Remember all those old WWII movies? I used to watch them when I was a kid, but not so much anymore. Hogan's Heroes, though, I will still watch. The one thing I always knew in the back of my mind when watching those movies on TV was that the US and its allies were the good guys in that war. We did not strike a country becuase we were worried it would strike us first. We were not the aggressor.

In sixty or so years, much has changed. In 216 years, since the ratification of the Constitution, even more has changed. I am positive that most Americans have not really mentally processed what a radical shift we have made in our foreign policy. We now strike countries preemptively. I believe most Americans trust that we are a benevolent people and only inercede around the world to make that country/region a better place to live. What we believe and what our government does outside this country can be two very different things.

Most Americans believe we have liberated Iraq. They also believe there were huge celebrations in Baghdad when Saddam's statue was brought down. Most don't care that it was a staged event by our military with a bunch of Iraqi exiles doing most of the celebrating. Remember all the feel-good stories right after that? Remember there were even a few pictures of Iraqis kissing American soldiers and bringing them flowers? Not to mention--who can forget?--pResident Top Gun on the aircraft carrier telling us the war is over.

Well, for those not paying attention, there are American soldiers--as well as peace keepers and soldiers from other countries--still dying in Iraq and Afghanistan. Afghanistan you say? Oh yes, that country has apparently sunk back into pre-Taliban warlordism and the heroin is flowing like never before. Boy, that liberation sure is tricky stuff! But don't forget why we went there to begin with: women there weren't able to go outside without burkas on and couldn't attend school or go to work. What? Oasma bin who, you say? This is not about one man! What are you unpatriotic?! Don't hold me to my word!

So back to where I was before this all started. Now we, as a country, attack who we want, when we want, where we want and do not need to justify it to the world community. You are either with us or against us. Just for a moment, put yourself in the shoes of the rest of the world. You saw what happened in Afghanistan. You see what happened and is continuing to happen in Iraq. If you lived in a country other than the US, how would you be feeling about being (ahem) liberated by us? Indiscriminate and massive killing of civilians. A puppet government for the unforseeable future. Major damage to the infrastructure of your country. Major damage to your history and culture. Then, as a citizen of that country, you have to ask yourself why was this done? Then as Americans, we have to ask ourselves why this was done? I ask myself does this project my perceived American benevolence in foreign policy? I don't think so. Now comes the spinning: the administration is changing their tune. This is what your President is now saying. Notice the use of the words "had" and "weapons program":

"Intelligence throughout the decade showed that they had a weapons program," he instructed White House reporters the other day. "I am absolutely convinced with time we'll find out they did have a weapons program."

Now contrast that with this quote:

Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised. - George W. Bush, March 17, 2003

After reading those two quotes how do you think your kids, grandkids, fellow citizens will feel when watching those old Gulf War II movies?

Bernard Weiner: Germany In 1933: The Easy Slide Into Fascism.

Hans speaks out: Blix: I was smeared by the Pentagon.

The Duping of America. Many good links in this document.

Funny: An Open Letter to Rush Limbaugh.



- posted by Mom/Dad @ 8:07 AM