Thank you for the explanation and encouragement. I just don't know what to believe anymore. I believed in Bremer and now I find that the foundation of that belief was built on crumbling half-truths. I'm beginning to doubt my own ability to discern the political landscape and think maybe "airhead" would make a more fitting screen moniker than "arasina".
What's next? Am I going to find out the same thing about Dubya? That what I have seen in him since 9/11/01 is all a facade? Have I been duped bigtime there too?
Note to libs and leftists: people like "arasina" are the weakest link.
Here is the problem, which is the same problem that we have always had in this country. Intellectuals. These folks have ruined every single thing they have ever been in charge of. Bush is at a disadvantage because the 'new tone' was a big mistake. Bush should have cleaned house. Sad to say, but Bush needed those same Intellectuals to win the election. He had to come out with Powell early to sooth the State Dept which could have derailed the election.
The Neocons are all about divide and conquer. They don't care what really happens in the world as long as someone pays attention to them. Re: Kristol. Right now, Bush can only trust a few folks; Rummy in particular. The Defense Dept is almost Bush's only friend at the moment, because the State Dept is full of liars and appeasers who would rather have their jobs under Kerry, as they then would have nothing to do but attend parties, and no longer be subject to embassy bombings. The most important thing is that Bush wins reelection, where he can then get rid of Powell, clean house at State, and do what needs to be done to win in Iraq.
Stop doubting, as this is exactly what is going to happen when Bush wins, which is why the whole world opposes it. Many, many people are about to lose their power in the world and they don't like it.
You should also realize that some people on FR have perhaps more than superficial understandings and involvements with government then many on other forums might.
Bush is to me a breath of free air in American politics. I a an "American Firster conservative" and so have some problems with the globalism espoused by the GOP in general and Bush in particular. I do think that Bush is an honorable and capable man, perhaps more so than we have had in a very long time. He has winningly faced incredible odds and tackled what seemed to me to be intractable problems and yet has produced results. The point though in our system is to not get caught up in personalities but stick to your guns: Principles first then people. Certainly people must embody those principle to the extent that they can but no one is perfect.
This is a mistake that the conservative movement often makes and it often results in throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Our domestic enemies do not make this mistake. Inch by inch they claw away at the Republic.
I do not have a sense of corruption in any sense in the Bush administration. I do know however that the obligations, interest and duties of the USA are grander and larger than any nation in history and that often compromises must be reached in order to meet them.
The problem is, of course, that since the 60's half of the nation cannot seem to mature past the age of 19 years old. We must deliver this nation from the hands of these people and return it to the hands of wisdom, honor and work-a-day faith, courage and nobility. We have gone astray and need to find our way home. I think that Bush is a start down this path.
Never forget what we have been and should always be: an common people that does uncommon things.
Do not abide the mediocre who pretentiously undertake common things.