That policy of escalating the war didn't work in Vietnam, and it isn't working in Iraq. The die was cast long ago and now the only question is whether CheneyBush will be able to stretch out the new "surging" escalation of the war through the November 2008 election.
But political support for the continued occupation and escalation of the war in Iraq is quickly evaporating. Former commanding generals in intelligence and in the Iraq theatre (such as Generals Odom, Batiste, Eaton, et al.) are openly denouncing the Administration's disastrous war policies, and reportedly serving generals have said they will resign in protest if the escalation is renewed in the Fall absent clearcut signs of political/military progress. Delegations of Republican member of Congress are denouncing the CheneyBush war policies to their faces in private White House meetings. The polls continue to reveal the depth of the revulsion nearly two-thirds of Americans have for the Administration's grossly mismanaged war effort in Iraq and the public's desire to end the conflict and bring the troops home.
IMPEACHMENT: THE ONLY LEGAL ALTERNATIVE
Since it doesn't appear that any significant changes in U.S. Iraq policy will be implemented while CheneyBush rule, and since that policy is endangering America abroad and shredding the Constitution at home, only one legal remedy is available to the Congress and citizenry: impeachment.
To do nothing, to let CheneyBush run out the clock until the next presidential election, is to consign thousands and thousands of additional U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians to death and injury. Do we citizens want that blood on our hands, on our consciences? I don't think so.
There are more than enough impeachable offenses ("high crimes and misdemeanors") committed by Cheney and Bush, and their morally corrupt Attorney General, to warrant the immediate convening of a House impeachment panel.
HIGH CRIMES, MISDEMEANORS, MALFEASANCE
The charges would include the lies and deceptions that took this country into an unnecessary war in Iraq, now in its fifth stalemated year; the various manglings of the Constitution that have changed America from a democratic republic to an authoritarian near-dictatorship, thus robbing the citizenry of their rights and legal protections; the refusal to comply with Congressional directives, subpoenas and orders for the production of official documents and records. (Lest we forget, that last one was a key part of the charges voted by the House impeachment panel probing President Nixon's crimes. ( http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/5/11/2175/54578 )
Stonewalling, coverup, corruption, wars of choice, wrecking the Constitution -- these emblems of CheneyBush rule cannot be permitted to continue for another year-and-a-half, lest the nation be effectively destroyed from within.
It's long past time for the Democrats and traditional conservative Republicans to begin to rectify the damage done by this reckless, arrogant, bullying, corrupt, power-mad Administration. To get that process moving, impeachment hearings should commence. Now.
Bernard Weiner, Ph.D., has taught government & international relations at universites in California and Washington, worked as a writer/editor with the San Francisco Chronicle for nearly two decades, and currently co-edits The Crisis Papers (www.crisispapers.org). To comment: crisispapers@comcast.net .
First published by The Crisis Papers and Democratic Underground 5/15/07. www.crisispapers.org/essays7w/roots.htm
Bernard Weiner, Ph.D. in government & international relations, has taught at universities in California and Washington, worked for two decades as a writer-editor at the San Francisco Chronicle, and currently serves as co-editor of The Crisis Papers (www.crisispapers.org).
I don't know why the Democrats are taking their time but time is not something that's in large supply. It's clear that we're not wanted in Iraq, very clear:
It's also clear that we must send a message to the nihilists and cynics who perpetrate war crimes under the guise of national interest: your crimes are noticed and will be punished.
Dennis Kucinich, D, OH, who I respect, said that impeachment had to wait until steps were taken that brought the war to an end. Those steps have failed. In the spirit of his outstanding efforts to impeach Cheney, Kucinich, needs to all a name to the imipeachment resolution, the name of the president.
The American public is there, the world is there, it's about time Congress wakes up, stands up.
We don't have any more time.
Excellent article and background. Thanks!
by
Michael Collins (88 articles, 13 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 328 comments)
on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 12:43:06 PM
