Yesterday Mr. Bush pulled off a coup he and his cronies have been aiming at from the beginning –permanent bases for American troops in the Middle East. This move comes as no surprise to those who have done their research on the neo-con motives for the war in Iraq, but others will undoubtedly miss its import.
To really get the picture, you must be familiar with the seminal neo-con document, “Rebuilding America’s Defenses”. Long time readers can skip this paragraph. It’s old hat to you. But for those who still don’t know exactly why we invaded Iraq, here’s the reference that explains it all: www.newamericancentury.org Go there and open the paper, Rebuilding America’s Defenses. This is a report that was presented to George W. Bush’s campaign committee on international affairs in September, 2000 – a full year before 9-11.
Be sure to check out the list of contributors. You’ll find a lot of familiar BushCo names. You’ll want to read the whole thing, but initially you can save a little time by going right to page 14. There you can verify that I’m not misleading you when I say you’ll find the single line that entirely sums it up. In the middle of the right hand column it says, “While the unresolved conflict with Iraq provides the immediate justification, the need for a substantial American force presence in the Gulf transcends the issue of the regime of Saddam Hussein.”
Now, after six years of fighting at the cost of billions of dollars, thousands of lives, and untold Iraqi property, Mr. Bush has signed a document binding his successors to either delivering or have to weasel out of one of the primary goals his backers sought from the outset of his bid for the presidency – that permanent American military presence in the Gulf.
Love it or hate it; like it or lump it; you and your grandchildren are now obligated to the continued drainage of your wealth down the sump that our rash action in invading the sovereign nation of Iraq has created.
If this “accomplishment” is your idea of a dream, I promise the day will come when you, too, will come to see it as a nightmare. I do not believe that America will enjoy a single day of total comfort with its presence in that country. I do not believe that the time will ever come when we can reasonably expect that no American will be in jeopardy for having been sent to that country. I do not believe that this will do anything to stem the tide of terrorism and anti-Americanism around the world, but rather will add fuel to the anti-American fires smoldering throughout the Arab world.
So congratulations W. You got your way, but once again, just like the day you strutted across the deck in your victory flight suit, you have proven that you have the anti-Midas touch. Everything you touch turns to lead, and our nation and the world suffer for it.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. -- M. K. Gandhi
Individually we have little voice. Collectively we cannot be ignored.
But in silence we surrender our power. Yours in Peace -- BR
The reason for going was to keep the crude flowing and raise a false flag abroad. – from a poem by Jack Evans titled 3500 Souls - http://www.myspace.com/paralegal_eagle
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2 comments:
This commentary should be printed in the NY Times or the Washington Post.
99% of Americans have no idea what that peice of paper signed yesterday means. Is is possible that since they did not call it a "treaty" that the next administration can ignore it?
Kathy -
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. My understanding is that in legal terms the agreement is not binding, but that, in reality, so much will have gone forward by the time Mr. Bush leaves office that it would be very difficult diplomatically and militarily to fail to honor the agreement.
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