Patriotic Paranoia

Maybe I'm just paranoid.

President Bush will be announcing his "New Way Forward" plan for Iraq in a speech tomorrow night. We all know, both from the news and from history, that his "new way" means more of the same and then some - sending more troops to Iraq (20,000 is the number I've been hearing most frequently).

His approval rating for his handling of the war in Iraq is at 26% as of yesterday. His Republican, blank-check Congress was defeated pretty soundly in the November elections. A majority of Congress and even troops currently stationed in Iraq do not believe that his "surge" is going to help to win the war. Military officials - whom Bush said he would rely on to tell him how to deal with the situation - are saying this escalation (oops - "surge") is not a good idea. But, being The Decider and willing to do anything at all to save face (as if that's even remotely possible anymore) are of all-encompassing importance to him. Period. His ego is more important than our troops, our standing in the world, or reality.

And then this happened. The good ol' US of A attacks Al Qaeda militants in Somalia - two days before Dubya unveils his new, hard-thought-out plan for "success".

I will be infinitely surprised if in his speech tomorrow night, he does not bring up the attacks in Somalia as a reason that we have to stay in Iraq and "fight the terrorists over there so we don't have to fight them here". And yes, I sincerely believe this is the reason for the Somalia raids, at least the reason for the impeccable timing.

I'm just curious to see and hear what the result will be - how the American sheeple and the Republicans will take it. He'll do anything at all to pull as many people as possible onto "his side".

I can't imagine becoming any more disgusted with this president. But, he never ceases to amaze me. I have a feeling that after listening to his speech tomorrow, my opinion of him will be even lower. He does have quite a talent for sinking lower than even my expectations.