Former Vice President Dick Cheney told CNN's John King today that the Bush administration achieved "nearly everything we set out to do" in Iraq.I'm tempted to let the statement speak for itself.
But I have to wonder a few things — well, actually, more than a few things, but I'll try to contain myself:
- Does "nearly everything" mean a war that continues, almost six years after it began, and has cost American taxpayers more than $600 billion?
- "We have succeeded in creating in the heart of the Middle East a democratically governed Iraq," Cheney said, "and it is in fact what we set out to do."
I think Seth Meyers should devote one of his "Really!?!" segments on "Saturday Night Live" to that statement.
Whatever happened to the "weapons of mass destruction," which, as you may recall, was the original — indeed, the only — justification given for invading Iraq? - Did the Bush administration really plan to lose nearly 5,000 American lives, not to mention tens of thousands of Iraqi lives?
And that doesn't include the thousands of lives that were permanently changed when bodies were maimed by roadside bombs.
Let's poll the families of the Americans who have died in Iraq — or the Americans who came back to this country without a limb or two — and see if they feel the mission was accomplished.
And then let's ask the Americans who continue to foot the bill for the war if they feel the investment was worth it.
Or could we have found better uses for more than $600 billion here at home?
4 comments:
You're too nice. Of course you hammered away at some of the dishonorable things the Bush/Cheney did, but in my opinion you didn't go far enough. I know, I know, that the Obama team has cautioned us to focus on the future and not dwell in the past. But I can't help it. I want those guys nailed just like the Nazis were nailed for crimes against humanity.
Let's see:
1)The invasion of Iraq cost 30,ooo civilian lives
2) The invasion of a sovereign country violates international law
3)Abu Graib torture (proudly hailed by Chaney) violated the Geneva Conventions
4)Waterboarding and torture at Gitmo clearly violated the Geneva Conventions
5) Denying habeas corpus to Americans arrested under the Patriot Act smacks at the base of the U.S. Constitution
6) Deny habeas corpus and right to counsel to Americans held as enemy combatants violated the U.S. Constitution
7) Lying to the American public by asserting that Iraq was involved with the terrorist attack on 9/11 wasn't a violation of law but it was a violation of our faith in his leadership
8) Lying about WMDs wasn't a violation of law either, but it sent our national credibility to hell
9) Almost 5000 wonderful Americans killed for a place that isn't worth a fingernail let alone a life
10) More than 30,000 Americans scared for life from wounds they received there
Remember the Repubs went after Clinton at a cost of $40 million to discover his indiscretions at the White House, and they impeached him. In this case we Americans seem to think it ok to let the above infractions to fade into oblivion.
Well, Del, I appreciate your thoughts. But the fact is that I have written about many of these points in previous posts. I also argued against invading Iraq at the time, but very few people were interested in what I had to say. They were all gung-ho to boycott French fries.
I would also point out that, a few days before Bush left office, I posted my call for the Bush administration to be thoroughly investigated by Congress.
I still believe Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld and the rest of the administration should be brought before congressional committees and required to justify their actions under the Constitution. If they cannot do so, they should be charged with violating the law.
Now, as long as you bring up the investigation into Clinton's activities, let me address that. I've never said that what Bill Clinton did was appropriate. But I never believed it was a sound basis for impeachment.
I sympathize with your outrage over the actions of the Bush administration. But, if you'll go back and read the things I've written, I have never advocated permitting the previous administration's "infractions to fade into oblivion."
Ok David
I am new in this wonderful media tool. Naivete isn't an excuse but it's all I've got.
I apologize for being too direct and will try to back way the hell up before I go on a tirade on your post.
Del,
I don't mind tirades. I occasionally go on one myself!
I still encourage you to read the posts in my archives. I've written some things that I'm damn proud of.
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