Bomb The World!

Originally posted by Nadir at LastChocolateCity.com

Despite universal criticism, George Bush’s efforts to destabilize the Middle East continue unabated. With a precarious situation in Afghanistan, US and Israeli troublemaking in Lebanon, and a week of airstrikes in Somalia, Bush predictably announced his plans to escalate the FUBAR in Iraq.

Bush’s “New Way Forward” speech was falsely advertised as “a change in direction”. It could have been more accurately described as “stay the course with more guns.”

The result of his new strategy - adding 21,500 new troops in Iraq - will be like dropping 21,500 troops into a quagmire. In fact it will be exactly that. Five brigades, roughly 17,000 American men and women, will go to Baghdad to combat the growing resistance to American occupation.

It’s all in the name of the “War on Terror”, protecting America’s “vital interests” and “homeland security”. If his buddies in the oil, weapons and banking industries happen to get a little richer in the process, then so be it.

Since the United States doesn’t export much anymore, the Bush doctrine calls on the nation to export democracy… and weapons… and soldiers.

The challenge playing out across the broader Middle East is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of our time.

On one side are those who believe in freedom and moderation. On the other side are extremists who kill the innocent and have declared their intention to destroy our way of life. In the long run, the most realistic way to protect the American people is to provide a hopeful alternative to the hateful ideology of the enemy — by advancing liberty across a troubled region.

He also made not so veiled threats against Iran and Syria:

Succeeding in Iraq also requires defending its territorial integrity — and stabilizing the region in the face of the extremist challenge. This begins with addressing Iran and Syria.

These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.

If the history of the Bush doctrine and the recent strikes against Somalia tell us anything, these words should be taken as foreshadowing. Bush may very well have the entire Middle East at war before the winter is out.