Rall: Pro-War Pols Don't Deserve a Political Future

[Raster]

Published on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 by TedRall.com
by Ted Rall

DENVER--The congressmen and senators who lined up to cast their yeas and nays on October 11, 2002 knew that they were casting one of the most, if not the most, important votes of their political careers. Public Law 107-243, 116 Stat. 1497-1502, the result of the vote to authorize the Bush Administration to attack Iraq, would have incalculable moral, economic and geopolitical implications for the long-term future of the United States. But not every congressman put the interests of his country ahead of his career prospects. With George W. Bush still riding high in the polls less than a year after 9/11, it took courage and foresight--the ability to see a future in which the public would sour on Bush and his wars--to defy him.

As is often the case during times of crisis, when history tests the mettle of men and women, courage and foresight were in short supply. Fewer than a third--156 out of 529--dared to vote no.

Four years later, the Iraq war resolution reads like a classic of embarrassingly brazen propaganda. It says that Iraq posed a "threat to the national security of the United States," something that anyone with access to a map knew couldn't possibly be true. (Iraq's longest-range missiles had a maximum range of 500 miles.) It includes the debunked statements that Iraq had "a significant chemical and biological weapons capability" and was "actively seeking a nuclear weapons capability" .

It's obvious to the 59 percent of Americans who think the war was a mistake that the 296 representatives and 77 senators who voted for this ridiculous tripe showed a spectacular lack of good judgment. As a result, nearly 2500 American troops are dead. So are 200,000 Iraqis. Between 18,000 and 48,000 U.S. troops have been wounded. We have no idea how many Iraqis have been crippled--perhaps over one million. Nearly $300 billion--more than 100 times the total amount spent to protect American cities from another 9/11--has been wasted.

If Iraq were a stock, it would be Enron. Thousands killed and billions spent, but what return have we received on our investment? The contempt of the entire world, radicalizing Muslims, soaring debts and the disturbing confirmation that our troops include mass murderers as well as torturers and concentration camp guards. Iraqi resistance fighters, outgunned and outmanned, own the cities and roadways.

Are we losing? Only an optimist would say that. We lost before we started.

<snippity do dah>

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0607-24.htm

[Selatius]

1. Goering and Goebbels would be proud of IWR's effect on politicians

As Goering said:

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger. It works the same way in any country."

-- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials


Bush Co.'s Iraq War Resolution was a stunning propaganda victory.

[Raster]

2. the Iraq was has been a complete suspension of common sense...

and reality. Yes, herr goebbels would have been proud indeed.

[freesqueeze]

3. "If Iraq were a stock, it would be Enron."

NO JOKE!



While they send other people's children to fight and die for this war, their own kids stay safe at home.

[yurbud]

4. I asked Ray McGovern if Congress fooled , intimidated

or just agreed with the real goals of the war.

As someone old enough to remember the Cold War when we stared down the Soviets who had at least as many nukes as us, it's hard to believe that those in Congress who are even older than me could have fallen for that WMD shit.

McGovern agreed and said it was more likely the other two.