Remembering 9/11 and Moving Forward

America must move from the errant, retributive justice of 9/11 to a healing, restorative process of truth and reconciliation.

Before the Congress adjourns, I will bring forth a new proposal for the establishment of a National Commission on Truth and Reconciliation, which will have the power to compel testimony and gather official documents to reveal to the American people not only the underlying deception which has divided us, but in that process of truth seeking set our nation on a path of reconciliation.

We suffer in our remembrance of 9/11, because of the terrible loss of innocent lives on that grim day. We also suffer because 9/11 was seized as an opportunity to run a political agenda, which has set America on a course of the destruction of another nation and the destruction of our own Constitution. And we have become less secure as a result of the warped practice of pursing peace through the exercise of pre-emptive military strength.

It is not simply 9/11 that needs to be remembered. We also need to remember the politicization of 9/11 and the polarizing narrative which followed, locking us into endless conflict, a war on terror which has wrought further terror worldwide and which has severely damaged our standing worldwide as an honorable, compassionate nation. As we were all victims of 9/11, so we have become victims of the interpretation of 9/11.

Our government's external response to 9/11 was to attack a nation which did not attack us. Indeed on the first anniversary of 9/11, the Bush administration issued a well-publicized stern warning to Iraq which was part of a campaign to induce people to believe Iraq had something to do with 9/11.

The deliberate, systematic connection of Iraq with 9/11 has led America into a philosophical and moral cul-de-sac as over one million Iraqis and over 4155 US soldiers have died in a war which will cost over $3 trillion. Additionally, soldiers from 23 other countries have died in the Iraq war.

We attempt to unite Iraq by further dividing it. We talk about restoring Iraq while taking steps to place control of its vast oil wealth in the hands of US oil giants. And we intend to impose upon the Iraqi people the cost of rebuilding a country which our government ruined, keeping a once prosperous nation lashed to debt and poverty for a long, long time. Iraq has paid for 9/11. We all continue to pay for 9/11.

The heartbreaking loss of the lives and injuries to America troops further binds us to the Administration's illogic of the Iraq war: We remember our troops' sacrifice by demanding more sacrifice; we support our troops by continuing the war.

The dominant color of our new national security since 911 is neither red, white nor blue. Everyday is orange. Everyday reminders of fear of 9/11 become banal.. Yet we no longer hear the airport announcements nor see the orange colored warnings because they have commonplace standards in our new national security state, as is the Patriot Act, wiretapping, and a host of invasions of privacy and diminution of civil liberties. The Constitution has been roundly attacked by the very people who took an oath to defend it.

There is a powerful desire across America for change, not necessarily from control by one political party to another, but a change from living with lies to living with truth.

Over two dozen nations, facing peril within and without, deeply divided by politics and war have travelled down a path of restoring civil society through a formal process of reconciliation. At some point within each of those countries it was understood that the way forward is shown through the light of truth. This process is not without pain because it requires a willingness to study evidence to which eyes had been averted and ears had been closed. But in the process of truth and reconciliation, nations found new strength, new resolve, new commitment.

The South African Truth and Reconciliation enabled that nation to come to grips with its past through a public confessional, bringing forward those who committed crimes and having the power to grant amnesty for full disclosure of crimes against the people. Of course, our path may necessarily be different: High US government officials stand accused in Impeachment petitions of violating national and international law. Our continued existence as a democracy may depend upon how thoroughly we seek the truth. I will call upon the America people to join me in supporting this effort.

The truth can move us forward, as a unified whole, so that we can one day become a re-United States. 9/11 is the day the world changed. It is the day America embraced a metaphor of war. If we are open to truth and reconciliation, we may one day be able, once again, to embrace peace.

Comments

[mezz1962]

I am sick of hearing idiots telling us about our standing in the world.

Guess what I could care less about our standing. When tragedy strikes in the world the first place that they come running to is the USA.

Maybe it is high time for all we do for these countries that they give us the respect we have earned.

I hate the fact that we have to bail out every country and then beg them to like us.

You know what...Tough maybe we should tell these countries to go to hell once in awhile and stop having your hand out looking for money while the other hand gives us the finger

[ObamaAmerica]

What year are you living in? The respect we have earned? Bailing out every country? Are you paying attention? We attacked and are occupying a sovereign nation without provocation and without any credible evidence that such nation was a threat to us. Our actions have since caused the death of over 1 million people in Iraq. The rest of the world can probably do without this kind of help. Wake up!

[Hastings]

I don't think you could acuarltly call the dictatorship of Saddam a sovereign nation. Your statement that there was no provocation wipes out more than a decade of history before Saddam and his thugs were forced from power. I am sure it was just an oversight when you forgot to mention the campaign of mass-mudering genocide commited by al-Qaeda, the Saddamist, and the Iranian proxie thugs was and is the cause of most of the deaths in Iraq since the invasion.. You also forgot to mention the we fostered in a constitutional democracy which the vast majority of Iraqi support.

ObamaAmerica it may be time to brush on the real history of our mission in Iraq.

[syllepsis]

What does this have to do with 9/11 or what Rep. Kucinich wrote?

[FredBrighton]

This has nothing to do with 9/11 or anything Kucinich said. It does, however, say a lot about the tactics of the Republicrats to link Iraq to 9/11, even at this late date and even with all the evidence that the connection was invented by people like Carl Rove. The whole Iraq story is so twisted most people can't follow the line. We supported a dictator, one of many we supported. He turned on us so we started taking him down, eventually invading his country and having him beheaded (after he was hung). We protect dictators all over the world, we always have. We have destroyed baby democracies when they said NO to our demands. The United Corporations of America, what used to be the united states, are not very interested in logic, laws or ethics. They are interested in money. If you can make billions by tearing down America and replacing it with a puppet President, so be it. In a democracy with an informed, educated and interested population (like in Iceland) Kucinich would be elected President. In America we get an autistic fanatic surrounded by pit bulls, none of whom actually won enough votes to take office. I think the world respects us in the same way you respect a battered wife and her drunken violent husband. With some trepidation.

[Hastings]

Don't worry mezz1962, the world doesn't hate us. They know the truth. The world knows that we forced from power a brutal dictator who commited mass-murder against his own people. The world knows that Saddam was, and certainly would of been, a threat to the national security of the United States and it's people. The world knows we fostered the creation of a constitutional democracy which was and is supported by a vast majority of Iraqis. The world knows we let the Iraqi people down by not protecting them from the vicious genocide of al-Qaeda, the Saddamist, and the Iranian proxie thugs. The world also knows that one leader stood alone with vision, courage, strength, and reslove calling for new leadership with a new plan to protect the Iraqi people.

mezz1962, don't pay one bit of attention to the weak, defeatest, vinsionless, anti-democratic, anti-humanitarian, radical chic leftest. They were more than willing to throw the Iraqi people to the wolves of al-Qaeda all in the name of worshiping at the alter of Bush Hate. Nothing more, nothing less.

mezz1962, stand proud and strong for victory in Iraq. When we and the Iraqi people achive victory over the dark forces of extremism the world will sing a much different tune than they did two years ago.

[Assassin]

"The world knows that Saddam was, and certainly would of been, a threat to the national security of the United States and it's people."

No, the world doesn't "know" that. Nobody can know a falsehood -- besides you and the rest of the neocon cult. And "would of been"? "it's people"? Try enrolling in 4th grade grammar lessons along with your zealot friends.

[Star2000dancer]

You sound like you've been brain washed & are trying to brain wash others.

[AbrahamSadegh]

Please read "Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire" by Chalmers Johnson, President of the Japan Policy Research Institute and Professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego and a frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times and The Nation.

"The term 'blowback' which officials of the Central Intelligence Agency first invented ... refers to the unintended consequences of policies that were kept secret from the American people." Page 8.

Being originally from Persia, I have firsthand knowledge of one the greatest US policy blunders - in 1953 - regarding the overthrow of a democratic government, returning the Shah to the throne and 26 years of absolute dictatorship which in turn culminated in the present government which has proven to be even more horrendous that the Shah's because those in power consider themselves God's vicars on earth and there is no way of challenging that except by being willing be tortured and die before your time is up.

On a very personal level one of my nephews was executed after two years of torture during the Shah regime, two other nephews as well as a niece and her husband lost their lives during the present regime – my niece, a teacher and the mother of a four-year-old daughter, under torture.
Our own interest is at the foundation of our foreign policy and our relationship with others has nothing to do with what kind of government they have as long as they are pro-US (Also a personal pronoun).

[deliriousgod]

Canada does not have its hand out except for a shake. America can have no better friend than Canada. If you had remembered this, you would have avoided the debacle in Iraq. Give us the respect we have earned. France has also been a friend to the US since before their was a US.

[AbrahamSadegh]

Congressman Dennis Kucinich, I wish the whole nation and the world could have access to this blog.
9/11 had nothing to do with Islam.

"Jihad" and destroying innocent lives are antonyms.

In seeking the truth, however, we should never hesitate asking ourselves why any human being would be willing to loose its own life first and then others’ as the result.


It seems to me that every day since 9/11 has been in a way a 9/11 of our own making. You provide most of the statistics in terms of human and material loss since then. Obviously the loss of our fundamental rights and the undermining of our most precious values as a society are the most significant. We have become our own enemy.

I have a prescription for halting terrorism by reevaluating our posture in the world:

Developing a strictly defensive policy unparalleled in human history in terms of its capacity to deter any viable aggression and capable of obliterating any source of threat to our national sovereignty,

Closing of all our military basis, especially in Europe and Japan, and in the process making our defense related personnel in the remaining nations symbols of peace as in Peace Corps if we are needed as such during the transition,

Stopping our sale of arms,

And eliminating all vestiges of hypocrisy in our relationship with others, for example, as in cases of China and Cuba.

P.S. I wish you ultimate success in establishing a Department of Peace.

[deliriousgod]

Mr. Kucinich you rock, world-class. But isn't it a bit fresh a wound to poke around in? Dems have not won the election yet, the troops are not out of Iraq yet, guilty parties still have security clearances and resources unavailable even to you. Despite much criticism to the contrary, the media has done fairly-thorough job of demonstrating what is a lie to anyone who doesn't have a vested interest in blocking out what they wish not to see. "There is none so blind as he who will not see." Not meant to be a definitive discouragement, but consider that there are a few other things to attend to before commencing the navel-gazing. On behalf of the outer rim of the World I say "show me; don't tell me."

[All in All]

Do as You Do, Dennis Kucinich.

I hope that Your bill passes !

[notanidiot]

Sadly, the Repulbican Party has turned 9/11 into a symbol of our incompetence, rather than one of our resolve. They, especially Rudi and his breathing mask, claim to own 9/11, just like they claim to have ownership of the Bible. And if that is the case, let it be known that they have done a crappy job of taking care of their stuff - the right has reduced the Bible to a mere bludgeoning instrument, and the guy who dropped our towers SEVEN years ago still enjoys his freedom.

No doubt, that whatever cave in which Bin Laden resides today, there is a nice sized portrait of Republican George W Bush atop the mantel.

[tindmac]

Hey Denny! Enjoy your last few months in DC. There is a ground swell here ready to boot your buttocks back to Ohio.

[BannedFromCommenting]

What do you do of any value for our country besides rant on a blog???

I think "Denny" could run you under the table with his efforts for this country compared to yours.

[tindmac]

I fought for my country for 14 years.

I pay taxes in his district.

I work as a community organizer

I organized, founded and am Executive Director of a non profit organization supporting youth activities.

I am tired of our space boy! As are many in this area.

And your qualifications are.......?

[Nightbender]

I worked for Dennis Kucinich, and continuied to support himeven after his campaign was suspended. I voted in the primary for him in California this year.
I endorse everything that he states in this article.
My fear is that it is too late. The fascists that hijacked the governement and that control the Republican party cannot afford to "lose" honorably in a democratic election, because if they no longer have the power to stop investigations and criminal prosecutions, many of them will go to prison.

This nation is at a crossroads, and we either pursue the death of the corrupted Republican party, or we witness the death of the United States of America.
Fascists, by any name, never willingly relinquish power.

[bridge to somewhere]

Excellent and much needed words with less than two months before we reach a divergence along our path that will no doubt define the future of this nation. Will we fall victim to lies, fear, and darkness...or truth, hope, and light?

[zitlight73]

There needs to be a new investigation of 911. There needs to be prosecution of the Bush administration form the top on down for war crimes, the no bid illegal contracts, justice department tampering of elections, etc.. I hope the American public gets behind you and Waxman to force accountablity for these eight years of evil that have spewed out of the White House and has made this country the most despised country on earth. Good hunting.

[Melizzy]

I second that. And while we're at it, any chance we can get U.N. oversight of the upcoming election? I hear that voter rolls are being purged and electronic voting machines are being kept from independent review of their safety from tampering. Who really thinks the neocons are going to let this election happen as it should?

[zitlight73]

If Putin is as as smart as I think he is he should call for an oversight of our upcoming elections since the neo-cons were so critical of the last Russian elections. And I'd hope Jimmy Carter would also lend any moral authority he still wields to do the same. The Republicans in Michigan are trying to dis-enfranchise voters who have had their homes foreclosed using spreadsheets with names on it that correlate to the addresses of these foreclosed homes. Coincedently most of these voters happen to be black this is outrageous and Obama needs to confront McCain on this. This has the smudgey little finger prints of Rove all over it.

[Hastings]

It is good to see you planning the list of excusses for when Obama loses the election.

[NetProphet]

I second that!

EIGHT MONTHS after the Bush administration took hold of leadership, we were attacked!

[jsarets]

One giant chasm of our great ideological divide centers around whether or not America, as a geopolitical entity, is inherently infallible and beyond reproach.

Millions of Americans implicitly believe that America's greatest strength lies not in its military or economic prowess but in the idea that America is an agent of good in whatever she sets out to accomplish.

Many of these Americans are veterans of previous wars that met popular resistance at home. Many are simply in denial. Many believe in a zero-sum world where global domination is our sovereign destiny. Many cynically exploit nationalist or religious fervor to pursue personal ambitions.

For these Americans, the conversation ends as soon as the criticism of our foreign policy begins. We don't need a blue-ribbon commission to figure that out, but we do need to question how those who summarily refuse to look in the mirror are to accept as truth the findings of the proposed commission.

What worked for South Africa may not work for America. It's one thing to expose the horrors of apartheid and use them as an example to the world of how not to govern. It's entirely another to turn the world's leading symbol of justice into a counterexample.

Yeah, I'm playing devil's advocate here. But this commission may do little more than make half the country raving mad and the other half hopelessly depressed. The French have a saying that translates, "there are crimes so terrible that the law itself recoils".

[catchawave]

Dennis, Thanks so much for all you have done for Americans in exposing the truth in Congress regarding the Bush Admin. Many have been so blinded by their lies, but ultimately the truth will prevail. Light overcomes darkness by it's very essense. The vale to ignorance shall one day come and the American people will look to history and you as a beacon of light in the present quagmire of deception. We need you in American leadership! Don't ever forget it!

[AnotherMike]

I nominate Rep. Dennis Kucinich to serve as Director of Peace in the Obama administration.

Do I have a second?

[OrangeFanta]

Amen! President or vice president would have been better. I believe Rep. Kucinich is the sole person in Washington who has a grip on the truth. I really hope I'm wrong.

[deliriousgod]

is he qualified for Attorney General?

[Yermammy]

A true and real patriot. There's a lot of people behind you Dennis. Each and every time a impeachment petition comes my way, I happily sign it. There's not a doubt in my mind that if Washington was full of people with HALF of your integrity, we would live in a place called heaven. There are many people that are brainwashed by celebrity with no substance (Palin, for example), but they need to wake up before it's too late. Between you, Wexler and AfterDowningStreet.org, I have learned that impeachment is not only possible, but necessary to find our way back to basic decency and goodness. Godspeed Dennis.

[Mojane]

P.S. When did the War Department become The Dept. of Defence? Was it when we became more offensive?

[LeonBNJ]

I agree with you Rep. Kuchinich, we need a 'Truth and Reconciliation' board set up after the Bush Admistration is out of office. Clearly under Pres. Obama, we will see a Justice Dept. that will investigate and go after the leaders that we couldn't do when they are in office. We also need to reverse their ruin of the Constitution, end the war in Iraq and get the 'money changers out of the temple' - to rid of the corporate lobbists who control almost all of our congress and lawmaking.