By MATTERS BY JACK NEWORTH Jack Neworth
In the movie “Godfather III,” Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) tries to go legit, but circumstances (and the need to sell more popcorn) won’t let him. He complains bitterly, “The more I try to get out, the more they pull me back in!” That’s how I feel about President Bush. The “Decider” was supposed to tell the nation about his new direction for Iraq, but now he says it’ll be in January and he won’t be rushed. It’s only been 1,322 days since “Mission Accomplished,” so what’s the hurry? But since the Baker-Hamilton report, 35 more Americans have died in Iraq.
I fear W’s incapable of change. At a press conference once, he was asked what mistakes his administration had made. He said he couldn’t think of one. Not one. His people are good at slogans though. The latest is “Looking Forward,” which means, “Let’s not take responsibility for who got us into this hell?” There have been so many slogans it’s hard to keep up: “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” “Bringing Democracy to the Middle East” (how about trying it in Saudi Arabia?), “As the Iraqis Stand Up, We Stand Down,” and “We’ll Leave When the Job is Done,” though I’m never sure what the job is. One really needs a slogan scorecard. Fortunately, we’ve got Fox News.
W’s reaction to the Baker-Hamilton report was a little coarse. Of course, I’m taking him at his word that he actually read it. Maybe there was a pop-up version, or maybe it was on books on tape. I wonder if he counts it in his reading contest with Rove. He claims he’s read 60 books so far, including, as he puts it, three “Shakespeares.”
Bush also claims to “use the Google on the Internets.” His curious mind likes Google because he can see satellite photos of the Crawford ranch. It’s a shame he didn’t use “the google” before the invasion to find out the Sunnis and the Shias have hated each other for 1,300 hundred years. Maybe we wouldn’t have invaded.
I should be more sympathetic toward W., but it’s not easy.Today,there was another mass abduction in Iraq. If Bush sends more troops, they’ll be referees in a civil war with bull’s-eyes on their backs. His poll numbers are lower than any president at any time during Vietnam. One person in five thinks he’s doing a good job. One in six think Elvis is still alive.
W confides to friends that he identifies with Truman and Lincoln, who also waged unpopular wars.But,as opposed to giving out no-bid contracts, Truman sent war profiteers to jail. (Lucky for Halliburton they weren’t around back then.) And Lincoln, well, there’s the famous Lincoln Memorial of him in thoughtful repose. Maybe W’s statue could be on the stationery bike. Or how about one of him playing air guitar at John McCain’s birthday party while New Orleans drowned?
I’m not surprised by W’s reaction to the Study Group. He can only listen to those who agree with him. Is that a good quality for a president? Before the war. Gen. Shinseki predicted we’d need hundreds of thousands of troops to succeed. His reward? Forced retirement. W’s not happy with one of the authors of the report, James Baker — Bush 41’s Secretary of State. It seems a tad ungrateful because Baker was the man who helped 43 “win” the election in Florida. But I suppose it’s like the old saying, “What election have you stolen for me lately.”
Pappy Bush recently broke down in tears in what was supposed to be a happy occasion, Jeb’s farewell to the Florida legislature after two terms as Governor. Pappy’s tears may have been for Junior, who, according to Pat Buchanan, by going into Iraq,“committed the worst strategic blunder in the history of the United States.” Three thousand dead Americans, 20,000 wounded, many disabled for life, hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis and two trillion dollars squandered.And for what? That brings tears to my eyes too.
It’s been a rough month for W — the election, firing Rummy and Baker- Hamilton. On the other hand, it’s been a rough six years for the rest of us. Please, let’s never forget this was W’s war. And now we wait until after the first to hear from the “Decider.” But I might have to skip the big speech. I can feel it in my gut he’s going to send more troops. A la Michael Corleone, “The more I try to get out, the more he pulls me back in.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 15, 2006. Read the original PDF.