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| Avery's
Campaign Journal In a high-stakes meeting, Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and President Bush asserted from the White House Rose Garden that the future of Iraq is, well, rosy... The prime minister’s visit comes as troop casualties and civilian kidnappings in Iraq have increased, large parts of the country have come under the control of insurgents and doubts have surfaced at the United Nations that democratic elections can be held in January as planned. But other than that things are looking great and everything is rosy and going to plan. Gen. John Abizaid said Wednesday it was possible that more U.S. troops would be needed to secure Iraq’s elections, but that Iraqi and perhaps international troops may be able to do the job instead. “I think we will need more troops than we currently have,” Abizaid, commander of U.S. troops in the region, said after briefing the House, “but other than the fact that more young men are going to die, I’m optimistic. In fact, I’d say things are looking rosy.” Senator John McCain added, “Air strikes won’t do it. Artillery doesn’t do it. Birds don’t do it, bees don’t do it, boots on the ground do it. And the longer we delay... the more casualties we will incur. Other than that – everything is really rosy!” Bush has made clear that the importance of Allawi’s visit lies largely in the opportunity for the Iraqi leader to reinforce for Americans the president’s own rosy assessment of Iraq. “The American people have seen horrible scenes on our TV screens,” the president said Tuesday when the two leaders appeared together at the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York. “And prime minister Allywiggle, I mean Allyad, I mean, well, you know his name, will be able to say to the Iranians, I mean, Syrians, I mean Iraqis, that in spite of the sacrifices being made, in spite of the fact that Iraqis are dying and U.S. troops are dying, as well, that the future is rosy.” Allawi’s visit marked his debut in Washington as prime minister. “President Shrub, I mean President Hedge, I mean Bush... Yes, that’s right. It is an honor to meet you and your godless American cronies,” Mr. Allawi said. Bush is remaining on message and continues to speak of the Iraq invasion primarily as a success story that is improving the lives of Iraqis that aren’t getting killed and is making the world safer and rosier. Allawi, too, has remained on the rose-themed message. “It’s very important for the people of the world really to know that things are very rosy in Iraq,” he said while treading on the White House roses and as George surreptitiously scowled at him. “Unfortunately, your godless media have not been wearing their rose colored glasses and are not covering these significant gains. In Iraq, our media are now wearing the rose colored glasses and they are reporting that all is well. And as for the few dissident reporters who refuse to wear their rose colored glasses, well, we simply shoot them. But trust me, when you see their execution with your rose colored glasses on, it really doesn’t look so bad at all.” Sept 22 / 2004 |
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