Well can't comment on everything. But I will say this about the economy. Corporate earnings under Bush are very good as anyone with a portfolio of stocks knows, and that drives everything. His tax cuts seemed to have worked.
As far the Iraqi situation goes, the following is from a Major in the US special forces in Iraq. He sent it today. He is a former Aces High player as well not that that matters.
"Ok, done with the pleasantries, now I'll get to the point. Everything I've seen so far confirms in my eyes that what we are doing here is good and right and should be continued.
The Iraqi people are good and decent, and are working hard to achieve self-government. Contrary to media reports, the vast majority of the poplulation are friendly and supportive. Waves and thumbs-up are not uncommon.
We are making huge strides in creating native capabilities for law and order. The Iraqi Police are a presence everywhere, and they are energetically taking to their new role as protectors of the people instead of bullies of the people.
The Iraqi Army and Iraqi Civil Defense Corps are growing by leaps and bounds. By this summer there will be more Iraqi infantry battalions than US battalions in Iraq. Their competence leaves something to be desired, but that will come.
As for our own soldiers, I am very proud of them. I was genuinely worried how the Army would react to continued casualties in an insurgent environment. I expected a good degree of overreaction, or of withdrawal into excessive fortification. But the troops are doing their jobs well, restraining themselves, and developing no animosity towards the people. The insurgents are failing to drive a wedge between us.
The most striking thing to me is the single-mindedness of purpose I see everywhere. Every soldier and officer I speak to knows what the mission is: to create a free and stable Iraq for the people of Iraq. We speak of it everyday, and we believe in it. Whatever you may think of the intentions of our national leaders, I can tell you what we are doing on the ground here: building a country. Morale is much higher than I expected, despite the grim nature of the conflict.
The enemy is clever but not invincible. Most of the prisoners we take are poor Iraqi Sunnis, and reliqiously motivated young men from Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, or elsewhere. They are brought here by fervent sermons and their own idealistic vision of defending Islam and becoming a hero. When they arrive, they are kept in isolation until they are thrown at a target as cannon fodder. Most attackers don't survive their first attack. Of the ones who remain, we round them up by the hundreds, almost always after tips by locals who want them out of their neighborhoods. When shown the reality of what is happening in Iraq, they are shocked to see Iraqis and Americans working side by side. Many of them realize they have been lied to.
Vast areas of the country are actually safe for travel. The Shia and Kurds are overwhelmingly pro-Coalition and actively support our efforts. That amounts to about 70% of the population and an equal area of land. Almost all Shia and Kurdish areas are friendly to Coalition forces. The british division in the south hasn't had casualties in months, and doesn't even wear helmets or body armor. The Dutch troops south of Baghdad walk the streets in pairs, passing out candy to celebrate Saddam's capture.
The big hero of this war is going to be Paul Bremer. He has kept the effort firmly fixed on the political endstate of an Iraqi government and the end of US occupation. He is reportedly wildly popular with Iraqis, who contrast his integrity and selflessness with Saddam and his sons. "
