Larry Johnson:Over the Rubicon, Into the Styx

[cal04]

When the history of the U.S. debacle in Iraq is written, the week of 30 October 2006 will be seen as a critical turning point in the gullibility of the American voter to the hogwash spun from the Bush White House and the Rumsfeld Defense Department--i.e., victory is at hand. Most Americans now realize that the odor emanating from the White House briefing room is pure, unadulterated bullshit. Just one week ago our commander on the ground, General Casey, heped push the propaganda by insisting that:

The Baghdad security plan continues to have a dampening effect on sectarian violence. . .Extra U.S. troops dispatched to Baghdad have had a decisive effect. . . Iraqi security forces operating in and around Baghdad also are making significant contributions in reducing the violence, he added.

When October ended Iraqi insurgents had killed 105 American soldiers and wounded over 900. We have not seen casualties like this since January of 2005. So much for reduced violence. But that is only the tip of the iceberg of mayhem that is now Iraq.


(snip)
So what is our metaphor to capture this moment? Have we crossed the Rubicon? The Romans' point of no return? Or, are we thrashing about in the Styx, the river in Greek mythology, "where the wrathful and sullen are punished by being perpetually drowned in the muddy waters"? Given our goober of a President, I think a more apt image is Shit Creek. We're up it without a paddle. Let us pray that next week's elections pluck our Republic from danger and put our feet back on solid ground.

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http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2006/nov/02/over_the_rubicon_into_the_styx