The real answer to Bush's turnover Iraq on 6/30/04

[Norquist Nemesis]

Strategically, the reason it absolutely has to happen is simple. It has nothing to do with the reasons they're promoting.

Here's the real reason: By turning the country over they will be able to blame everything that goes wrong on the Iraqi's while taking credit for anything that goes well.

Example 1: Car bomb kills 40 civilians. = It's not our fault...the Iraqi's are in charge.

Example 2: Civil war breaks out. = It's not our fault...the Iraqi's are in charge.

Example 3: Elections take place peacefully with no civilian deaths on that day. = See? We did the right thing removing a brutal terrorist regime and bringing a free, democratic Iraq that will spread throughout the Middle East liberating the oppressed.

So, it's another situation manipulated to allow them not accept responsibility for their failures and admit mistakes...just as Americans are getting ready for summer vacations and moving to other locations of the country. There's also 3 very patriotic holidays between June 30 and Nov 2 (Independance Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day). Throw in Columbus Day as a bonus opportunity to once again remind the masses how wonderful he is and...

Anyone else have thoughts about this?

[displacedtexan]

1. The rightwing media will stop reporting the mayhem, too.

I remember wondering every day, during the Clinton years, if anything was happening out there in the world. We had virtually no international news reports, which would take time away from the "Get Bill" stories.

[Norquist Nemesis]

9. True. And taking the advertising dollars hand over fist

at the same time. If we think Bush is getting alot of free press exposure now, I predict it's nothing compared to what will happen starting July 1st. Late breaking news will happen when he farts!

[shaolinmonkey]

2. Political advantage is the only possible motivation...

to cling so desperately to a calendar date. The citizens of this country must hold these slugs accountable for everything that goes wrong in Iraq.

If a company releases a product too early and it's defective, they have to replace it or face lawsuits. This administration has an irrational obsession with timelines, and not just with Iraq. They want to deploy the oh-so-useful missile defense system before it's tested, effectively taking an enormous waste of money and ensuring that it fails. WTF?!

$200+ Billion in Iraq, billions more on missile defense and the ROI?

Zilch. From a party that claims to know how to run a business, they sure do make some shitty products. Yet, no one ever gets fired. Amazing.

[Norquist Nemesis]

10. Yes! It has nothing to do with what's right and

good for the country. It's about winning advantage though marketing strategy.

[Mountainman]

3. Well I wish they would say the same about their Repub government

All branches of the government are now controlled by conservatives and still everything is Clinton's fault.

[izzie]

4. Yes and we will be able to get back to Jackson and peterson's sex life.

Oh well

[Brotherjohn]

5. Exactly. They're washing their hands of it (the bad part, that is).

Despite what they say, the Bush administration follows (and governs by) polls like a hawk.

The only reasonably good things they have ever done have been a day late and a dollar short, but always in response to public pressure and criticism which has built to such levels where they could no longer ignore it: 9-11 Commission, Iraq WMD Commission (to investigate the intel; yeah, THAT was the problem!), Dept. of Homeland Security...

In this case, criticism of the "empire" aspect of the occupation, and their lack of preparation as evidenced by increasing chaos and American deaths (which some less charitably characterize as their lack of any thought in going ahead with the invasion at all) was building to levels they could no longer ignore.

So what did they choose to do? Cut and run. They decided that the time for handover (or at least the appearance of) of the Iraqi's new, free, country would be June 30th ... enough time before the election to put reasonable distance between themselves and any untoward events that may occur there. And of course, as you point out, still taking all the credit for any good outcomes.

[Brotherjohn]

6. More to the point: they CAN'T be seen as an occupying power by election...

... time. The "liberation" HAS to be "complete" (whether it really is or not).

[Norquist Nemesis]

11. We need to ramp it up, somehow.

Once you're shown the man behind the curtain you're not as easily swayed by the magic. It's important that while we present facts to what is 'projected', we must also clearly and repeatedly include a parallel exposure campaign of de-slick. i.e. cost of backdrops; use of color, image, and positioning; opening eyes to background use of music to manipulate emotions

It sounds silly, but this is how things get sold. In order for us to beat the competition, we've got to educate precisely how people are being manipulated. Once they understand and realize the con, they're not going to be pleased with the product.

[atreides1]

7. I Don't Think So!

One problem is that the Iraqis will not be in charge, this is already
been pointed out here at DU and in online news sites.

Until an election is held the interim Iraqi government has no authority to enact laws of any kind, and the US has stated that
it will control all security measures until such a time as there
is an elected Iraqi government.

There has been no SOFA(Status of Forces Agreement), and the US Embassy
in Baghdad will be the largest US Embassy in the world. Add to that the appointment of John"Death Squad"Negroponte as ambassador to Iraq,
and little to none of what goes wrong will be blamed on the Iraqis.

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. Agreed to all you cite

and they've clearly said in deeds that it's symbolic. But this administration is a master of propoganda for which symbols are keys to success. When facts mean nothing, image reigns supreme.

What I'm getting at is this strategy is targeted toward the moderates. Those who won't take the time to do research and check the facts. Those who will be chatting over the BBQ with family. Those who pay more attention to commercials than to reading news from more than one source. A little sway and then flood, reinforce, repeat.

Clearly, it's a marketing strategy. And I really hope the Kerry campaign is prepared. I really really really hope so.