SKIRMISHER

I don’t really know fuck about what in hell Bush thinks; I’m not even sure if his brains’ gears are a-churnin’ at all. But if I don’t feel so bad about my own ignorance of Bush’s wisdom (I presume there’s only one thing in that head: either “far-reaching sagacity” buried as deep as Arctic crude oil–or Bozo the Clown), maybe it’s because 60% of the world is on my side of the fence.

And if Raw Story’s tip that the American President is all set to jump into deeper shit called the Israel-Lebanon conflict, then it’s Bozo the Clown, after all.

The officer, who had broad experience in the Middle East while at the CIA, noted that NATO and European countries, including England, have made clear that they are either unwilling or extremely reluctant to participate in an international force. Given other nations’ lack of commitment, any “robust” force—between 10,000 and 30,000 troops, according to estimates being discussed in the media—would by definition require major U.S. participation. According to the former official, Israel and the United States are currently discussing a large American role in exactly such a “multinational” deployment, and some top administration officials, along with senior civilians at the Pentagon, are receptive to the idea.

The uniformed military, however, is ardently opposed to sending American soldiers to the region, according to my source. “They are saying ‘What the fuck?’” he told me. “Most of our combat-ready divisions are in Iraq or Afghanistan, or on their way, or coming back. The generals don’t like it because we’re already way overstretched.”

The former CIA officer said that the Bush Administration seems not to understand Hezbollah’s deep roots and broad support among Lebanon’s Shiites, the country’s largest single ethnic bloc. “A U.S. force is going to end up making, not keeping, peace with Hezbollah. Once you start fighting in a place like that you’re basically at war with the Shiite population. That means that our soldiers are going to be getting shot at by Hezbollah. This would be a sheer disaster for us.”

Maybe I should make an about-face and just say I admire this guy. He’s a man of integrity; his sense of adventure unparalleled. And nobody could dismiss his unflinching courage; when he says, “Die, ragheads, y’all!” He never backs out. He flings crap at everybody’s face as confidently as our zoo’s monkey.

Who. Wouldn’t. Love. This. Guy?

POLL: WORLD DOESN’T RESPECT BUSH [CBS]

FORMER OFFICIAL SAYS BUSH MULLING SENDING AMERICAN TROOPS TO LEBANON [Raw Story]

Stumble it!