On Iraq: The People Have Spoken
This November we will have a chance to completely turn this country around by picking a new president. In addition, we will be afforded the choice to replace incumbent members of Congress based on their past performances. My advice to voters is to look at your member of Congress' voting record in comparison to the member's campaign slogans. My advice to the candidates running is to make ending the war in Iraq the # 1 priority of their campaign.
The unconscionable war/occupation of Iraq is the root of all evil in this country. I am referring to the current recession, rising gas prices, the national debt, the significant decline in social welfare programs, lack of health care for millions of Americans, our broken military, the decimation of our national security, and our image in the world community -- that is in the toilet, courtesy of George W. Bush.
I'm no economist by any stretch of the imagination. However, the 500 billion dollars we wasted on Iraq could have been spent more wisely on the betterment of America -- not an unnecessary war on a country that posed no threat to the United States, and furthermore, that did not want war with us.
In case some of us forgot, we were totally duped in 2006 by Democrats who won both houses of Congress on a platform of "changing course in Iraq" and "holding President Bush accountable."
In retrospect, I don't know if I should laugh or cry at those campaign promises -- being that they turned out to be total bullshit.
There has been no change of course in Iraq, except the escalation, and President Bush remains as defiant as ever in his final months in office.
How do the Democrats respond to this defiance? Speaker Pelosi takes impeachment off the table in regard to any crimes committed by President Bush -- so much for that accountability process.
And while I'm on the topic ...
I'm not saying Congress has to impeach the fool, but it is quite irresponsible to send a public message that Bush is free to do whatever he wants without facing any consequences for his actions, even if they are criminal. (For example, lying us into a war in Iraq).
Now we get to endlessly listen to President Bush and Republican presidential nominee John McCain, on a daily basis, carry on a delusional message of success in regard to the "troop surge" in Iraq.
Call me crazy, but 4,000 dead U.S. troops, along with over 30,000 wounded, an uncountable number of Iraqi civilians killed, and the start of our sixth year of war is anything but success.
The "surge" forces were implemented to create an atmosphere peaceful enough for the Sunnis, Shias, and Kurds to have a political reconciliation. It hasn't happened and we still have more boots on the ground than we invaded with five years ago.
In the meantime, Bush and McCain tout that they will accept nothing short of victory, yet they still have not defined what victory actually is in Iraq.
To me it is quite clear.
The Bush administration wants control of the Iraqi oil reserves and to establish permanent military bases in Iraq in order to influence Mideast policy by making Iraq's neighboring countries fearful that they too could feel our wrath.
President Bush thought this would be easily accomplished by demonstrating a three week conquering of Iraq where we would be greeted as liberators. Too bad it backfired in our faces and we created more enemies than we can count, not only in that region, but in the world community.
All while most members of Congress stand idle and sit on their hands.
Go ahead and complain to your member of Congress. They'll be quick to respond with "Republican obstructionism" or "our hands are tied."
Afterward, their reelection campaign will send out a blast email to their constituents bragging about all the positive changes they have achieved on Capitol Hill, along with a link stating "please donate here."
Not only do they think we are dumber than dog shit, but they also want us to pay them for that service.
In the past I have been foolishly critical of methodologies of anti-war groups that I am in total cahoots with -- reason being is I thought it would push away the silent majority. There is no "profile in courage" award for those who refuse to take a stand against injustice in these dire times because of possible differences of opinion with groups considered to be out of the mainstream -- as I have more than learned.
This past week I got a newsflash. The silent majority is not so silent anymore.
On the fifth anniversary of the war I was in Washington, D.C. witnessing mass protests all over the district. For the most part, those in participation were very much indeed your "average" Americans. They are the heart and soul, very diverse, and from all walks of life. All I can say is it was extremely powerful ... and even more powerful than my experience is that thousands of similar events took place nationwide.
In the words of Neil Young: The people have heard the news, the people have spoken, you may not like what they said, but they weren't joking.
Who could say it better? I don't know, but it's perfect.
If only Congress (as a whole) could hear it.
Read more HuffPost coverage and reaction to the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/19/usa.iraq2
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/03/19/ST2008031901697.html
http://voanews.com/english/2008-03-19-voa66.cfm
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/popup?id=4481691
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080319/ap_on_re_us/iraq_war_protests
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_wa_iraq_war_protest.html
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/bush-touts-iraq-progress-protesters-converge-on-d.c.-2008-03-19.html
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53452
Didn't you hear, Mr. Bruhns? Mr. Cheney's response to the people's choice is..."so?"
faith,
I did, it was obscene and reprehensible
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL17kBKQhbU
V/R
John
If only they would, John. Great post, as ever. That soundbite by Deadeye Dick this week, when asked about the 2/3 of the public against this administration, "So"..... just said it all...totally sums up what the bushies have thought about all their actions in this tramatic last 7 years.
Thank you for your service.
del8300
ie7
jcorrington,
Thank you -- agreed that Dick and Dubya never gave a damn about what the American people thought. Too bad the American people couldn't catch on to that sad reality in time. V/R John
Not to get all mathematical and technical, but 1,000 protesters in a country of 300,000,000 is "the people" speaking? Take out the GW and Georgetown students and you're probably down to 750 or so. I think you are confusing "the people" and your own strongly held opinion.
lastcallmd,
You're talking D.C. , and even there you underestimate the numbers. There were thousands of nationwide efforts. Anyway, thanks for the comment. V/R John
I sincerely hope the people will continue to speak loudly and clearly. The greatest danger our country faces in the world today comes not from the threat represented by terrorism but from our own misguided policies. This election is not a contest for the rule of America, but for the soul of America. Its result will reveal not only what we stand for but what kind of people we are. If your assessment is correct, we may have finally seen through the wall of official deceit and illusion. If it is not, the error of Iraq will be perpetuated and with it our guilt as its author. A quick glance at the polls (McCain leading both Democratic candidates) convinces me that we are at the beginning of a long and difficult trail. Congress and the presidential candidates will remain in the middle of the stream of events for a good while longer I am afraid. It remains very much to be determined whether the trail will lead to the end of the war or the end of small hope. I say all of this not to discourage us, but to urge all of us to speak loudly, clearly, and ever more creatively. The way forward is not simple or easy, but the complexity of any situation or the uncertainty of its outcome is never an excuse for inaction. Neither is a sign of small hope or progress a victory.
Rescisco,
You just stated my motivation for writing this piece. Thank you. V/R John
Seems like Sadr can't control his own army: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080321/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq
Is it just me, or is America WAY overdue for a real third party?
Since the republicans and democrats, especially those huddling around the political center, are virtually indistinguishable , one from the other, isn't it time for a party that actually represents the people?
We might actually have a chance at real change!
Newvoter49,
Thanks for the comment -- because it raises an interesting point, not only that, it may be an inevitable necessity. V/R John
Thanks, John. You're my favorite blogger on here precisely because you keep us focused on the single most important issue of our time, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
While I respect the argument that the war should be ended for pragmatic reasons (the economy, low chances of success, etc.), I'm concerned that the message that "this war was and continues to be wrong" gets lost in the shuffle.
Neither Obama nor Clinton can take us out of Iraq in 60 days or even 16 months. They are simply meaningless campaign promises. No leading Democrat wanted to end the war before the election as it continues to be the most salient reason for electing Democrats in November.
We've been working too long to defeat Iraq. What we need is a way to bring Iraq to peace. That won't happen just because we leave, quite the opposite I fear. None of the our current choices for President are taking this issue seriously, despite their words. Why can't the Dems offer an actual plan that brings our soldiers home in victory and leaves the world a better place than it is right now? Withdrawal may not be the end and it may not even be the beginning, but we need more than the "bring the troops home now" slogan.
Researchguy66,
Thank you very much for your kind words of support, it means a lot. I recently wrote a couple opeds that may address some of your concerns, here they are:
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/20071119_The_anti-war_phonies.html
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/20080306_Pull_the_plug_on_the_war.html
Reaction:
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/anti-war-veteran-criticizes-groups-opposed-to-iraq-war-2007-11-28.html
Let me know your thoughts ... thanks my friend. V/R John
YES, Congress DID have the obligation "to impeach the fool" GWBUSH.
Instead, he AND CHENEY continue doing damage. Cheney's mission is to ENRICH BIG OIL.
He comes from Big Oil and now they owe him bigtime, as do war-industry PROFITEERS.
Congress failed to control the runaway madness of Bush-Cheney.
And CONGRESS MUST BE PUNISHED!
There are many members of Congress who have desperately tried to hold Bush and Cheney accountable, for example, Maxine Waters, Lynn Woolsey, Barbara Lee, Dennis Kucinich, and the entire "Out of Iraq" caucus. Too bad their colleagues won't follow their lead -- sadly, V/R John
HuffPost's Pick
Dude, it's time for you to get a little bit radical. "How do the Democrats respond to this defiance? Speaker Pelosi takes impeachment off the table in regard to any crimes committed by President Bush -- so much for that accountability process."
There is so much room for outrage in that quoted statement that I have to label your piece here as being far too toned down. There are any number of startegic reasons for bringing impeachment proceedings to derail this adminsitration until the end, if nothing else.
But there is also the truth that impeachment, as ineffective a remedy for problems in government as it actually is, was designed specifically to be available in the off chance that our country ever should find itself under the control of a group of absolute BASTARDS such as these.
Impeachment needs to be put on the table and at least the House should vote to impeach. It will never make it through the Senate. Nevertheless, it needs to be done, if for no other reason but to send a message to the next President, that the Constitution DOES in fact still mean something and that crimes against this document and its promise to the American people will not be tolerated. Not filing articles of impeachment is akin to dereliction of duty on the part of Speaker Pelosi, et al. Unfortunately the clock is running out but it is not too late to send this important albeit at this point symbolic message to the next Occupant of 1600 Sesame Street.
Indeed, and when ever I meet with members of Congress, I tell them that the people who read my pieces are a heck of a lot more outraged than they know -- this is what Americans need to hear, what you just said, please take it to your member of Congress if you have not already. V/R John
HuffPost's Pick
John, It never stops being 1984 for the Bush Cabal. War is Peace. Recession is prosperity. Black is white. The Bushies know--as did Josef Goebbels--that the way you sell a lie to the masses is to sell a BIG lie because small lies trip you up, so stay with the BIG lie. The SURGE is a SUCCESS. Now, that's a BIG lie.
Hold their feet to the fire, John. Every word you write helps bring sanity to a nation that's poised on the edge of craziness.
Thank you very much desmirl, I'll keep it coming. V/R John
You are so right on checking your representative's voting record. The easiest way I found is to go to www.aclu.org and right on the bottom of the home page is a button marked "Congressional Scorecard". Whether you agree with the ACLU or not doesn't matter, it's an easy way to check on your congressman's and senator's voting record.
At the same time we need to educate ourselves on alternatives to the same old special interest lackeys from the republicrat party. Quite frankly, I don't see much difference between the 2 major parties and as far as the House and Senate is concerned I'll go with the Independents or third party candidates.
I am disillusioned by the crafty way our elected "representatives" represent us by bringing home overpriced and often useless pork in exchange for votes that don't measure up to closer scrutiny. Quite frankly my rights and privacy mean more to me than some silly immunity for giant telecoms traded for x-amount of pork, to be paid by us who so sorely lack a voice when it comes to the issues that matter. And when it comes to electing a President, just once let's find and elect one who tells the truth and does not hide behind empty euphemisms. Let's find and elect one who understands that true leadership happens when people follow your lead out of respect and conviction, not at the end of a gun and under constant threats and fear mongering.
When I wrote to Senator Feinstein to complain about her voting for that bill that included 'the bridge to nowhere' and $800,000,000 to move that railroad in Mississippi for Newt Gingrich, the answer I received was a real insult! Her answer is that California received $27,000,000 to rebuild the levee system around Sacramento!
One of the things I have found while studying the voting records, is that these senators and congressmen will vote the way you want them to on some bills that will not pass! Then, on Critical issues, they find an excuse to vote the other way and then justify their vote with what, at first, sounds a plausible reason but will not hold water after a careful look!
When a politician tells you that they will protect you, they are telling you that you are not smart enough to understand the simplest things! They are trying to control you! They have shown disrespect for you! They are trying to enslave you!!
Don't forget to ask every politician if they have honored their oath to the Constitution!
Bob Egan,
I agree - I sure feel disrespected. Good to hear from you again. V/R John
BusGreg,
Thank you very much for providing a link for readers to see their member of Congress' legislative actions. Great reply, it was my pleasure to read. V/R John
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Posted March 20, 2008 | 08:41 PM (EST)