Bush squirms at war

When an injured animal is cornered, the poor thing tends to go a little crazy. So maybe the recent blunders of the damaged conservative right won't seem so offensive if we just pretend we're watching a Discovery Channel special.

Cue the rugged, Australian voiceover ala Animal Planet segment: "Observe as members of Congress question President George W. Bush's faulty prewar intelligence. The Bush administration appears taken aback ... and then ... a rampage of ugly name-calling and slandering the patriotism of war critics. Ah, the circle of life."

Indeed, as debate about Iraq intensifies, Congressional proceedings haven't been pretty. During the weeks following Bush's Veterans Day proclamation that opponents of the war hurt troop morale and aid the enemy, exchanges between war critics and supporters have become particularly heated.

The administration has openly vilified members of Congress who suggest the president knowingly misled Americans into war. Vice President Dick Cheney called these charges "dishonest and reprehensible."

But if this administration truly has nothing to hide, why are Bush and friends so viciously defensive? With his approval ratings falling to record lows, Bush is clearly in attack mode, and anyone who dares question him is immediately maligned as un-American.

The situation escalated further when Rep. John P. Murtha (D. Penn) called for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq over the next six months.

A decorated Vietnam veteran, Murtha's resume includes 37 years in the Marines and more than 30 years in Congress. He's earned bipartisan respect for his military expertise and despite his initial support for entering the war, he said his views changed due to routine visits to wounded soldiers and several trips to Iraq.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan accused Murtha of "endorsing the policy positions of Michael Moore."

When Bush's handlers speak this tactlessly about one of the most esteemed members of Congress, red flags should instantly go up. You'd think they'd get McClellan a spokesman or something ... oh, right.

During the House's debate concerning a resolution to immediately withdraw troops, Rep. Jean Schmidt (R, Ohio) announced that a marine colonel asked her "to send congressman Murtha a message: that cowards cut and run, marines never do."

I agree: Cowards do cut and run, and that's exactly what the president does. Bush simply avoids confronting critics of his policies. Instead, he spins harsh rhetoric and averts any kind of meaningful discussion.

It takes courage to admit mistakes, and this man just can't own up to any wrongdoing.

More than 2,100 American soldiers and thousands of Iraqis have lost their lives in the war, and the insurgency is not relenting. In fact, it's getting worse.

On Thanksgiving, suicide bombers killed nearly 40 people in Iraq, and top Iraqi officials say the violence will only increase in the coming weeks.

The president says war critics hurt troop morale, but with November fast becoming one of the deadliest months in Iraq this year, does Bush really think his plan of "staying the course" for as long as it takes is lifting troops' spirits?

The administration says it's irresponsible to question the war, but what's really reckless is the president's willingness to leave troops in Iraq indefinitely.

While Congress continues to challenge the president's credibility, watch as Bush's true colors show more brilliantly than ever.

Bottom line: Bush is panicked because he's cornered and he knows he's wrong.