by Marco Miranda Senior

Created on: May 13, 2007   Last Updated: October 17, 2010

The Professor
Path to Victory, or Whatever.

"Professor, we must have a serious talk about the Iraqi situation. I believe it is important that you air your opinions on this matter and help me form my own. Your influence extends to an important sector that relies on your weighted opinions, and I have a group of followers, mainly female, that also depend on my wise expositions in order to appear intelligent and well informed."

The Professor looked at me and laughed heartily. He lit the Cohiba he had been cradling in his fingers and after taking a couple of robust drags, said:

"You are right, old Bean. It is not only us that require a bit of review of this most unfortunate incident in our history. Now we are in the stage of the Benchmarks; a handy little handle for datelines in Iraq. As I recall, not long ago in Annapolis, President Bush introduced a new slogan for his Iraq policy: "Plan for Victory." As usual his spin gurus took advantage of the opportunity to decorate the stage with a large color screen showing those brave words. Those gurus must have been the same mentally handicapped dreamers that installed the Mission Accomplished' sign on the deck of the aircraft carrier back in 2003!"

"I hope they do not attempt another slogan with the benchmarks" I said. Then, the Professor added:

"I doubt it. I believe the time is past for slogans and cute phrases. The President is beginning to look for a way out. He continues to emphasize the progress made by the Iraqi troops and his confidence in the new Commander, General Petraeus, while at the same time looking from a corner of his eyes at Nancy and Henry."

"Fine Professor. But I can not help wondering if anyone close to the President, Cheney and Condi has ever asked them why they embarked in such quixotic adventure? Or better yet Why did fifty million Americans re-elect someone who was clearly not qualified to run the most complicated and demanding presidency on the planet?"

He nodded and poured more cognac in our sifters. I continued:

"If it wasn't for the thousands dead and injured in the Iraq campaign, this war would be the ideal subject for a Chaplin comedy. I remember Cheney's enthusiasm and his assurances about a reception to our troops with flowers, candy and martial melodies, while Rusmfeld proudly expounded on his New Warfare Technology that required only one thousand bombers and 14 infantry men in sports clothes in two tanks, three jeeps and one Hummer."

Yes and don't forget the famous "last throes", "turning

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