George Bush and Five Point Plans

Monday President Bush unveiled a five-point plan to address the border security and illegal immigration issue while almost two years ago to the day (May 24, 2004) he unveiled a five step "plan to help Iraq achieve democracy and freedom."

Like Monday's speech - the May 24, 2004 speech was to address the most pressing issue of the day. I think it is most telling that our Southern border has surpassed achieving Iraqi democracy and freedom as the most pressing issue of the day. This speaks volumes to the progress that has been made in Iraq (whether the MSM wants to admit it or not).

The five steps that Bush outlined in his May 24, 2004 speech were:

- First "hand over authority to a sovereign Iraqi government"
- Second "help establish security"
- Third "continue rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure"
- Forth "encourage more international support"
- Fifth "move toward a national election that will bring forward new leaders empowered by the Iraqi people"

Of the five steps - maybe the forth wasn't as successful as we would like but I think it can be argued that the other four have been carried out with great degrees of success.

Two years ago the country was aghast at video of Zarqawi beheading an innocent American. As recently as last week Zarqawi was the butt of jokes for his latest video which portrayed him as a guy who couldn't handle a gun.

Two years ago people were talking about Iraq as a quagmire. Today people have put thoughts of Iraq on the back burner while issues like the border with Mexico take center stage.