March 17, 2004
Dreams don't make noise...
A year ago on this, my favorite day of the year, I wrote about the impending invasion of Iraq. Here are a few excerpts: "Bush and his war team face the same dilemma. They don't like the answers (from the people) so they avoid the questions on the road to Baghdad. Bush's lone news conference was so scripted it became a skit on Saturday Night Live...The people are told that they must support their leaders in war and vilify any dissent while troops are in harm's way. If there is no war, declare one. If there is no threat, create one."
One year later the truth continues to ooze out. The Bush administration lied about the CIA briefings of the U.N.; the U.S. worked with the Brits to bug the offices of Secretary General Annan; there were no nuclear or biological weapons; our source was not the U.N. inspectors but exiles who would benefit from the killing of Saddam; there was no threat so, as I suggested here last St. Patrick's day, "If there is no threat, create one." Little did I know they were reading FightingBob.com.
Willie Nelson provided the background music: "Dreams don't make noise when they die." Since last year, 565 U.S. soldiers are dead, thousands have lost limbs, memory, or, in many cases, any chance for a normal life. But equally important, thousands and thousands of innocent civilians have died because of our country. My country and your country. The country of Woodie Gutherie, Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy, Sheila and Paul Wellstone, and yes, Bob La Follette.
There is an old Irish saying that "If you live long enough, the world will surely break your heart." I cannot fully accept that prediction, but my heart aches for those who have suffered because our country made a series of irresponsible and reckless decisions to create a war for political gain. Shame on us. Yes, us, because we didn't stop them.
post a letter about this blog »
current
--------
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003