Logic 101

[On its simplest level, logic is the skill of being able to decide if two statements, which might even be true, actually can be used to conclude a third is true. A + B = C. It is the science of reasoning.]

For anyone who still believes anything George Bush says, we were supposed to believe that in mid-September, when his recently appointed and generally respected military leader there reports on progress, Bush would analyze the data and listen to this general's recommendations, leading to a realistic conclusion for what should be done next.

If the military effort was not quelling violence, if there was no promising government in place (and with their lawmakers nowhere near consensus and taking August for vacation, what do you think those odds are?), if the report said the surge hadn't worked, many logically assumed we would then begin the process of leaving.

Leaving would mean Iraqis would have to settle their own civil war, which yes, we set in motion or rather enabled by eliminating the power that had been controlling their religious and tribal hatreds. Are we capable of settling this for them? Our leaving might lead to more Iraqi deaths than currently is happening or might not. It will lead to less American military deaths.

None of what might seem logical will decide what happens next. We all know by now Bush has his own form of logic. Bush, who seems to feel he's on a divine mission, could even see we are in a mess. He might agree he had been wrong on what would happen in attacking Iraq. Heck, golly gee, might have even made a mistake (the fault of bad advisers, of course), but his realizing he made a mistake doesn't appear to figure into what he will do next. Although he didn't know what would happen before, he does now-- or so we are supposed to believe.

Bush is beginning to make speeches indicating September is not a benchmark. We might just need more time, more troops, more something. We can't lose, can we? (translated, he can't) Or as he likes to say over and over, we can't have suits running this war. Considering he's naked, as in the Emperor's New Clothes, I can see why he wouldn't see himself wearing one of those suits.

Using Bush or Cheney logic, there will be no leaving the morass in Iraq and an attack on Iran is likely their next proposed step (not that they will propose it. Dictators don't ask. They dictate).

We are hearing the same mishmash of unrelated things being brought forth that we heard before the Iraqi war began. So, although we are not successfully fighting the war we are in; although Iran has a larger more effective army than Iraq; figure in that our troops are already stretched to their limit (and beyond); don't forget to factor in that any general who disagrees with him has been forced out of power; and it's easy to see what bushie logic comes up with: bomb Iran

To write about the Bush administration, regarding anything, is one of the most unenjoyable things I do here. It's obvious those people believe the United States elects dictators every 4 years. They don't care what the lowly people think. By their reckoning, Bush is accountable to nobody-- except god who whispers in his ear. The neocon concept of going around the world, sending in our troops to kill and destroy to bring American style democracy sounds like a bad joke, given what these politicians are trying to pull off in their home country, except it's what they are doing. The question has always been why. What do they really gain? Some quotes by James Madison, our fourth president, might have some of the answers.

"If tyranny and oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy." James Madison

"Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it compromises and develops the germ of every other." James Madison

"The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home." James Madison

This is exactly what we are facing-- an administration who has ruthlessly used war to break down constitutional power to give more power to the executive branch. It is not the first time humans will have faced those who would take away their liberties to maintain someone else's power. It could be the last here if we look away at this critical time in our history.

We have a government in power that it appears doesn't believe in any of our original founding principles. The people who fill the right wing talk radio slots, the ones who blocked a vote in the Senate on bringing our troops home, have hung their star on one word-- winning-- and it's their party, not the American people, who must win. They want Americans to equate what has been done so far in Iraq, who we have recently been reminded (you think that was coincidence?) has the second largest oil reserve in the world, with fighting the people who attacked us on 9/11.

People sometimes say it's not fair to just complain. What would you do differently? Okay, my solution to the Iraqi war would be to bring our troops home. Whether we will depends on if we have enough Congressional Republicans who are patriots first and party members second.

My solution to Bush being president would be to begin impeachment proceedings of both Bush and Cheney, criminal charges to follow. The current Congress is not likely to impeach either of them. Packing courts probably ends the second possibility also.

My solution to my personal angst over all this is to live my life as fully as I can, with as much positive, loving energy as I can muster-- but never let myself forget what the founding fathers intended. Many of them saw the risks of what is currently happening.

There appears to me to be only one way to stop Bush and Cheney-- demand Congress stop funding the Iraqi war and impeach them both. If the litany of things the Bush administration has done to grow its power (lying to go to war, outing an American spy, torturing, secret powers and signing statements, eliminating right to trial whenever they decide, continually hiding what is truly going on from Americans, and the list goes on) don't qualify as high crimes demanding impeachment, I don't know what would-- lying about a blow job?

Although I thought, in a time of so much danger, impeachment would be a mistake, I now think if it isn't done now and Republicans win in 2008, they will have us in an endless war to stay in power. Do you hear any of those Republican candidates except Ron Paul saying anything to indicate they would follow any different paths?

These people have made it easier for Al Qaeda to recruit more terrorists to attack us. This group will destroy our liberties. They hope to succeed by using the American twisted logic of manifest destiny-- whatever we do has to be ordained by god-- and they will do it because a sizable group in this nation still don't get it. Winning is not everything. You can win and lose! And as we can see with what happened with Vietnam, you can lose and win.

For those who believe we have to fight them over there to not have to fight them here, please go back and take some basic philosophy classes where you learn logic. If A and B don't relate, you cannot say together they equal C.

Yes, we have a terrorist problem-- Al Qaeda (you remember, the real ones who attacked us before and will again when they get their plans in place) are growing in power and influence. Yes, Al Qaeda leadership does have a safe haven-- it's not Iraq.

We also have a logic problem. Fighting a war costs money-- except in the name of this so-called patriotism of George Bush and his cronies, who are dismantling our Constitution and bankrupting our nation with debts for a war they believe in so much but aren't willing to personally pay an extra dime (it's all on the cuff) to fight.
Fighting 'them' over there to not have to fight 'them' here is both illogical and selfish; but we have a president who is selfish and uses no logic in his role as decider.

“It’s more of a theological perspective. I do believe there is an Almighty, and I believe a gift of that Almighty to all is freedom. And I will tell you that is a principle that no one can convince me that doesn’t exist.” George Bush Friday 13, 2007 (An excellent example of Bush logic and how about that for an apropos date!)

If you believe George Bush has a personal line to god, you might feel reassured by what he said-- even if he is dismantling your own freedom to do it, but if you don't see it that way, what do you believe should be done now? He thinks you not only don't care but don't have enough gumption to do anything. Is he right?

And yes, this was a rant!