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.

Comments

[jaygirl]

Not only was the administration warned by the CIA, FBI and others, but George Tenant told Bush that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
Bush ignored this information and George Tenant did not pass it on to Congress and many others in high positions. (see: Salon.com). From the time Bush was appointed President of the United States, until now, we have been victims of the lawless disregard for the truth, voter fraud, an illegal war, removal of human and civil rights and a complete distain for the Constitution.

[IronDragon]

This a presidential sounding post. Getting the immature out of office and severing those who promote them from avenues allowing them to meddle is an excellent prescription. It might also be a good idea to require every potential candidate for national office (at least) to have his or her head examined and be certified for public service.

[james1108]

Excellent post Sen Hart (as usual)

[Boadicea]

"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."

There it is in a nutshell. The truth, plain and simple. The truth America can't face - we're promoting this "clash of civilizations" we so fear.

While I blame the Bush II administration for leading us into the disastrous Iraq mess, I know that the foreign policy you refer to was born during the Clinton administration, and was promoted within that administration by Madeline Albright. (Until Hillary Clinton distances herself from that club, I confess that I will remain skeptical of her ability to change course on foreign policy.)

There will always be people who wish us harm, and sometimes they will succeed. But our frightened, reactionary leadership is allowing these few people to hurt all of us, imprisoning us in a state of constant fear.

[mgloraine]

Mr. Hart's moral outrage is sure to resonate with most readers, as it does with me. However the piece is long on righteous indignation and short on practical plans. What do we do now? All of the concerned commoners have already written our Congress-people a few dozen times, and screamed bloody murder on the blogs, particularly since 2006 elections.

The ball is in Congress' court. They have everything they need to (a) stop giving BushCo funding, (b) bring legal action against those responsible for initiating this war and falsifying "intelligence" to mislead the world, and (c) recover money and resources stolen by administration officials and the crony corporations at the receiving end of the "no-bid" and "cost-plus" contracts. But they've got to do more than talk tough, they have to back it up with votes.

The whole world is watching. All the bluster and posturing are meaningless. The only thing that counts is action. Mr. Hart: exert your powers of persuasion toward your friends and colleagues in Congress and convince them to stop BushCo NOW, BEFORE they attack Iran or anywhere else!!

[woodsywizz]

mgloraine - You're right, finding the votes is the problem. Nothing can be done without the Senate (for example, they conduct the trial after impeachment - which is just an indictment). Our margin in the Senate is too thin. How to convince Republican Senators to come over? How many can we oust in 2008?

[ebbtide]

watch the race between Susan Collins R Me and her challenger Tom Allen D Me. Collins began her campaign by foolishly locking arms with Joe Lieberman who is actively camp[aigning for her. Her staff exhibits rude arrogant behavior toward her constituents She has nothing much to run on except her continued support of the war. Maine is purple but will do the right thing and elect Tom Allen over her. Heah?

[Rescisco]

These are serious times, and grow up we indeed must. Yet, as another election cycle approaches, it is still impossible to have a sane conversation focused on the realities you have so persuasively outlined. As you have correctly noted Mr. Hart: "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." And they will win the day yet again with this argument. One might suggest that "incompetence and mendacity" are stubborn and unbeatable at the moment. Not until the hope of a generation has been spent will we begin to grow up. Not until the truth of this error so long denied has absolutely crushed our dignity and honor will we begin to confront it.

[johnnyjust]

The only solution is to recognize bad leaders and make sure they never reach such positions of power.

Gary.

[CAPTAINSKIPPY]

(Pardon me) the 'misunderestimated' current criminals-in-charge aren't 'bad leaders', they are "misleaders".

[realitytrumpsbull]

That last part about 'selection of our leaders' is a debatable issue all by itself. Referencing back to dear old Y2K, and the Florida debacle,
as Florida was the deciding state where Bush was awarded the election outcome, basically,
it's pretty interesting how many government doughnuts have been freshly made and distributed during both terms. The United States(that's OUR country) now stands some three trillion further in the red than when this mess started, so many years ago. Noticeably absent has been any self-righteous indignation about any and all such goings-on from erstwhile purveyors of That Which Is Right, Upstanding, and Proper, such as dear old Rush Limbaugh. Where's the 'america held hostage' routine now, Rush? Paging Rush Limbaugh, paging Mr. Rush Limbaugh, please come to a white courtesy phone...but, I predict silence from that corner, as Mr. Orange Juice would lose the rest of his sponsors if he spoke up. So, it's left to the public to voice objection, which is happening more and more frequently, and with higher volume.

And, Mr. Hart, if you wish to speak on behalf of the public in this matter, on my behalf at least, hopefully you'll include the word
'impeachment' in your vocabulary, and put it 'back on the table' for Ms. Pelosi. She seems to have misplaced it...thanks!

[DMSmith]

This is the best statement of the situation I have seen or read. Thank you.

We need a President who would say the same, and then act accordingly.

Well... a guy can dream, can't he?

[Qbear]

***NEWS FLASH

Bush/Cheney finally got around to translate those 200 HOURS of Arabic messages they had while the towers fell. It was hard finding translators, seems some dumb sh*t tossed out 56 arabic translators cuz they liked men, and they are men.
but here's the message:

"I TOLD YOU SO"

[NABNYC]

Wonderful. Wonderful headline, historical reference, and article.

By way of background, in the late 1800s, a French Jewish officer named Dreyfuss was accused of giving military secrets to the Germans and committing treason, was unfairly tried and imprisoned. Many French people believed Dreyfuss was innocent, and his conviction was based upon anti-semitism. Emile Zola wrote a terrific and passionate article, published in a newspaper, accusing the military of having railroaded Dreyfuss. The newspaper title the article "J'Accuse."

Dreyfuss was eventually exonerated and freed.

The French eventually did the right thing. Will we?

The Bush regime stands accused by the world, and the world is waiting for the citizens of this country to stop this madman. I know many people who are willing. But I do not know whether we have any politicians in the Democratic party who are willing to stand up against tyranny and in favor of decency. They are all on the take. They all accept bribes from the corporations. To date, they have done nothing of substance or significance to stop this regime from destroying our freedoms, and killing what may already be a million people in Iraq.

Maybe that's the real tragedy. Maybe we should accuse the Democrats for their complicity, their corruption, their cowardness. Accuse them for going to million-dollar fundraisers while children in Iraq have no safe water to drink. Accuse them for hob-nobbing with corrupt corporate CEOs who grow fatter and richer because of the massive tax cuts passed by Bush which the Democrats will not rescind. Accuse them for voting for this war, then voting again and again to give more money to this war. Accuse them for abandoning us when we are most in peril from our enemies within, the banal bureaucrats of the Bush regime.

So Hillary and all the Democrats: J'Accuse.

[curiousasheck]

Will the lower 99% of humanity rise and Crush the New World Order and take back the world?

We'll see.

[Scarabus]

Three points:

First, strong statement! Good on ya.

Second, the Bush administration in a nutshell: Self-fulfilling prophesy. (1) Assert that government is incompetent. (2) Get elected. (3) Exhibit total incompetency in everything you undertake--except destroying the Constitution, of course. (4) Boast of your prescience in insisting government is incompetent.

Third, it's not about electing politicians labeled "Democrat." It's about electing statesmen -women, about electing persons whose values are truly progressive and whose courage is manifest. Primary challenges should definitely be on the table!

[eastearll]

Right on Gary. Enough of this Monkey Business. We need the truth and should follow these liars around till we get it!!

[joebaggadonuts]

easterll, that really wan't necessary.

[Giglawyer]

Well said! NO MORE MONKEY BUSINESS!!!

[grendl]

The Bush administration had no idea when or where Al Qaeda was going to attack, so attributing the events of 9/11 to any parties other than the perpetrators of those attacks is unfair. I don’t support Bush, but I don’t blame him for those attacks, I blame a bunch of religious zealots.

Now in going to war in Iraq, the Democrats and Republicans in Congress all bear culpability for that. In our national panic we decided to lob the violence back over the ocean into their court, targeting the most convenient enemy we could. It was wrong headed, and this administration’s attempts at justifying the war with fairy tales about weapons of mass destruction should have brought about this president’s impeachment. It doesn’t excuse the members of Congress for not digging deeper for the truth of the situation, however, as it was fairly clear no weapons of mass destruction were ever in evidence.

But the real crime, apart from that, is the current course in Iraq. Because the second lie we were told justifying the war, it turns out was a lie as well. Because bringing democracy to that tribal nation was not our intent. It was an excuse to get to their oil wells, and exact vengeance upon the man who tried to kill Mr. Bush’s father. If bringing democracy was our sole concern, then why do we pursue an agenda in keeping the Shia, with their ties to Iran out of power. They’re the majority, and in a democracy majority rule, regardless of their relationship with the West.

Because now Petraeus and Bush are pursuing what is in our national interest. Now it’s about damage control. They tell us a democratic Iraq is in our best national interest, but if the majority of Iraqis are impoverished Shia, with closer ties to Allah and tribal leaders than any central government, is it any wonder they feel a closer kinship to Iran than the United States. For decades they believed we were in cahoots with the man who kept his boot upon their throats.

[woodsywizz]

We WERE in cahoots with Saddam. Reagan, Bush Sr., Rumsfeld & Cheney gifted Saddam with many weapons, including the chemical weapons he used on the Iranians & Kurds. Cozy little bunch, until they fell out over the spoils. Where is that Kuwaiti gold, by the way?