Saturday, January 22, 2005
Accountability Moment
When asked why no one in the Bush administration was held accountable for the lies that led the US into an unnecessary war, Bush replied (in a Washington Post interview) that the 2004 elections had been an "accountability moment" and that by re-electing him, the people had endorsed the conduct of the war in Iraq.
That's difficult to reconcile with the latest poll numbers that show a majority of Americans believe the war in Iraq was not worth the costs, both human and financial. According to a Rasmussan poll, Bush's job approval as of 1/21 is as follows:
Approve: 44%
Disapprove: 54%
In addition, check out this Knight Ridder analysis that claims the US is heading toward losing the war in Iraq. Unfavorable trends cited in the Knight Ridder report include:
* U.S. combat deaths rising to an average of 82 per month with 808 wounded per month.
* Attacks on the U.S.-led coalition since November 2003, when statistics were first available, rose from 735 a month to 2,400 in October 2004.
* Electricity production has been below prewar levels since October.
* Iraq is pumping about 500,000 barrels of oil a day fewer than its prewar peak of 2.5 million barrels per day as a result of sabotage.
* Despite some positive developments, such as the desire by many Iraqis to vote, the insurgency is getting larger and “more effective,” according to the KR reporters.
Bottom line: "The analysis suggests that, short of a newfound will by Iraqis to reject the insurgency or a large escalation of U.S. troop strength, the United States won't win the war."
This seems like the real accountability moment.
Knight Ridder Analysis Speaks Frankly: US Losing in Iraq
That's difficult to reconcile with the latest poll numbers that show a majority of Americans believe the war in Iraq was not worth the costs, both human and financial. According to a Rasmussan poll, Bush's job approval as of 1/21 is as follows:
Approve: 44%
Disapprove: 54%
In addition, check out this Knight Ridder analysis that claims the US is heading toward losing the war in Iraq. Unfavorable trends cited in the Knight Ridder report include:
* U.S. combat deaths rising to an average of 82 per month with 808 wounded per month.
* Attacks on the U.S.-led coalition since November 2003, when statistics were first available, rose from 735 a month to 2,400 in October 2004.
* Electricity production has been below prewar levels since October.
* Iraq is pumping about 500,000 barrels of oil a day fewer than its prewar peak of 2.5 million barrels per day as a result of sabotage.
* Despite some positive developments, such as the desire by many Iraqis to vote, the insurgency is getting larger and “more effective,” according to the KR reporters.
Bottom line: "The analysis suggests that, short of a newfound will by Iraqis to reject the insurgency or a large escalation of U.S. troop strength, the United States won't win the war."
This seems like the real accountability moment.
Knight Ridder Analysis Speaks Frankly: US Losing in Iraq
