The National Post on Iraq: So Incredibly Wrong

Add the National Post editorial staff to those who are finally admitting just how wrong they were about Bush's Iraq war:

We hope he succeeds, and that the troops he sends at least serve to lessen the bloodshed unfolding daily as Iraqis continue the grim, seemingly unstoppable project of separating themselves into Kurd, Sunni and Shiite enclaves. In time, perhaps the fragmented country will be stable enough that Mr. Bush's successor will be able to achieve what another generation of Republicans called "peace with honour."

It is admittedly a modest hope, however -- one far removed from the grandiose vision war supporters such as ourselves once had for a peaceful, pluralistic democracy that would serve as a beacon to other Middle Eastern peoples. Which helps explain why even hawks seem to be having trouble mustering much enthusiasm for Mr. Bush's project.

"grandiose vision" indeed.

The only people who shared that "grandiose vision" were those who were so enamored by their denial of history and reality that they simply could not imagine the hell that would ensue when the US administration went into Iraq based on lies and without a viable plan.

"Flowers". "Candy". "Greeted as liberators". "Freedom's untidy". "Last throes". "Freedom is on the march".

Even with such an admission, the National Post editors accuse the Democrats of "obstructionism" while they praise Bush for ignoring the will of the American people:

And so Mr. Bush deserves credit for drawing on his political capital in an attempt to finish what he started, a characteristic act of principle for a president who governs by his gut, not the polls.

Newsflash: Bush has no 'political capital" left. That was clear when his Republican congress was booted in November. It is also plainly clear by the huge numbers of Americans who opposed this troop increase. So, let's not call this an "act of principle". It's an act of unmitigated arrogance that is characteristic of a man who would rather send more soldiers to die than to admit his Iraq war is lost.

His "gut" has failed him and anyone who thinks he deserves to be lauded for acting on it once again - in defiance of reality - is still too deluded to understand the horrendous scale of death, destruction and woe this man has caused.

The National Post editors may have had their illusions of the "grandiose vision" for Iraq shattered but they still believe in the grandiose vision of Bush as a great war president.