I Lost My Son to a War I Oppose. My Democratic senators say "don't blame me"

[yurbud]

I Lost My Son to a War I Oppose. We Were Both Doing Our Duty.

By Andrew J. Bacevich
Sunday, May 27, 2007; B01


To be fair, responsibility for the war's continuation now rests no less with the Democrats who control Congress than with the president and his party. After my son's death, my state's senators, Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry, telephoned to express their condolences. Stephen F. Lynch, our congressman, attended my son's wake. Kerry was present for the funeral Mass. My family and I greatly appreciated such gestures. But when I suggested to each of them the necessity of ending the war, I got the brushoff. More accurately, after ever so briefly pretending to listen, each treated me to a convoluted explanation that said in essence: Don't blame me.

To whom do Kennedy, Kerry and Lynch listen? We know the answer: to the same people who have the ear of George W. Bush and Karl Rove -- namely, wealthy individuals and institutions.

Money buys access and influence. Money greases the process that will yield us a new president in 2008. When it comes to Iraq, money ensures that the concerns of big business, big oil, bellicose evangelicals and Middle East allies gain a hearing. By comparison, the lives of U.S. soldiers figure as an afterthought.

Memorial Day orators will say that a G.I.'s life is priceless. Don't believe it. I know what value the U.S. government assigns to a soldier's life: I've been handed the check. It's roughly what the Yankees will pay Roger Clemens per inning once he starts pitching next month.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/25/AR2007052502032_pf.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. I am so torn on this one

This man definitely knew how dangerous the war in Iraq is yet he did not try to talk his son out of serving. I would lay my body down in front of a moving truck to keep either of my boys from volunteering to serve in this illegal war. My heart just aches for this father but he was in a position to understand the mistake his son was making and yet he didn't try to stop him.

It's just an awful tragedy.

[yurbud]

4. Before the Bush years, I would tell squirrelly students and relatives to join the military

to get their shit together and so they could see what's waiting for them in a life without college.

Now our military is being used and used up too wantonly.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. The military is not a good option for our kids anymore

Sadly.

[brentspeak]

2. Where in the actual headline does it say "My Democratic senators say "don't blame me"?

[yurbud]

3. the author doesn't make up the headline that appears in the paper. the WaPo one was opaque

at best.

Mine adds a quote from the actual column, which is should be fair game.

[yurbud]

5. My comment at end of article with link to Kennedy video

Unfortunately, Bacevich is right.

When Kennedy, considered one of the most liberal senators, was asked about the oil law Bush is forcing on the Iraqis that gives up to 80% of their oil wealth to big oil, he used the exact same dodge the White House does--he pretended the only question was how oil income was divided between Iraqi groups not all Iraqis and big oil.

While few Americans are aware of this oil negotiation, if the law passes, it will ensure that we are there for decades to enforce and that Iraqis and their Arab neighbors will have their already strong (and correct) suspicions confirmed that we are there to steal.

You would think someone who opposes the war would be talking about an action that will inflame hatred and violence toward our troops--but I guess we're just getting lip service.

KENNEDY ASKED ON VIDEO:
http://professorsmartass.blogspot.com/2007/01/sen-reid-dodges-iraq-oil-privatization.html

IRAQ WAR OIL MOTIVE RESOURCES:
http://professorsmartass.blogspot.com/2006/09/iraq-oil-war-resources.html