J'Accuse
Six years ago three thousand Americans lost their lives. They need not have. Their deaths could have been prevented. Their lives could have been saved.
The Bush administration was warned months before 9/11 that terrorists were going to attack America. They did nothing. They have yet to be held accountable for the preventable loss of American lives. Yet the administration blames its critics for not understanding the terrorist threat.
The perpetrator of those American deaths is still at large and the war to eliminate those who harbored him threatens to drag on inconclusively for many years. Instead, administration operatives, with the approval of their masters, find it convenient to use him to create fear, and therefore justify their positions of power.
The United States has suffered more than 30,000 casualties in another war that had nothing to do with those attacks. This folly is producing more haters of America than it can ever possibly eliminate.
The backbone of domestic security, the National Guard, is deployed in that war and is thus not at home being trained, equipped, and deployed to protect America.
The consolidation of federal border protection and attack response in a single agency did not begin until at least 18 months after it was proposed and, six years later, it has proved to be woefully inadequate, in large part because those responsible for its administration possess a political philosophy that does not believe government can or should be effective. And they use every occasion to prove it.
The U.S. is currently pursuing a foreign policy in the Middle East and throughout the Arab world that is dementedly designed to promote a clash of civilizations. When this policy produces further attacks, our current policy makers will respond that this is what to expect from those who hate America and only tough-minded conservatives know how to deal with them.
Those who claim to understand terrorism and the use of force, meanwhile, have so exhausted our combat forces that our true national security is greatly at risk and our nation is weakened.
This administration stands indicted for incompetence and mendacity. That it still commands the loyalty of even a quarter of our fellow citizens is testament to the persistence of willful ignorance. Against all the facts assembled in this indictment, that the administration's operatives can still make claims on strength, security, and determination is chutzpah on stilts.
That the media still treat these operatives and spokespersons, and indeed the president himself, seriously is witness to their desire for "access" and "sources" rather than their commitment to the truth.
America is today under the steady gaze of billions of the world's citizens and even more under the examining lens of history. Nothing is more difficult than to admit that we made a tragic mistake in selecting our leaders. But that is the first step toward redemption. Absolute rejection of those who lay claim to ownership of security is the next.
We are too old to behave as adolescents any longer. That includes particularly our president. America must grow up. We must redeem ourselves in the name of those who lost their lives unnecessarily six years ago. We must reclaim our dignity and our honor from those who have neither.
Loading comments…
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Everyone here agrees that we have a lemon in the White House. 75% of America agrees with us. (and most industrialized nations throughout the world) We have a strong, Dem female holding the Speaker's position. And she's done absolutely nothing to get that Son of a Bush ousted. We went to the polls and managed to gain a (slim) majority of Democrats in Congress. What the hell are they doing behind those closed doors?
I'm sick to death of "politics" running our country! Next time around, I want someone with real balls and a committment to doing the right thing for US, not for personal glory, financial gain or another presidential library.
Shut the damned doors on immigration and start taking care of our own. Get our people back to work, earning a decent wage and purchasing MADE IN THE U.S.A. products. Abolish NAFTA. Put a ceiling on the profit mongers in the health care industry.
The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave...is
(Sorry....
BULLS EYE...Gore
that would be great! ah
The Two Party System is a great swindle! We might well agree that the Republicans have served us badly, and need punishing, but that is not the end of it. I see all too many Democrats who are as much like a Repuiblican as two peas in a pod. And they expect our support just because they are Democrats. Baloney! The Democratic Party relies on the same MSM, the same big money sources, etc., as the Republicans. Thus they cannot be very different. In fact, on issues of most importance the differences are only cosmetic. Hillary R. Clinton is so much like the Bush she wants to replace that it is laughable, or wopuld be if it were not so tragic.
Our people deserve better. We need to
(1) re-establish the old media rules. Information is the lifeblood of a democracy.
(2) impliment "instant run-off voting" which allows people to express their desires without "losing one's vote" on a minor party candidate. The two majors will oppose this and the powers that own both will scream bloody murder, but we need it.
(3) put some teeth into "accountability" in government. At present, and for a great while, our officians have thumbed their noses at us and acted with immunity when doing what any person would recognnize as criminnal.
(1) and (2) would probably get us to (3) but I see no other way to get there.
Well said Plowboy
"The Two Party System is a great swindle!"
Why can't we have a parlimentary system like the other democracies? All they have to do is have a vote of no confidence and call for early elections.
>>>>Nothing is more difficult than to admit that we made a tragic mistake in selecting our leaders.
What's this 'we' stuff? I didn't vote for Bush and he isn't my leader.
Gary--I could never have said that as well, but I wake up feeling that way every day. Thank you.
DEMS talk but don't do anything. Dems also
profit from this war. They are raking in the money and they could not careless what happens to the rest of America. Just look at the bills
they pass. And the objection to this war, all
words, in the end we will stay until Bush is out of power and perhaps even longer. Cannot bring back the troops for we have no jobs is true again.
A wonderful summation of America's foreign policy in the Middle East. I particularly agree with: "This administration stands indicted for incompetence and mendacity. That it still commands the loyalty of even a quarter of our fellow citizens is testament to the persistence of willful ignorance.
If ever there was a case for impeachment the time is now . . . this administration has to be held accountable for its misdeeds . . . there has to be a radical shift in America's foreign policy in the Middle East . . the status quo approach with its blind devotion to Israel has to end . . . impeachment means America is finally throwing off the shackles of fear and taking responsibility for its actions . . .
Wow, I guess I'd be pissed at GW too, but right now I have to much hate my heart for Osama. To bad America has no allies with the guts to stand with us, too busy paying for fat social programs and 35 hr woork weeks I guess.
Well Robster, I will submit to you that Osama has much more admirers in the teal world than Bush that you surely contributed to elect.
And these allies that you wished had "standed with you" choose instead to put their money in these "fat social programs" instead of weapons systems to kill people and hence make more ennemies.
Maybe you should do the same.
But I dont think your kind will, you are too deep in you hate and war logic.
I suspect you are a good christian too.
Robster...
Gary,
I wish we Americans COULD grow up...face our mistakes, never make the same ones.. I try to be a glass half full kind of person..bu
I WANTED to be wrong about Bushco...t
The sad irony is..that is ridding out government of checks and balances..
Hate Osama huh? Why's that? Because he killed 3+ thousand innocent people? Wow - I hate the guy too, too bad this pathetic excuse for an administration couldn't catch this ONE GUY! But you know what I hear? THAT number is NOTHING compared to the number of innocent people ordered dead by the 43rd President of the United States of America, George Walker Bush.
I guess it all comes down to how truthful and honest you want to be with yourself.
As for 'allies with the guts to stand with us', well they have something other than guts - it's called brains.
As horrific as 9-11 was, the illegal occupation of Iraq, enabled by good old GWB and the neocon boys club, has produced hundreds of times as many casualties among the innocent Iraqi civilian population (who had nothing at all to do with 9-11).
Robster, where is the hate in your heart towards GWB??? I guess you are too busy defending the rights of zygotes and preventing same sex marriages from occuring.
There should be a wod for words that "hit the spot." Because "tells it like it is" is not enough.
Gary Hart has begun to address the real facts surrounding the Elephant that had been demolishing our living rooms in the last 6+ years.
More than insult to injury...a
A Republican Party that sent our first responders (The National Guard) into a meat griner. Only to return with Post Traumaric Disorder from hair-trigger urban combat.
And while our country has struggled to ballance our freedoms with national security, this was the last thing on the mind of our no nuance infomercialist in cheif.
And that even one person voted for the Republican Party is a reflection of our deep malaise. Not to mention the lazy selfish Tim Russerts of the world who uses Republican Talking Points instead of facts, and whom we must endure until 2012.
Mr Bush has already alluded to his intent to send the army into our cities if another emergency occurs.
Preaching the truth to the choir won't help much. The people who need to hear you have no ear for music. We've been singing long enough to prove that.
This isn't a scandal about railroading a single man belonging to a hated minority; it's about railroading an entire nation. Too much of that nation is heavily invested -- capitally or emotionally -- in the lies. Admitting failure is not the American way. It's also bad for the stock market. And it's especially bad for the investments of those you accuse.
We need to make it unprofitable to continue to support the lies. Prosecuting the profiteers would be a good start. Vastly and publically exposing the false prophets would be another.
To the idiots who ushered Bush into office, you have all destroyed what once made America a place to be admired. You have endangered this country and the world, as well as handing a darkened future off to your children.
To Bush supporters everywhere, you are too stupid to recognize a dictator. You are fools, idiots and undeserving of liberty itself.
It's not only Bush "supporters" per se, but also Bush's enablers, particularly those who nominally form the opposition party who are intransigent in only one thing--their failure to fulfil the task of an opposition party, their failure to oppse this madness, their failure to defend the long term interests of the nation and the constitutional basis for liberty and democracy that the Bushists have assaulted. They, like the complicit corporate media, equally failed the system and We the People. Now comes the question, do We the People further betray ourselves by failing to act in sufficient numbers as citizens? If so, then all we ahve is the "leadership" we deserve.
All those who voted for this war should not be elected or re-elected especially those who are running for President. If they now say they are against this war. Sorry they are 4 years late.
Yes. Bushco was warned about 9/11.
They did nothing except attack a country that was totally innocent (Iraq.)
Now what?
Totally innocent of 9/11 - undoubtably.
TOTALLY innocent - hardly.
They did use the U.S. chemical weapons that we gave them to use on the Kurdish people when the Kurds rebelled against the dictator that the United States and its allies chose to lead the Democratic Nation of Iraq.
Kinda funny isn't it - Daddy and Uncle Cheney with his life partner Aunt Rumsfeld put him (Saddam Hussein, for those that lack any knowledge of history whatsoever) into power and give him lots of cash and weapons then Sonny boy goes off and gets hitched to Paul Wolfowitz and teams up with Unky and Aunty to dismantle all the hard work Daddy put into it...
I would almost laugh if it weren't for the tremendous loss of life caused by their inbred feud spanning the better part of half a century.
"That the media still treat these operatives and spokespersons, and indeed the president himself, seriously is witness to their desire for "access" and "sources" rather than their commitment to the truth."
How can you tell the operatives from the "Media?" They are one and the same. Listen to Chris Mathews... He can't even pretend that libralism is a good thing. The guy hears OBL and his reaction is to compare him to "Adolescent Liberal blogs," FIRST THING.
They pretend that the media isn't in the pocket of big money and they are liberals, but they are just a part of the con.
Tim Russert too.
And Katie C.
Not to mention all the Faux talking heads.
The 'MSM' is a willinging accomplice to the crime. Owned by the Defense Cartels, it is spewing out the propaganda with glee. Make no mistake about it.
ugotdatright
The Son of Plastic-Fantastic:
The NeoPetro-F
I think Karl Rove got Cesar the dog whisperer to train the "Watch Dog."
Maybe if Dean just tries one of Cesar's moves on "Wolf," he'll roll over and expose himself, like he does for the "conservat
All I can say is thank you Gary Hart for writing that. It's what so many of us feel, crystallized and written appropriately.
Thanks.
It takes on a liturgical quality after awhile, to catalog the many disasters, small, large and epic, that Bush has caused. To me the irony of Bush, the “defender”, playing right into the hands of Osama bin Laden is his defining act. The most charitable thing you could say about it is that Bush is an idiot. And since I’m not feeling charitable in any way, I’d say nobody worth a share of our air is that stupid.
And how did the Republicans get the title of tough on defense? They bought it. They spent trillions on flawed weapons systems that have never seen the light of day, and on data mining technology and eavesdropping. None of this shit prevented 9/11 and none of it makes a difference in catching bin Laden because the party of tough guys needs to have somebody to scare us with. Ponder this, since the Republicans have been in charge for 20 years, how come there is still something out there that frightens us?
The irony of all ironies is that the Soviet Union fell apart trying to compete with our insanely impossible weapons systems and the same people who took credit for that are now the greatest threat to the existence of the one nation that defended them against their communist nightmare. At this point I could easily conclude that we, the people, were fighting for the wrong side, as now our masters, free of the threat of global communism, are turning on us to feed their insatiable greed.
We have finally met the enemy and he is 25% of us.
You must be logged in to comment. Log in or connect with
