Bush's reaction troubling in wake of Iraq bombings

We were hoping that President Bush's initial reaction Monday to a string of car bombings that killed at least 40 people and injured more than 200 was off the cuff and did not represent his thoughtful opinion about what is taking place in that violence-ridden country. But even after a day of reflection, the president was still contending that the almost daily occurrences of death and destruction since the United States ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein six months ago are a sign of progress.
Bush's contention that the escalation of violence shows just how desperate the enemies of democracy have become is simplistic and unbelievable.
It's time the president and his foreign policy team leveled with the American people as to what is going on in Iraq. A first step would be to accurately characterize the violence that has gripped post-Saddam Iraq: guerrilla warfare.
By so doing, the administration would be able to develop a strategy for fighting the guerrillas. Now, because of Bush's refusal to admit what is obvious to most objective observers, the White House cannot come up with a coherent policy.
More troops on the ground aren't needed, the president insists, because the perpetrators of the bombings are not part of any organized anti-American movement.
The administration would do well to listen to individuals like the Iraqi police officer who, in the wake of the car bombings said, "These are enemies of America." Implicit in the statement is the widely held view that U.S. occupation of Iraq has become a flash point for an array of forces.
Anxiety
Despite the White House's insistence that these are random acts of violence, the string of car bombings suggests otherwise. Indeed, as the death toll of American soldiers mounts, the Iraqi people, including those who greeted coalition forces with open arms, are becoming more anxious about their safety.
And that's exactly what the terrormongers want. It is no accident that most of those who died in this week's bombings were Iraqis. The message was simple: The Americans cannot protect you.
That is why the president's reaction was so troubling.
"The more progress we make on the ground, the more free the Iraqis become, the more electricity that's available, the more desperate these killers become," he said. He added that those who are continuing to engage in violence "can't stand the thought of a free society. They hate freedom. They love terror. They love to try to create fear and chaos."
That last comment is the only one that rings true. The rest is indicative of an administration that was not prepared for what has taken place in Iraq since the invasion in March. The reasons Bush gave for sending American soldiers into harm's way have proved to be invalid. And the administration's belief that Saddam's ouster would result in a bloodless transition to democracy is nothing more than wishful thinking.
On the front page of Thursday's Vindicator was a graphic that clearly illustrates the reality that is Iraq today. Bottom line: More U.S. soldiers have died in combat since May 1, when Bush declared an end to major combat, than died during the war. The death toll: 357. Add to that the number of Americans injured, 2,084, and the rosy picture the president is attempting to paint becomes worthless.