In the world of bitter irony, released today from the Office of the Press Secretary:

On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day and during Constitution Week, we celebrate the anniversary of our Nation's Constitution and honor the Framers who created the landmark document that continues to guide our Nation.

In the summer of 1787, delegates convened in Philadelphia to create "a more perfect Union" and craft the document that is the foundation of our country. With great diligence, they worked to develop a framework that would balance authority and inherent freedoms, Federal interests and State powers, individual rights and national unity. On September 17th of the same year, the delegates signed the Constitution of the United States.

Today, every American shares in this legacy of liberty, and we are grateful for the courage, conviction, and sacrifice of all those who have helped preserve and uphold the principles of a free society. As we remember the enduring importance of the Constitution, we also recognize our responsibility as citizens to respect and defend the values of our founding and participate in the unfolding story of freedom.

In celebration of the signing of the Constitution and in recognition of the Americans who strive to uphold the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, the Congress, by joint resolution of February 29, 1952 (36 U.S.C. 106, as amended), designated September 17 as "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day," and by joint resolution of August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C. 108, as amended), requested that the President proclaim the week beginning September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as "Constitution Week."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 17, 2007, as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and September 17 through September 23, 2007, as Constitution Week. I encourage Federal, State, and local officials, as well as leaders of civic, social, and educational organizations, to conduct ceremonies and programs that celebrate our Constitution and reaffirm our rights and responsibilities as citizens of our great Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

GEORGE W. BUSH

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/08/20070822-5.html

The Department of Defense seems to view MRAPS as a godsend--just read their feature series on MRAPs: http://www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2007/mrap/

Says Robert Gates, "You have to look outside the normal bureaucratic way of doing things and so does industry – because lives are at stake."

So what's the hold up? USA Today gives some very disconcerting answers: 1) we didn't think we'd be in Iraq this long so manufacturing the MRAPs wasn't worth the time and cost, 2) the slow and heavy MRAPs didn't fit into Rumsfeld's vision of a lighter, more responsive, more agile military, and 3) the U.S. was too busy supplying MRAP clones for the Iraqi Army.

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070716/1a_iedcoverxx.art.htm

Through the miracles of modern science, Saddam Hussein is resurrected to restore unity, order and modernity to Iraq. Washington lobby firm Dewey, Cheatham and Howe prepares a media blitz, starting with the interactive website www.saddam-for-iraq.com.

[insert image of then-Reagan Middle East Special Envoy Donald Rumsfeld shaking hands with Saddam Hussein in December 1983. http://masbury.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/rumsfeld-saddam.jpg]

Saddam, the right guy for Iraq.

Give it time.

The August report updates the January 2007 report Prospects for Iraq’s Stability: A Challenging Road Ahead. The August report is titled Prospects for Iraq’s Stability: Some Security Progress but Political Reconciliation Elusive. The very title indicates there has been progress!

• Overall attack levels across Iraq have fallen in seven of the past nine weeks—that’s above a “Gentleman’s C;” that’s a C+
• The movement of Al Qaida in Iraq has been restricted in some areas. That’s right. Some areas.
• Iraqi Security Forces are progressing in operations, staying to fight and secure the neighborhoods as opposed to deserting service to stay at home. ISF desertion is slowing.

But no, Salon, seems most concerned with the portions of the report that are in bold, as though those sections have greater significance. I challenge you to read past the key judgments and into the minutia to actually see the progress we’ve made in Iraq and the hopes for success.

But you won’t do that, will you Salon?

--Anonymous Troll

--Anonymous Troll

You have your sign on in the corner. That is not anonymous.

Oh dear, really? Heavens to betsy. It's satire. Only an "Anonymous Troll-type" would make the argument:

I challenge you to read past the key judgments and into the minutia to actually see the progress we’ve made in Iraq and the hopes for success.

Yes, we're making significant progress in Iraq. If you're Pollyanna.

Call me an idealist, but I don't think Bush is keeping us in Iraq for primarily financial reasons. This isn't about the military industrial complex. This isn't about Cheney's Halliburton pals. This isn't even about oil.

Bush is driven by so much more and so much less than that--ideology. Iraq is the staging ground for the epic battle of his lifetime. Democracy versus Tyranny. God-fearing Christians versus the Heathen. Good versus Evil. Us versus Them.

The facts on the ground will never dissuade him because he looks to a higher Truth.

Which is friggin' scary.

"I'm sorry, but I don't buy that at all. that gives him too much credit for some sort of twisted moral compass. If he was truly there on a crusade things would have been handled much differently."

Bush is a true religious believer (in the narrow-minded, evangelical sense). It is the Good Book that saved him from The Demon Alcohol, and he was Born-Again!

The poor handling of Iraq is why I view Bush as "ideology poorly executed." I mean, what has this man ever actually done well?

Though I don't deny the validity of your interpretation, if that matters.