Staying The Course. Not

[poliphilo]

It has been noted that president Bush is no longer using that mantra about staying the course in Iraq. Last night I saw a clip from a news conference where a White House spokesman acknowledged this and said it was because the mantra was being "misunderstood".

Tony Blair is still saying that Britain will stand firm until the job is done- whatever that means. I guess he hasn't received his orders yet. 

It would be nice to think that Iraq was the last colonial adventure- that the Western powers will have learned  that it's no longer in their power (if indeed it ever was) to march into countries they barely understand and sort them out.

I'm not going to argue the pros and cons of Imperialism. I'm not sure I could, anyway. I have all sorts of conflicting ideas. 

The point is that that phase of human history is over. It ended fifty years ago. The Empires have been dismantled, The colonial wars have  been lost. 

It's time for the White Man to put down his self-appointed burden, sit on his hands and mind his own business.

Comments

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think they've been hoping against hope that something would turn up. After all, no government wants to be held responsible for a military defeat.

[mrshannibal.livejournal.com]

and he claims to be "doing his job"? and we, as a nation, should let him "do his job"?

and just exactly what "job" is that?

after awhile i thought clinton as president was a joke, but bush goes beyond being ridiculous...it makes me wonder if he hears the words that come out of his mouth...

it's frightening to think that this "conflict" could go on and on...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It won't go on and on. The fact that Bush is changing his tune means that he's preparing the world for a change of policy.

Remember Vietnam? America wasn't going to back away from that one either- but it did.

[mrshannibal.livejournal.com]

i like that...
12-18 months or so until iraqi forces can take responsibility...

that was said awhile ago...

would you give it longer?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think Iraq is descending into civil war. I think the likely outcome is that the country will be partioned along ethnic and religious lines -rather as happened with the former Yugoslavia. I don't thing it will make much difference whether Coalition forces get out next week or stay for another year and a half.

[mrshannibal.livejournal.com]

i couldn't agree w/you more on this...