Inside the confused mind of an American

[NewYorkerfromMass]

who no doubt voted for Bush.

Folks, stop bending your minds around why Kerry probably lost or why Bush maybe won or any other sort of remotely logical thought process. For when we have to deal with voters like this, it is futile with a capital 'F'.

In today's New York Times we read:

Carolyn Jolly, 50, a civilian employee of the Army in Fort Lee, Va., said the attack did not change her opinion that American forces should be in Iraq. But she is equally firm in her belief that they should get out as soon as possible. And she is worried.

"I think we should stay through the elections," Ms. Jolly said. "I support the president's plan up to there. But if we're going to focus on Iraq without support of other nations, I see the violence increasing. I can't see a democratic Iraq. So what are we doing there?"

I must ask: if she thinks we should stay through the elctions then doesn't that mean she thinks there could be a democratic Iraq?
What are we doing there?
....What was the question?

other scatterbrained comments.... http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/22/national/22react.html?oref=login&pagewanted=print&position=

[maxsolomon]

1. the sheep look up

can you feel it? confusion is a prelude to enlightenment.

[Nay]

2. Shit, these sheep been lookin' up for 4 years. But

I still hope you are right, and they are just extraordinarily dumb sheep.

I assume you have read the book by the same name. . .an awesome novel.

[mogster]

8. Good observation n/t

[countryjake]

3. Just like here, people have hope that elections

might be the answer to everything. She's disillusioned, like alot of other people that can't let go of that hope. I don't call that scatterbrained...I call it buffaloed. Can't much fault her for that. Whole bunch of folks are worried & wondering right now, that's why they stuck rummy up on the tube this morning. Placate the masses. You can't really condemn people who honestly are asking, "What are we doing there?" We should be encouraging that question, now, more than ever!

Best line out of the whole article is this: Some people said that part of what they struggle with is how to square the ongoing violence with their beliefs about human nature and decency.

Only way to square it is to point directly at the inhumane & indecent commanders of this fiasco, like Kerry did thirty years ago. And pinpoint the reasons for the violence, all of it, not just the Iraq War.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. She's not thinking it through clearly

she's muddled. She doesn't give a crap about any inhumane commanders or what they do to Iraqis, all she cares about is getting the troops home ASAP, although she still agrees they should be there!?! It's a catch 22 that she's in. And it is not resolved.

[DavidDvorkin]

5. Sounds like she's kidding herself into being hopeful

Letting herself hope that the outcome of the elections will be a democratic Iraq, and we can then let leave with some sort of honor, even though another part of her knows better.

[Sparkly]

6. I think the idea is that the election won't lead to a lasting democracy

A leader will be elected (sorta) who'll turn it into a theocracy or something. And whoever it is will also remain vulnerable to overthrow or assassination, imho. So there'll be one exercise in democracy but it won't lead to lasting democracy. (Nonetheless, expect Bushco to congratulate themselves on the Victory of Freedom and Democracy etc...)

There is no military solution there. The election is part of a half-assed attempt at a political solution but I too don't see how it's going to establish stability. I think other countries will eventually get involved (going "thanks a heap, US") when it's overwhelmingly bad in Iraq and threatening the region, making it a much larger conflict.

The only other possibility I can guess at is that the UN splits it into three countries and enforces the borders, but I'm not sure how it's possible to divide the territory neatly, and at this point there are so many other groups there from other countries who want some control (and the US of course, wanting its oil)...

[NewYorkerfromMass]

9. and that highlights a big part of the problem

Namely poor decision making and strategy on what the policy should be for post Saddam Iraq, and how it should be achieved. I've long felt splitting the country up was a good option that should have been further explored.

[BlueManDude]

7. Surely, you jest Ms. Jolly?

Let me get this straight. The "election" will make everything allright?