Iraq - De Ja Vu of Vietnam???
Ever since Senator Murtha spoke out on the futility of continuing our failed strategy in Iraq, the intense defiance with which the administration has pushed back is readily apparent. These guys are shrewd, vicious, and scary, and why shouldn’t they be?
They defied the United Nations and the world in the planned invasion of Iraq. They kicked the weapons inspectors out of Iraq before the invasion and before they had the chance to discover there were no WMD’s. Then with the audacity of the biggest bad bully on the playground, they defied the UN and the world to do anything about it.
But they had much more going for them than a big bad bully normally has. They had a genius level propaganda minister in Karl Rove and an arrogant elitism that convinced them that a planned hatred focus on Saddam Hussein and a rally cry of patriotism would win over the majority. Then the dissenters could be labeled as not supporting the troops.
These guys are accustomed to getting their way. Now, in spite of the torture of prisoners we have already seen and the renditions to other countries, we are told our administration does not condone torture; but Dick Chaney demands we exempt the CIA. In her recent arrival in Germany, Condoleeza Rice refused to answer any questions about clandestine prison sights on the continent except to say, “we are operating under U.S. law and international obligations.” Really??
What can you expect of an arrogant president and administration considering the events described above? In spite of running roughshod over the world and a U.S. congress and it’s people, they had their way in the 2000 election.
As protected bullies are prone to do when challenged, they were outraged when Senate Murtha spoke out. I estimate that many dissenters would not expect immediate withdrawal, but at least some movement so that the 58,000 deaths of Vietnam will not become a horrific benchmark. I recently heard a portion of the 1969 speech given by President Nixon and his reasons that it would be a national disaster to withdraw from Vietnam. If you would insert Iraq for Vietnam, Bush’s speech was virtually a word for word copy of Nixon’s.
We certainly need national leadership and loyal support to succeed against such a ruthless, lavishly funded organization. I say prayers for such people as John Murtha, Barbara Boxer, Barack Obama, Howard Dean, John Edward, Nancy Pelosi and other capable leaders and that they can craft a message and policy we can support and that will resonate with the majority of voters.
Buz Cormany
Medina, OH