In a speech to New Hampshire Republican officials here Monday night, the White House deputy chief of staff attacked Democrats who have criticized the U.S. war effort in Iraq, such as Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) and Rep. John P. Murtha (Pa.), who he said advocate "cutting and running...."They may be with you for the first shots," Rove said of such opponents. "But they're not going . . . to be with you for the tough battles." .....Rove said a precipitous departure would leave the United States weakened and a terrorist-friendly regime in Baghdad.."It would provide a launching pad for the terrorists to strike the United States and the West," he said.

From: Rove's Speech to N.H. Republicans Keeps to Partisan Line The Washington Post - Tuesday, June 13, 2006; Page A07

Like the a Communist Party propaganda commissar that he so much resembles, Rove instructs the Republican faithful on the new "Party Line". That is, of course, to accuse the Democrats of "cutting and running" in the face of the enemy, and abandoning Iraq to the "terrorists".

Of course, if the US hadn't gotten rid of Saddam (and his Baath Party Internal Security Force) in the first place, Iraq wouldn't be at risk of being taken over by the "terrorists".

With Islam enshrined in the new Iraqi constitution, regardless of which side--Sunni, Shiite, or Baath Arab pan-nationalist---wins the civil war, the eventual government that will emerge from the civil war will bear no resemblance to post-WWII Japan or Germany. Rove can hardly argue that Bush's fantasy of implanting a secular democracy in the heart of Islam has been anything but a miserable failure. Worse, the constitution is so ambivalent that it is doubtul that it will lead to the formation of a stable, integrated state.

Rove and Bush have no right to guarantee to anyone that when America makes a military commitment, it sticks to it to the bitter end. America is a democratic republic, and NO politician can make that promise to anyone!  Americans will support a war only as long as they perceive that war is necessary to defend American security. When Americans are sufficiently sick of the Iraqi quagmire and Rove's empty rhetoric, the war will be voted out, no matter what the political or military situation is in Iraq. It's just a matter of time.

That time is coming. Polls show that the public skepticism of Bush's reasons attacking Iraq is growing. Already a majority of Americans believe that Bush's war was not worth the $320 Billion in treasure and over 2,500 lives it has cost. There were NO WMDs. There was NO tie between Saddam and Bin Ladin!

Iraqi has had its elections, and a new constitution, and an elected government. Bush has managed to strong-arm the Iraqi legislature into selecting a Prime Minister and a cabinet. There is little more that America can do to end the sectarian violence, and the public knows it. Nor have the Iraqis shown any sign that they will make the necessary political compromises to end their civil war as long as American troops will do the fighting and dying for them.

As long as the United States maintains permanent military occupation of Iraq to prop up totalitarian client states like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or the UAR, not to mention Israel and it's persecution of the Palestinans, the insurgency will continue to recruit patriotic volunteers. In their love of country, Iraqis are no different then Americans, and it's insane to think that they can be manipulated to accept our permanent military bases on their native land.  

It's time to leave. And it's time for the Republican Congress to stop marching in step to Rove's orders, and think for themselves. Or it may well be the end of the Republican electoral majority.