National Holiday for 300 Million Population

For Iraq's future, check Lebanon's past

The article was written by "The Star-Ledger's national political correspondent, John Farmer.

With Israel fighting on two fronts, the American battles in Iraq and Afghanistan, the irrationality of Iran, the bombings in Bombay, 9/11, and the rest of the terrorist problem, the article is sobering. Other reporters argue that this can be the beginning of World War III.

Most people agree that the American invasion and occupation of Iraq was a mistake. Bush's advisors never understood anything about the middle east people and their issues and never had a plan for peace. The American military represents our National Defense. But they were flatfooted after the war was won, leading to the initial anarchy in Iraq and it went downhill from there. Anyone taking any ROTC classes learns that the military is not just about fighting, but you have to take care of all of the issues of a defeated enemy such as Iraq, such as food, utilities, communication, shelter, sanitation, garbage, jobs, the peace, and all. These jobs were handled by General Macarthur in Japan and General Patton in Germany. If there was such a General in charge in Iraq, he or she was thoroughly trained like Macarthur and Patton and if not given the mandate or resources necessary to be successful, should have tried to correct President Bush and if not then successful, retired. Everyone in America should know who the pipsqueak is who was to manage the peace in Iraq after the war.

First of all it is already proven that Bush needs fresh blood advisors. Where is all of the American expertise? He has probably listened to the individuals he feels comfortable with and ignored the rest of the information available. The President wants American policy to remain the same for the next president to handle the problem.

It is too long a period of time for the President and Congress to stand still like a deer in headlights and do nothing but keep the course until a new president shows up in more than 2 years from now. We all have seen this President sit like a deer in headlights when he was told in the classroom on 9/11 that jets crashed into the World Trade Center by terrorists, and it was not a pretty picture.

Global terrorism is spreading and the Bush cure is not working. Bush and Congress should speak and learn from other experts and maybe the world can be saved before it gets even worse. Bush should speak to his father and learn how to build a coalition, gain better advisors, and to win more friends with better more honest diplomacy. He should learn to care for everyone in America, not just the super rich and illegal aliens. This president has been criticized for making too many unilateral decisions and not bringing in Congress or the courts. He should open up more dialogues with Congress and obtain feedback. He may learn others may have better ideas, and may also learn freshman sociology that if people feel like they are part of a team they will usually act as a team and not be bitter. Today, the history books will be terribly unkind to President Bush, but he still has more than 2 years to improve. I hope he will make the better choice this time.

posted by God Bless America - Bob @ 12:39 AM