Dick Cheney and Logic
This frustrates me. Again, Vice President Dick Cheney has said of the Democrats in the House, "They're not supporting the troops. They're undermining them," because, though they fully fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan above and beyond what the president asked, they have proposed a timetable to end the war and bring the troops home. It may be a good idea or it may be a bad idea, and it's worth debating on its military, political, and practical merits.
But Cheney's logic is skewed: In his rhetoric, "supporting the troops" equals keeping them in a (civil) war zone, while establishing a timetable to bring them home is "undermining them." Soldiers I know who have been or are stationed in Iraq do not complain about a lack of support when their tour of duty in Iraq ends and they get to come home. They don't say, "Please don't undermine me by sending me home. Support me by leaving me here for another year."
Mr. Vice President, please debate the House on the merits of their plan. Don't cover up your administration's errors of judgment and execution with empty, illogical rhetoric about troop support. Don't say "support our troops" when you mean "obey the President."
But Cheney's logic is skewed: In his rhetoric, "supporting the troops" equals keeping them in a (civil) war zone, while establishing a timetable to bring them home is "undermining them." Soldiers I know who have been or are stationed in Iraq do not complain about a lack of support when their tour of duty in Iraq ends and they get to come home. They don't say, "Please don't undermine me by sending me home. Support me by leaving me here for another year."
Mr. Vice President, please debate the House on the merits of their plan. Don't cover up your administration's errors of judgment and execution with empty, illogical rhetoric about troop support. Don't say "support our troops" when you mean "obey the President."
While I am against the war, more and more, if that is possible, I have serious reservations about the congress making political decisions about it in the way they are proposing. But maybe that is the only power they have.
ReplyDeleteIf any one of the zillion candidates becomes President, that person would NOT want the congress passing some kind of law that would tell the Pres. how to run a war.
I think I agree with you, but I wish the President would talk to the Democrats in Congress. A majority of us elected them, and they deserve to be a part of the discussion. If Bush disagrees with the timetable, fine, but then I wish he'd come to the table and negotiate. It always seems to be his way or the highway.
ReplyDeleteI heard on TV that Bush is the most isolated president in a very long time. Sometimes I think I know more than the "White House" from watching CNN.
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