C. GATSBY'S Weblog: "you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free. John 8:32

Bush, who quickly invaded Iraq on the falsified reports of weapons of mass destruction, now is taking his time to rethink his failed polices in Iraq, while thousands die every month. Too bad Bush did not take his time considering all information about Iraq and alternate strategies, such as diplomacy and embargoes, before making the imprudent and thoughtless decision to invade in 2003.

Now three years later, with victory no where in sight, nearly 3000 Americans dead, over 20,000 Americans wounded, 150,000 Iraqi women and children murdered, American war crimes on the rise, $350 billion wasted, civil war erupting, Bush has led America into another quagmire.

Spc. Thomas Sheck, on his second tour in Iraq, summed it up best: “First it was weapons of mass destruction. Then when there were none, it was that we had to find Saddam. We did that, but then it was that we had to put him on trial. So now, what will be the next story they tell us to keep us over here?”

Bush has damaged America’s credibility abroad for years to come, eroded America’s morality, and demoralized our military. Time for change in America is long overdue. Congress needs to apply pressure on Bush to stop him from continuing his open-ended and careless Iraq war and implement an exit strategy.

BY Christian Gatsby

Most portray Ford as the only president to lose a war (even though Wilson committed troops in a half-hearted, failed attempt to thwart the rise of communism in Russia), and now G. W. Bush will be remembered as the second president, another Republican, to lose a war.

However, unlike Ford who sought to end the debacle in Vietnam and minimize America’s loses, Bush has been very reluctant to change course in Iraq, where attacks against Americans is at an all time high, and heed the advice of numerous studies and military officers.

I am reminded of a 1975 speech by Ford, prior to the fall of Vietnam, where he told Americans that our nation must move on and re-establish national pride. Ford said, "As I see it, the time has come to look forward to an agenda for the future, to unify, to bind up the nation's wounds and to restore its health and its optimistic self-confidence."

Bush, who soiled America’s image at home and abroad by his shameless and relentless Iraq invasion, should take to heart Ford’s words in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and begin to end his debacle in Iraq and lay the foundation for America’s moral rebuilding.

By Christian Gatsby

Finally, a Bush appointee has answered honestly on the question of Iraq. Gates, the incoming Secretary of Defense, when asked by a Democratic Senator if we are winning in Iraq, responded, "No, sir."

This statement is in stark contrast to previous White House statements. In 2004, Cheney proclaimed "the last throes" of the insurgency, and Rice stated in 2005 that the Iraqi insurgency was the "last gasp" of a dying movement As recently as this year, Bush, Rumsfeld and his generals stated that we were winning and troop reductions would begin before the end of this year.

Now, the Iraq Study Group, has stated candidly that Bush’s strategy in Iraq “is not working” and new direction is urgently needed.

Earlier studies have stated the same, only to be ignored by the stubborn, “stay the course” Bush. Previously, a National Intelligence Estimate concluded the Iraq war has aided a new generation of Islamic radicalism and that the overall terrorist threat has increased since September 11. Bush ignored this report and stayed the course in Iraq.

Former Bush aides have condemned their boss for his handling of the war. David Frum, former Bush speechwriter who wrote the 2002 State of the Union address that included Iraq in the "axis of evil," stated recently that the U.S. will be defeated in Iraq, because "the insurgency has proven it can kill anyone.” He adds the blame lies with Bush for America‘s debacle in Iraq.

Bush’s war has cost thousands of precious lives, billions of dollars, and America’s moral high ground. Study after study has concluded that Bush has no plan for victory or exit strategy. Bush needs to wake up and face reality and begin to change course in Iraq. If not, Bush needs to be impeached.

BY Christian Gatsby