Fool Us Twice, Shame on Us

To the Editor:

In a recent video conference, President Bush listened as U.S. military and civilian personnel related the hardship of fighting a determined enemy in Afghanistan in some of the most rugged and treacherous terrain known to man.  This comes amid some of the most bloody fighting since Vietnam, with the Taliban fighters re-emerging, and insurgency-related violence at record levels.

Here is President Bush’s response.  “ I must say, I’m a little envious. If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed. It must be exciting for you…in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know confronting danger.”

Well, Bush did have his chance for a romantic rendezvous in Vietnam, but it appears that his zeal for romance, as well as abstinence came much later in life.
For others of more pragmatic persuasions, like John McCain, Joe Lieberman, and Dick Cheney, war is nothing more than a contrivance to achieve one’s intent.  All went to Iraq last week to insure that their investment does not slip from their grasp.

Those not afraid of the truth have come to accept that the Bush administration’s motive for the pre-emptive attack on Iraq was not the atrocities of Saddam Hussein, nor was it fear of WMD. These were excuses, not motives.

A newly obtained White House document shows that executives from the big oil companies met with Vice President Cheney’s energy task force in 2001. At the time, a major concern was Saddam’s willingness to get cozy with Russia and China regarding its vast oil resources, leaving the United States in the cold. The pre-emptive attack on Iraq did leave thousands dead and bloodied, and hundreds of thousands displaced and desolate, but Cheney did fare well.

I suspect that major U.S. oil companies will eventually seize control over Iraq’s oil. Cheney is now in Iraq to insure that no one does anything foolish like bringing the troops home. They are his means to a lavish retirement, and nothing is going to spoil that. If asked about this Cheney’s likely reply will be, “So” as he did recently when told that Americans highly disapprove of the Iraq war.

As for John McCain and Joe Lieberman, their motive is quite altruistic as compared to Dick Cheney’s, but nevertheless bad for U.S. interests and security.  John McCain has been for years joined at the hip with such pro-Israel neoconservatives as Bill Kristol, who believe that a warmongering, imperialistic America is the only effective guarantor of the permanent security of Israel.

Although McCain “shoots the breeze” about negotiations first, those in his advisory hierarchy speak of military action as the only viable action against Iran.  In a McCain presidency you can bet the kitchen sink that his first priority, and that of his presumptive Secretary of Defense (maybe Secretary of State), Joe Lieberman, will be a pre-emptive, or strategically orchestrated attack on Iran. Although not as silly as Bush, they are far more dangerous. 

For those who are troubled by the hijacking of our foreign policy by the NeoCons, you haven’t seen anything yet if McCain is elected president. Even Pat Buchanan, a staunch conservative, warns that McCain will make Cheney look like Gandhi.

Even more troubling is that McCain, while in Jordan, tried to pull a Bushism, and lied in an attempt to tie al Qaeda to Iran.  Lieberman corrected him, but it is clear this is the first in a series of sinister tactics by McCain to fool us once again into an unjustified war. Those knowledgeable about what McCain did assert that his statement was no gaff--it was intentional and for effect.

David Johnson , a Vietnam combat medic, in a previous letter to the media quoted Lord Farquaad from Shrek, “Some of you may die. But it’s a sacrifice I am willing to make.”

With an economy headed for the dumps, our infrastructure collapsing, and billions of dollars being pumped into Iraq will we be dumb enough to tack on four more years to the Bush fiasco?

Joseph J. Ohnstad
Master Sergeant, U.S. Army (retired)
Kindred, N.D.