Cord Byrd: “the Oxford English Dictionary defines the word ``surge''--s-u-r-g-e--as ``a sudden large temporary increase.'' Note in…”

“the Oxford English Dictionary defines the word ``surge''--s-u-r-g-e--as ``a sudden large temporary increase.'' Note in particular the word ``temporary.'' President Bush's rumored new strategy on Iraq--a surge of U.S. troops intended to quell the violence in Baghdad--is both wrongheaded and headed for failure. As outlined, the surge envisions clearing all violent factions out of Baghdad in an effort which is to be led by Iraqi security forces. Apparently, U.S. forces will provide indiscriminate firepower in another attempt to establish democracy by brute force. This does not seem to me to be the way to win hearts and minds in Iraq. I oppose any surge in Iraq. Only days ago, just days ago, we passed the grim milestone of 3,000 American dead in Iraq. There are few firm numbers on Iraqi lives lost, but estimates are in the tens of thousands. I am reminded of one definition of ``insanity'': making the same mistake over and over while continuing to expect a different result. We have surged before. Still the violence in Iraq worsens. We are close to the beginning of the fifth year--the fifth year--of a war which should never have been started by an administration that fed the Congress and the public false information. This is an administration which has learned nothing--nothing, zilch--nothing more about the country of Iraq than it knew before it launched an unprovoked U.S. attack.”