Move On and Move Over

Just because the man wears stars and has a degree from Princeton doesn’t give General David Betraeus any more wisdom than Milton Berle’s “men from Texaco” or the legions of anti-Semites who graduated from the same university.

I wasn’t aware that Moveon.org had usurped my own name for the Bush bootlicker whose long-awaited report to Congress on “progress” in Iraq called for months more of dead or brain-traumatized American youth. But it fits, because however smart Betraeus is, he is still a wooden dummy on the lap of ventriloquists in the White House, and he knows better than anyone how foul this adventure was and remains.

Gee, whiz. Bush-Betraeus will withdraw 4,000 troops. After adding 35,000 earlier this year to no good purpose whatsoever. What is particularly rankling here is that Bush and his crypto-fascist cadres who read the Constitution one way when it suits themselves and another when it comes to declaring war, forget that the president is the commander of the armed forces. To say he will do what his generals advise is to turn his job and the Constitution on its head.

Here is what the Demander in Chief said earlier this year about the positives of a “surge.”

“We can expect to see Iraqi troops chasing down murderers, fewer brazen acts of terror, and growing trust and cooperation from Baghdad's residents. When this happens, daily life will improve, Iraqis will gain confidence in their leaders, and the government will have the breathing space it needs to make progress in other critical areas. Most of Iraq's Sunni and Shia want to live together in peace -- and reducing the violence in Baghdad will help make reconciliation possible.”

None of that has happened and Sunnia and Shia have never lived together in peace, do not wish to and will never do so. Our best hope is that they wipe each other out, and rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops might lead to that result, improving American security interests and reducing the number of terrorists.

Said the Salamander in Chief back in January:

“To step back now would force a collapse of the Iraqi government, tear the country apart, and result in mass killings on an unimaginable scale. Such a scenario would result in our troops being forced to stay in Iraq even longer, and confront an enemy that is even more lethal. If we increase our support at this crucial moment, and help the Iraqis break the current cycle of violence, we can hasten the day our troops begin coming home.”

And now he wants more time.

I forgot who said it, but I subscribe to this comparison: If on Dec. 7, 1941, a gunner on the Arizona shot down a Jap Mitsubishi Zero, Bush would have declared “progress” in the war.

The Republican hate-mongers keep talking about Democrats wanting to “surrender.” They have it wrong and they know it. It is the Liar in Chief who has surrendered your security for his place in history. And his rightful place in history is next to another famous war hero general. Move over, Benedict.