by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright June 1, 2006
All Rights Reserved.

ince Iraq's new Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki took office April 23, nearly 80 U.S. troops and hundreds of Iraq civilians have died in sectarian violence, leaving Iraq's new security services in chaos. When Vice President Dick Cheney declared the insurgency “in its last throes” May 21, 2005, the White House tried to stem President George W. Bush's sliding approval ratings. With Memorial Day over, Bush tried to resuscitate old patriotism that rocketed his popularity after Sept. 11. Despite White House and Pentagon claims, the situation in Iraq has deteriorated, with the insurgency gaining strength, not weakening. Sunday's routine Baghdad car bombing that took the lives of CBS News cameraman Paul Douglas, 48, soundman James Bolan, 42, a U.S. soldier and critically wounding award-winning on-air reporter Kimberly Dozier underscored Iraq's extreme dangers.

      Dozier fights for her life in Germany at Landstuhl Regional Medial Center, after suffering serious head and lower-body wounds, sustained when her armored Humvee was hit by shrapnel from a powerful car bomb. Sixty-nine reporters have lost their lives in Iraq, since the war began March 20, 2003. Only reporters and U.S. and Iraqi personnel lucky enough to be inside the fortified Green Zone have been spared injury and death. Dozier's injury reminds the public that, despite White House claims, little progress has been made to secure areas outside Baghdad's Green Zone. Over 138,000 U.S. and British troops haven't secured areas outside the vault-like Green Zone. Mined and booby trapped, the roads around Baghdad are a death trap for anyone on the streets. Sunday's attack shatters the myth that U.S. and Iraqi forces have secured the perimeter around Iraq's besieged capital.

      Iraq's new Prime Minister Maliki promised to get tough with insurgents, predicting his military would take over security from U.S. and British troops in around 18 months. Judging by the escalating violence, it's doubtful Iraq's military could do a better job than coalition forces. White House and Pentagon spin meisters continue to underestimate the extent of the insurgency that seems to grow more deadly by the day. Dozier's injuries drive home the reality that U.S., British and Iraqi forces can't stop the guerrilla war, leaving U.S. and foreign troops sitting ducks. When ABC's “World New Tonight” co-anchor Bob Woodruff was seriously injured Jan. 29, the deteriorating security situation became obvious. No matter how the White House, Pentagon or right wing radio tout success, there's no evidence that U.S., British and Iraqi forces can stop a stubborn guerrilla war.

      Latest reports about Dozier don't seem too optimistic. When Col. W. Bryan Gamble reported positive progress during the flight from Baghdad to Germany as “opening her eyes and moving her toes,” the severity of Dozier's injuries became obvious. Without wearing her helmet and flak-jacket, her injuries would have been fatal. Like so many others in Iraq wearing protective gear, the victims survive with disabling injuries. Rarely are the 20,000-plus disabling injuries mentioned together with verified casualties. “She was critically wounded from the . . . blast, but right now she is doing as well as can be expected,” said Gamble, trying to dampen hopes that the 39-year-old journalist will make a speedy recovery. Dozier was embedded with the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division when the blast occurred while she worked on Memorial Day story.

      Speaking on Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery, Bush offered no serious reflection on his Iraq policy, repeating oft-stated platitudes. Bush vowed to honor the dead by “completing the mission for which they gave their lives,” promising to continue the same suicidal policy that has led to nearly 2,500 casualties and 20,000 disabling injuries. After comparing the Iraq War to WW I & II, Korea and Vietnam, Bush delivered the ironic punch-line: “In this place where valor sleeps, we are reminded why America has always gone to war reluctantly, because we know the costs of war,” continuing the doublespeak that has decimated his popularity. Bush refused the pleas of U.N. Chief Weapons' Inspector Dr. Hans Blix to give diplomacy a chance, reassuring the White House that Saddam possessed no weapons of mass destruction and presented no threat to U.S. national security.

      CBS and ABC journalists and crew are the latest casualties in Bush's misguided war on terror that opted for nation-building over the relentless pursuit of terrorists responsible for Sept. 11. Saddam was an easy target but post-war reconstruction has been a nightmare, costing the U.S. and its allies real misery. “I am in awe of the men and women who sacrifice for the freedom of the United States of America,” said Bush, finding the distorted justification for more U.S. casualties. Bush jumped the gun getting the U.S. into an unending suicide mission, now linking military deaths to the price paid for freedom. No U.S. freedom has ever been threatened in Iraq, nor should any U.S. soldier, journalist or anyone else spill their blood for a cause that does not involve U.S. national security. It doesn't dishonor the dead to face past mistakes and change a losing policy wasting more precious lives.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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