Leadership: Now, the Nation Needs Answers More Than Exhortations
In any aspect of life, there is a point where"staying the course" becomes a stupid and reckless waste of resources in an effort to save face at all costs. It would appear that George W. Bush has crossed that Rubicon. No, I'm not about to advocate that the US pull out of Iraq. We're in, for better or worse, but I can't help but wonder if Bush has a plan beyond looking resolute and remaining above the fray.
Lest we forget, this is a war that Bush and his minions achieved by deceiving the American public. Even I supported the war effort based on the "evidence" put forward. It made sense then, and I do believe that there are times when one must put aside partisan rhetoric for the Greater Good. This seemed to be one of those times. Well, fool me once, shame on you....
There is no doubt that George W. Bush has the trappings of office down. He looks good in a flight suit, he can speak convincingly and resolutely about "staying the course", and yes, he even looks Presidential. Simply by doing so, he has duped enough Americans into thinking that he is a strong and resolute leader. Somehow, Americans believe that Bush, who never came close to facing a bullet fired in anger, is better able to protect the Homeland than John Kerry- a former Navy officer with three Purple Hearts and more combat experience that George W. Bush could dream of.
In peacetime, leadership is as much in the symoblism and appearance as anything else. In wartime, though, with the lives of our sons and daughters on the line, Americans want- and deserve- to know that their President is taking care of business. Well, he is- just not in the way we might expect. If taking care of business means spending more time on his election campaign and attacking John Kerry on "issues" from 30+ years ago, than George W. Bush is your man. From where I sit, leadership means articulating to the American people what the plan is in Iraq- and I'm not talking about turning over pseudo-sovereignty to an Iraqi "government" on June 30th. What is being done to ensure that our children don't die and become martyrs for your election campaign?
It's about time that we demand leadership from Our Sainted President. I'm not talking about hollow promises, or moralizing soundbites, or even scripted photo ops. Our young men and women are dying in a war that is becoming increasingly nonsensical. No, it's not Vietnam, but the parallels are becoming difficult to ignore. Leaders lead; it's a simple concept, and we deserve nothing less. Of course, expecting leadership from the "Accidental President" is likely to be a recipe for disappointment. It certainly has been so far.
A plan, any plan, would be better than nothing. We can't see the possibility of there being a light at the end of the tunnel because no one knows if there is a tunnel, and if there is, where it is.
I don't like any of the Bushes and have never voted for one, but I would really like to see this war in Iraq end with a minimum loss of life for all concerned and a minimum cost to the future generations that are paying for Bush's profligate fiscal behavior.