cross-posted at My Left Wing and Blue House Diaries
Let me tell you a story. It's a story of course. Purely hypothetical. Nothing like this could ever really happen. Everyone likes a good story, though, right?
Suppose there was a young child at recess building something (a castle, a ship, whatever) out of Legos. This kid is totally minding his own business when suddenly the big, dumb, mean, ugly, cruel class bully comes storming up out of nowhere. He then proceeds to do what it is that bullies do--he pushes the kid over, kicks the Lego structure into a million pieces, which sends blocks flying everywhere. Then, just for good measure, he jumps on the helpless child and punches him repeatedly in the face.
Look, I didn't say this was a heartwarming story, did I? Stick with me.
So here we are: an unususpecting child laying bleeding and bruised amid the wreckage and flotsam of what used to be a Lego castle.
The bully who caused all this stands up, looks around, and says....
"Why won't you take some responsibility for this mess?!?!?!?!!"
Sound familiar? It should.
Dan Bartlett, presidential advisor and supreme douchebag:
"...it's going to require the Iraqis themselves to step up and take more responsibility"
Donald Rumsfeld, former Secretary of Defense and Skeletor Look-Alike Contest Winner:
"...Iraqis know they have to pull up their socks, step up and take responsibility for their country."
Condoleeza Rice, Secretary of State and fugitive from justice for stealing David Letterman's teeth:
"But we need to recognize that it is the Iraqi political leadership as a whole that needs to take responsibility for the difficulties in which they find -- in which Iraqis find themselves."
And if that's not condescending and infuriating enough for you, there's another character in this story we've yet to discuss.
That character would be the mostly nice, quiet, dorky kid. He generally tries (and generally fails) to stand up for the bully's targets. He is, however, so wimpy and so easily intimidated that he'll generally fall in line with the bully when threatened.
It's no different here. When the bully began assaulting the child in our story, this nice dorky kid said, "Hey, um...maybe you shouldn't do that....that's not such a nice thing to do." This of course had the predictable effect, which is to say none at all.
In point of fact, this lead to the bully so intimidating the would-be savior that he too began to rail at the bleeding, helpless child about his need to take responsibility for the mess the bully created.
For example...
Steny Hoyer, House Majority Leader and All Around Dickbag
"In the days ahead, the Iraqis must make the tough decisions and accept responsibility for their future."
Dick Durbin, senior United States Senator from Illinois and leading contender for the "I Expected Better From You" Award:
"...it is time for the Iraqis to stand and defend their own nation. The government of Iraq must now prove that it will make the hard political decisions...
"...[the Iraqis will] understand the day has come to face their own responsibility to protect and defend their nation."
Aside from the mind-blowing levels of hypocrisy, condescenion, and arrogance on dislay here, the truly saddening/infuriating thing is...only the bleeding helpless child really can help himself clean up the mess that others made and/or enabled. Because those responsible sure as hell ain't gonna.
My goal is to see every American soldier out of Iraq pronto. That will necessarily lead to the Iraqi government and people having to take care of everything. But, man...the attitude of our leaders really, really chaps my ass.