Stop Bush's 'Wag the Dog' Invasion of Iraq, Democrats Urge (Vomit Bag Material)

CNS NEWS.COM ^ | 8-5-02 | Lawrence Morahan

[KLT]

(CNSNews.com) - Democrats.com, a website that bills itself as "the largest independent community of Democrats," is calling on its supporters to sign a petition to oppose what it sees as the Bush administration's "wag the dog" plan to invade, conquer and occupy Iraq.

"Wag the Dog" refers to a 1998 comedy depicting a conspiracy by political spin doctors to manufacture a war and thus divert a scandal involving an American president as election day approaches.

Bush's poll ratings are falling because of public outrage over corporate corruption scandals and a falling stock market, so he needs a war to change the news headlines and boost his ratings, according to the Democrats' thesis.

The Republican Party also is likely to lose control of Congress and key governorships in the November election, so Bush is desperately looking for a way to engineer an "October Surprise," the Democrats said.

Other forces supposedly influencing Bush's war plans include oil industry donors, who want to gain control of Iraq's oil reserves, and weapons industry donors, who would profit from another war, they said.

In addition, "Bush wants to avenge his father's failed presidency by killing Saddam Hussein," and "to demonstrate to the world that U.S. power is supreme and unchallengeable," the Democrats said.

Indeed, recent polls have shown Bush's popularity to be slipping. An ABC News/Washington Post poll found the president's approval rating had reached its lowest point since Sept. 11, but is still overwhelmingly positive at 69 percent.

In a Gallup poll published jointly with CNN and USA Today, 66 percent of people surveyed between July 26-28 thought Bush was doing a good job, down from 75 percent approval ratings in early May.

A recent Zogby poll showed Bush's approval ratings fell 7 percent in a month, and 13 percent since March, to 62 percent positive, their lowest since Sept. 11.

But commentators said Bush has been committed to a regime change in Iraq since before he was elected president, and the suggestion that he's warmongering for political gain is cynical at best.

"They're really moronic allegations," said Michael Waller, vice president of the Center for Security Policy. "It's the same foolishness that Tip O'Neill accused President Reagan of, when Reagan invaded Grenada in what ended up being a hugely popular operation."

After a bloody coup in Grenada in 1983 and a perceived threat to American students on the island, Reagan ordered an invasion that eliminated a regime allied to Fidel Castro's Cuba.

"It's a foolish argument, and it's a worn out argument, especially when you have so many Democrats supporting the president on [Iraq]," Waller added.

"All the Democratic leadership in the Senate is saying, 'we'll support you on the invasion of Iraq, just give us the evidence.' That's a legitimate request from them, so it's a pretty extremist allegation," he said.

Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said at a press conference last week he was convinced President Bush has not made up his mind on an invasion of Iraq.

"They may have made up their mind on regime change, but I'd be very, very surprised if the president has made a decision on how he intends to change the regime," Biden told reporters.

"I'd be even more surprised if there's any such attempt in the near term, meaning between now and the first of the year," he added. On Thursday, Biden's committee concluded two days of hearings on Iraq.

Waller said much media speculation on an invasion is based on the circumstances of Operation Desert Storm in 1990, when the situation was very different, both on the ground and in terms of U.S. technology.

[KLT]

I seem to remember a certain past president who sent cruise missiles to an empty Bin Laden camp in the Sudan and an aspirin factory in Afghanistan, when Monica Lewinsky was testifying...What Jerks! GRRRRRRRRRRRR!

[dead]

Well, they got Germany's Chancellor on board:

A vote for me is a vote against war on Iraq, says Schroeder

[KLT]

Gag alert Ping...Y'all

[11th Earl of Mar]

Bush must be very good at 'wagging the dog' if he can get Democrats, including Joe Biden and Dick Gephart, to support invading Iraq.

[Wright is right!]

Whenever you hear a Dem on TV talking about how "this President needs calm reasoned debate on the issue - and needs to sell the plan to the Amurrican Pipple," what they MEAN is delay at all costs until after the election.

Michael

[1Old Pro]

Pure selfishness. If their country was attacked like America and Israel they'd be over here on their hands and knees begging for not only our help, but our leadership of the mission against their attackers.

[dead]

Schroeder is Germany's Clinton-lite.

[steve-b]

Comment for public viewing (optional)

Heh heh heh....

[steve50]

The globalists on both sides want the attack on Iraq. Get the oil fields under WTO "management" for the benefit of the Iraqi people, after they get their cut of course.

[1Old Pro]

Schroeder is Germany's Clinton-lite.

So his foreign policy is based soley on polls and his interest in getting votes....got it.

[hchutch]

Demcorats.com ping...

This bunch is tight with the Clintons, IIRC.

[winodog]

The arkansas antichrist and her husband pulled the largest wag the dog in history when they went to war against the serbian christians in Kosovo.
They supported the islamic murderers who were the perps (supporters) of 911.
They murdered innocent women and children when they realized they could not harm the serbian army.
They bombed trains, bridges and hospitals.
It made me ashamed to be a american.
No one from the gov.org media talks about this. Instead we are treated to President Bush wagging the dog against the islamic basterds who murdered 3,000 innocent americans on 911.
I am afraid our country is screwed.

[Commie Basher]

Last I checked the Constitution, war can only be declared by Congress. Wag the dog was wrong when Slick did it, and it's wrong when Bush does it.

Why is the Constitution so offensive to Dems/Repubs when the other side is in office?

[KLT]

winodog...I couldn't have laid a case out any better....Yes...the Arkansas AntiChrist and collective piece of garbage, pulled the wool over this country's eyes...and nobody said or did a damn thing!

[SEGUET]

"So his foreign policy is based soley on polls and his interest in getting votes....got it."

If you would kindly take the time to list the names of any politician (in the world) who does not have an interest in "getting votes" please do so on the head of a pin.

[KLT]

Wag the dog was wrong when Slick did it, and it's wrong when Bush does it.

Who said this is a "Wag The Dog"? I disagree with your analysis of said events...Why because the Demonrats say it's a "Wag The Dog" it is?

Oh Pullleeeezzzzzeeee!

[1Old Pro]

I thought I included the word "soley".

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[philosofy123]

It is WAG THE DOG! Unfortunately, we cannot afford 80 billion dollars and 200,000 soldiers just to depose a dictator. We got better target, the Islamic fanatic movement around the world. If we take our eyes off the real enemies, the Islamic terrorists, we will be wasting our resources. The neocons, tax and spend liberals don’t really care? It is not their money? I guess they don’t pay taxes?