They would do this to us if they could
The Washington Post has a story on its website for Sunday about some of the incompetent idiots the Bush Administration has sent to administer the reconstruction of Iraq. Anyone who still wonders why they're still reading stories about what a hellhole Baghdad is (apart from the killing) will get their answer in this story.
Loyalty to the Supreme Leader, George W. Bush, was valued far more than experience or demonstrated competence. Job applicants, some of whom actually wanted to serve their country, were questioned closely by a Bush political officer about their support for Bush's "vision" for Iraq, whether they voted for Bush in 2000, even their thoughts on the abortion issue. Once in Iraq these nitwits proceeded to turn it into rightwing Republican fantasy camp instead of making pragmatic decisions based on local realities.
It is instructive to consider that the sort of things they tried to do there, such as institute a flat tax, are things they would do to us in America if they could. A lot of people don't realize how radical and extreme the Bush Administration really is, in large part because the cowed mainstream media shields the public from much of the ugly reality lest they face a bogus accusation of "liberal bias."
It is sickening enough that Bush's unnecessary Iraq adventure may drain $1 trillion of American wealth before all is said and done. The costs continue to grow exponentially, with nothing but failure on the road ahead. Think what this money could have been spent on to make America a better place. A national health insurance program for all, college tuition assistance, economic development. Every dollar spent in Iraq, every live lost, will ultimately be for naught, just as it was in Vietnam. That is the sad truth.