We will remember the tragic day 12 years ago when 19 (mostly Saudi) terrorists claimed the lives of 3,000 of our citizens and permanently scarred our nation.
It is doubly tragic that this horrendous event, which gathered the nations of the world behind us, was quickly exploited by the Bush Crime Family to justify the preemptive strike on Iraq, turning much of the world against us.
What a difference a decade or so makes.
Remember the many many times Dubya or his consigliores took to the telescreens to hammer home the message that we must "never forget 9-11" and the "evildoers" who conspired against us? We cannot forget. Not only because of the innocent victims, or the damage that was done to our national psyche that day, but also because it marked the day we embarked on our never-ending terror wars.
Once heralded as defenders of freedom, civil liberties, and humanitarianism, we are now better known for our domestic spy tactics, human rights abuses, war crimes, and unending violence against non-provocative sovereign nations and innocent civilians. With GITMO and Abu Graib and drone strikes, our actions serve as virtual terrorist recruiting posters.
And now comes Syria, the next target on Obama's "kill list." What fresh hell can be expected in this new theater? Common Dreams reports:
"President Obama often claims credit for ending the war in Iraq and bringing the troops home. Yet the war is not ended for those who served. Every day 22 veterans and service members kill themselves in the United States. Suicide is at epidemic levels, the death toll surpassing those killed on 9-11. No one claims credit for this. And Iraq is in chaos. Car bombs and suicide bombers kill dozens on a nearly daily basis. One thousand people died in July alone. The war is not over, though America has moved on.
"Those responsible for the illegal war on Iraq remain free. Their lies have been exposed. Their crimes are obvious. Rather [than] prosecute these men and women, Obama said he believed "We need to look forward as opposed to looking backwards." There is expediency in looking forward, especially when your administration will take up the policies of your predecessor and continue to act in unlawful and immoral ways. Drone attacks now kill in Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Somalia. The President reviews a "kill list" on a weekly basis. Targeted assassination is the norm. Innocent men remain imprisoned in Guantà ¡namo. Libya is decimated after our humanitarian intervention.
"Syria, already in shattered from war, is now under threat of an American attack. After two years of watching the carnage unfold, an American red line has finally been surpassed. In the lead up to bombing, there has been little looking ahead and many calls to never forget.
"President Obama claims our ideals, principles, and 'world leadership' are at stake in Syria.
"Laying out his moral justification for a cruise missile attack, on the eve of Sept 11th, Obama had the audacity to claim, 'America is not the world's policeman. Terrible things happen across the globe, and it is beyond our means to right every wrong. But when, with modest effort and risk, we can stop children from being gassed to death, and thereby make our own children safer over the long run, I believe we should act. That's what makes America different. That's what makes us exceptional. With humility, but with resolve, let us never lose sight of that essential truth.'
"With humility and resolve Americans should deal honestly with our past, with our present, and with our dire future. With modest effort and risk we can make the future safer for all children. We can do this by simply demanding accountability of our leaders and recognizing the only thing that is exceptional about America is our inability to see other's lives as valuable as our own."
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