We've been talking about this on another thread, but I am so outraged I want this prominently on our forum here, so that we know that all Bush wants and loves is war, and what Iraq is about is oil and permanent bases. He doesn't give a damn about democracy or the sovereignty of the government there. Had he, then he wouldn't have torpedoed a plan that may have had a chance of working in Iraq. As Karynnj mentioned in the other thread, Bush and the Sunni insurgents killed the peace plan together. All they love is violence as it serves them well to stay in power. Here is the awful truth, per the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/26/world/middleeast/26iraq.html?_r=1&oref=loginMr. Maliki's plan, intended to reduce insurgent attacks through dialogue and amnesty, was weeks in the making, with all of Iraq's religious and ethnic political blocs participating. He opted for a version that did not stake out any new ground, but simply repackaged previous pronouncements. The decision appeared to have been influenced by religious Shiites who form his base and by the American military command.
snip
Another point that Sunni Arabs say needs to be addressed is how long American troops will remain in Iraq. They say insurgents are looking for a timetable for withdrawal.
Mr. Khalilzad said he and the American commander in Iraq, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., would began talks with the Iraqis in the coming weeks on the topic, but reiterated that any reduction would depend on progress in Iraq. "We will adjust our forces, but we'll do it based on conditions, and the condition is that Iraqis can take care of themselves," he said. "The next five to six months are critical for this government."
When the Sunni insurgents rejected the plan on Saturday, they listed some demands of their own. At that point, it was not the end of negotiations but the beginning. However, now that the teeth from the Iraq Peace Plan have been deleted, I fear that peace negotiations are dead. The Americans are JUST AS responsible for the death of peace in Iraq as the Sunni insurgents, and I will NOT forgive them for this any time soon.
So when you watch the news and hear about the nonstop carnage of American troops and Iraqis, know that there was a way out of this, but the Bush administration chose NOT to do so. I can only surmise that war is what they love, and peace is what they fear the most.