Article: The Valentine's Day Press Conference

I watched President Bush's Valentine's Day press conference live on television.

The President was very lame in his defense of the surge. He stated the Iraqi National government has just adopted a $ 41 billion dollar budget for the current fiscal year.

My state, New York, with a population of similar magnitude to Iraq's has just adopted a budget of $110 billion for the current fiscal year.

I cannot understand how the President thinks the Iraqis can repair the damage to their infrastructure, care for the widows and orphans and provide security in the chaos that his war has created on this meager budget.

This lack of analytical power is unfortunately very typical of the President's policy initiatives.

The facts, taken in context, lead to only one conclusion: the American led invasion of Iraq is the result of megalomaniacal hysteria.

Saddam posed no threat justifying the invasion. The invasion's stated objectives of protecting the Iraqis and establishing a democratic Iraq are frustrated by the occupation and the cost and dangers of the continued occupation far exceed the consequences of withdrawal.

In spite of the facts the mission continues.

The mission in Iraq continues because the anti-war movement has not yet demonstrated the strength of will exhibited by the warmongers.

It has been important for the antis to demonstrate forbearance, open-mindedness and concern for factuality.

We have had to bear the burden of proving that the President lied and that the policies espoused by the highest officials in our government are untruthful, self-defeating, futile and brutal.

We have succeeded in convincing half of the American people to change their minds and oppose the President and the War.

It is now time to end the war.

Bush's press conference on Valentines Day demonstrated his utter inability to publicly articulate an understanding of either the tactical or strategic situation in Iraq.

He repeatedly stated that the Quod force is running amok in Iraq, his assertion has been definitively disproven.

Bush pushed the Surge without discussing the opposition to it domestically or from our allies abroad.

Middle East leaders are aghast at the prospect.

The British are completely undone with worry that the Surge will push large numbers of insurgents into their occupation zone resulting in horrific casualties at the time they are trying to withdraw.

For six years, we have listened to President Bush state his determination to protect our country and serve its interests.

In each of these recitations the President speaks in a sincere voice with a humble demeanor.

Despite the President's display and sincerity and concern, everyone, American, ally and Iraqi is disturbed by the Administration's unwillingness to consult on policy or to formulate policy in partnership with those most affected by their decisions.

As demonstrated above, President Bush's analysis of straightforward matters like public budgets is weak.

How can any confidence be placed in his analysis of subtle and complicated matters like intelligence, military strategy or the intentions of foreign governments?

In this environment, the citation of expert testimony to rebut the bogus claims of the Bush Administration is simply insufficient.

Instead, we must organize and increase the political pressure on the Administration. The officials responsible for the multiple failures must face consequences.

Political officials who continue to support the President should be removed from their positions through the exercise of legitimate political power.

We should contact the sponsors of journalists who parrot the White House line and inform them that we will use their competitors' products if they continue to sponsor programming that supports continuation of the Occupation.

The Congress must exercise its constitutional duty to oversee and control the Presidents misfeasance regarding the continued occupation.

Activists must pressure more local and state governments to take actions like the Vermont legislature and officially denounce the war and occupation.

At some point the mobilization of political power will bring the institutional government to heel and return it to working for Americans' security and best interests.

Robert Chapman