The Quadrangle

Issue date: 2/8/06 Section: Perspectives

Media Credit: jsonline.com Bush addressed the nation with annual State of the Union address

George W. Bush opened his 2006 State of the Union address by praising Coretta Scott King for a lifetime of service to the United States. Mrs. King devoted her life to the cause of equality and justice, and she deserved to be honored in such a way. Unfortunately, honoring King was the only time the House chamber rose together in complete satisfaction over what the president had just said. Democrats sat as Bush offered the nation little hope for a stronger and more secure future. He never seems to have a legitimate plan.

Bush started his speech with a focus on Iraq. As he said, "The road of victory is the road that will take our troops home. As we make progress on the ground and Iraqi forces increasingly take the lead, we should be able to further decrease our troop levels, but those decisions will be made by our military commanders, not by politicians in Washington, D.C."

We have no idea as to what constitutes victory in this war. We are fighting an insurgency in their backyard, and they are not about to give up. Our troops have fought with valor and honor, and they deserve to come home. According to the Defense Department as of January 31, 2,237 Americans have died in Iraq since the war began on March 19, 2003, and we still don't have a plan for victory. I have used the Vietnam parallel many times, and I will use it again. An insurgency fighting in their own country will fight forever; they'll never give up! I did not expect the president to offer a plan for victory in his latest address to the nation, and he came through on that front with flying colors. It was more of the same, "When the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down." What does that mean? As for his comment about listening to what the military commanders are saying, well I'll just give you one name: Eric Shinseki.

Energy was another main focus of the Bush address, but he only devoted two minutes and 15 seconds to energy independence. The former Texas oil tycoon said that America was "addicted to oil," but his plans were weak.

As the New York Times editorial page wrote on February 1, "Last night's remarks were woefully insufficient. The country's future economic and national security will depend on whether Americans can control their enormous appetite for fossil fuels."

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