Full Speed Ahead?

[Photo coutesy U.S. Navy]

With Admiral Fallon (CENTCOM Commander) out of the way and off to retirement George Bush has, seemingly, an open field to go ahead with his desire to invade Iran. Certainly those he has chosen to surround him are unlikely to voice any opposition; 'Yes men' never do.

Admiral Fallon opposed invading Iran openly, stating it would "never happen on his watch". Voices of reason, and opposition, do not fair well with the Bush Regime. Apparently you are either with him or against him. Fully two-thirds of Americans (and the number is growing) are clearly against him when it comes to the war in Iraq; even more oppose the invasion of Iran. This, of course, matters very little to Emperor George. It's his way or his way, and that's all there is to it.

In recent speeches and press releases he has already equated Iran with the terrorists, sprinkled in a few spoonfuls of WMD's, and stated that Bin Laden's crew would get 'our oil' in Iraq. Fear tactics abound and promise to increase.

While the majority of Americans sigh a sigh of relief realizing that Georgie-boy will soon be out of office, it is a nervous sigh. There are still quite a few days between now and his departure and a great deal of damage can still be done.

Would Congress allow such an action? At their own peril I would suppose. Would Georgie-boy even ask their approval or (as he's done so many times already) would he 'assume more power and authority' and simply circumvent Congress and the Constitution?

For those of you who pray, I suggest you start. For those of you who don't, I suggest you learn.

[A sincere 'Thank you' to Admiral Fallon not only for his service, but for his courage and valor as well. Our Armed Forces and our Nation are sure to miss him.]

Eyes to see and ears to hear.

In 1953 Iran, then a free and democratic nation, was introduced to the ‘Shah’, courtesy of the United States and the CIA. Today, thanks to America’s failed and foolish intervention, Iran is what it is. The Iranian people suffered greatly under the American imposed and supported ‘Shah of Iran’, and for many years. When the people of Iran finally revolted (as people usually do when oppressed by rulers that hold no interest in their welfare) America had once again ‘created’ a new worst enemy.

A half a century later America is in the midst of repeating the same mistake and creating yet another new worst enemy. The government of Iraq, like their U.S. backers, has invested little toward the welfare of the Iraqi people; corruption abounds. Millions upon millions of dollars, and control of untold millions more, has most Iraqi officials at each others throats. Shiite officials now contend with other Shiite officials for control and governance of certain Iraqi assets, and positions of control and influence in certain Ministries. The battle for power (and its accompanying wealth) has permeated this U.S. governed government. Does something smell a little fishy here? No, not fishy, oily.

The bottom line is that the Iraqi people have been left to fend for themselves. With little help from either the U.S. or Iraqi governments, many Iraqi’s have fled to Syria. There, many woman have been forced into prostitution in order to feed their families. The exploitation of the displaced Iraqi’s by the Syrians has been atrocious, but even more atrocious is the complete and total lack of provisions and protections for the Iraqi’s by either their own government or the Coalition leaders.

Fast-forward a few years from now and wonder why the Iraqi people might not view America very favorably.

Are we forever doomed to repeat our failures and continue to create our own worst enemies? The myopic view our government has of the world will prove quite costly in the future, yet again.

Our so-called leaders have said 'they hate us because of our freedoms'. How sanctimonious, and stupid. We have a long history in the Middle East, and it's not a good history.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich

In the audio recording below (dtd 2006) Congressman Dennis Kucinich refers to George Bush’s plan to permanently base U.S. Troops in Iraq. Last week the so-called leaders of the U.S. and Iraq agreed (in principle) to just such an action.

It is now more than obvious that Mr. Bush’s war was not to liberate the Iraqi people from a brutal dictatorship, but to invade and occupy a nation for control of their natural resources. In the agreement signed last Monday, 50,000 U.S. Troops will be based in Iraq for the long term, and the United States will retain a large degree of control over the ‘democratically elected’ Iraqi government.

Is there any other conclusion to be drawn but that this action is no more than colonial-style control of one nation over another for the purpose of exploitation? In less ambiguous words: It's all about the oil.

Liberation, or the war on terror, can no longer be used as the reason for our invasion.

In 1961 then President John Kennedy challenged the American people to land a man on the moon before the end of the decade. In February of 1962 John Glenn orbited the earth three times and just seven years later Neil Armstrong stepped down onto the surface of the moon. The challenge was met. It was a testament to what American determination can accomplish. So why is it that now, in our fifth year of the occupation of Iraq, the Iraqi people are still without running water, reliable electrical power, or adequate medical aid and supplies? Because, sadly, that is not where George Bush’s interests lie. Let’s not deceive ourselves any longer. Freedom for the people of Iraq was never Mr. Bush’s goal. Granted, it was what we were told, but it just doesn’t hold true.

I cannot remember a time in the history of America when the government so blatantly defied the will of the people, and with such arrogance. Make no mistake, these are sad days for America and every American. Our core values and beliefs, our Constitution and civil liberties, our principles and ideals, are being trampled right before our eyes. And all the while, the citizens of Iraq suffer. And they suffer in ways we cannot begin to fathom. These are the people we supposedly went to liberate. These are the people whose freedom, we were told, we went to secure. Yet in real, tangible, practical terms, they are, seemingly, the last concern of those controlling their land.

Before the money brokers, investors, oil sellers and resellers, commodity brokers, policy makers, and governments consider the disposition and control of Iraqi oil, they should look long and hard at the suffering Iraqi people. That is where they will see the real cost of each barrel of the oil they value so much.

Why? Why? Why?

When children are young and inquisitive they learn much by asking the simple question: “Why?”. And, as many exasperated parents can attest, their follow up questions (same as the original question) can go on and on and on and on and on.

As cute (or infuriating) as the question can be, the simple “Why?” is, undoubtedly, the single most powerful question one can ask concerning anything; and everything.

“Why is the sky blue?”

“Why can’t I stay up late?”

“Why are we still in Iraq?”

Even if one buys into the lies, misinformation, and false understandings which led to war, the question of why we’re still there needs to be answered.

Is it to establish democracy? Not really, but let’s pretend so. The Iraq Government – elected by the people of Iraq – has repeatedly asked us to leave. They have stated that the fighting will not stop until American forces are gone. American military Commanders have stated repeatedly that the situation in Iraq cannot be resolved militarily. So, the question is, “Why are we still there?” Another question one might ask is, “What good is a democracy in Iraq if we do not allow that democracy to self-govern?”

And, what has happened to democracy in America when, clearly, the vast majority of Americans want us out of Iraq yet our Government ignores the ‘will of the people’ and pursues it’s own agenda? ‘…of the People, by the People, and for the People…’ are words not to be dismissed nor ignored no matter what any ‘Decider’ may think. Either America (and Americans) is (are) free, or it (and we) are not. Emperor George has failed his oath of office. He has done so intentionally, and with great vigor. Why, why, why, is he still President? Why is Dick Cheney still Vice-President? Both swore an oath to defend the Constitution, but both failed to do so; and, in fact, have worked to weaken and subvert the Constitution.

I just wanted to say that outright before the Senate and the Emperor sign off on H.R. 1955 which will make it illegal to advocate such things.

Oh, in case you’re wondering why we are still in Iraq, consider the following possibility:

(A sticker of this artwork has been circulating around the Bay Area in California. I will research and credit the Artist as soon as I determine who he/she is. Incredible piece of work.)

LTG Ricardo Sanchez

Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez has joined the ranks of the retired who have now found their courage and their voice. Convenient. Where was his voice when it would have counted, when it might have made a difference? It was silent. Was the hope of a fourth star pinned to his shoulder worth his silence regarding the situation(s) in Iraq? No.