I am very concerned because of the pervasiveness of certain ideas in the general citizenry of our nation, mostly the consequence of lack of critical thinking, and of deception imposed upon them by manipulators, inside and out of the Government, well represented in this Administration.
There is an underlying idea whereby because the United States and its allies have been attacked numerous times by Muslim terrorists, that we are justified in waging wars with Muslim nations that support these terrorists - the terrorist becoming the extension of the nation.
According to this view we did not conduct a “pre-emptive war” against Iraq, but are responding to multiple attacks already perpetrated against our nation. “You are either with us, or with them” – the black and whites of fascists.
By this rationale many citizens accepted the war in Iraq as justifiable. After all, this Administration lifted its incontrovertible intelligence on the hilltops for the whole world to see, confirming links between Iraq and terrorist attacks and activity, and unveiling sinister plans by Saddam Hussein to use terrorists to lift up mushroom clouds over US cities.
Now lest someone accuse us of being naïve in this conversation lets say clearly that the dynamics of warfare are far more complex than the label “pre-emptive” allows for. By some opinions most nations, including the USA, have conducted pre-emptive warfare for a very long time. There are “Wars” and there are “wars.” Nations conduct battles all the time on many fronts aimed at influencing events for their national interests. We as a country are subject to aggression all the time. In fact, in this sense we are in a constant small scale war.
When the USA supports a group that then turns around and commits horrible crimes, have we also committed them?
If the leaders of Iraq supported terrorists in Palestine by sending them money, does that mean that they committed the attack on the World Trade Center, or on the USS Cole? Is a military invasion against an entire nation justified by scarce intelligence regarding covert actions of leaders? Did we have incontrovertible evidence that the alleged covert actions resulting in the attacks on the USA were sanctioned and directed by the leadership of Iraq? Do we wage a full scale invasion, with the unavoidable loss of innocent life, based on assumptions? Is that what America stands for?
The whole “you are either with us or with them” mentality is truly very dangerous. While everyone on the GOP side, and many on the Democratic side, cheered at President Bush’s deception, Barack Obama did not. His wisdom gave him a different perspective.
At some point this administration used the fear of mass murder to sway public opinion, which in turn sways elected officials. They told the American people in systematic attacks through the media that Iraq represented a clear and present danger for the USA; that Iraq not only could, but planned on giving weapons of mass destruction they had to terrorists so that these could be used against US cities. They were like a computer virus poisoning the collective mind of our nation with lies meant to bring us to war under false pretense, and in so doing committed, in my opinion, treason.
Because Saddam refused UN inspectors, or impeded investigations when they were allowed in, the Administration increased the speed of the planned attack. They banked on Hussein’s stupidity and arrogance. Eventually, about two weeks before the attack, Saddam agreed to unconditional inspections, and this administration said it was “TOO LATE”, that the time for diplomacy had come and gone. The objective was now “regime change.” Did the GOP congress stand up against this morphed rationale for war? Were the Democrats standing up? Barack Obama was!! So much for lack of experience!
So this war was not “pre-emptive” at all. It was an aggression of the USA on a foreign country, a straight up military invasion that ignored diplomacy when it mattered most. The agenda of those behind the invasion was more important than the lives of the soldiers and of the innocent civilians that would fall as a consequence of the invasion. This administration sent our citizens into a country that did not attack us because of the geo-political agenda of a specific power group well represented in the neo-cons.
The Republican Party and some democrats, including Hillary Clinton, are directly culpable for this action. Some have admitted and apologized for their lack of vision and action. Others, like Hillary Clinton, refuse to admit to any wrong doing, placing culpability and responsibility for their lack of judgment on the President entirely. When the President changed his motive for the war from imminent threat to regime change did none of these experienced politicians’ alarm bells go off? The phone calls and conferences must have been very effective! Or maybe this goes to show how much people like Clinton are influenced by the mood of the electorate. They follow power opportunities like a hound follows its pray. The public was infected by this virus spilled out by Bush, Cheney, Rice, and many others, and they did what people wanted rather than what was right. Their's was not experience, it was cunning. Obama showed great wisdom and vision.
Perhaps the most worrisome ideological trend I see is that we have been spoon-fed the idea that - Muslim nation equates to terrorist cell attacking US. Yes, Muslim populations will be in part sympathetic to terrorists because of the dynamics in the relations between USA, Israel, Palestine, and the Muslim world in general, especially now. The lack of trust toward the USA is not unmotivated in their view. So it behooves us to not engage in promoting stereotypes and generalizations of Muslim countries but rather renewing a dialogue that promotes clear thinking and facts rather than skewed perceptions.
I don’t know that I see a desire for this dialogue in a segment of the nation. Patriotism and Rush Limbaugh go hand in hand for many. “Rush” should be a new four letter word in my book.
In pondering the profound deception we as a nation were subject to at the hand of this Administration, the GOP run Congress, and the GOP party in general consider this: these groups of people and individuals just mentioned are representatives of very powerful individuals, families, and groups in this country who think they are “America” and who equate their interests with “American interests,” who use the word “patriotism” as a metaphor for a defense of their power at the expense of the dispensable foot soldier and the pocket book of the middle class. They wage war and give themselves tax cuts so as to pocket more of the profits for the resulting positive economic developments. They wage wars and recruit soldiers aggressively in neighborhoods where they influenced the under-funding of schools, infrastructure development, public services, police, and where they rigged and disrupted elections. While all along, these brave guys and gals go out to defend their country with honor and true respect for the Constitution.
We do not know well what the secret works were that lead to this war because they are protected by strong powers within and without the government, just look at the farce with Sooter Libby. But we do know that this group of men seek power and are willing to take it by sacrificing the lives of US soldiers as well as the lives of people in other nations that have not attacked us.
Terrorists say that there are no innocent American lives. Are we going to commit the same mistake and attack and hate nations as if there were no innocent lives there?
This administration and the former GOP Congress have manipulated the conscience of the citizenry and have inspired intolerance and hatred in the process... and for every action there is a reaction for sure. It is no surprise that anti-American sentiment is at an all time high. Perhaps that was the whole goal in the first place. These fascist forces want instability and fear. No surprise Bin Laden was allowed to escape.
I hate conspiracy theories, and I can’t stand Michael Moore “mocumentaries” – but I am not blind to evidence and proof of wrongdoing, especially when it is in my face. I expect the highest scrutiny to be applied to our leaders, and the treason committed against the United States citizenry by this administration warrants tremendous scrutiny and consequences.
One of the reasons why I support Barack Obama is because he will not be controlled by these powerful groups of conspirers. He is smart enough to sort through the deceptions that will come his way from forces within the government machinery hostile to the common American, and will make choices that reflect his high moral imperatives and worldview.
Barack Obama, because of his background, is in a unique position to use all of his God given talents to make a difference in the relations between the USA and Muslim countries, and set them on a course toward peace. He truly is our best hope for defeating terrorism and curbing radicalism, and will not shy away from defending this country when needed. Given his moral directives and worldview he is clearly governed by, I would expect Barack to make choices that are not meant merely to enhance “American” power, but to actually bring about or set us on the road for greater World peace, and strengthen the real America.
-Jack Livigni, Administrator Society Hill for Obama, Philadelphia
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