I keep hearing and reading pieces by Ted Kennedy about the Iraq war. This latest one is reminiscent of politics of days past, the kind of things political bosses used to say. Ted Kennedy is and forever will be a democratic icon. We're so very very lucky to have him, his voice, and his pen.
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20040329&s=kennedysnip!
A year ago, the United States went to war, although Iraq was not an imminent threat and had no nuclear weapons, no persuasive link to Al Qaeda, no connection to the September 11 terrorist attacks and no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction. In the months leading up to war, President George W. Bush failed to keep the fundamental bond of trust between the American people and the President by misusing the facts in the push toward war and depriving citizens of an honest debate on the wisdom of that war. The Bush Administration has broken faith with the American people, who expect their Presidents to give them all the facts--not just the convenient ones--as the nation decides on war.
..snip...
Election politics trumped foreign policy and national security. As the campaign season entered its final stages, Administration officials appeared repeatedly in public making a case for a war unsupported by the facts. In late August, Vice President Cheney told Americans, "Many of us are convinced that Saddam will acquire nuclear weapons fairly soon." From the Rose Garden in October, President Bush called Iraq "a gathering threat to the security of America and to the future of peace" and said that the Iraqi regime was "a threat of unique urgency." Numerous other statements were orchestrated to alarm the public by emphasizing the danger of a nuclear Saddam and his ties to Al Qaeda, although the statements had no basis in fact.
...snip...
At our best, America is a great and generous country, ever looking forward, ever seeking a better nation for our people and a better world for peoples everywhere. I'm optimistic that these high ideals will be restored and revitalized by the American people in November. The election cannot come too soon.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
