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September 23, 2004
Today, President Bush and interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi present the Fantasyland version of Iraq to Congress and the American people. Intelligence analysts, top military officials, international observers and leading GOP senators all agree that Iraq sits on the precipice of disaster unless the president takes immediate action. Yet President Bush and the American-installed Allawi keep on smiling as the ship sinks beneath them. Everyone wants to see Iraq succeed and become a functioning democracy. The question remains, how do you get there – by recognizing reality or denying it?
- Iraq remains dangerously unstable and risks falling into greater chaos. The number of Iraqi insurgents has quadrupled over the past year. Insurgent attacks on U.S. forces are up 20 percent since the spring and 100 percent since last winter. Entire Iraqi cities, such as Fallujah and parts of the Sunni Triangle, have fallen to insurgent control. Even the highly fortified Green Zone in Baghdad is no longer fully secured.
- Reconstruction efforts have virtually stalled. Iraqi elections scheduled for January may have to be postponed due to the deteriorating security situation. Iraq's main power plant produces less than half the electricity it did before the start of the war. The administration recently announced that 20 percent of reconstruction funds would have to be shifted to basic security measures, and probably more in order for elections to take place next January.
- American troops and the Iraqi people deserve better. Iraq will never succeed as a nation unless President Bush and Iraqi leaders come clean about mounting security failures. Pretending the situation in Iraq is getting better – when the facts show the exact opposite – will only make matters worse moving forward.
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund. |
Daily Talking Points is a product of the American Progress Action Fund. |
