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"We have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent wo/men." -- George Orwell
On Sunday evening, in a televised address, George W. Bush used the Law of Three to explain what the American people need to understand about: the plan for the war in Iraq (1., 2., 3....), the meaning of Victory (1., 2., 3....) and the identity of those who are With Us or Against Us (1., 2., 3....). This recent repetitive rhetorical device conveys depth and organizational skills, as well as sharp mathematical abilities. However, there is some confusion about who are the loyalists and who are the defeatists in Mr. Bush’s world view.
G.W.B.: “Since the removal of Saddam, this war, like other wars in our history, has been difficult. The mission of American troops in urban raids and desert patrols, fighting Saddam loyalists and foreign terrorists, has brought danger and suffering and loss. This loss has caused sorrow for our whole nation -- and it has led some to ask if we are creating more problems than we're solving.”
1. “Saddam Loyalists”:
Presumably these are folks so enamored of Saddam Hussein that they would join him in a spider hole or support him in court, prison or an undisclosed location.
2. “Foreign Terrorists”:
No one loves a terrorist
2b. “Terra-ists”:
Due to a peculiarity of enunciation, it frequently sounds as if Mr. Bush is referring to “Terra-ists.” Each one of us born into this world (Terra Firma)-- whether we believe Evolution is a theory or a process-- could arguably be referred to as a “Terra-ist.” Just not in polite company.
G.W.B.:
“In all three aspects of our strategy -- security, democracy, and reconstruction -- we have learned from our experiences, and fixed what has not worked. We will continue to listen to honest criticism, and make every change that will help us complete the mission. Yet there is a difference between honest critics who recognize what is wrong, and defeatists who refuse to see that anything is right.
“Defeatism may have its partisan uses, but it is not justified by the facts. For every scene of destruction in Iraq, there are more scenes of rebuilding and hope. For every life lost, there are countless more lives reclaimed. And for every terrorist working to stop freedom in Iraq, there are many more Iraqis and Americans working to defeat them. My fellow citizens: Not only can we win the war in Iraq, we are winning the war in Iraq.”
3. Defeatists
Apparently, “defeatists” “refuse to see that anything is right.”
What is it called when someone refuses to see that anything is wrong?
G.W.B.:
“I also want to speak to those of you who did not support my decision to send troops to Iraq: I have heard your disagreement, and I know how deeply it is felt. Yet now there are only two options before our country -- victory or defeat. And the need for victory is larger than any president or political party, because the security of our people is in the balance. I don't expect you to support everything I do, but tonight I have a request: Do not give in to despair, and do not give up on this fight for freedom.”
Only two options before our country -- victory or defeat. This is a sly update of the “with us or against us” line? You’re either “for victory” or “for defeat”?
The question remains: who are the “defeatists”? The word “defeatist” has been religiously applied to hearty opponents of Bush Administration policies such as Senator Kerry and Congressman Murtha, thus proving that the word “defeatism” continues to “have its partisan uses.”
Are “defeatists” the American public and worldwide community that stood by the United States and the Bush Administration post-September 11th-- only to witness the White House lose interest in finding Osama Bin Laden “dead or alive” and focus its sights elsewhere?
Are “defeatists” the millions of citizens all over the planet who did NOT believe the “intelligence” being used to sell a war to the U.S. Congress and the United Nations? Those who called on our leaders to support our troops by not putting them in harm’s way unnecessarily?
Are “defeatists” the American citizens who see missing billions of dollars disappearing every minute from the national economy to pay for a war of choice?
Are “defeatists” the American citizens whose hearts are broken by the continuing death and destruction in Iraq-- and who recognize that it has made the whole world less safe?
Are “defeatists” the faithful families of service men and women who lost loved ones for a war that they later realized was sold to them with phony advertising?
Are “defeatists” the loyal service men and women who found themselves in a desert nation under-equipped, under-supplied, under-staffed, under-protected, under-paid and under siege?
Are “defeatists” the loyal service men and women who are wounded, treated and immediately shipped back to combat; who were lost in a revolving door of stop-gap service; or shipped home with inadequate services and support for themselves and their families-- whose pay and benefits have been cut by this administration during their service?
Are “defeatists” the families of loyal service men and women whose bodies are shipped home with no recognition, no honor and no photographs-- whose bodies are shipped back to this nation they served as CARGO?
G.W.B.:
“It is also important for every American to understand the consequences of pulling out of Iraq before our work is done. We would abandon our Iraqi friends and signal to the world that America cannot be trusted to keep its word. We would undermine the morale of our troops by betraying the cause for which they have sacrificed. We would cause the tyrants in the Middle East to laugh at our failed resolve, and tighten their repressive grip. We would hand Iraq over to enemies who have pledged to attack us and the global terrorist movement would be emboldened and more dangerous than ever before. To retreat before victory would be an act of recklessness and dishonor, and I will not allow it.”
President Bush "will not allow it." The American public and service personnel have been deceived and browbeaten and frightened out of their wits and bankrupted and expected to continue to not “give in to despair” and even if we wanted to, our leadership “will not allow it”?
America needs a Fireside Chat, not televised beratement. When election time comes, Americans may ask themselves and each other these questions:
Are you safer than you were 4 years ago?
Are you-- despite your best efforts-- more “defeatist” then you were four years ago?
G.W.B.:
“This loss has caused sorrow for our whole nation -- and it has led some to ask if we are creating more problems than we're solving.”
This loss and sorrow we can all agree on-- and together we can find the courage to look honestly at whether “we are creating more problems than we're solving.”
Rather than a hardline “with us (Victory) or against us (Defeat)” approach of “only two options,” Americans could try the Law of Three device exemplified by the President and restore to the United States:
1. Hope
2. Honesty
3. Honor
:patriot:
" War is a way of shattering to pieces, or pouring into the stratosphere, or sinking in the depths of the sea, materials which might otherwise be used to make the masses too comfortable, and hence, in the long run, too intelligent. " -- George Orwell
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