Via Tbogg, we get this National Review column by Bill Bennett asking everyone to die their fingers purple (yes, you read that correctly):
Starting on Monday, December 12th, I — and tens of thousands of others across America — will be marking my right index finger with purple ink to show those in Iraq we support them. Based on suggestions from listeners on my nationally syndicated radio show, I — and we — are asking you (to the degree physically feasible) to make available an ink pad or marker at your check-out counters for your customers, to mark their fingers with ink as they leave your store.
There also seems to be a supporting organization and website: Purple Finger For Freedom.
I'm a bit taken aback by this. I'm certainly not against voting in general, nor do I discourage Iraqis from voting in elections in three days (some preliminary voting started today). However, exactly what is the purpose of this? The Iraqis, caught up in a civil war, will likely never hear about this (and if they do, will they really care?). I'd have to argue that all the ink-stained fingers in the country are worth less, say, than an additional brigade of combat troops (which we don't have to spare). In other words, while moral support isn't likely to hurt, a more concrete expression of help/support for Iraq would likely be better (for them and us).
However, the last paragraph of the Bennett column might give a hint as to the other (perhaps primary?) motives of this campaign:
Just as I believe in a politics of liberty, I also believe in an economy based on free market principles. Making an ink pad available for your customers who would like to show their support for those principles in your stores through December 15th is what I am asking, in support of that politics and that economy. You may wish to alert your local media of your doing this, for added publicity of the cause outlined above, and your support of it. (Emphasis added)
Hmmm. Could it be that this is a campaign aimed primarily at US citizens (who, generally, don't agree with the President's Iraq policy)? Perhaps by giving people an obvious reminder of the good things in democracy (voting) that they will be forced to stare at for a few days until the ink wears off, they might begin to like the President a bit more? No, the Republicans would never use an important election in another country for cheap, domestic political support, would they? Posted by baltar at December 12, 2005 04:53 PM | TrackBack | Posted to Iraq | Politics