Pitts: "..one's willingness to acknowledge a painting is forged

[pinkpops]

is usually inverse to the price one paid to buy it.

"That's a neat summation of our present state. After Sept. 11, we wanted nothing so much as to feel safe. So some of us bought what Bush was selling — the idea that security lay not in finding a terrorist who had attacked us, but in deposing a dictator who had not.

We bought a forgery, a fake "War on Terror" for which we paid, and are still paying, a fortune in prestige, money and lives. Now we are loathe to admit what anybody can see.

No one should be surprised that this particular salesman has failed to deliver the goods. After all, we know this guy. We know his utter unwillingness to be swayed by facts..."



from the Miami Herald oped titled -

This nation bought what Bush was selling: a forgery of a war

I found at http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/10/23pitts_edit.html

[Me.]

1. What a Wonderful Way Of Putting This n/t

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Reminds me of Truman Capote: "She's a phony. But she's a REAL phony."

From Breakfast at Tiffany's.

We bought a fraudulent war, but it's a great war notwithstanding, per the Kool-Aid drinkers.

[starroute]

3. Reminds me of a Mullah Nasruddin story

Nasruddin is the Middle Eastern trickster figure and object of many Sufi teaching stories.

It seems that when Nasruddin visited India for the first time, he saw a display of chili peppers on sale at the market. Not knowing what they were, but attracted by the shiny, bright-colored fruits, he paid for an entire basket and started gobbling them up.

A short time later, a friend passed by and saw Nasruddin crying out in pain but continuing to eat the chili peppers. "Nasruddin," he said. "Those are fiery hot. They're going to keep burning your mouth. Why not just stop eating them?"

"I can't stop," said Nasruddin. "I'm not eating the peppers any more, I'm eating my money."

[pinkpops]

4. yessiree

[myomy]

5. The last line sums it up nicely,ÓAt this point, the only people being

fooled are those who want to beÓ.

[indigobusiness]

6. Ain't it the truth... Does this apply to The American Dream?

Just asking.