Lies, and More Lies

In the latter part of 2002, and through the first part of March of 2003, President George W. Bush and  his claque of war-mongering neo-cons and fellow travelers, aided by craven, weak, lick-spittle members of the House of Representatives and Senate, conspired to send our soldiers to war.  I say conspired because that is accurate. 

The vile repugnant scum (which includes any Democrat that turned a blind eye for whatever reason) that sent our soldiers to war told the American people that the United States needed to invade Iraq in order to prevent the development of "weapons of mass destruction" (known as CBRN - Chemical, Biological Nuclear, Radiological - in the military parlance).  They told the American people that Iraq had been attempting to buy key components for making nuclear weapons... The President of the United States made that claim on national television... even when he knew that it wasn't true.

Even when he knew it wasn't true.

So, as if that wasn't enough, President Bush, Vice President "I'll-shoot-you-in-the-face" Cheney, and others in the administration of evil, began to discuss the Iraq-911 connection, and the Iraq- Al Qaeda connections.  Our leaders told us these things were true... but they weren't.  Oh, it wasn't bad intelligence, no.  It was a collection of lies.

Lies.

The President of the United States lied to you, to me, to your children and to posterity.

No... not a lie about getting a series of sexual favors from someone who wasn't his wife.

No... not a lie meant to cover up some sort of personal failure or even criminal activity.

These lies were going to plunge our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines into a war that would cost nearly a million lives (and counting), most of which would be civilian casualties.  These lies have wrecked our country's economy.  These lies have so deeply divided the citizens of this country, to the point where who knows if we can recover.

Oh, but the liars weren't finished yet.  They continued to lie.

Once the invasion had taken place, and the Iraqi army destroyed (oh, it wasn't destroyed, was it?  They melted away with their guns, took off their uniforms, and got ready for the "insurgency") .  We were told that Iraq had been "liberated".

Once no CBRN weapons were found, they told us that the invasion was about deposing Saddam Hussein... since he hadn't been captured right away.  Once we captured Saddam, we were told that our troops would be there "Until The Job Gets Done"... only, The President, The Secretary of Defense, and their people wouldn't tell us for many months exactly WHAT THE "JOB" WAS.

So, after blundering along, the insurgency begins in earnest, and with violence mounting against our soldiers and Iraqi civilians, the Vice President told us that the insurgency was in it's "last throes" (June, 2005).  A month where 77 Americans were killed in Iraq.

Then they told us it was to stabilize Iraq.  Yeah, to stabilize Iraq.  Anybody seeing any stability there?  No?  I don't see it, either... but hey, what do I know?

Then they told us that it was all about the war on terror.... as we are really (well some people really are) stupid enough to believe that you can fight terrorists with conventional military forces.  It doesn't work that way, folks.  Besides, the people we are fighting in Iraq are Jihadis... not terrorists in the common understanding.

As a veteran of eight years of active duty service, I am appalled at the casual use waste, with which the leadership of our government has used misused our troops.

As a father, I am sickened by the fact that my youngest child will likely be in high school before this is finished.

As a taxpayer, I am beyond furious that our leadership has mired us in a war that has destroyed our economy.

No one in America is safer because of this action.

No one in any middle eastern country... including Iraq, is any safer because of it, either.

I'm sick of it, aren't you?

Please join me in opposition to this war.  If you are wondering what you might do about it, I suggest that you start by finding out how your Congressional representatives voted on George Bush's permission slip for war.  If you believe that your representative was wrong on his or her vote.  Elect someone else.  Support an opposition candidate... and for God's good sake, please don't support ANY Presidential candidate, of whatever party (yes, that's you, Hillary) who had a part in it, for shame.

Stand up and be counted.  Now.