LETTER: Bush mismanagement in Iraq, Afghanistan

While I continue to be encouraged by the declining violence in Iraq, it seems clear to me that the Bush administration continues to mismanage the whole operation.

The sudden "retirement" of Adm. William Fallon as the top U.S. commander in Iraq and Afghanistan is yet another example. There is no question that Fallon's sudden departure had a lot less to do with his desire to retire than it did with his vocal policy differences with the White House.

Fallon's crime? He had the audacity to tell the truth about what's really happening in Iraq and Afghanistan, and, as we have all come to realize, President Bush doesn't like the truth if it doesn't jive with what he wants the American people to believe.Even though Fallon's comments were in sync with those of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, George W. Bush would have none of it.

How dare Fallon tell the media that Bush's constant rhetoric against Iran is not helping the situation in Iraq, even though most observers agree. How dare Fallon say that there are not enough troops in Afghanistan to control the Taliban, even though Bush himself agreed and sent more Marines to help.

Now we hear that while the United States has a huge budget deficit (in large measure because of the war in Iraq), Iraq has a budget surplus because of massive oil profits amounting to $60-$100 billion! Despite this, the U.S. is still spending $12 billion a month in Iraq with no end in sight.

When U.S. Comptroller David Walker pointed this out to members of Congress, the White House threw cold water on it, saying Iraq is ripe with corruption. Well, the same might be said of the Bush White House, at least when it comes to this ill-conceived war in Iraq.
JCJ

"mismanage"
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