times, “Bush today called the formation of a new Iraqi government ‘a turning point,’ after hearing from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld about their weekend meeting with that country’s prime minister designate”.

Josh Marshall sees the Mission Accomplished speech as “the symbol of the Bush administration,” that is, “[t]he fleeting triumph of Potemkin stagecraft over tangible accomplishment,” among other things. Think Progress compares May 1, 2003 to May 1, 2006. Anyone want to argue with those numbers?

In related news, the BBC is reporting that the total cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could reach $811 billion. Not to mention the human cost (but they don’t like talking about that, do they?). The BBC is also reporting that “[r]econstruction efforts in Iraq worth $20 billion… are being hampered by inefficiency and insurgent attacks”.

But all must be for the best in the best of all possible pre-emptive wars. Just ask President Bush.

Whatever the outcome the reason we went to Iraq was to put more money into the pockets of major corporations. This is the largest money grabbing scheme ever. It is a disgrace and it makes me ashamed to be an American. This administration is absolutely corrupt.

  • Fortunately, once Saddam is dead, Bush can define success as whatever situation prevails, and leave.

    So have confidence, America, we will succeed, at SOMETHING 😉

  • 9% think the mission has been accomplished????

    And 40% more think it will be?

    What is the mission? Can any American even
    define what it is? What the hell are we doing
    there? I don’t know, but half the people seem to.

    I conclude that in one way or another, half the
    people are behind the “mission.” What hope
    can there be in a country where the people are
    so naive, stupid and ignorant? And how do
    we ever repudiate the war mongering
    policies of the neocons if half the people
    are behind them, after all this?

  • I’m curious. Why in the gods is it necessary for the United States to fulfill the promise of Kid George’s mission? What is that intellectually-bankrupt excuse for a political leader going to do—commit the entire nation to utter destruction, because they were somehow unworthy of his messianic presence?

    Congress should act—NOW. Somewhere within the tainted corridors of those once-hallowed halls, there ought to be at least 8 or 9 Senators outside the Dem’s 45 that would stand up and cross the aisle on this issue. Pull the purse-strings tight, and shut the whole blasted government down for just one week. No spending means no monetary transfers to lobbyists, special-interest groups, Big Oil, the US automotive industry, faith-based groups, evangelical money-sponges, individual-state-gerrymandering efforts, and right on down the line. Then, come back one month later—and do it all over again. Don’t release any funds until things start getting fixed.

    Once this happens, rotate a couple of these guys home at a time—while keeping just enough of the group in DC to prevent the Reich from ramming things through—so word can get to the constituencies on a first-hand basis. Those conservatives who are willing to take such a chance have the potential—a very auspicious potential, at that—to be the cornerstone for rebuilding the GOP, and thus provide for the check/balance system that both Houses of Congress now sorely lack.

    It’s also quite likely the only thing short of domestic military action that’s going to shut this administration down in its tracks. Kid George has what now—over 750 of those little “signing statements?” He flaunts the Law, declares himself to be above the Congress, and the Constitution, and even good old Common Sense. He’s got himself about two-and-a-half years to figure out how to stop an election, and deny anyone the ability to become the next President. Hitler used similar “emergency executive powers” to remake himself from Chancellor to Supreme Leader. His Poland is Bush’s Afghanistan; his France is Bush’s Iraq. Both former issues were being “negotiated at the diplomatic levels” while invasion-plans were being put into readiness.

    Now, we’re “seeking a diplomatic solution” to Iran…and Iran will, in all likelihood, be to Bush what Russia was to Hitler. The “Gargantuan struggle of ideas and ideals” promoted by the first “decider” ended in the virtual demolition of Germany. Now, we find ourselves with another “decider;” another messianic wanna-be; another “fuhrer.” And he can’t even manage to win one confict before starting the next….

  • God is testing George Walker Bush’s masterful plans. — The George Walker Bush Doctrine

    Admission of Error is Impossible — The Reagan Doctrine

    Bush, the Great Communitibidicator.

  • “Why in the gods is it necessary for the United States to fulfill the promise of Kid George’s mission?” – Steve

    That is an excellent question.

    The rest is just scary 8-(

  • hark that was my first thought – 9%???? WTF

    I think those 9% only ever cared about getting Saddam.

  • “I think those 9% only ever cared about getting Saddam.” – ET

    That’s because they are the 9% who think it was Saddam, rather than Osama, who attacked us on 9/11.

  • Regarding the cost of the Iraq war, here is a sweet little reminder of what conservative know-it-alls were saying in 2003:

    http://www.nationalreview.com/nrof_bartlett/bartlett040203.asp

    And the sweetest irony of all is that this cold-blooded cost/benefit analysis (war would be an “economic blessing” for both the U.S. and Iraq) was by none other than Bruce Bartlett, who now thinks George Bush is an “Impostor” who bankrupted America. When the scales fall from some people’s eyes, they fall with a bang, do they not?

  • #10 JeffR: Wow, interesting (and depressing) read. Not good predictions from those U of Chicago professors. I wonder what they think now?

    LOL re your last sentence. Scales clattering to the floor. Nice image.

  • Let’s see….

    First it was “Mission Accomplished” was a turning point.

    Then it was turning over sovereignty to Iraqis was a turning point

    Then it was free elections were a turning point.

    Then it was an interim government was a turning point.

    Then it was writing a constitution was a turning point.

    Then it was more elections was a turning point.

    Then it was forming a permanent government was a turning point.

    How many more turning points will it take before we realize this is a never-ending morass?

  • There have been so many turning points Iraq (or at least Bush’s ever-changing rhetoric on Iraq) looks like an M.C. Escher drawing.

    Is there any way out?

  • Yes, eeyore (#12), so many turning points. It’s a wonder we’re still in the same place–nowhere. Except now there are many thousands, dead, maimed and grieving. And Steve (#4), great post. But the sad answer, I fear, about why the U.S. will no doubt try to “fulfill the promise of Kid George’s mission”–whatever the hell it was–is that a future gov’t will be hard pressed to look at the dead, maimed and grieving and say it was all a mistake, all for nothing. And so, the tragedy is compounded and never ending.

  • “…a future gov’t will be hard pressed to look at the dead, maimed and grieving and say it was all a mistake, all for nothing. And so, the tragedy is compounded and never ending.” – – – Frak

    And that is why it needs to be coming from people within this present government, while there’s an opportunity to employ the term “IS” rather than “WAS.” That it IS a mistake; that it IS all for nothing. To stop the tragedy from compounding into a veritable “forever-war” scenario with a handful of similar-minded zealots calling the shots from opposite ends of the poker table—and the whole blasted world being the leveraged wager of the game.

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