There's a parallel to the destruction of New Orleans in Iraq. Even if you believe it was justifiable to invade a foreign nation, even if you believe the documented lies were well-intended blunders, even if you suppose that Bush had no possible way of knowing the Iraqis would fight back (and you ignore the fact that he ended the careers of those, like General Shinseki and Larry Lindsey who warned him), how can you defend the past five years of taking a disaster and intentionally making it ever worse? How can we look at that one act alone and not impeach the president? This one act, the occupation of Iraq, more than all the others combined, has contributed to giving Bush and Cheney the all-time records for presidential and vice presidential unpopularity.
But of course there's one thing in Washington that's even more unpopular than Bush and Cheney. If the opposite of pro is con, then the opposite of progress is....
The occupation of Iraq does not belong exclusively to the White House. Congress has allowed it and funded it for over five years, and if WE don't do something, by this time next month we'll be able to say they've funded it for over SIX years.
Well, sure, you might say, Congress is responsible too, but everything is run by parties now, and the Republican party is to blame for everything. Except that the Senate was in the hands of the Democrats when it gave Bush and Cheney the green light to attack Iraq. And both the Senate and House have been in the hands of Democrats for the worst of the occupation, which has occurred since January 2007.
Well over a million Iraqis have died as a result of the occupation of Iraq, well over 4 million more have been made refugees, and Iraq has no more been reconstructed than New Orleans. Most of the money appropriated for reconstruction has been spent on killing instead. Is there anything more shameful than the bipartisan demand that the Iraqis start paying the bill for our destruction, occupation, and reconstruction of their country? That's the tough talk coming out of the Democrats in Washington. I saw Hillary Clinton roundly booed for blaming the Iraqis at a conference in DC a year and a half ago, but that is the Democrats' strategy today.
The one thing we know about Iraq is that each year is worse than the one before it. At least 80 percent of Iraqis have always said that the violence would go down if the United States got out. And here Bush and Cheney are not alone in their arrogance. A great many Americans assume that the Iraqis must be wrong about their own country. And why? Well, because the same lying chicken hawks who told us about the stockpiles of WMDs and ties to 9-11 and robot planes attacking us in 45 minutes and risks of mushroom clouds say the Iraqis are wrong. Who are you going to believe, the people who live there or the people whose own defense is that they have accidentally gotten everything catastrophically wrong so far?
General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker were pretty open in their testimony earlier this month, not to mention last September, about having no plan and predicting no success. And listen to these words:
"Measured in blood and treasure, the war in Iraq has achieved the status of a major war and a major debacle....Globally, U.S. standing among friends and allies has fallen. Our status as a moral leader has been damaged by the war, the subsequent occupation of a Muslim nation, and various issues concerning the treatment of detainees....[O]ur efforts there were designed to enhance U.S. national security, but they have become, at least temporarily, an incubator for terrorism and have emboldened Iran to expand its influence throughout the Middle East....[S]enior national security officials exhibited in many instances an imperious attitude, exerting power and pressure where diplomacy and bargaining might have had a better effect."
I've just been reading excerpts from a paper just released by the National Defense University, which is the Pentagon's premier educational institution. The New York Times this week published a shocking scoop of a story, reporting that retired generals who gab on television actually support the war machine. I'm shocked! Contrary to the New York Times' spin, generals who have not just been fed the latest line from the Pentagon are NOT the ideal objective commentators. And, whether or not the Times ever breaks the story, we can be sure that the paper I just quoted from would not have been released without support from inside the Pentagon.
In last week's Disney debate, Obama and Clinton were not asked about global warming or nuclear disarmament, but they WERE eventually asked about Iraq by debate moderators Pluto and Goofy. Specifically, they were asked whether they would dare to withdraw any troops from Iraq if military officials advised against it. Bush, of course, gets rid of anyone who won't do exactly what Cheney says, but publicly he claims to be taking his orders from his generals. To their credit, both Obama and Clinton pointed out that we are supposed to have civilian control of the military. But they were not asked what I would have asked them, what many of you might have asked them. I would have asked them how in the world they can go on claiming to oppose the occupation of Iraq while funding it? Do they plan to vote no on the next $178 billion, and if so, is that just theatrics or will they lobby Harry Reid not to bring it up and lead a filibuster to block it?
The occupation has gone from bad to worse to a disaster of biblical proportions. We've driven far more people out of the Garden of Eden than God ever did. We've borrowed every dime to do so, and our grandchildren will have to pay China back so heavily that they'll be lucky if they can shop at Wal-Mart, which will of course mean paying China back with interest plus some. Remember how horrible it was when the US death count reached 2,000 and then 3,000 and then 4,000? Well, the US death count since the Democrats took control is well over 1,000 and likely to far surpass 2,000 during the time frame they are about to fund, if we don't stop them. The Iraqi death count is not only many times higher, it's also rising more sharply. Our dramatic increase, of late, in the use of air power in Iraq is one reason that Iraqis' deaths do not always parallel Americans'. The little reported air surge is one reason U.S. deaths in Iraq are not higher. Other reasons for the temporary lull in our import of flag-draped coffins in late 2007 included purchased cease-fires and ethnic segregation. This could not possibly have made for, and did not make for, a lasting peace.
Hundreds of thousands of American soldiers and marines are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and/or from brain injuries from roadside bombs. Tens of thousands have more visible wounds. 4,039 in a recent count are dead, not counting those who return home and then kill themselves (officially 18 veterans per day). Of those 4,039, a full 3,900 have been killed since the Mission was Accomplished, 3,578 since Saddam Hussein was captured, 3,180 since power was transferred to the so-called Iraqi government, 2,602 since the Iraqis' so-called election, and 1,200 or so since a so-called opposition party took control of the first branch of our government in Washington, D.C. Two other things that do not parallel each other are the violence in Iraq and the U.S. media coverage of it. In fact, as things have gotten progressively worse, the media coverage has dwindled away.
Luckily, our representatives in Congress and our candidates for president listen to us rather than to the media, and are so opposed to the occupation of Iraq that, rather than funding a withdrawal, they are now proposing to fund the continuation of the occupation, as is, for the rest of Bush and Cheney's terms plus a big chunk of the next administration / Congress. Suddenly $102 billion is $178 billion, and no committee hearing is needed - they'll rush it straight to the floor. Except that, unlike that loaves and fishes routine, somebody will have to pay for this - pay China for this money we're borrowing - and that somebody will be our grandchildren.
This started me thinking about some of the things I strongly oppose and how I could better express my opposition. I've decided, in fact, to get a new mortgage on all the equity we've got in our house, and at the same time to max out three credit cards. I'm going to take all the money and donate it in equal shares to: Exxon, Halliburton, Blackwater, and four different health insurance companies. (I thought about giving some of it to cable and network news corporations, but then I realized that the fiercest opponents of those companies give them hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising whenever we have an election, so I already contribute by supporting progressive groups.)
Already I feel so much better! I may not have put an end to Exxon, but I've expressed my opposition to it in the clearest possible terms, by ruining my family for generations in order to give Exxon money. That ought to be worth something in my next campaign for head of household. And, in case I decide to oppose anything else in the future, I'm looking into the possibility of stealing a huge amount of money from a charity organization near my home.
The genius of our congressional leaders has inspired me. I wonder if you truly grasp the brilliant complexity of their latest maneuver. Not only can they guarantee the funding of more slaughter for more months this way, not only can they move the goal posts so that defunding the occupation by refusing to bring it up or voting No or filibustering is completely off the playing field, not only can they kiss up to the television networks and war profiteers in such an abject manner that they are guaranteed another masochistically thrilling ass-kicking, but - and this is the true genius of the move - they can boost the plausibility of an election theft by an insane senator from Arizona who will fund the occupation for 10,000 years without himself even realizing that he "opposes" it!
DAVID SWANSON is a co-founder of After Downing Street, a writer and activist, and the Washington Director of Democrats.com. He is a board member of Progressive Democrats of America, and serves on the Executive Council of the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild, TNG-CWA. He has worked as a newspaper reporter and as a communications director, with jobs including Press Secretary for Dennis Kucinich's 2004 presidential campaign, Media Coordinator for the International Labor Communications Association, and three years as Communications Coordinator for ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. Swanson obtained a Master's degree in philosophy from the University of Virginia in 1997.
Yes, David they are, but you must change YOUR tactics
Build up a yellow red white black global movement DEMANDING impeachment. Get out the Americocentric thinking and pay attention to the WORLD demand for justice.
Get out the word on what is really happening and make a movement to get economic sanctions against anyone supporting this bloodless coup that took over in 2000 - with the blessing of HiLAIRy Clinton who could not run herself. That great manager who is supposed to put America on track - in fact that one she PUT off track, using a voter base of dependent personalities to get her to be the RULER OF THE ENTIRE WORLD.
the way to HURT them who supportr her is sto cripple their pocketbooks. People are STILL capitulating all over themselves. (look at Ralph Nadar, folks@ GEt over your resentments, that way lies hope, real hope.)
NOT ONE MEMBER OF CONGRESS DESERVES support if they do not support that strike at this late date.
The actions of Ron Paul are absolutley disgusting and yet people KEEP GIVING THIS MAN MONEY!!
I write constantly, resolutely for impeachment - I don't get a single dime and NO support from supposedly antiwar "activists" Yet I get ignored again and again because I live in povery in exile. I know what it took to end the Vietnam war - I was there I was active even then. The biggest thing that worked was showing pictures of babies who were born with agent orange and the massive energy coming from returning troops who said ENOUGH! We never got the General Strike we were after, but we sure tried hard.
Now we have winter soliders whose voices were lost to the MSM but they are available to be heard. We have IAVA.org exposing the homelessness and abuses and releasing the number of those actually harmed in Irak (the du numbers are not fully known yet, btw)
So lets show people the pictures of 9 year old prostitutes working Syria to be breadwinners . victims of Saudi rich guys in bars. Let's show people pictures of orphanages in Baghdad orpaniges, and the du babies in Afghanistan. This is no time to "make nice".
And the general strike day, the url information to appoint a special prosecutor should be given out, just as I posted it, here on OpEd News.
The IMPORTANT information contains the international laws that apply that can help us build a rainbow coaltion. We need environmentalists, those who are losing them homes, people sick of racism, all human rights activists, people who have been living in fear of a war in Iran, or Syria, people who are truly sickened by the genocide in Gaza, children who want a future, those opposing the truly toxic Texas fence ..
Forget Keith Olbermann. write and demand he cover the general strike and demands impeachment himelf!! then support him. Write Jonathan Turley.
red, white, brown, yellow and ALL global citizens involved - it really is a matter of now or never as who knows what it next. To depend on the Democratic part at this late stage of the game would be laughable if it were not so tragic. THERE IS NO LEADERSHIP THERE. The attic of the democratic party where the progressive believe hope can be had is NOT ENOUGH. Too late, Jose.
When someone attacks the US or tortures a US soldier the US cycnic has only themselves to blame .. no more finger pointing at everyone in the BuZh adminstration; it's a culture condoning TORTURE of every living thing on this planet if you just cuddle yourself with PHONEY CNN news. A brief real veiw of what is happening globally that economic stimulus checks can not buy moral responsibility in an insane world.
Put the entire thing on CDROMS, hand it around -- this is important information. Get your neighbors involved, take it to churches what ever you NEED to do, not what you WANT to do - -that way lays DYSFUNCTION.
I have been around long enough on this planet to see that SEXISM, systemic SEXISM is still around and florishing and I get totally ignored here on a supposedly progressive site.
But for the sake of me, my sons, my grandchildren, I am appearling to everyone who reads this thread. Read that information, dispense it, sign my global citizens petition and pass it around!
It is absolutely disappointing to see how few signed my petition, a real heart breaker and IT SHOULD NOT BE SO.
And lastly, write th ICC yourselves, tell them of your complaints. Also call the ACLU and tell them not one more penny and no membership until they release their impeachment brochure. FOR SHAME! they add to people's cyncicism, they are NOT doing the right thing.
Our motto should be DO THE RIGHT THING - and it should go right across the board and bring people together at last. That means THEY do the right thing as WE do the right thing.
As a result of the expected pardons, a special prosecutor should be appointed immediately
Commencement of Impeachment Proceedings
As a result of the expected pardons, on the day after the November elections, the House of Representatives should impeach George W. Bush and Richard “Dick” Cheney for high crimes -- torture -- violating the following statutes, among others:
Please note the strategic importance of simply presenting the impeachment to members of the House with no hearings and an immediate vote on the day after the November elections. There is no reason for hearings or delay, since George W. Bush has admitted the criminal act that is the basis of the impeachment.
International Crimes Not Subject to Pardon Power
It is worth pointing out that torture violations of the Law of War and international treaties are not subject to the Presidential pardon power. We will see these individuals on trial in the Hague for their publicly confessed war crimes.
“Above the Law: Unlawful Executive Authorizations Regarding Detainee Treatment, Secret Renditions, Domestic Spying and Claims to Unchecked Executive Power,” Jordan J. Paust, Utah Law Review, 2007, Number 2, Pages 345 to 419
Article available free at: click here not let CONgress vote one more penny towards WAR until they appoint a special prosecutor - whey should your hard earned dollars support THEM.
ThinK; They are all riding in Limos, while your relatives are going homeless to fund this INSANE and DELUSIONAL war. They are polluting YOUR skies with chemtrails, feeing you GM foods, asking you to stay IN DENIAL.
I posted the first link to the ILWU strike . the feds are all over them as racketters !! Why is the DoJ paying for THAT instead of going after the gubbermint? Why is John Yoo not charged with crimes? Why was Valerie Plame outted and no justice has been served?
Call up members of the National Lawyers Guild in your town, get them to hand out information with in the malls, SERIOUSLY. Now ist NOT the time for cycnicism and excuses.
Please sign this now to show her WE MEAN BUSINESS!!
There is NO REASON to fear signing this now: The mainstream media has now turned the momentum in our favor!!
And please don't put online petitions DOWN, they are IMPORTANT educational tools -and the Feds hate them, trust me.
Take all this and make appointments with your state's attorney general and tell them .. we will get rid of you if you don't uphold your oath of office.
The NLG should be visiting California's AG very shortly over the John Yoo issue.
STAY TUNED, stay up, stay on their case. STay focussed; my best advice.
The Bilderbergers meet in June, the crazies in government are trying to get sweet trade deals for themselves, the torturers aren't punished, the nation is on it's knees and you say SITUATION HOPELESS. Don't buy it.
Think global, think local act out against the regime as best you can.
All I can do is put out pamphlets . and I do it on a very skinny dime but I do it everyday, so can you. This is the fight of a life time. Rage, rage against the dieing of the light! DO THE RIGHT THING.
I've asked for your support before to no avial.why not try it NOW?
by
ladybroadoak (37 articles, 20 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 391 comments)
on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 3:34:13 AM
I have been very active in the Impeachment Movement. Hell, I was the second candidate in the country to call for Impeachment (John Conyers was first, so I was the first to say it and mean it)
Impeachment is wanted by a majority, yet the Democratic Party have fought it, tooth and nail (including John Conyers). Dennis Kucinich's TWO separate Bill's HR 333 and HR 676 both sit in Committee, going no-where. Kucinich faced multiple well funded campaigns against him, forcing him to drop out when he pushed Impeachment.
Ever wonder why? I propose that it is because the Impeachment investigation would have shown that the Democratic Party leadership were not 'lied" into war. That they KNEW that WMD's were a lie and were a part of pushing that lie on the American people.
Can you convince me otherwise?
by
Michael Cavlan (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 195 comments)
on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 8:10:07 AM
The linch-pin that holds the the public in a state of shock and fear is the events of 9/11. Expose the lies of the 9/11 Commission and the whole fascist clique comes down. 9/11 truth has to get through the mind fog of the MSM. The public has unanswered questions but has to overcome the unfathomable reality that our own government perpetrated these crimes on us.
With corruption and war profiteering rampant, the Constitution in taters, the economy tanking, and the environment disintegrating, the citizenry has the lowest opinion of our plutocracy. The time is ripe to expose the crime of the century they are all implicated in. The awakening is happening: we are emerging from the mind fog to see life as we know it coming to the edge of the abyss. Enough: hold them accountable, we have no greater task if we want our children to inherit a world worth living in.
by
Ramon Puga (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 27 comments)
on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 8:32:54 PM
