WHEN THE COWBOYS WERE RIDING HIGH ON IRAQ

CHRIST, IT WAS EVEN WORST THAT WE THOUGHT-HELL-RUMSFELD’S RESIGNATION WAS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH-HEADS SHOULD ROLL AND THE U.S.HOSTAGE-TROOPS IN IRAQ SHOULD DO THE ROLLING

In all the recent hoopla over Iraq Study Group reports, Pentagon Middle East strategy reassessments, Secretary of War Rumford’s resignation, the Robert Gates confirmation hearings for that same post and, to many commentators, the seemingly mythical results of the midterm 2006 elections one should not forget how this disaster got started and who started it. With that thought in mind I would like to recommend Mark Danner’s article IRAQ: THE WAR OF THE IMAGINATION in the December 21, 2006 issue of THE NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS(starting on page 81).

Mr. Danner is actually reviewing several books about the subject-Bob Woodward's State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III (Simon and Schuster); Ron Suskind's The One Percent Doctrine: Deep Inside America's Pursuit of Its Enemies Since 9/11 (Simon and Schuster);and, James Risen's State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration (Free Press). The article is also liberally sprinkled with Mr. Danner's own insights, based on several trips to Iraq and a vast knowledge of the subject, into the situation. None of this reportage is pretty. But it is nevertheless worth the read in case you cannot get to the books under review. Moreover, it may just help, if only a little, a few thoughtful people from obediently giving carte blanche to the next American imperialist adventure with blinkers on.

Christ, as cynical about bourgeosis politics as this writer is, and with good reason, it is hard to believe that a modern bourgeois democracy and the leading military power the world has ever known, to boot, turns out to have been run by guys (and it is mainly guys) who a thoughtful person would not hire to mow the lawn. Never mind let within 1000 yards of a government office. No, as I mentioned in the headline to this commentary and have done for months the resignation of one Donald Rumsfeld is not nearly enough. If there is any justice in this world the American hostage-troops, among many others in Iraq, should get first crack at their old boss’s butt. And move up and down the chain of command from there. Mr. Danner and I disagree about what needs to be done in Iraq. But for right now let Mr. Danner give you some of the details of the why Iraq is a quagmire and in the now fashionable 'state of civil war'.