It's hard for me to accept the fact that Bush has carte blanche to deploy our military wherever, whenever he pleases in the face of Congress' inability, or unwillingness, to take responsibility and call the president to account. Yet, here we are. We're at the mercy of a counterfeit, paranoid loser who hid out on Air Force One, flying around the country to 'keep out of harm's way' after the World Trade Center was hit.
Amazingly, we're being told that we should tolerate another open-ended deployment of scarce troops, like in Iraq, for another political stunt - this time on our own border with Mexico - to demonstrate the only relevant trick this inept, lame-duck knows: Riding in on his high horse behind our hapless soldiers, claiming victory even as they continue to fall victim to the retributions and recriminations of his jingoistic aggressions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and against Iran.
Little wonder Bush wants to cover himself in the glory that comes with command of our fine forces, but his scheme to distract from his failed presidency is laid bare by the shameless tragedy of the deaths of those who gave their lives and livelihoods prosecuting his dirty wars, or by those who were slaughtered in the path of the deadly swagger of the contrived Texan's military campaigns of shock and awe.
It will take up to 156,000 troops to maintain that force level on the border with proper rotation, something this military just can't get around to doing with any sincerity and intention in Iraq and Afghanistan.
There's a suggestion that we build a 'super fence', electrified to keep folks out; ostensibly keeping us locked in with this cornered megalomaniac. We've got Cheney playing Strangelove as he travels to Eastern Europe trolling for a new cold war with Russia. The official presidential reader, Condi, is bound to burst on the scene at any minute, castigating the men for their impudent inaction.
Who can be sanguine about a leader in domestic crisis with as much of an arsenal as the commander of the U.S. military oiligarchy has at his disposal? There should be a real concern among our representatives about the prospect for another trumped up assault, on yet another sovereign nation, to cover up the swelling sea of scandal that threatens to envelop this regime.
Lies on top of other lies, to cover up still more lies. That's the legacy that faces Bush, no matter how he chooses to end his term. Thousands died because of his lies. They continue to die in multiples each day as a result of his militarism.
Bush is in deep trouble. That means we will have to bear whatever dodge he uses in his attempt to escape accountability. They all duck responsibility the same way. They get a hold on our destinies. They use our lives as foils for the practice of their ideology.
We desperately need to pry their hands loose from the throat of our democracy and speak truth to power to effect the change we want to see. We need to pry his hands loose from our troops before he falls. They've sacrificed enough for his lies.
