Footprints in the Sand

Now that the President has directly answered his critics, by outlining specific details regarding the progress and status of the Iraqi military, they say that the large American “footprint” has created the Insurgency. Perhaps it would help to understand just how large that footprint actually is? As a ratio of the total Iraqi population (23,000,000), the 160,000 U.S. troops equate to 1 out of every 150. If the average male footprint (size ten) were 40 sq. inches, then the entire Coalition would be no bigger than a toenail on the littlest toe. Is that really a big enough presence to cause terrorists from outside Iraq to walk hundreds of miles through the desert to fight Americans? If all the U.S. troops in Iraq were gathered in the Rose Bowl and Dodger Stadium would anyone even notice them as compared to the entire population of California? If your favorite Major League Baseball team won every game during an entire season (approx. 164) and only lost once, would you consider it a “failed” season – of course not! And let’s remember, that except for special periods around elections, the U.S. “footprint” has been more in the area of 120,000 troops. In a world of shoe analogies, I guess you could call this one darn near “petite”.
With all the “good news” now being reported from Baghdad, I wouldn’t be surprised if in a year from now, democrats are complaining that we’re “out-sourcing” too many quality jobs to Iraq. Considering that gas is falling to below $2/gallon, the Dow is bumping up against 11,000 and Holiday retail sales are well above year ago levels, at least liberals will have something to complain about. As for me, the only footprints I care about are the ones the U.S. and Iraqi military are stamping on the rear ends of Terrorist everywhere.

That's a laugh!

Each morning, my son reads the Rocky Mountain News comics and has a good laugh. I, on the other hand get my jollies from the political reporting and Letters to the Editor. Take for example, Sen. Democrat Leader Harry Reid’s claim that, “Bush should spend less time attacking those who question (his) Iraq policies and more time focusing on a way forward” (Trip: Bush takes jab a Dems, 11/15/05). This from a guy who spends his every waking hour holding news conferences ragging on The President and exactly zero time doing anything positive. Bush plugs three sentences about (his) critics into a 55-minute speech about the worldwide threat to our security and the Rocky chooses to highlight more Democrat whining. What a laugh!

Letter writer, Steve Lang (11/14/05, Clinton & Containment) praises Bill Clinton for “containing” Hussein rather than going to war. Considering that “Bubba’s” response to Saddam throwing out UN weapons inspector-persons in December 1998, was to bend over and take it - Lang’s claim of containment is humorous indeed.

Reporting on the number of cars burned dropping from 1,400 a night to only 374 a night over the past 12 days (Rioting in France diminishing, 11/14/05), National Police Chief Gaudin said, “that if this downward trend continues, things could return to normal very quickly.” Noting that French youths burn about 100 cars on an average Saturday night, Gaudin’s vision of “normal” is hilarious!

Reading that Mexico, Venezuela break relations over issue of free trade (Ambassadors ordered home (11/15/05) holds the promise of even more fun. Hugo Chavez calls Mexican President a “puppy of Bush” and warns Fox: “Don’t mess with me.” Mexico responds that “we won’t allow (Chavez) to offend our country”, they pull their respective ambassadors and with any luck Mexico moves to liberate Venezuela militarily in order to affect regime change. A country besides the United States exerting leadership in the name of Democracy, now that’s funny, I don’t care who you are - that's funny!