Will the President Listen to the Iraq Study Group?

Just days after the release of recommendations by the Iraq Study Group, we are already seeing George Bush's infamous stubborn streak make its presence known. In a news conference to address the report on December 7th with visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mr. Bush evaded several direct questions from reporters. Mr. Blair had little of value to say, seemingly dazed and confused. Americans are already being shown precisely what was in the report by the Iraq Study Group, but what will happen now? It is becoming painfully obvious that our government has no current plans to follow any of the urgent recommendations. Will the administration eventually cave in to the pressure? Even if Mr. Bush, Mr. Rove, and Dr. Rice do finally decide to explore other options including the ones set forth by the Iraq Study Group, will it have been too late?

During the joint press conference, the President was quoted as saying, "The Iraq Study Group is a really important part of our considerations, but we want to make sure the military gets their point of view in." This was after James Baker and Lee Hamilton, the co-chairs of the Iraq Study Group, revealed that they interviewed generals and other high-ranking military officials to make sure the military point of view was the bigger part of their report. The State Department is also compiling a report of its own to present options for Iraq. It appears that President Bush and the administration are hoping one of these other reports will say something to the effect of, "You were right, Mr. President, we need to stay the course and do everything you say, because if we don't we're unamerican, and will be attacked by terrorists."

The Iraq Study Group, made up of some of the most brilliant minds in or out of Washington, made 79 recommendations for the war in Iraq in their report. Suggestions were made on how to stabilize regional fighting, insurgency, diplomacy with other countries bordering Iraq, and troop withdrawal. All have been met with acknowledgment, appreciation, and a sweep of the hand on the part of the President. It would do the administration a great service to remind themselves that these 79 recommendations by the Iraq Study Group represent about 78 more ideas and options than they themselves have been able to come up with thusfar. Even as conflict, loss of life, and anger has deepened, we've been allowed to consider no other options. Even as the violence in Iraq has taken on a new level of intensity, we've been given the same cliche'd statements by President Bush. The only option the President has presented the American people with has been to "stay the course." We no longer have a course. We are now involved in cleaning up the dead, and spin control. Our fighting men and women spend long hard days and nights locked in a losing battle, so the President doesn't have to admit he lied, or at the very least was mistaken, ill-advised, or just plain blind. We cannot even hope to hear him acknowledge the price that has been paid in loss; apparently we do not merit that, even after giving him the benefit of the doubt, twice.

The President continues to (seemingly) agree that we need a new approach in Iraq. Yet he uses the same old patronizing tone when asked about the Iraq Study Group and whether he intends to follow any of the changes set forth. The only conclusion we can draw from this is that unfortunately nothing will change until more lives are lost and pressure on the administration increases from all sides. There is noone in our government now to tell us, "Here's what we're going to do, for the American people, our military, and the Iraqi people." All we can do is wait, and hope that with the help of the Iraq Study Group and others, our leader can snap back into reality. And we can hope that something is done in a hurry, as it is already too late for thousands of people who were told one thing, and shown another.

Several members of Congress, (mostly Democrats) are pleading with the administration to adopt all 79 recommendations by the Iraq Study Group. This speaks to the desperation people feel, because we are now at a juncture where Iraq is in a full-blown civil war, and our troops have no hope of coming home anytime soon. More and more polls are showing that Americans feel we should try something, anything, other than stay the course. And since Americans-whose sons and daughters are in harm's way in many cases-elected this President, their voices should count for something. The experienced and level-headed opinions of the Iraq Study Group should count for something. However, since the first botched election more and more of us have become apathetic to everything involving politics and the war, because we realize that this administration is more a corporation than a freely elected government. When your voice isn't heard, you tend to wonder what the point is of speaking up after a while. But there is a point, and we should keep speaking up, even if it gets us nowhere; if for no other reason than to know we did everything in our power to make it better for our soldiers, ourselves, and the people of Iraq.

It is apparent now that whatever the reasons behind his refusal to compromise his failed policies, George Bush intends to treat the report by the Iraq Study Group as constructive critism, rather than the emergency bailout plan that it actually is. Over and over again the Iraq Study Group report states that the situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating, and that the current strategy is simply not working. We know that it isn't working because the loss of life is increasing daily. It may very well be too late to make any sort of success of Iraq, but it is never too late to try to save lives.

To the casual observer, December 7th's press conference highlighted nothing more than a deep desire on the part of the President to deny the position our citizens, and our military are now in. One almost wants to shout at Mr. Bush, "This isn't about you! This isn't about your pride, your legacy, your bank account or your daddy. This is about the fact that we are now involved in an impossible situation. One that has lost us valuable allies, one that has brought more, not less terrorism to the world, and one that has now cost thousands of precious lives. " It is almost painful to watch this administration try to maintain the iron fist they once had over everything and everyone around them.

As for Tony Blair, he stated in the press conference that all we need to do is "keep on winning." We are not winning in Iraq. Noone is winning. It isn't a sporting event, it isn't even a war anymore. It's madness, made even more alarming by the fact that the people who could actually do something about it are treating it like it's a global pissing contest.

You may or may not agree with everything in the report by the Iraq Study Group, but keep in mind that at least someone of merit is now demanding immediate policy changes. We cannot begin to comprehend what life (and death) is like for the Iraqi people right now, or for the families of our fallen soldiers. It is hell on earth, and never should have happened in the first place. Yet at this late hour, in this unbelievable mess, we are dealing with a pouting session by the leader of the free world. One could almost find that funny if it weren't for the desperate unfairness of it all.