Of Dithering and Ditherers

So the should-be-disgraced former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney now accuses President Barack Obama of "dithering" over the War in Afghanistan. I say, in this instance, Thank God for Ditherering! To dither, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is to be in "a state of agitation and indecision" as we well should be in making the vital decision as to how, or even if, we should proceed in Afghanistan.

What Cheney is actually criticizing, most unjustly, is the Obama Administration's serious study of the very-difficult situation there.

A hasty decision would be far worse than "dithering" over doing the right thing.Many lives are involved in our decision, as is the future of the people of Afghanistan, the fate of the people of Pakistan, and the misnamed War Against Terror. Real deliberation is essential to making sound decisions on such important issues. Haste makes many forms of waste, including the waste of precious lives, in this tough situation.

But Dick Cheney, of course, is no ditherer! His motto has always been Full Speed Ahead and to Hell with the Consequences! Full speed ahead in Iraq, leading to a war based on lies, false pretenses, and oil.

Full speed ahead in the mistreatment of prisoners, many innocent, not only at Guantanamo but, indeed, also at secret CIA camps anywhere.

Full speed ahead in the removal of the civil and constitutional rights of Americans in the name of a false security which the Bush administration's policies made far more difficult to achieve. And full speed ahead in making America the hated bully boy of many peoples.

While George W. Bush has had, perhaps surprisingly, the good sense and good judgment to stay out of the limelight now that he is out of the Presidency, his side-kick vice president, who called most of the shots during the Bush Administration anyway, seems to fail to understand that he is no longer in office in any capacity. Cheney needs to be repudiated by all Americans of good will. Many of us did not stand up to him as much as we might have during his term as Vice President.We must not "dither" now in standing up to his rhetoric.

Dick Cheney ought to be prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity; the World Court should not "dither" about filing such charges against him and George W. Bush. Justice must not dither.