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This Thursday marks the fifth anniversary of George W. Bush's "mission accomplished" extravaganza and misspeak. What mission has his administration and its allies in Congress accomplished? Let's see:
- A continuing war in Iraq that has cost us 4,052 dead and tens of thousands of wounded servicemen and women with no victory or culmination in sight (see Tuesdays with Tuke, April 15)
- The Taliban resurgent in Afghanistan (including this weekend’s near-miss assassination of Afghan President Karzai)
- An economy in or approaching recession, gasoline approaching $4.00 per gallon, and a worldwide food shortage.
- Rampant corruption among Bush-crony contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan exempt from U.S. Government oversight by virtue of a "drafting error" in regulations according to Bush officials.
Just to name a few.
Bush and his allies in Congress obviously have lost focus. Instead of fixating on Iraq and corporate bail-outs, we should be addressing positive efforts for change:
- An effective strategy to defeat the Taliban and root out Bin Laden
- A strategy for imminent extraction of U.S. forces from Iraq
- Immediate attention to lowering fuel prices (including suspension of buying for our strategic reserve) and development of alternative energy sources (see Tuesdays with Tuke, April 22)
- Forceful action to stem home mortgage foreclosures
- True healthcare reform, with a goal of universal coverage and uniform underwriting standards
- U.S. leadership addressing the global food crisis before war and pestilence take hold
- A profound commitment from Congress to address global climate change immediately rather than waiting for results to prove what science says is inevitable
Now, addressing these matters might actually accomplish some missions: world peace, a sound economy, energy independence, stemming world hunger, and saving our planet for our children and grandchildren.
But those missions are not on Senator Alexander's radar. That is why I am running for the U.S. Senate. Let's Take the Hill.
Semper Fi,
Bob Tuke
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