UN targeted in Iraq

Okay...is there anyone out there who still believes that the US invasion and occupation of Iraq made it any safer? It's not only a dangerous quagmire for Iraqis and the US soldiers who've been hung out to dry by the Bush Regime, but now it's even more dangerous for international groups trying to actually HELP the Iraqis. It's quite telling that it was in the US's wake of destruction that the UN suffered the single worst attack in its history.

As I mentioned a few days ago, this policy of "we'll bomb it to smithereens...you other guys can clean up the mess" will eventually start to piss off the civilized countries who try to restore peace.

As Kofi Annan lamented, rather understatedly, at a news conference in Stockholm, "We had hoped that by now, the coalition forces would have secured the environment for us to be able to carry on. That has not happened."

Kofi Annan knows it. The Iraqis know it. The families of the 125 US soldiers who've been killed since "hostilities ceased" (61 by enemy fire, 64 by accidents) and the 400 who've been injured know it. The families of the several dozen international soldiers who've died and scores who've been wounded know it. I know it. You know it. The British people raising hell at Tony Blair know it. So...I'm looking at the US, and I'm asking myself once again (to borrow a phrase from, of all people, Bob Dole) "Where is the outrage in this country".

At a minimum, every American should shake their head in disgust at the nerve and hypocricy of George Bush to call anyone else a killer or an enemy of peace. At best, they should be writing their congresspersons and demanding he be held accountable.

More on Arnold

I'm watching Arnie's press conference right now on life TV, and I have to say I'm impressed. As I've already commented on in previous posts, this is one seriously UN-republican Republican. Among other things, he stressed that You HAVE to attack the deficit (ahem...Mr. "President", are you listening?). He also said "Does that mean Education is Under attack...NO". Then, after added a time-honored Republican promise (I won't raise taxes), he followed it up with some sound common sense (exactly what George Bush I didn't show): after a question from a reporter, he said "You can never say never. I can't stand here and say I will NOT raise taxes ever, because I don't know what might happen in a year."

And, an issue I wrote about before, he talked strongly and passionately about after school initiatives he's backed. Listening to him talk about the importance of helping families, especially poor families, and knowing that he's given millions of dollars and many hours of his own to that cause, I'm thinking: this guy can not only teach other Republicans a lot, he can teach ALL politicians.

Oh yeah...and he's not accepting any campaign contributions. If that's true...well, my hats off to him.