From You
Women in Black
originally published February 14, 2007
On Saturday, Feb. 17, from 12 to 1 p.m., The Women in Black will hold a special peace vigil at the Arch in downtown Athens. We will be commemorating four years of our silent vigils for peace, which began in February, 2003, a month before the start of the Iraq War. We wish to thank all those who have stood with us through cold, rain, or extreme heat, and to invite others to join us each week on Tuesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Arch.
On Saturday, Feb. 17, there will also be peace demonstrations across Georgia and the nation, working to ask Congress to end the war.
As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote, “History is cluttered with the wreckage of nations and individuals that pursued this self-defeating path of hate. We still have a choice today: nonviolent coexistence or violent co-annihilation.”
In Defense Of Democracy
originally published February 14, 2007
I have had about enough of neo-conservative commentators bemoaning the array of resolutions currently milling about the U.S. Congress that to one degree or another convey opposition to the president’s latest move in Iraq: “The Surge.” I am seriously beginning to wonder if those types really believe in democracy, even when its inconvenient for them to do so.
Don’t get me wrong. I know what’s going on here. Non-binding resolutions are a way for congress people to grandstand, and appear to be doing something without really doing anything of consequence at all. And a part of me really sympathizes with those who believe that the activities currently under way are a colossal waste of time. But, I depart company from those say the current exercises of congressional prerogatives endanger our troops and embolden our enemies.
Our enemies seem pretty emboldened already. And our troops are already in serious danger. They have been placed in danger because of ill-conceived, ideologically driven, poorly executed strategic decision-making which has taken place in the executive branch of this government. The current neo-con complaining is a rhetorical attempt to shift the blame for this possible foreign policy failure from where it clearly belongs. And it will not work. The American people have wised up.
The current display of Congressional bravado is a part of democracy in action. It is at times transparent in its duplicity and untidy. But this is how we do things here. The congress has a voice. And so do the American people. Our president is not a king. And the Congress of the United States is not his court, that simply accepts what he says, goes off into a corner and is seen but not heard. This has been happening for far too long, to the nation’s detriment.
Ordinarily, I don’t have much use for empty symbolic gestures and posturing. But, the performance of the Congress (a co-equal branch of government) as it relates to this war from the beginning has been abysmal. And if I am honest I must confess that this current flurry of congressional activity does strike me as a bit of overcompensation for the timidity of the past. But, I am willing to overlook it in this instance. The Congress needs to reassert itself. Late is better than never. Our democracy requires it.
A Lousy Day For W
originally published February 14, 2007
"No question, 2006 was a lousy year for Iraq.” George Bush made this amazing comments a couple of weeks ago while discussing progress in Iraq. Well, George, that may be one of the truest things you’ve said in years. Here’s some other information for you, now that you seem to be half awake: Things have been lousy in Iraq for almost four years. It’s been lousy for all those who have lost their lives in a useless conflict designed by you to satisfy you and your buddies’ need for control and power. It’s been lousy for the citizens of Iraq who have endured unbelievable hardships as a result of your meddling in their affairs. It’s been lousy for that part of the world where violence is now a part of everyday life.
Of course not everything has been lousy, George. Defense contractors have profited handsomely over the last four years. Supplying your war on terror is good business for them. The big oil companies seem to be doing well too. Their profits have never been higher and they hope to have their greedy fingers in most of the oil production in Iraq. Large contracting companies are making a fortune on no-bid contracts keeping this ill-conceived war going. The $362 billion spent so far have made all of them and others very happy and there’s nothing lousy about it if you’re in the war-for-profit business.
Now you say you have a new, improved plan. A plan, once again, you assure us will work. You want to send more troops and spend more money. How creative, George. You insist that this will make things better and help solve our problems in Iraq. The 2100 additional troops you plan on sending to Iraq will surely have a lousy year or two or three. If they are lucky enough to survive their lives will forever be altered by your new plan. This sounds like a lousy thing to do to the people you work for, George. Did you happen to check the election results in November? The people are tired of your lies and mistakes and your war. On the other hand the corporations and people who profit from your war on terror will surely make more money with your new plan. Like the last four years, their profits will continue to climb. Sounds like you must work for them and not for us. If I had to pick a really lousy year, George, I would pick 2000. That was the year you were appointed President, a good year for you and your buddies and a lousy year for the rest of the world. If I could suggest a plan to you that really might work, it would be to stop your war now and resign. This would surely be a lousy day for you, but it would be a great day for the rest of us.
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