A Few of FR's Finest...Every Day...07-01-04...The Handover: Will Dems blame Bush for it?

JohnHuang2; Aquamarine; Billie | JohnHuang2

[Aquamarine]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

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The Handover: Will Dems blame Bush for it?

by JohnHuang2

Democrats predicted it wouldn't happen. So it happened early -- two days early, on June 28, precisely. (Which means Democrats will insist they were right -- there was no planned Handover on June 30). In a brief ceremony which stunned the world, the U.S. granted sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government on Monday, bringing the 14-month old occupation of Iraq by brutal, evil, ruthless, heartless, infidels -- Halliburton and Dick Cheney (see Michael Moore) -- formally to an end. (If you think that's something -- just wait for the planned handover of power from liberals to conservatives over CNN/MSNBC/ABC/CBS/NBC on June 30, 2525).

Now, I don't mean to rain on anyone's parade here, but anybody who thinks the handover means clear-and-smooth sailing from here on must be smoking some funny weed. Going forward, things are bound to get worse. Much worse. In the months ahead, expect mounting problems and setbacks and losses and challenges and headaches and letdowns and comedowns -- for the Kerry campaign, which felt badly out-maneuvered yet again. The Kerryites, already plagued by daily good news on the economy, were shaken by the news from Baghdad, news which could signal a growing threat to Quagmire there, stoking Democrat anxiety here. Without Quagmire, a successful handover of power from Bush to Kerry next November appears all but impossible. Monday marked a day of great sorrow for the French-looking one, but for America and Bush's approach of Going-It-Alone with 32 countries, Monday marked a day of vindication.

Attending a summit meeting of NATO leaders in Turkey, President Bush called it a day of "Great hope for Iraqis and a day that terrorist enemies hoped never to see. The terrorists are doing all they can to stop the rise of a free Iraq. But their bombs and attacks have not prevented Iraqi sovereignty. They will not prevent Iraqi democracy."

Bush noted that, months after liberation and days ahead of schedule, "the world witnessed the arrival of a full sovereign and free Iraq." With news of the handover, NATO leaders agreed to help train Iraq's fledgling security forces -- another coup for Bush designed to disrupt the handover of power in Iraq to al-Qaeda (which Democrats insist has no ties to Iraq). With the handover and NATO agreement under his belt, this was clearly no way for Bush to run the most inept and reckless foreign policy in modern history (see Kerry). With the march towards freedom undeterred, Bush brazenly failed to get it wrong! Kerry, who blasted Bush's "ill-advised" war in a speech Monday, voted for Bush's "ill-advised" war in 2002, though he notes that the reason he did this is because he had no idea a vote for war meant a vote for war.

In Baghdad, one by one, members of Iraq's interim government stepped forward to take their oaths, each placing their a hand on a book titled, 'My Life,' -- oops, I meant the Koran. Afterward, Allawi outlined his goals for Iraq in a speech which strangely said nothing about raising taxes on the wealthy nor enacting 'affordable' health care schemes at a bargain basement $900 billion.

Look, don't get me wrong: Bush is not out of the woods. Not yet. Militants, who for months have waged a steady campaign of attacks on Coalition forces, aren't about to close up shop just yet. The attacks will likely continue as militants grow ever more desperate. Indeed, hours after the handover, a militant by the name of Richard Holbrooke unleashed a volley of attacks in a CNN interview, blasting the war as "disastrous". He denounced the secrecy of the handover ceremony, which barely 5 billion people knew about before it happened. The harsh criticism was the first in a wave of attacks since the handover. Or how about that militant Howard Dean? "I think we still don't know whether the Iraqi people are better off or not," he sneered. (Saddam slaughtered more than a million, gassed and tortured and mutilated and jailed hundreds of thousands, ran rape rooms, and filled mass graves. So, what's not to like?)

In a statement to the press, Kerry, for his part, congratulated U.S. troops for doing a splendid job in Iraq. Kerry also blasted Bush as the reason U.S. troops are doing a crummy job in Iraq. (At least Saddam made the trains run on time). Dean touted a pre-handover Gallup poll which showed 51% of Americans now saying the war was a 'mistake'. (Another pre-handover poll, this one by Fox News, shows 50% of Americans saying this 'mistake' was the right thing to do, and they fully support this 'mistake' of going to war. That figure hasn't changed since early April). And now that the 9/11 Commission says there was no Collaborative Relationship between Saddam and al-Qaeda, Americans are convinced there was a Collaborative Relationship between Saddam and al-Qaeda, 56%-28%.

In any event, Holbrooke angrily dismissed the handover as a ploy (pay no attention to the Quagmire behind the curtain!), saying the fact that it came days ahead of schedule is proof we're not making progress there. Two-hundred and twenty-eight days ago (on Nov. 15, 2003), the U.S. announced the handover would occur on Day 228; the fact that it was moved way, waaaay up to Day 226 shows how Bush policy has failed. Holbrooke notes that Bush has not done enough to impose security in Iraq. Holbrooke and others also accuse Bush of over-regulating Iraq and being heavy-handed. Reuters reports that L. Paul Bremer, "As Iraq's highest authority," had "issued more than 100 orders and regulations, many of them Western-style laws governing everything from bankruptcy and traffic, to restrictions on child labor and copying movies.

"One law requires at least a month in jail for people caught driving without a license," another "demands that drivers stay in a single lane..." Some are very, very controversial -- like the one prohibiting groups from buying ads that even mention candidates just before an election ... oh wait, that's McCain-Feingold.

So, in one fell-swoop, Bush a) out-foxed the media b) out-foxed the "insurgents" c) out-foxed the pundits d) popped the 'Blood-For-Oil' balloon and e) sucked the winds out of the sails of the Kerry campaign, driving the skanky, scuzzy, slimey dregs of the loony-Left loonier still -- all of this just the opening act to a brand new and free Iraq.

Next up: The Saddam trial.

Don't you love it when a Quagmire comes together so deliciously?

God bless our President, God bless our troops and God bless the United States of America!

Anyway, that's...

My two cents.. "JohnHuang2"

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 06-28-04...Military Monday 06-29-04...Hall of Fame #8 06-30-04...FR Pet Day... Pfc Hammer Finds a Home

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[dutchess]

Great essay John. What a wonderful week for our side, and you captured it perfectly.

Aqua...great job putting it together. My favorite pics, the Bush and Blair handshake AND Condi's note. (ofcourse the Kerry picture is perfectly placed too LOL!) Kudo's sistah!

Back to work. Will try to stop by later.

[Darksheare]

Morning.
Wandering as normal.
All lights green, we are a 'go' for wander/lurk mode.
*Dissolves into thin air accompanied by weird buzzing sound that sounds suspiciously like a kazoo*

[Diver Dave]

The gains of heaven will more than compensate us for the losses of earth.

Another timely message, yerhonor. Thanks.

[Pippin]

Hi, Darks!

[Pippin]

Thanks! :0)

[Aquamarine]

Thanks for letting me know about the problem Dave, the breaks had gotten left off somehow and there were alot of corrections that needed to be made.

God Bless Our Military ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Mama_Bear; Dutchess; Aquamarine and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation's leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son The Mayor........................niece LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.....................nephew ValerieUSA................2 sons Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................activve duty LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty StarCMC.........brother Atomic Conspiracy............half-brother....niece....nephew TexKat......son.....and stepson ODC-GIRL............active duty cookcounty................son Donaeus..............nephew thumperusn...........active duty katykelly..................son Notwithstanding.....active duty Lakeside................two sons Q6-God and twin brother...active duty cjk........active duty philman_36.......2 nephews Veloxherc.................active duty WVNan..........friend's son mrstank..........husband american_ranger..............son

Pippin.......niece, loved one, .............nephew and fiancee Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear...........2 nephews gator girl............husband severa................husband, brother Hostel....................cousin MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son SpookBrat........nephew and cousin Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Tiffee4Bob.......boyfriend Diver Dave.......niece, nephew deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel..................niece dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn...............2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.................son kimmie7...........brother Spruce.............daughter visualops.................cousin Dubya..............nephew SunflowerGal.......grandson AF_Blue...... active duty RoseBear......cousin's husband Redhead....step granddaughter and her fiance RepubMommy............brother Alouette...............son Conspiracy Guy......two nephews

[Darksheare]

Hello.
Over vandalising a troll thread.
We're up to 820+ demented posts..

[Pippin]

Where's that troll thread!

Let me at 'em!

[Aquamarine]

It was such a pleasure to illustrate this essay with so many points that were just and positive!

Saved one of the new pic's of Saddam today, am sure it will come in handy later.

[GailA]

Strawberries are my favorite fruit, corn on the cob my favorite veggie. I could eat them every day. I bought some of those corn holders from a Pampered Chef house party and I can screw them in before I boil my corn, saves burnt fingers.

[Aquamarine]

I bought some of those corn holders from a Pampered Chef house party and I can screw them in before I boil my corn, saves burnt fingers.

Tha sounds like a great idea. My favorite is white silver queen corn on the cob. This is the right time of year for it too....need to run to the produce stand. (I'm serious, will be back later:))

[Darksheare]

Oh, he was already banned, but we're doin' the Frankenthread deal with megahumor to it.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1163131/posts?page=824
Frankenthread!

[Pippin]

HAH! HAH! HAH!

[Darksheare]

You check out some of our demented posts.
A riot.

[Pippin]

LOL! I will

this should be fun!

[LadyX]

'Dear John' Letter # 1,024:

Never thought my weekly letter would have within it an iota of a Complaint -- woe is me --

However, when you and Aquamarine sprung your essay for today, there was NO OBLIGATORY **WARNING** !!

She eased in with the wonderful historic photograph of Paul Bremer handing over authority to the new Iraqui governing assemblage.

Then a mere 5" down, she sprung this *horror,* with no warning whatsoever!!

"WHO/WHAT IS IT?!!" we must ask !!!
Who is that hombre behind the scary black mask ??
My goodness, he looks like The Grim Reaper !!

Obviously far removed from reality, he gazes into the distance as if seeking his next victim(s).
*M'Lady shudders at the sight of this apparition.*

If it is, as rumored, Monsewer Kerr-eeee(k), is he peering across to his European Homeland for inspiration as to how to further misguide us?

Will he ever reveal His Grande Plan
for "How to Redeem us Miscreants in the "I's" of the World" ??

Okay - shifting gears as is a woman's prerogative -- now that I think of it, he looks like Johnny Carson in reverse, seeking "answers" to all our questions...

LOL, you two !!

{{{ Hugs }}}}}

~ LadyX

[LadyX]

This segment of The Daily Bread is worth repeating, Your Honor:

Peter understood. He said that as we make our way through life, we will suffer grief as a result of our troubles. Yet we can actually rejoice through our difficulties, because God has reserved something special for us at the end of the journey.


Troubled today? Look ahead. Heaven will be worth the trip. —Dave Branon

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ. —Rusthoi


The gains of heaven will more than compensate us for the losses of earth.

Amen....

[LadyX]

Wonderful Pledge graphic, Aqua, and wonderful overall presentation!

[LadyX]

"I made it through a root canal, every Tuesday for the next few months at 8 am will be tooth day for me."

Hmmm...is your dentist looking for

- the Mother Lode?
- the answer to the riddle of The Sphinx?
- the source for "My Winter Ski Trip to Aspen" ??

- All of Above, while he's at it?

LOL

[Diver Dave]

If it is, as rumored, Monsewer Kerr-eeee(k), is he peering across to his European Homeland for inspiration as to how to further misguide us?

GREAT Dear John letter Auntie M.

Perhaps the stage lights were a bit much for him...
"I'll take 'Traitors with a K' for $800, Alex."