More Problems For Bush

George W. Bush has left Vietnam today and is now headed to Indonesia. His trip to Vietnam was a two-fold move. First, it was an attempt to breath new life into a policy of open free market relations with the Southeast Asian Country, a policy that was struck down in congress last week. The most surprising aspect of the defeat is that it came at the hands of a Republican lead congress. Second, it was part of Bush's tour leading up to what is primarily an economic summit. George W. Bush is doing what he can at this point to breathe new life into an other wise dead policy by visiting Vietnam. He took a tour from everywhere from Ho Chi Minh city's stock market to hospitals. The good will move seems to be more a message to the U.S. Congress than it is a PR move for the Vietnamese people. But it seems unlikely that Congress is going to back down from their stance.

The other reason for this move is certainly an attempt to create support for the war in Iraq. The issue has been so contentious here at home that in a move that no one expected, one of the most hawkish Washington insiders in American history has now come out against the war. Just today Henry Kissenger has stated that the Iraq war cannot be won.  Kissenger is hardly one to criticize an American war, so when he shows any concern over the conditions involving a potential U.S. defeat, the country generally listens. And it is on this wave that the Democrats are building support for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.  Their message is that as long as U.S. troops are the security force in Iraq, its Government has no need to take on the responsibility themselves. But, GOP 2008 president hopefuls like John McCain is pushing George Bush's "stay the course" message. Other Republicans and generals have even gone so far as to suggest an increase in troop levels. This flies in the face of the American voter who have expressed their discontent with the war and by and large don't believe the war is worth the lives and money that has been spent over the last several years.

The war has caused ill feelings toward the U.S. even as far away as Indonesia. According to reports, protesters are planing to meet Bush the moment he lands in their country.  The protesters range from teachers, to house wives to cab drivers. These protests are a sign of how far separated that the United States is from our allies. The uniter seems more and more to be the divider.

Finally, if all this is not enough, the price of gas is on the rise again and as we have seen, U.S. polls concerning Bush's popularity usually go up or down according to the price of gas. Nationwide, the price has risen by two dollars a gallon and with his latest numbers at only 31%, one can only imagine how much lower his numbers will fall.

For more on this check out the links below, until next time.

http://www.groundhog.tv/apps/editor/staticplayer.jsp?clip=1164053930325.wmv

http://www.groundhog.tv/apps/editor/staticplayer.jsp?clip=1164054185528.wmv