Bush will abandon his own mess

PRESIDENT Bush’s opposition to postponing elections in Iraq is evidence of his intentions to wash his hands of this mess as quickly as possible.

The Bush estimation of time and money needed to convert Iraq into a peaceful state will be shown to have been underestimated to the point of lunacy.

To have broken Saddam’s rule will look a bigger and bigger act of insanity as time goes on. I believe Iraq will remain hugely unsettled by militants against Anglo-American involvement (if not engulfed in civil war) for the rest of our lifetime.

Shi’ite leaders insist their community’s share of power must reflect its majority status. If so, we will have an Iraqi government aligned with Iran. If I’m not mistaken, I have heard Bush say he would respect such an election outcome. And I have heard him say he would not.

Bush needs to get out of Iraq for even his most faithful are growing weary. But he does not wish to leave Iran in a more powerful position than it was pre-Saddam. My guess is he will be forced to do just that.

Words fail to communicate the idiocy of removing Saddam. Bush could have done his own search of Iraq with Saddam remaining in power if he wasn’t happy with UN inspectors. And the longer we remain in Iraq the more ill-prepared the US is for a real war.

Matt McLaughlin

1809 Fernald Point Lane

Santa Barbara

California

USA