CONG. JACK MURTHA BRINGS THE COURAGE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING TO THE DEBATE OVER IRAQ
By CONGRESSMAN CHARLES RANGEL
Contact: Emile Milne 202 225-4365
At a time when President Bush and Vice President Cheney have been attacking elected leaders who have criticized their decision to go to war in Iraq;
At a time when Members of Congress have been politically intimidated by charges that any criticism of the war was unpatriotic or harmful to our troops;
At a time when the majority of Americans are ahead of the Congress in their loss of faith in the President and his decision to go to war;
Along comes a person whose courage and leadership as relates to this war is comparable to that exhibited by Martin Luther King in the great civil rights struggles of the 1960's.
That person is my colleague, Congressman Jack Murtha, a likeable and charming senior Democratic Member of Congress with the reputation of being as hard as nails on matters involving the U.S. military.
A decorated Marine veteran of the Vietnam war and strong supporter of the war in Iraq, Congressman Murtha's position on the issue is above question.
Today, he tearfully shared with his colleagues his conclusion that the war in Iraq is unwinnable. He told us that any further loss of American and Iraqi lives would be immoral, unnecessary and unpatriotic. He told us that the burden of war has not been shared equally, and that the military and their families were unfairly shouldering the burden. Not only have the reasons for going to war been discredited, he said, continued military action risked the future of our military forces and endangered the country.
After visits to Iraq and long consideration of the issue, Cong. Murtha
today outlined a plan that would end the U.S. occupation and turn Iraq over to the Iraqis while inviting the support of the international community. An end to the U.S. troop deployment would be the strongest incentive to Iraq to take over responsibility for their own destiny. I agree with Jack Murtha that the presence of American troops is actually impeding progress in the country.
Just as some of us will forever remember the day that President Kennedy was assassinated or the day on which President Johnson declared his intention not to seek reelection, I will forever remember Jack Murtha's statement today as the turning point of the war in Iraq.
And just as the American people were ahead of Congress in the days leading up to the Civil Rights Movement, so too today, the American people have already grown weary of the war and are looking to their representatives in Congress to lead the march out of Iraq.
When Martin Luther King was called to lead the Civil Rights Movement, he took up the banner hardly knowing the gravity of the event or its historical significance. Today Jack Murtha, like Dr. King, has demonstrated the political courage to lead the Congress in this movement to end the war in Iraq. No attacks by the President, the Vice President or their supporters will deter him. And there is no question that peace will more quickly come to Iraq because of him.
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I Don't Get It
Rangell talks about democrats being politically intimidated, that speaking out against the war will be seen as unpatiotic. What am I missing? Republicans have completely shut out any Democratic input into this government. What are Democrats thinking that they are going to lose if they speak out? Do they spend so much time in American Leigon Halls that they think thats what a majority of Americans' think? Have they seen the polls from the MSM about the % of Americans' that think the war was a mistake? Dems, GET OFF YOUR ASS and speak out against this morally bankrupt war of aggresion. What can Hastert and Delay do to you that they haven't done already!
What don't you get?
Democrats are reaping the same rewards as the Republicans. Why step up and fight another party when you benefit from their tax cuts and other policies. Who do you think Democrats get their campaign financing from? Do you think only Republicans take money from Big Corporations? They have as much to lose as the Republicans and they are sitting pretty while they make a small squeak once in a while. It is time for a MAJOR change in the U.S. and it needs to start with finding someone with integrity who is not in the pockets of Big Business. Unforunately I think anyone who had these qualities has passed on. Men like that where born Generations ago. We should have listened to our Grandparents. We have become a Disposable Nation.
Your last sentence
These words brought a lump to my throat. You wrote what my heart has been telling me for the last 5 years.
What I do understand
What I do understand is that the neocons have taken over the country. It matters little to them if they bankrupt the treasury while lining their own pockets with war profits. Much like organized crime 'busting out' a person's business who has a gambling debt they can't pay. The MAJOR change you speak of, finding politicians with integrity is about as feasable as winning the war on drugs. Generations ago, the politcians were in the pocket of big business granting the railroads access to whatever land they wanted, turning a blind eye to Standard Oil, watching the labor riots in Detroit as automakers were killing and intimidating workers fighting for a living wage. The neo-cons didn't invent corrupt government, they have just taken it to a level that is completely unacceptable by any rational person's standards. There is no utopian formula to an honest government without corruption. What I don't get are people who are elected to Congress who are so timid they don't stand for anything.
I agree totally with your 3d line>any RICO lawyers out there?
"Much like organized crime 'busting out' a person's business who has a gambling debt they can't pay."
I've been saying this since Downing Street Memo came on the scene> PNAC is not just suspending and violating the Constitution, its breaking RICO laws also by plotting wars as a shadow govt. behind the facade of a "tax exempt Non-Profit Organization", and gets its funding through other "tax exempt NPO's" too. C'mon, these PNAC thugs aren't running a Cub Scout Den!
GOOGLE PNAC> "OUT" THE CABAL !!! http://www.cafepress.com/googlepnac
Not a Long Trip
Their tactics don't differ much from street thugs. They will walk away wealthy and not give a damn about the trail of death and destruction in their wake.
re. CONG. JACK MURTHA's speech
My God, an answered prayer, but too late for over 2,000 dead American soldiers, over 18,000 seriously injured, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians who have lost homes, children, indeed, their entire livelihood as a result of this illegal and inhumane war created by BushCo!
The Downing Street Minutes ALONE have verified beyond a question of doubt the deception and lies that BushCo fabricated to make their "case" for war. Pick any timeline link on this site and there is more, much more, than enough evidence to implicate and find guilty the entire Bush Administration for crimes against humanity.
Recently Italy released a documentary film on the siege of Fallujah by American forces. In the film is both firsthand and visual evidence of our forces using CHEMICAL WEAPONS on the city (phospherous). Until the release of this film, it was like it never happened. Just like in 1983 when Hussein used WMP (which the U.S.A. helped supply)against his own Kurdish citizens.... no one said a word, not President Reagan, VP Bush, NO ONE!
NOW is the time to speak boldly and with integrity the truth about this present Bush adminstration and the dangerous religious and political extremist who have been at the point of the spear in creating and implimenting their failed policy, not only in Iraq, but globally and here at home.
As a Chaplain in the USAF ANG I grudgingly supported the war at its outset based upon my belief in the integrity of then Sec. of State Colin Powell and his now infamous presentation of "the facts" to the United Nations in Feburary of 2003. By the end of 2003, however, it became quite clear that, as the UN and US Inspectors had pleaded all along up to the very day of the invasion, there NEVER was WMD in Iraq!!! At the same time, we learned that there was virtually no credible evidense showing Hussein linked to 9/11 or Al-Quida. NO WMD and NO connection with 9/11. Those two facts alone were and are enough grounds for bringing criminal charges to BushCo!
Each and every day of this illegal war has been paid for by our tax dollars. Think about that. Every tax paying citizen of this country has made it financially possible for these crimes to be perpetuated and continued right up to the present day. Every life that is lost, regardless of age or country, is financed by you, me and our entire nation. By that real connection, we are all collectively responsible for what is possibly the worse crimes ever conducted by this nation in our history with only slavery and the near genocide of Native Americans having at least equal status.
In my opinion, we are on the verge of a collasped democracy in this country. It is clear that Eisenhower's warning about an unchecked "industrial military complex" has, unfortunately, become reality. Our entire economy, government and culture has been both the thief and the victim of this evolving national tragedy. It may very well be too late to "change directions" for this once proud and humble nation. But we have no choice but to try, to give our best noble efforts to reclaim our past moral compass and begin the long process of rebuilding, healing and asking for forgiveness.
who were the brave people tha
who were the brave people that voted for immediate withdrawal?
The brave people
Only Cynthia McKinney, Jose E. Serrano and Robert Wexler voted for the resolution for immediate withdrawal.
Six other members voted present and the other 403 voted, in effect, to continue the war in Iraq as is.
vote for Murtha proposal in Congress
Republicans want to have a quick vote on the issue because the Truth may come out if the debates last. The horrors of this immoral war will be discussed. So the solution for Republicans is to shut up the Democrats' mouth. That is the Republican way Democracy (shut up!).
G
Well Murtha found out..........
what little support his little publicity trick has. Even many of his fellow Democrats did not support this. And now they have all gone on record as to where they stand regarding the war. Any further backpeddling by the Democrats will only serve to lessen their already dwindling credibility.
Murtha found out what we know>Republicans will stoop low
And I say this as a former Republican! ( I shredded my Republican voter card before 2004 election). It is unfortunate that the GOP Party would rather pull a ploy & quickie stunt than save the nation from more lies and suffering. So why did Republicans do this> because GOP cares more about party loyalty than America and Americans, a trait Hitler would have greatly admired.
GOOGLE PNAC> "OUT" THE CABAL !!! http://www.cafepress.com/googlepnac
Repugs twist everything
You need to get your facts straight. The Dems and probably some Repugs probably would have voted for the Murtha resolution, but it was a different resolution subbmited by Hunter that was voted on.
Libsarelaughable.......you mu
Libsarelaughable.......you must be denser than a rock..If you want to play in this game, at least know what you're talking about. Your comment exposes a bit of idiosy...
republican lies and hypocracy
Shows how STUPID you are.... The Democrats DID NOT vote on MURTHA's bill - which was a very detailed plan for withdrawal that puts protections in place and promotes the Iraqis to take over their own defence effectively.
What was voted on, you arrogant, ignorant, brain dead, afraid to read MORON... was a simple, "Pull them out now" bill proposed by California REPUBLICAN rep. Duncan Hunter... THIS bill was not to end the war, but an attempt to make Democrats look bad, by having them vote for a bill that would be a "cut and run".... Sorry, you republican piece of ••••, the dems didn't fall for this stunt. They voted against this BOGUS CUT AND RUN BILL! Murtha's bill, a real plan, a legitimate plan.... can't even make it out of committee for a house vote, thanks to the repubs.... and you republican rodents cry about democrats protesting court nominees... you're a bunch of ***damn hypocrites.... you want an up or down vote for your stuff, but wont extend that to democrats.... I never used to HATE you republicans.... But I have grown to despise your filthy, disease infected existence.
Well Murtha Found Out.
How can anyone who believes in the credibility of the Bush Administration question any one else's credibility?
For the record, Congress did
For the record, Congress did NOT vote for Murtha's proposal. Far from it. They voted on the Hunter proposal which was "pull out immediately" period.
Read Murtha's proposal. Read the Hunter proposal that was voted on. Watch and read somewhere besides FOX and poison spewing green apple internet sites.
Watching Congress in action nowadays is like watching a preschool class of specifically segregated incorrigibles. "Clinton did it", "He's a Michael Moore". Then they take a thoughtful, careful, protective to troops resolution and in its place submit a thoughtless, hateful, sickening, dangerous single thought resolution for a vote.
Do Rethugs seem scared of their ratings?
Do Rethugs seem scared of 2006 elections?
Do Rethugs seem scared of 2008?
No. They own the process and that includes elections and vote counting.
Elections and vote counting
The Democrats are showing signs of life, and they need to revive their energy and initiative to demonstrate a level of competence they have not exhibited in the last five years.
An issue which I think is critical but has not been addressed with enough urgency is the question of the Republicans' control of the voting machines which I believe stole the elections in 2004. Vote counting must be taken away from private, proprietary systems, whose owners heavily favor the Republicans.
Accomplishing the goal of fair vote counting is a complex task, given the control of voting systems by the states; coming up with a plan for organizing the project of establishing an impartial voting system nationwide is beyond my powers of analysis and invention, but I see that project as essential to evicting the crooks who have taken over the Republican party and establishing a fair and accurate voting system.
voting machines
Please, we cannot have these voting machines be used in the next election. We need accountability, and we need a paper trail. We need full counts of votes. WE do not need the machines used for the past two "elections"(er, railroad jobs and coupes) that are owned by two brothers intent on illegally making Bush to win.
Two elections have gone by where the people were not allowed to vote in a legal vote.WE do not need the Supreme court to vote for us, and we need a real election- please get started! NOW. WE only have several years to go and we better see results this time.
It is shameful and an outcry this US system allowed it to go on this far! Every single COngressman and Representative should be up in arms for the PEOPLE of the United States who demand a real vote.
And BUSH calls for democracy elsewhere and denies us this?! How dare he! WHO does he think he is kidding? How dare any person calling themselves an American demand any thing less?
No more illegal voting machines.
Stop the Madness,
Pam Wiseman
Voting Machines
I propose a simple solution open to all as an alternative to GOP-supporter-built voting machines- the absentee vote! It is easy. Just do it. No lines, on your own time,and in advance! Calling for the dismantling of machines is useless for the upcoming elections, it just won't happen. Vote absentee! With a "paper trail". You will be glad you did.
The Courage of Martin Luther King
It's very strange, but I can't seem to remember the NAACP or any other affiliates of Dr King calling for rejection of a resolution to end immediately the deplorable discriminatory practices of his day. And I certainly can't recall Dr King himself voting against such a resolution because it wasn't "what he envisioned". In fact, I'm inclined to think that their heroic status might have suffered somewhat had they done so. It's little wonder that most Americans today seem incapable of distinguishing between true heroism and mere transient celebrity.
Will people ever put aside their Tweedledum and Tweedledee loyalties long enough the accept the reality that the entire system has been corrupted -- quite possibly beyond redemption. None of the horrors playing out in Iraq today would be possible without the Democratic Party. And no matter how hard some party leaders try to deny it, this is their war too and will remain so until every troop is withdrawn. There is no question that the Bush administration is one of the most corrupt, violent and brutal in the history of this country, but that does not erase the serious responsibility the Democrats bear now and from the outset for the bloodletting in Iraq.
__
"Find out just what people will quietly submit to, and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows. -- Frederick Douglass
MLK
A lot of people think King was assassinated for his Civil Rights leadership. I firmly believe that he would have been allowed to live had his speeches remained only about the plight of African-Americans. He was killed immediately after he came out against the Vietnam War, and called upon ALL disenfranchised Americans, Black, White, Red, whatever, to stand up for our rights. He went beyond Black/White issues like Malcolm X and they were both killed for it by those who promote divisiveness whose power was threatened by the truth being so eloquently and publicly spoken. In this light, comparing Murtha to King is quite correct. Only Murtha is not a charismatic black anti-establishment activist so he will be allowed to live...
WATCH and decicde for yourselves - use your brain!
If you don't get it, watch CSPAN, DemocracyNow! or go to LiberalOasis.com for further information.
Murtha stood up for all AMERICANS, stating that when he drives by Arlington Cemetary every day, the headstones don't say "Democrat" or "Republican" - they are ALL AMERICANS!
This divisive crap only serves to divide our great Country and keep the spotlight off what is REALLY going on! WE THE PEOPLE are being screwed by the corrupt neocon takeover of our Country.
My Father, a 20 year Green Beret with 2 tours of Nam with many service medals told me once in digust that we fought wars in this country for PROFIT. I didn't believe him then - I do now!
Wake up Americans - your Country has been morally and fiscally BANKRUPTED by the corruption and disassembling of our CIVIL RIGHTS! Murtha told the truth - 80% of Iraqui's want us OUT of their Country - only 7% of the "insurgents" we all hear about are out of Country - 93% of insurgents are Iraqui's who want us OUT.
Pay attention. Your free speech, right to assemble, legal rights are under attack and going FAST. Torture, Napalm, White Phosopherus, Depleted Uranium - are all UN-American activities. 90% of those that have died in Iraq are INNOCENT CIVILLIANS. What would YOU DO, if someone occupied your country, indiscrimintaly bombed your homes, tortured your families!
Repugs have cut VA multiple times, want to put it under FEMA - got a clue yet? Want to cut active duty military health care, including health care for their children and their schools - so the richest 2% running our Country, our media, making PROFIT on this war - can continue their sick neocon game of global domination. 50% of every tax dollar you pay - goes to WAR! Is this American? Diplomacy went out the window when this cabal was (s)elected.
SOMETHING HAS GOT TO STOP - TIME TO IMPEACH, clean up our mess, bring these criminals to justice - bring our boys home.
Impeachment of this administr
Impeachment of this administration seems too easy. They should all have to do hard time in a Federal prison, or if I believed in capitol punishment, put them in front of a firing squad. But I digress, impeach the b------s.
I unconditionally support Congressman Murtha.
Support Congressman Murtha
I couldn't have said it better myself! Thank You all!!
Impeach this Administration...........NO !!....., not so fast!!
NO!!
they should NOT be impeached..................what?.......to just go home and rake in the millions they profit from EVERY QUARTER, from
their stock in Halliburton and other "holdings"? .....to write books (oops, you're right.....W would have to know how to SPELL (or construct a simple sentence, all on his own) if he were to write a book. And to be paid thousands (like that idiot "Ollie" North is) to speak at colleges and neo-con gatherings?
NO, NO!!
I say we hold a combination war tribunal/crimes against humanity trial.
and I want to be the one with the chalk.
I want to be the one who gets to draw the 4' circle on the concrete floor where each ONE of these criminals (Cheney, Bush, Wolfowitz, "Condie", Gonzalez, "Brownie", Rove, "Scooter" and all the others) is to stand, lay, deficate, and STAY PUT for the entire 6 weeks of the televised trial. JUST LIKE the poor souls of New Orleans, these people will - on the 6th day of their stay within their respective circles - which I GET TO DRAW - receive their first 1/2 bottle of water. on the 7th day, they begin to get a bottle of water each day, 1/2 bagel and 1/2 banana; which will continue to be their daily ration of food for the duration of the six week trial and tribunal.
OUR JOB will be to bring to them the list of crimes they are accused of committting.
for the duration of this televised tribunal, they will remain within their 4' circles where - from 6am to 11pm - the tribunal will be held. if they so much as step outside their circle, they will be shot on sight. They are to defecate and pee on themselves - just like those in New Orleans had to -, sleep and eat within the confines of their individual circle. They can shove their own feces OUT of their circle, if they so wish, but there they are to remain.
when the six week tribunal is over, THEN they get to hear their sentence.
and don't forget: I GET TO BE THE ONE WITH THE CHALK !!
(cause this was MY idea.........it came to me, by the way, on the second day of the tv coverage of the Katrina disaster...........not the disaster of the hurricane or levee breach, but the disaster of this administration's cold blooded disinterest)
Gloria
Right on!!!! Gloria --
let's show these evil bastaqrds we can be as evil as they in exactly the same ways and to the same degree.
Torture is a war crime -- regardless who does it. Are you for it, but only for some? So is the Bushit War Crimes Family and Liarium.
Or are you against it for any?
Grandstanding for hidden agenda's of Globilization
Yes, the Bush Administration grandstand's the hidden agenda's of the few and surely not for the many. Democracy represents dignity in life for the many not the few; greedy, controlling, powerful, and wealthy, of these United States. Globilization represents control by the few for non-equal dignity for humanity of the world.
Get out now, for our own good and for the good of all peoples
Iraq, as a nation, began with primary structuring by Great Britain. The flaws of that charter are documented. American insinuated itself into Saddam Hussein's regime nearly two decades ago.
Iraq is likely to be absorbed by Syria, Turkey, Jordan, Iran and Saudi Arabia. The process is an Islamic thing, one America rarely understands. We have, as a people, specialized in their languages, let alone their nationalist traditions.
America remains committed to Israel, and her politics strain our credulity through her reluctance to settle Palestinian grievances. America's position in the Middle East is strained, thereby.
The time has come for America to follow the wisdom of its people, especially those in the military whose views have been suppressed or marginalized by the current administration.
America no longer has credibility in its foolish talk of nation building.
Congress turns away from challenges sent by Mother Nature.
Louisiana, especially New Orleans, needs rebuilding.
Bring our troops home, especially those with engineering, management, and people skills.
Put them to work alongside local, state and federal agencies to build up hope among those who lost their homes, jobs, and sense of community--right here in America.
And put our State Department to work explaining to local Americans the critical role the United Nations must play if the petty concerns of big powers such as Russia, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, China, Japan, and the U.S. are to be submerged for the good of the human community.
Hank Sequim
Mr. Murtha is not a coward and this shows just how low some go
I strongly support Mr. Murtha's call for withdrawal. This occupation is lunacy. I am not representing all of my fellow soldiers when I state this but am representing myself and those who agree with me. Furthermore, I strongly believe that it is a direct violation of human rights for the United States to allow sanctioned torture. I will not stand by and be like the Nazi soldiers who said: "they were just taking orders" at the Nuremberg trials when asked why they committed illegal acts against humanity. If ordered to commit acts of torture against detainees, enemy combatants or prisoners of war I will not do so out of a matter of conscience. Officially sanctioned torture goes against everything I believe as an American and goes against the basic tenets of the United States Army. My opinion doesn't reflect the official policy of the U.S. government or the Department of Defense.
PFC Clark
Iraq (Humvee driver and gunner)
PFC Clark's comments
I read your comments and applaud your courage. Too many who oppose this insane occupation are branded as being against our troops, unpatriotic, etc. ad nauseum. To call this unfair to the American Way is an understatement. Our soldiers deserve respect in terms of only sending them into harm's way for the best cause-defending America. Not its business interests and political designs. I am with you all the way, PFC Clark! You make me proud to know that there are soldiers like you. May you and your comrades make it safely home.
Why can't I have Charles Rangel as my representative?!
True, David Wu has voted against the Bush administration most of the time (he even went so far as to vote against the Patriot Act and the loosening of the FCC rules), but why can't Charles Rangel represent the whole country?! By which I mean every place except Bush's ranch.
Charles Rangel For President
I always admired Charles Rangel. Fuhgettabout Hillary! She is a phony liberal upper-class hypocrite. We need a candidate of integrity and Rangel has always been there. He is more eloquent than most,is very smart,not a typical politician, and doesn't seem to be corrupt at all. Those qualities should help him overcome any Middle American reluctance to have an African American in the highest office. He is kinda mellow though, not the preferred macho posture that seems to be in vogue these dark days.But after being Bushwacked into financial and international disaster by Pres.Cowboy and his Posse maybe America is ready for an alternative.
Support Cong. Murtha
I support Cong. Murtha. Bring the boys home!
We dare to impeach one president on moral grounds, basically because he told a lie about a personal matter. What about a president who tells a lie to involve our country in a war resulting in needless loss of life!
Iraq War
All the breast beating by the Democrats about the war now is hypocritical. With very few exceptions, the Democrats supported invading Iraq. Many of them still support the war. Murtha supports wars, apparently, belatedly, just not this one. True, better late than never. The Democrats benefit from the military industrial complex just as the Republicans do only in smaller amounts. They are the dogs under the table dining on the scraps that the Republicans let drop off the starched table cloths. The Democrats had to have known that the Bush gang had manufactured the lies to invade Iraq. I knew it and I'm far removed from the seats of power. I knew it because the UN and US inspectors kept telling us they hadn't found an WMDs. I knew it because the inspectors begged for more time to finish their work but the Democrats, like the Republicans, didn't want them to finish their work. They all knew there was no reason for war. We all knew there was no reason for war. It's bad enough we allow the politicians to lie to us. WE SHOULD STOP LYING TO OURSELVES.
Response about Murtha's courage
I was thrilled to read what he said and applaud his courage. It appears that many in the Senate are suffering from National Alzheimer's disease, characterized by forgetting what is too painful to remember. Remember that we the people united will triumph and working together with others in your community is where we have power,
May we all have peace in our heart!
Robyn Wolf
School of wellbeing and wisdom
Rep Murthas plan
Rep. Murtha has given Anti war movements a face and a strong voice.
He is right this is not Democrat or Republican issue this an entire
nations issue.
Now it is up to all of us to keep the heat on congress to stop this
illegal action as soon as possible.
A cease fire can be obtained as soon as America announces we are leaving and starts to demonstrate so. We must not leave any bases
in Iraq for use.
What has been done is done, now it is time to start our reparations
in rebuilding lives and their home land.
Rep. Murtha has ignited the Iraqi govt. as to building their own
security and the whole arab world will be ready to assist the Iraqi
people as soon as we assure them we are leaving.
The process cannot be handled by the Bush administration as their
people have got us in this inhumane situation.
Rep. Murtha's suggestions and Clyde Preston's comments
I agree that we must leave Iraq for the sake of the Iraqi people as well as our own. A peace worker recently returned from Iraq has ther opinion that while there well may be a civil war if we leave, there certainly will be one if we stay.
We need to rebuild what we destroyed and then let them handle the rest.
This same peace worker says that some of the oppression of the people is coming from the Iraqi soldiers we are training. They are not all nice people.
Where were these Democrats before the war?
I'm very disappointed that Dems are just now finding their voice in Congress. Where were these critics before the war? Why didn't you speak out then? Were the Dems afraid? If so, what were they afraid of?
No one asked any questions, probed for clarification, or had a spirit of inquiry that I expect from Congress.
As for Colin Powell - weren't you embarassed by the transparent hype you presented to the United Nations? I was.
Where were the Dems
Better late than never? Perhaps similar to McCarthyism - with the world shaking event of 9/11 people lost their sense of reason. But the fault lies in an adminstration that lied, used strong-arm tactics, and split America in two parts - as opposed to uniting with truth, compassion, and concensus building.
The republicans threatened - and everyone succumbed.
Better Late Than Never
I find it amazing that some people expect the whole nation AND all of Congress to always be "on the same page" on any issue given a debatable set of circumstances.The P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act and the post 9/11 atmosphere of shock and paranoia worked to the advantage of the extremists on the right because to oppose it at the time really made a Congressperson a target of an effective political attack for being "soft" and "ineffective" which the GOP had smeared the Dems with for a long enough time that it stuck. A democracy moves slowly for a good reason, and Jefferson and the other founders of the USA knew it. A perfect example of the opposite was the quick passage of the "PATRIOT" Act without enough time for even reading it! Even the name of the bill was designed to stifle any opposition. "What, you don't like the word PATRIOT? What's wrong with you, are you anti-American?" We need deliberation. This is a huge nation, and as a result, like a mammoth lumbering dragon, it spits and sputters and takes a long time to move but when it does, it means it. Better late than never? That's the way it has always been. Civil Rights for Afro-Americans, voting rights for women, the end of the Vietnam War,anti-cigarette campaigns, pollution controls, stopping nuclear testing underground are all examples of a "better late than never" situation.
I would rather back the Johnny-Come-Latelies in Congress who now have come to their senses on Iraq and encourage them to move further than to pick on them for not being quick enough. Remember, these are politicians, not people like you and me. They have a different set of concerns, namely their political futures and partisan party posturing, and that is the way it goes like it or not.
Colin Powell's embarrassing hype
Colin Powell went on the record to state that his speech to the UN on the supposed threat from Iraq using spurious sources was the most embarrassing moment of his life.He was actually furious at being used in such a foul manner. I give him credit for owning up to it, as spineless as his overall performance as Secretary of State was.
The Structure of Society Has to Change
I've really enjoyed reading everyone's comments and I understand the anger and frustration. I feel both myself. The best thing any of us can do is read and learn, discover a better way. For instance, I found out that the Founding Fathers didn't create a Democracy, they created a Plutocracy, which is a government by the wealthy elite. They didn't trust the uneducated common man to run things and he still isn't. Our two party system is a joke, as we know. (By the way, we do have a man of integrity for President, Ralph Nader, who has spent his life fighting special interests on behalf of the rest of us.) How can we complain about the way things are when we have allowed it? We have allowed ourselves to be distracted by many unimportant things like fashion and keeping up with the Joneses, while the neocons took over. So, stop bitching and start learning what to do about the situation. Read "Understanding Power: The Indispensable Chomsky" to begin. Noam Chomsky is an MIT professor and may be the smartest man in the world. There are several DVDs of his lectures, very worthwhile. Read "What's The Matter With Kansas?" by Thomas Frank and "The Working Poor: Invisible In America" by David Shipler. Subscribe to commondreams.org and read their excellent articles to know what is going on in America and the world. Capitalism doesn't work. EVERY TIME it is applied wealth ends up in the hands of a few while the rest struggle. History has proven this repeatedly. Society as we know it has to change. The Israeli kibbutz seems to be the closest structure that man has implemented that is successful politically, economically and socially, to date. It is our job to educate ourselves and bring others into the fold, awaken and inspire them to learn. What we are doing just doesn't work. It is up to us to create our tomorrow and, of course, we can do it.
Support
Nadja,
You have said it very well! I totally agree! Do not stop writing!
A little knowledge and a Right wing lie is dangerous --
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, especially when mixed with the anti-democratic lies told by Right Wing extremists --
The essence of democracy is elections. If one reads the Constitution -- instead of uninformed "historical" ideological tracts, one finds there that the Framers incorporated in it elections.
According to Right Wing illiteates in history, the Founers/Framers "rejected" democracy. No, they did not: they lived in an age of monarchy, which had the obvious result of distrusting anything else. The Founders/Framers DISTRUSTED democracy, but did not reject it. Asserting the falsehood that the established a "plutocracy" simply reinforces the horseshit and intents spouted by the so-called "strict constructionist" white supremacists who hate democracy because it disperses the power from small factions to We the People.
Read the actual founding document -- the Constitution -- and more beyond that than the anti-Constitutional trash spewed by wingnuts against We the People/democracy.
Using the Kibbutz as a social model
Yes the Israeli Kibbutz model is a good one. The problem is that it involves kicking out the original inhabitants by gunpoint creating endless tensions and violence.And it requires membership in a religious faction that is radically self-absorbed and unconcerned with any consequence of expansion onto other's traditional lands. Other than that...
I support Congressman Jack Murtha
As a life long democrate and union member I find it hard to believe what this nation has allowed Bush&Cheney to do.Those who voted for them are just as guilty!The democrates that I voted for are not much better.We no longer elect statesmen. We are tricked into voteing for slick business men that will line their pockets at the first chance they get!I think it was disgusting what a DRAFT DODGING CHENEY said about Congressman Jack Murtha! Murtha is one of just a few I respect in congress. This is written by a navy veteran with a son that is a retired marine whos son[my grandson]is a army warrant officer A blackhawk pilot that just thank God, returned ALIVE from Iraq!
The Iraq war
Thank you, may God bless you and keep you strong. Peace.
support jack murtha
i support jack murtha on bring our troops home now!
We are loosing the war. It's
We are loosing the war. It's on their turf. It could continue for 18 years. We need to care more about human life.
Signed.
A Veteran