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

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
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CLICK

[LadyX]

CLICK HERE for a link to our very own mhking's latest post:

"On behalf of all of us, 'You're welcome.' (Thank you ad from Iraqis)

This should be Requisite Reading for all of the liberal media - and every Liberalski ---

[Kitty Mittens]

Checking in to say "hi" to all the wonderful people at the Finest! Hope your having a wonderful day, dear Lady! And thank you again, kind Billie, for putting my name on this cute kitty!

[LadyX]

Yes, I read the book, and have read more of what Nicholas Sparks has written.
A longtime friend of mine, another Bernie, at Emerald Isle, NC, met Sparks at Christmas at a party in Swansboro, NC.

The occasion was a party by a multimillionaire who has a home there, drumming up funds for the Free Medical Clinic in Morehead City Bernie spearheads, on the Board and where he contributes a lot of hours of his personal time.

[iceskater]

Thanks for pinging me to this, but.....

you should have warned me to have a tissue handy. :)

[LadyX]

What a precious signature graphic!
We are so blessed to have the talents of The Empress -
and her generous giving heart ---

[LadyX]

"you should have warned me to have a tissue handy. :)"

*LadyX hangs head in abject failure*

However, would it help if I posted a photograph of one of our Evil Occupiers from that Iraqui-America Freedom Alliance website??

[iceskater]

Don't they look happy! I'm thinking the soldier is saying to himself, "I'm just doing my job".

Okay - happy tears now! That's the best kind anyway.

[LadyX]

**ha - LadyX wiggles off the hook one more time..:))**

[MeekOneGOP]

Click here or on the pic for AP text/source/inspiration

[LadyX]

- - UPDATE ON FIRES NEAR FAIRBANKS, ALASKA - -

Smoke Thickens

Smoke from the wildfires in the area continue to cause respiratory problems. As the fires move closer to settlements, evacuation plans are being readied for execution. So far Fox, Haystack, and Chatinika have been notified.

Update

Haystack is currently being evacuated. Chena Hot Springs Rd. from mile 50 north have been cautioned and the Hill top area have been advised to evacuate now.The Steese Hwy north of the Fox weigh station is closed.

The current view by the Chena River from the Live Cam
in Fairbanks is at 3:26 p.m. their time:

The Live Cam is located HERE if you did not Bookmark it.

[LadyX]

Perfect, Meekie!!
Thanks for following up for us!

[Aquamarine]

Thanks for the link to a very touching thank you letter from the people of Iraq.

[Aquamarine]

Didn't know you had read the book. This Bernie sounds like an interesting person.

[Aquamarine]

That is so cute! Billie is one creative lady and generous too.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

040622-N-0000X-001 Aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) – Original graphic art produced by Navy photographers, and illustrator draftsman during exercises supporting Summer Pulse 2004. Summer Pulse is the simultaneous deployment of seven aircraft carrier strike groups (CSGs), demonstrating the ability of the Navy to provide credible combat power across the globe, in five theaters with other U.S., allied, and coalition military forces. Summer Pulse is the Navy's first deployment under its new Fleet Response Plan (FRP). U.S. Navy illustration (RELEASED) For more information go to: www.cffc.navy.mil/summerpulse04.htm

040629-N-5405H-055 Scotland (June 29, 2004) - An EA-6B Prowler assigned to the "Rooks" of Electronic Attack Squadron One Three Seven (VAQ-137) flies in formation with an E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the "Screwtops" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One Two Three (VAW-123) over Scotland. The two Squadrons are part of Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) embarked aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Enterprise is one of seven aircraft carriers involved in Summer Pulse 2004. Summer Pulse 2004 is the simultaneous deployment of seven aircraft strike groups (CSGs), demonstrating the ability of the Navy to provide credible combat across the globe, in five theaters with other U.S., allied, and coalition military forces. Summer Pulse is the Navy's first deployment under its new Fleet Response Plan (FRP). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Joshua E. Helgeson (RELEASED) For more information go to: http://www.cffc.navy.mil/summerpulse04.htm

040629-N-5405H-060 Scotland (June 29, 2004) - An EA-6B Prowler assigned to the "Rooks" of Electronic Attack Squadron One Three Seven (VAQ-137) flies in formation with an E-2C Hawkeye assigned to the "Screwtops" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One Two Three (VAW-123) over Scotland. The two Squadrons are part of Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) embarked aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65). Enterprise is one of seven aircraft carriers involved in Summer Pulse 2004. Summer Pulse 2004 is the simultaneous deployment of seven aircraft strike groups (CSGs), demonstrating the ability of the Navy to provide credible combat across the globe, in five theaters with other U.S., allied, and coalition military forces. Summer Pulse is the Navy's first deployment under its new Fleet Response Plan (FRP). U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Joshua E. Helgeson (RELEASED) For more information go to: http://www.cffc.navy.mil/summerpulse04.htm

[MeekOneGOP]

hehe ! Registered's pic. He sent it out to my email today.

[MeekOneGOP]

:^D

[Aquamarine]

It's troubling to see that Alaska is still having problems with wildfire.
We're not having any problems like that in this area of the South with it raining every single day for a month!

[Aquamarine]

Fantastic pictures tonight EMB! Interesting view of Scotland.

[Aquamarine]

Heard that Mama Bear is back in town and will be posting a special Independence Day Post tomorrow to run through the weekend. :)

Thanks to all for another fun day at The Finest! :)