Pres. Bush wows audiences with address

Pres. Bush's stance on Iraq two years ago:
The war ahead of us in Iraq is dangerous and difficult, but Americans must continue to have faith that democracy and freedom will perservere.
Bush's stance on Iraq Tuesday:
Americans must have faith that democracy and freedom will perservere in a dangerous and difficult war in Iraq.
So what's changed in two years? What has been accomplished under the President who swore there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and a connection between Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden?
Here are some of my thought on the President's address from June 28.
Bush is still linking the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, vis-a-vis the war on terror, even though there are no clear links to terrorism in Iraq. Iraqi insurgents are not fighting America, they are fighting what they perceive to be American occupation of their homeland and what they think is the United States' attempt to change their culture and society.
Bush said, "Our mission is Iraq is clear." To whom, Mr. President? Who asked you to help Iraq build a free nation? From whom did the request come to advance freedom in the Middle East? While these certainly seem like great ideological concepts, the President is acting as if he has a mandate from the Iraqi people, which he clearly does not.
"Some wonder whether Iraq is a central front in the war on terror. Among the terrorists, there is no debate. Hear the words of Osama Bin Laden: "This Third World War is raging" in Iraq. "The whole world is watching this war." He says it will end in "victory and glory, or misery and humiliation.""
Now Bush is quoting bin Laden? That's more than a little scary. The leader of the strongest nation in the world is using the words of a genocidal maniac to make his case with the American people. That can't be a good thing. Shouldn't the merits of the American President's case stand on their own?
There are some things we have to give Bush credit for; making a sovereign people of Iraqis after the rule of Hussein, successful free elections and the unsuccessful attempts of insurgents to incite a civil war.
It is true that Iraq is building a strong police force, but that force is riddled with men who are opposed to America and the work we are doing there. They are enlisting not because it's a noble cause, but because it is the best-paying work in Iraq.
Bush said, "As Iraqis stand up, we will stand down." The fact that Bush will not give a timeline for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq has angered many people, but I agree with his reasoning. By creating deadlines and benchmarks for Iraqi accomplishments and ultimately the withdrawal of U.S. troops, insurgent attackers would have a better idea of when and where to strike to interrupt the work being done by Iraq and allied forces.

"We will stay in Iraq as long as we are needed, and not a day longer."
Pres. George W. Bush

The participation of Sunni Arabs in the democratization process is key. A culture that has intertwined government and religion for centuries should not be expected to suddenly separate church and state in a few years. And, if Iraq's new government is going to be successful, they will need every culture in the country to be on board, which requires the significant Sunni population to buy in.
Bush is still insisting his plan is the right plan. There is no real "plan" for the American people to evaluate, but we can look at the broad goals Bush has laid out:
- Creation of a stable democratic government in Iraq.
- Completion of a constitution as the legislative base for that government.
- Create a national Iraqi police force to help secure freedom for Iraqis.
- Defeat terrorist factions and help build a network of allies in the Middle East to fight terrorism on a regional and global scale.
Certainly Bush's intentions are noble, but it is still unclear if they will pan out in the end. American men and women are losing their lives fighting a war the American people are quickly losing faith in.
While we are free to disagree with our government, there are still troops overseas fighting for our freedom. Our national celebration of independence in the United States is upon us, and what better time to reach out to those troops and their families to show our support for them.
Take a minute to visit America Supports You and see how you can help support our men and women overseas. It would mean a lot to many people.