Ads Don't Kill People, Wars Do
Everywhere I go on this campaign -- from Iowa to New Mexico -- I hear people asking when is this war going to end and when will we get all of our troops out of Iraq? Everyone, myself included, is tired of waiting for this war to end and tired of feeling let down by the people we elected.
The message I hear on the road seems pretty clear to me, but apparently the people in Congress aren't getting it. I know legislating is hard work -- I spent 15 years in Congress -- but I believe that when the people have given you a mandate, and soldiers are dying, it is your solemn duty to get the job done no matter what it takes.
Two days ago the Senate had a chance to help get more of our soldiers home for longer periods of time -- but the measure failed. Yesterday they had a chance to set a timeline to start withdrawing troops -- but that failed too. And today, another measure that would've required a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq failed. Three chances to make a difference, lost. But instead of continuing to push on the most important issue facing our country right now, yesterday Congress spent their time debating and condemning a newspaper ad by an anti-war group.
Let's get some perspective here -- ads don't kill people -- wars kill people. And it is long past time to end this war.
From my many years of diplomatic negotiations I have learned that persistence is key to wearing down the most recalcitrant opponents. So I will be persistent -- and I hope you all will too. If we don't get this done now, we may not have a chance again until a Democrat is in the White House in 2009. That is too long to wait.
And while I firmly believe a Democrat will win in November 2008, I also know that some of the other candidates don't share my clear vision for ending the war.
I have been asking them -- how many troops will you leave behind?
My answer is zero.
Their answers are starting to remind me of the same rhetoric we hearing from DC, a little too much hemming, a little too many "we'll see's."
Every day Congress fails to end this war is another day Congress fails to do what we elected them to do. Americans have lost patience with Congress and with the leaders they elected to end the war. But you know what? We have the power. We can end the war.
Let's do that together.
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First off this is not a war. We won the war a long time ago. It’s the occupation we are getting beat-up on.
The real strategic intent of the Bush administration is never discussed. Going to Iraq had nothing to do with fighting terrorism or taking out weapons of mass destruction or bringing democracy to the middle east. It was all about retuning Iraq to the status of an American client state as it had been before Saddam decided to go off the reservation and invade Kuwait. Only this time the Bush neocons intended to forever remain a physical presence in Iraq so as to insure its allegiance to our corporate interests, and while they were about beating the Iraqis into submission it would be an excellent opportunity to drain the national treasure into the pockets of the Bush Chaney corporate cronies.
Moreover, to help insure that we could never leave Iraq, we would sink countless billions into the world’s largest embassy along with permanent type military bases, investments that must be defended at even greater costs in men and treasure. And so when the Bush folks keep repeating the word “stay” they literally mean forever. Of course all this waste weakens America, but at least Bush and his corporate friends are rolling in dough and see big fat oil contracts in their future. Yes, get out. It’s a pipe dream to think we can shape Iraq to our liking without a brutal dictator to serve our interests to this end. Bush says he want to bring democracy to Iraq. What a bad joke that one!
Quoting, "But instead of continuing to push on the most important issue facing our country right now, yesterday Congress spent their time debating and condemning a newspaper ad by an anti-war group".
How shall the voters who put the Dems in the majority in 2006 come to understand this continuing assertion that "they don't have the votes" to facilitate any proactive and assertive change regarding the war in Iraq and other critical issues, or push for the long overdue diplomatic and political solutions in Iraq instead of this military only solution, which was reported to be the foundational reasons for the Dem election successes. And yet, 21 out of the total 47 Senate Dems voting voted "yes" on the noted condemnation of a newspaper ad? 45%.
And where is the similar concern and assertiveness by these same Dem members of Congress regarding their recently (failed) attempt to pass a resolution for childrens health care (as just one example)? Is a newspaper ad that important that nearly 45% of Senate Dems would step up to the plate and assert themselves while hiding in the closet on so many IMO much more critical issues? Or is it just that the vote on that newspaper ad issue was so very easy, and would not require any particular assertiveness, courage, or spine? And they wonder why their approval rate with the electorate in the polls is in the teens?
The continuance of this war is all about George W. Bush's legacy. The war will continue until he leaves the White House unless Congress stops funding it and the chances of them doing that are slim to none.
The beauty of the Governor's plan is to start with the idea of complete U.S. troop withdrawal, a first and critcal step for any effective action. Simultaneously, political changes can be initiated along the lines set forth by Senator Biden, and residual forces of a truly multinational character can assist in preventing the worst that may happen, for example, wholesale murder and sabotage of services. We must keep in mind that there is no good solution to this mess and only bad options exist. However, the line about we cannot leave because the most horrible acts with occur, is promulgated by the same people who have been wrong on everything, to date. Do not believe them. We need to try anything other than "stay the course", which has now given way to "victory", once again. MoveOn.org should quickly come up with a new ad with facts and alternative thoughts--no cute headlines are needed now, they have the media's attention. It should be fact only and so hard-hitting so as to make the right wing nostalgic for the good old days, when they could wrap themselves in borrowed uniforms and salute Bush's lapel pin.
Bill Richardson is right.
The stupid whining over the MoveOn ad' by the GOP and limp Democrats wincing and cringing in the corner, makes me sick.
It was a clear message and did not slam the general. It simply stated : " Do not betray us." That's all.
It was a cry from the people - millions of them, who are just fed up and sick and tired of this meaningless war, hoping that the general would help bring an end to it.
He was honest when Senator Warner asked him whether the "war" had increased our safety at home. He replied that he couldn't say. But that reply said more than a book.
I don't think Move On was sticking it to the general. They know that he has to follow a mission detailed by his C-In-C. I think all of the people who paid for the ad' felt that way too. They just wished he had said "it ain't working." He did, only in another way, and none of the media interpreted it that way though. They keep harping about the ad'.
Remember the Swift Boat Veterans against Kerry? The ad' didn't even come close to that horrible and disgusting assault on a 'Nam vet.
MacArthur's Push on China during the Korean War resulted in "an advance to the rear," when he almost lost the 1st Mar Div and an Army division in the snows and mountains of North Korea.
Napoleon was whipped trying to invade Moscow limping back to France with less than half an Army
Hitler tried to invade Moscow, losing an Army
In Vietnam, undaunted by the French loss, or, surrender at Dien Bien Phu, America slugged it out with the Viet Cong until we finally realized maybe the French were right. Vietnam did not want to be colonized.
Now we're trying replace a Muslim society with American democracy. We're trying to get Shiites and Sunnis to come together, when they haven't spoken to one another for thousands of years.
It's time to move on and get this damned war over.
IF the Dems were smart they would have attatched a rider to the bill also condemning
Admiral William Fallon, chief of the Central Command
for calling petreaus a 'chicken shit ass kisser"
http://www.ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=39235
In recent news reports, we have as many privatized soldiers in Iraq as official military types. Are they to be pulled out with our main body of soldiers? Will they stay and create more havoc and continue to shoot down innocent Iraq citizens?
I agree with our governor of New Mexico that we should pull everyone out, including the mercenaries. Stop the fear mongering about what might happen if we leave--no one knows and it can't get any worse.
Go, Bill! Keep pounding and maybe you will get the nomination. You have the best experience and resume to do the job, and we will keep working to get your message out. I like seeing your regular contributions to this site. I hope the other readers here can start seeing past the rock stars and look to the real thing.
Equating ending the war with an ad is an unfortunate statement about the state of our nation.
I think Bush has 2 wars going and one of them is against Democracy. I call it the War On Democracy. If we win the war on terror but lose our fight against the War on Democracy it will not matter.
This week two events have dramatically told the story: the tasering and jailing of a student who was trying to ask John Kerry a question and the Senate vote against free speech.
The Bush War on Democracy has been moving forward against the rule of law, free speech, our rights to privacy and a general and growing disregard for the Constitution.
If if continues everything we value will be lost and our fight in Iraq will have been for nothing but a means to further enrich a few rich men.
The notion that the thoughts of a dishonest General lying to support continuing a war that
began with lies are sacred -- too sacred to be challenged in the face of the GAO estimate --
is an idea we have to challenge and oppose.
We were sold the war with other lies told to us by another General -- Colin Powell. Yes, Virginia -- generals do lie.
We have no chance to win against our enemies outside if we cannot win against the enemy within.
I agree. The Republicans just defeated an amendment that would have given our troops more rest between what are slowly becoming endless tours of duty in Iraq. The Democrats might have gotten some political traction from the Republicans shameful treatment of the men and women in uniform who are now serving 15 months or longer in the war zone before being shipped home to be shipped back out again for another 15 months. Some soldiers are on their third and fourth tours. Instead of holding onto this resolution and condemning the Republicans for their blatant disregard for the welfare of the troops, the Senate leadership instead allows a vote on this disgraceful and meaningless resolution. The Democrats who are chastising MoveOn.org over this ad are opportunistic, spineless, and wrong-headed.
Even Jon Stewart demonstrated that Patraeus was nothing but an administration stooge. If the Democrats meant business, they should have put Betrayus and Crock under oath and dispensed with the dog and pony show. The Pentagon report released after they testified contradicted them on nearly every count. Where is the outrage over their mendacity? Where is the outrage over their fabrication of the evidence? Where is the outrage over the false information that Bush and the other liars have fed the American people since they started screaming WMD, mushroom cloud, aluminum tubes, and immanent threat? Where is the outrage over the connection between Saddam and al Qaeda that Cheney and Bush too, repeated several times before finally claiming that he had never made that connection? Where is the outrage over the nearly $9Billion which vanished during the last days of the provisional authority and where is the outrage over the nearly $6Billion more that has disappeared? And finally, where is the outrage over the Inspector General who continuously stalled and stonewalled every attempt to investigate the fraud that continues unabated in Iraq today?
None of that outrage seems to have found its way to the Senate floor, or into even a non-binding resolution. Instead, 22 Democrats voted with Republicans against MoveOn.org. They should be ashamed--all 22!
To Governor Bill Richardson,
Whenever I watch the Democratic candidates debate I love to watch you. I see several trained monkeys giving rehearsed answers that will win a few GOP voters, and I see you telling us the successes you've had freeing hostages, building education for our children, and making New Mexico a better state to live in. I see you giving us your energy plan for a nation that will be independent of foreign oil when you are the candidate with first hand experience. I see you giving us your immigration plan, when again, you are the candidate with first hand experience. You are the only one reporting real results. The others may be good, but they are wishful. You are real. You are results.
And results are exactly what we need in America. We do not need someone who looks good in a tie. We have that already. We don't need someone with smooth gestures. We have that already too. We don't need polished images giving canned answers. We have that already too.
America needs results thereby America needs Bill Richardson. You give it to the world straight, and for that you are my candidate.
hey Governor Richardson!
I scraped out another 10 bucks to mail you this week! Those small contributions are what propelled Howard Dean ahead of the Pack way back when.Us little folks have been paying attention the past few years although bush doesn't seem to think so. or maybe he just doesn't care. or maybe he is just to delusional to see the truth.I think you would make a great President, someone we could be proud of.
best of luck!
Gov. Richardson, while I appreciate your position on the war and believe we should work diligently to end it, I feel the central issue in the Senate's condemnation of MoveOn is also worth attention. When citizens in a society cannot speak out against military figures without being vilified by their government, speech is not free -- and free speech is central to democracy.
Our society is now deifying the military, a subject I have discussed at more length here:
http://www.whistleandfish.com/index.php/fish/comment/moveon_ad_nauseum/
Under the Bush White House, government has crippled dissent by relegating it to "free speech zones", publicly ridiculing it, and ignoring it. What most concerns me is how many Democrats I trusted in the past have climbed aboard the bandwagon. When a man like Sen. Robert Byrd, who prides himself on his love of the Constitution, joins in condemning MoveOn, it tells me he loves all but the First Amendment; and when presidential candidates miss the votes, it speaks of their cowardice. Free citizens have a right to question all representatives of their government, even the military -- even decorated generals. That we are quick to write this off worries me, Gov. Richardson.
I hope it also worries you, sir.
Great post! The "response" I've heard since the vote took place-- that the Senate merely voiced disapproval and did not in any way infringe upon free speech-- is a crock. First, why did the Senate condemn MoveOn, but not even a peep about Chambliss' attacks on Cleland or the Swiftboat ads? It speaks to the GOP's gutter tactics and the Dems' lack of courage. The president solicited this action; instead of handing him the victory, Senate Dems should have given your "speech" and asked the president why MoveOn and millions of Americans feel that way? "What's more serious, Mr. President? That an interest group calls your general a name, or that millions of Americans don't trust him or you? Our job is trying to do something about the mess you've created in Iraq, not protecting you from the public. Nice try, but we have more important things to do."
Let these repuklican asses keep doing these stupid things, filibusters, debating moveon.org ads, blah, blah, blah...
The American people will be so sick of them by 08 elections, they will be cast out of government or at least neutralized to the degree that they are rendered completely ineffectual. This needs to happen so once and for all they get that they work for the American people first. And if they keep screwing us over, they will pay the price.
"Adds Dont Kill People, Wars Do"
Way To GO Bill, You Are Right On The Money.
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