1115.org

Instead of trying to get President Bush to impose meaningful benchmarks on the Iraqi government (where “meaningful” is to be interpreted as benchmarks which will result in pre-specified non-trivial consequences if they are not met), maybe it’s time for us to try and impose meaningful benchmarks on President Bush?

As Bush declared on July 4, 2006, at Fort Bragg, N.C.:

I’m going to make you this promise: I’m not going to allow the sacrifice of 2,527 troops who have died in Iraq to be in vain by pulling out before the job is done.

Give the man his due. He kept his grim promise.

So now the Iraq war death count is up to 3315 U.S. troops killed.

We have allowed 788 more troops to be sacrificed, so that the sacrifice of the first 2,527 would not be in vain. I have it on good authority that the souls of the first 2,527 are extremely satisfied to have begotten this further sacrifice. I have it on good authority that the souls of all 3315 are perfectly satisfied with the sacrifices already made.

So can we just get President Bush to commit to a number for how many deaths will be enough? Instead of artificial calendar deadlines for withdrawal which have nothing to do with the hard realities on the ground, can we have a withdrawal deadline linked to the hardest reality?

So, Georgie, how many deaths will it to take to slake your bloody thirst? Will a nice round number like 3500 be enough? Can we please get out of Iraq then? Or are you going to insist on shooting for 4,000?