As Cleland spoke, he voiced his concerns about the Bush Regime's numerous abuses of US military personnel, starting with sending them on a fool's errand in Iraq chasing non-existent WMD's and killing tens of thousands of innocent civilians. According to Cleland, the Neocon Empire is burning out the United States military. He assailed the backdoor draft and the misuse of the National Guard as a fighting force on foreign soil. As he indicated, National Guard personnel and equipment in Iraq were sorely missed during Katrina.
Characterizing the Iraqi Occupation as "Vietnam without water", Senator Cleland called for the withdrawal of our troops. He reminded us that the United States needs to prepare for a flood of about a million returning veterans. Many of those people will need medical and psychological care, housing assistance, and job training.
When Cleland finished speaking, he received a long standing ovation. I continue to applaud him in my mind when I reflect on his speech. Max Cleland is an inspirational human being who is one of the millions of US veterans who have been exploited by the American Empire in a particularly reprehensible way. While the chicken-hawks and their cheerleaders sit safely on the side-line, members of America's poor and working class are thrust into the maelstrom of war to further the interests of the wealthy and powerful. Jenna and Barbara Bush won't see combat action any time soon; in spite of their father's repeated assurances that our troops in Iraq are fighting for a noble cause.
In his recent essay entitled Why I Hate America, Mickey Z echoed William Blum's assertion:
"I'm committed to fighting U.S. foreign policy, the greatest threat to peace and happiness in the world, and being in the United States is the best place for carrying out the battle. This is the belly of the beast, and I try to be an ulcer inside of it."
From my perspective, the wealthy elite, nearly omnipotent corporations, avarice, impunity, hubris, and bellicosity are the elements of America that comprise the beast. And as the beast of my understanding takes the implementation of Herbert Spencer's perverse social theory to new heights, there is nowhere I would rather be than in its belly, striving to be a festering, and cankerous wound.
Someone needs to persistently document and decry the myriad foreign and domestic crimes of the American Empire. Join those of us who are. And perhaps one day justice will be served.
Characterizing the Iraqi Occupation as "Vietnam without water", Senator Cleland called for the withdrawal of our troops. He reminded us that the United States needs to prepare for a flood of about a million returning veterans. Many of those people will need medical and psychological care, housing assistance, and job training.
When Cleland finished speaking, he received a long standing ovation. I continue to applaud him in my mind when I reflect on his speech. Max Cleland is an inspirational human being who is one of the millions of US veterans who have been exploited by the American Empire in a particularly reprehensible way. While the chicken-hawks and their cheerleaders sit safely on the side-line, members of America's poor and working class are thrust into the maelstrom of war to further the interests of the wealthy and powerful. Jenna and Barbara Bush won't see combat action any time soon; in spite of their father's repeated assurances that our troops in Iraq are fighting for a noble cause.
In his recent essay entitled Why I Hate America, Mickey Z echoed William Blum's assertion:
From my perspective, the wealthy elite, nearly omnipotent corporations, avarice, impunity, hubris, and bellicosity are the elements of America that comprise the beast. And as the beast of my understanding takes the implementation of Herbert Spencer's perverse social theory to new heights, there is nowhere I would rather be than in its belly, striving to be a festering, and cankerous wound.
Someone needs to persistently document and decry the myriad foreign and domestic crimes of the American Empire. Join those of us who are. And perhaps one day justice will be served.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
