George Bush II is an unacceptable person

On Democracy Now! today, Amy Goodman interviewed spy author John Le Carré (real name David Cornwell) in London. She only showed part of the interview and promised that she would devote a show entirely to the interview. I am looking forward to it.

One thing Mr. Le Carré said that struck me was in reference to George Bush II,

...there are very few absolutes about human behavior. But I think a leader who does take his country to war under false pretenses is simply not an acceptable person. I don’t think that we should be weighing the rights and wrongs of that. It seems to me to be quite simply wrong.

That is so basic and so true. Yet, the Washington Courtiers in the Marble Palace refuse to vilify (or bring to justice) Bush or any of his administration who killed so many Americans and middle easterners "under false pretenses." I will say again (and I will continue to say it until the day I die), the Bushies should have been charged with War Crimes and dealt with appropriately. They are murderers in my book.

Until they are brought to justice, we are a third world country, not deserving to be standing tall with civilized countries.

A "tiny minority of people"

Did anybody besides me catch President Obama's comment at the end of his press conference Friday afternoon? To wit:

And so from a national security interest, we want to be clear about who the enemy is here. It’s a handful, a tiny minority of people who are engaging in horrific acts, and have killed Muslims more than anybody else.

Get that? The "enemy" is "a tiny minority of people" who are engaging in horrific acts. I've maintained from day one that the 9/11 attack should have been treated as a criminal conspiracy and having law enforcement, such as Interpol, pursue these criminals, who according to our President is a "tiny minority of people."

Instead, President Bush used the act of a "tiny minority of people" to declare an unending "War on Terror" and get thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of middle easterners killed with millions more displaced. President Obama continues the same prosecution. Over a "tiny minority of people."

I am surprised that no one has picked up on this comment. Maybe they are choosing to ignore it, so let me put it a slightly different way.

In addition to causing hundreds of thousands of American and middle easterners' deaths, we have spent over three trillion dollars, according to Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes. All over a "tiny minority of people."

The political elite have been sowing massive amounts of fear into the very souls of the American population to perpetuate the massive war effort, maintain the profits of the military industrial complex and keep America "safe" from these terrifying, evil "tiny minority of people." They who will creep into our bedrooms and slit our throats at any moment if we don't watch out!

A "tiny minority of people" threaten our "national security," and the United States as we know it will be taken down forever by a "handful" of these pseudo-masterminds if we don't throw three trillion dollars and over 5,000 American lives at them. And we're continuing this blasphemy to this day and beyond - A "Forever War"...

Since the inception of the United States there have been a "tiny minority of people" who have plotted against it. Same as any other country in the world having a "tiny minority of people" plot against them.

Doesn't anybody get what's going on?

Cable news anchors: Journalists? Not!

I just ran into another shining example of the vapid newsreaders who are described as "journalists" in our Mainstream Media. CNN's Tony Harris was anchoring on Labor Day when it came over the wire that a member of the Little Rock Nine had passed away. The cable news show got on the line one of the Little Rock Nine to comment on it. Her name was "Minniejean Brown-Trickey."

Now, granted, I wouldn't hold that anyone could remember the names involved in an event the occurred in 1957. But a little research (i.e., Journalistic behavior) would have pulled up the names of the nine lickety-split. I did it in about five seconds. And laptops wired to the Internet are ubiquitous on cable news shows.

Instead, our intrepid anchor Mr. Harris proceeded to call her "Millie." She corrected him, but he wasn't even listening to her and proceeded to call her "Millie" a second time. Again, she corrected him and he finally got it right.

Interestingly, the transcript (below) edits out the second time he calls her "Millie" and the second time she corrects him. I was watching it live and I distinctly remember both corrections:

HARRIS: This just in to CNN. Jefferson Thomas, one of the Little Rock Nine members, has passed away, we're just learning. And you remember the Little Rock Nine, nine black high school students who really are heroes of the civil rights movement, who braved segregationist mobs to integrate an all-white high school, Little Rock Central High.

I believe we have someone on the phone with us.

Millie (sic) is on the phone with us?

MINNEJEAN BROWN TRICKEY, ONE OF "LITTLE ROCK NINE": It's Minniejean.

HARRIS: Minnie, it's good to talk to you.

TRICKEY: Thank you.

Now why would CNN edit out the second mistake? Is it to make their anchor look not as, shall we say, "vapid" as he is? I thought transcripts were supposed to be accurate quotes of on-air conversations. Apparently, CNN is pulling a little CYA and painting their anchors in the best possible light and to heck with accuracy.

Also, don't you just love that he makes it sound like he new all about the story...like it was right there in his razor sharp head, and of course we had to know too, since it was a Very Important Story back then:

And you remember the Little Rock Nine, nine black high school students who really are heroes of the civil rights movement, who braved segregationist mobs to integrate an all-white high school, Little Rock Central High.

Of course, I remember! I was just thinking about it a minute ago! What a coincidence! I tell you, it's a daily occurrence with me, remembering the Little Rock Nine!

So - two examples of non-journalism. No research prior to the interview (but he remembers!) and not listening to the interviewee (just rambling on with the questions without paying attention to the what's being said).

It just goes to show that the anchor "journalists" are reading what's put before them or echoing what's put into their earphones and not bothering to delve into the story. And the media corporations love it. Far be it that CNN's crack "journalists" do any investigating (or any other cable news network, for that matter).

The Power of Nightmares: Great viewing

I watched a three-part series (one hour long each) yesterday produced in Britain called "The Power of Nightmares." Excellent look at the rise of "terrorism" starting thirty-forty years ago with a middle easterner watching teens dance to "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and getting an inspiration. Here is the opening of the series:

In the past, politicians promised to create a better world. They had different ways of achieving this. But their power and authority came from the optimistic visions they offered to their people. Those dreams failed. And today, people have lost faith in ideologies. Increasingly, politicians are seen simply as managers of public life. But now, they have discovered a new role that restores their power and authority. Instead of delivering dreams, politicians now promise to protect us from nightmares. They say that they will rescue us from dreadful dangers that we cannot see and do not understand. And the greatest danger of all is international terrorism. A powerful and sinister network, with sleeper cells in countries across the world. A threat that needs to be fought by a war on terror.

But much of this threat is a fantasy, which has been exaggerated and distorted by politicians. It’s a dark illusion that has spread unquestioned through governments around the world, the security services, and the international media.

This is a series of films about how and why that fantasy was created, and who it benefits. At the heart of the story are two groups: the American neoconservatives, and the radical Islamists. Both were idealists who were born out of the failure of the liberal dream to build a better world. And both had a very similar explanation for what caused that failure. These two groups have changed the world, but not in the way that either intended. Together, they created today’s nightmare vision of a secret, organized evil that threatens the world. A fantasy that politicians then found restored their power and authority in a disillusioned age. And those with the darkest fears became the most powerful.

And here are the closing remarks of part three:

In a society that believes in nothing, fear becomes the only agenda. Whilst the 20th century was dominated between a conflict between a free-market Right and a socialist Left, even though both of those outlooks had their limitations and their problems, at least they believed in something, whereas what we are seeing now is a society that believes in nothing. And a society that believes in nothing is particularly frightened by people who believe in anything, and, therefore, we label those people as fundamentalists or fanatics, and they have much greater purchase in terms of the fear that they instill in society than they truly deserve. But that’s a measure of how much we have become isolated and atomised rather than of their inherent strength.

But the fear will not last, and just as the dreams that politicians once promised turned out to be illusions, so, too, will the nightmares, and then our politicians will have to face the fact that they have no visions, either good or bad, to offer us any longer.

Of particular note to me was this "Bush Doctrine," British-style called the "Precautionary Principle" (note the Orwellian overtones):

...the precautionary principle says that not having the evidence that something might be a problem is not a reason for not taking action as if it were a problem. That’s a very famous triple-negative phrase that effectively says that action without evidence is justified. It requires imagining what the worst might be and applying that imagination upon the worst evidence that currently exists.

And a "mysterious" philosopher (Leo Strauss) from the 50s and 60s held this belief that rings down to today:

Strauss believed that the liberal idea of individual freedom led people to question everything—all values, all moral truths. Instead, people were led by their own selfish desires. And this threatened to tear apart the shared values which held society together. But there was a way to stop this, Strauss believed. It was for politicians to assert powerful and inspiring myths that everyone could believe in. They might not be true, but they were necessary illusions. One of these was religion; the other was the myth of the nation. And in America, that was the idea that the country had a unique destiny to battle the forces of evil throughout the world.

And how about this re the "Dirty Bomb" scenario?:

VO: And Abu Zubaydah also told his interrogators of a terrifying new weapon the Islamists intended to use: an explosive device that could spray radiation through cities, the “dirty bomb.”

[ EXCERPT , CBS EVENING NEWS ]

DAN RATHER : First, a CBS News exclusive about a captured Al Qaeda leader who says his fellow terrorists have the know-how to build a very dangerous weapon and get it to the United States.

VO: And the media took the bait. They portrayed the dirty bomb as an extraordinary weapon that would kill thousands of people, and, in the process, they made the hidden enemy even more terrifying. But, in reality, the threat of a dirty bomb is yet another illusion. Its aim is to spread radioactive material through a conventional explosion, but almost all studies of such a possible weapon have concluded that the radiation spread in this way would not kill anybody because the radioactive material would be so dispersed, and, providing the area was cleaned promptly, the long-term effects would be negligible. In the past, both the American army and the Iraqi military tested such devices and both concluded that they were completely ineffectual weapons for this very reason.

[ CUT TO INTERIOR , LIVING ROOM ]

INTERVIEWER : How dangerous would a dirty bomb be?

DR THEODORE ROCKWELL , NUCLEAR SCIENTIST AND RADIATION RISK EXPERT : The deaths would be few, if any, and the answer is, probably none.

INTERVIEWER : Really?

ROCKWELL : Yes. And that’s been said over and over again, but then people immediately say after that, “But, you know, people won’t believe that, and they’ll panic.” And then all the people working on this project, you know, the defence and so forth, breathe a big sigh of relief because they got their problem back: you know, we’re gonna all panic. I don’t think it would kill anybody and I think you’ll have trouble finding a serious report that would claim otherwise. The Department of Energy actually set up such a test and they actually measured what happened. And they—they—the measurements were extremely low. They calculated that the most exposed individual would get a fairly high dose—not life-threatening, but fairly high—and I checked into how the calculation was done, and they assume that after the attack, no one moves for one year. One year. Now, that’s ridiculous.

To sum it all up:

The driving force behind these new global policies in the war on terror was the power of a dark fantasy: a sinister web of hidden and interlinked threats that stretched around the world. And such was the power of that fantasy that it also began to transform the very nature of politics because, increasingly, politicians were discovering that their ability to imagine the future and the terrible dangers it held gave them a new and heroic role in the world.

You might consider watching this in the future (I got it through Netflix). If you wish, the transcript of all three episodes can be found here.

I wrote my brother about this and he had a response that's right on point:

Good luck trying to talk someone out of believing what they read, hear and see in the media that is now owned and operated by the corporations that benefit most from perpetuating the misinformation.

Boy, howdy, amen.

Dissecting Obama's "Iraq War Is Over" speech

(Italics are my comments of the text of President Obama's speech last night)

Good evening. Tonight, I’d like to talk to you about the end of our combat mission in Iraq, the ongoing security challenges we face, and the need to rebuild our nation here at home.

Though we still have 50,000 troops and an untold number of private contractors that will be there for frakkin’ ever…

I know this historic moment comes at a time of great uncertainty for many Americans. We’ve now been through nearly a decade of war.

…And the next decade, and the next, and the next…

We’ve endured a long and painful recession.

And will continue to endure for a very long time…

And sometimes in the midst of these storms, the future that we’re trying to build for our nation -- a future of lasting peace and long-term prosperity -- may seem beyond our reach.

It will be - what with the kowtowing to moneyed interests needing war for profit and not the people who need government assistance ("We can't increase the deficits caused by expensive wars!")…

But this milestone should serve as a reminder to all Americans that the future is ours to shape if we move forward with confidence and commitment.

Rest assured Wall Street and Military Industrial complex, you’re safe in my hands…

It should also serve as a message to the world that the United States of America intends to sustain and strengthen our leadership in this young century.

Our imperialism will not falter in these deficit-heavy times…

From this desk, seven and a half years ago, President Bush announced the beginning of military operations in Iraq.

And used every bogus, false excuse in the book (not to mention the Main Stream Media jumping on the bandwagon) to get the country behind him…

Much has changed since that night.

We’re 4,400 fewer (American deaths in Iraq), heavily in debt, etc.

A war to disarm a state became a fight against an insurgency.

Duh! Who'd a thunk that would happen??

Terrorism and sectarian warfare threatened to tear Iraq apart.

Gee…I wonder what brought that on?

Thousands of Americans gave their lives; tens of thousands have been wounded. Our relations abroad were strained. Our unity at home was tested.

Heckuva job, Bushie!

These are the rough waters encountered during the course of one of America’s longest wars.

“Rough waters?” 4,400 dead Americans, a million dead Iraqis and over a million displaced Iraqis and it’s “rough waters”? Give me a break…

Yet there has been one constant amidst these shifting tides. At every turn, America’s men and women in uniform have served with courage and resolve. As Commander-in-Chief, I am incredibly proud of their service. And like all Americans, I’m awed by their sacrifice, and by the sacrifices of their families.

Me, too…too bad it was for all the wrong reasons…

The Americans who have served in Iraq completed every mission they were given. They defeated a regime that had terrorized its people. Together with Iraqis and coalition partners who made huge sacrifices of their own, our troops fought block by block to help Iraq seize the chance for a better future. They shifted tactics to protect the Iraqi people, trained Iraqi Security Forces, and took out terrorist leaders. Because of our troops and civilians -- and because of the resilience of the Iraqi people -- Iraq has the opportunity to embrace a new destiny, even though many challenges remain.

Like how to we can get a monopoly on their oil…

So tonight, I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country.

It will never be over. Like Okinawa and Germany, our hegemony will reign for decades… They will do what we tell them or there will be another regime change…

This was my pledge to the American people as a candidate for this office. Last February, I announced a plan that would bring our combat brigades out of Iraq, while redoubling our efforts to strengthen Iraq’s Security Forces and support its government and people.

"Support"…as in "dictate"…

That’s what we’ve done. We’ve removed nearly 100,000 U.S. troops from Iraq. We’ve closed or transferred to the Iraqis hundreds of bases. And we have moved millions of pieces of equipment out of Iraq.

But millions more remain…

This completes a transition to Iraqi responsibility for their own security. U.S. troops pulled out of Iraq’s cities last summer, and Iraqi forces have moved into the lead with considerable skill and commitment to their fellow citizens. Even as Iraq continues to suffer terrorist attacks, security incidents have been near the lowest on record since the war began. And Iraqi forces have taken the fight to al Qaeda, removing much of its leadership in Iraqi-led operations.

Now that’s funny, seeing as how Al-Qaeda wasn’t there in the first place when we attacked…

This year also saw Iraq hold credible elections that drew a strong turnout.

And months later they still don’t have a functioning government…

A caretaker administration is in place as Iraqis form a government based on the results of that election. Tonight, I encourage Iraq’s leaders to move forward with a sense of urgency to form an inclusive government that is just, representative, and accountable to the Iraqi people. And when that government is in place, there should be no doubt: The Iraqi people will have a strong partner in the United States. Our combat mission is ending, but our commitment to Iraq’s future is not.

“Strong partner” as in do what we say…or else!

Going forward, a transitional force of U.S. troops will remain in Iraq with a different mission: advising and assisting Iraq’s Security Forces, supporting Iraqi troops in targeted counterterrorism missions, and protecting our civilians. Consistent with our agreement with the Iraqi government, all U.S. troops will leave by the end of next year.

And even more private. corrupt contractors will enter…

As our military draws down, our dedicated civilians -- diplomats, aid workers, and advisors -- are moving into the lead to support Iraq as it strengthens its government, resolves political disputes, resettles those displaced by war, and builds ties with the region and the world. That’s a message that Vice President Biden is delivering to the Iraqi people through his visit there today.

This way we will still control exactly what they can and cannot do in order to exploit their resources…

This new approach reflects our long-term partnership with Iraq -- one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect.

And impose our imperialism on yet another country…

Of course, violence will not end with our combat mission. Extremists will continue to set off bombs, attack Iraqi civilians and try to spark sectarian strife. But ultimately, these terrorists will fail to achieve their goals. Iraqis are a proud people. They have rejected sectarian war, and they have no interest in endless destruction. They understand that, in the end, only Iraqis can resolve their differences and police their streets. Only Iraqis can build a democracy within their borders. What America can do, and will do, is provide support for the Iraqi people as both a friend and a partner.

Only as long as they do exactly what we want them to…

Ending this war is not only in Iraq’s interest -- it’s in our own. The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people. We have sent our young men and women to make enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home.

Again, all on bogus reasons…

We’ve persevered because of a belief we share with the Iraqi people -- a belief that out of the ashes of war, a new beginning could be born in this cradle of civilization. Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility.

Yes, the military industrial complex made their huge profits, we’ve got a choke hold on the oil…

Now, it’s time to turn the page.

We must look forward, not back. No one will ever be held responsible for this most murderous act…

As we do, I’m mindful that the Iraq war has been a contentious issue at home.

No sh*t! Mindful? What a platitude…

Here, too, it’s time to turn the page. This afternoon, I spoke to former President George W. Bush. It’s well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset. Yet no one can doubt President Bush’s support for our troops, or his love of country and commitment to our security.

His love for special interests, you mean. Not the people, definitely not the people…

As I’ve said, there were patriots who supported this war, and patriots who opposed it. And all of us are united in appreciation for our servicemen and women, and our hopes for Iraqis’ future.

At least he didn’t call those dissenters “traitors” as was done during the Bush years…

The greatness of our democracy is grounded in our ability to move beyond our differences, and to learn from our experience as we confront the many challenges ahead. And no challenge is more essential to our security than our fight against al Qaeda.

Yep, we must keep the "forever war" going for the profiteers who pay into your coffers, Mr. President…

Americans across the political spectrum supported the use of force against those who attacked us on 9/11.

Only because they were intentionally mislead by our leaders, and there were a great many who were opposed, but totally ignored…

Now, as we approach our 10th year of combat in Afghanistan, there are those who are understandably asking tough questions about our mission there. But we must never lose sight of what’s at stake. As we speak, al Qaeda continues to plot against us, and its leadership remains anchored in the border regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan. We will disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda, while preventing Afghanistan from again serving as a base for terrorists. And because of our drawdown in Iraq, we are now able to apply the resources necessary to go on offense. In fact, over the last 19 months, nearly a dozen al Qaeda leaders -- and hundreds of al Qaeda’s extremist allies -- have been killed or captured around the world.

Let’s hear it for “Whack-A-Mole” in perpetuity! Endless profits!

Within Afghanistan, I’ve ordered the deployment of additional troops who -- under the command of General David Petraeus -- are fighting to break the Taliban’s momentum.

Gotta keep the war profits up!

As with the surge in Iraq, these forces will be in place for a limited time to provide space for the Afghans to build their capacity and secure their own future.

Same thought as Iraq, and look where Iraq’s “government” is, but definitely more imperialistic territory to lord over…

But, as was the case in Iraq, we can’t do for Afghans what they must ultimately do for themselves. That’s why we’re training Afghan Security Forces and supporting a political resolution to Afghanistan’s problems. And next August, we will begin a transition to Afghan responsibility. The pace of our troop reductions will be determined by conditions on the ground, and our support for Afghanistan will endure. But make no mistake: This transition will begin -- because open-ended war serves neither our interests nor the Afghan people’s.

I’m telling you…this is the same-old, same-old BS as Iraq…

Indeed, one of the lessons of our effort in Iraq is that American influence around the world is not a function of military force alone. We must use all elements of our power -- including our diplomacy, our economic strength, and the power of America’s example -- to secure our interests and stand by our allies. And we must project a vision of the future that’s based not just on our fears, but also on our hopes -- a vision that recognizes the real dangers that exist around the world, but also the limitless possibilities of our time.

Our empire will prevail!

Today, old adversaries are at peace, and emerging democracies are potential partners. New markets for our goods stretch from Asia to the Americas. A new push for peace in the Middle East will begin here tomorrow. Billions of young people want to move beyond the shackles of poverty and conflict. As the leader of the free world, America will do more than just defeat on the battlefield those who offer hatred and destruction -- we will also lead among those who are willing to work together to expand freedom and opportunity for all people.

Notice the egocentrism of the “leader of the free world” comment. Not ONE of the leaders, but THE leader. More imperial rhetoric to notify the rest of the world who rules the roost…

Now, that effort must begin within our own borders. Throughout our history, America has been willing to bear the burden of promoting liberty and human dignity overseas, understanding its links to our own liberty and security.

“…willing to bear the burden…”? How about, "We’re doing it, whether you like it or not!"

But we have also understood that our nation’s strength and influence abroad must be firmly anchored in our prosperity at home. And the bedrock of that prosperity must be a growing middle class.

The middle class is gone, kaput. Decades away from ever being close to what it was, if ever…

Unfortunately, over the last decade, we’ve not done what’s necessary to shore up the foundations of our own prosperity. We spent a trillion dollars at war, often financed by borrowing from overseas. This, in turn, has short-changed investments in our own people, and contributed to record deficits.

So let’s raid the Social Security vault and fight anything that increases the deficit…other than the Afghan was, of course…screw our infrastructure!

For too long, we have put off tough decisions on everything from our manufacturing base to our energy policy to education reform. As a result, too many middle-class families find themselves working harder for less, while our nation’s long-term competitiveness is put at risk.

Try the last forty years “working harder for less.” This began a long time ago. We no longer are the manufacturing giant we once were, we’ve never had a comprehensive energy policy, and our education system is grossly underfunded not to mention skyrocketing college tuition…

And so at this moment, as we wind down the war in Iraq, we must tackle those challenges at home with as much energy, and grit, and sense of common purpose as our men and women in uniform who have served abroad. They have met every test that they faced. Now, it’s our turn. Now, it’s our responsibility to honor them by coming together, all of us, and working to secure the dream that so many generations have fought for
 -- the dream that a better life awaits anyone who is willing to work for it and reach for it.

As long as you’re rich or politically powerful. Anyone else, forget it! Though we will spew platitudes to calm the population while knifing them in the back.

Our most urgent task is to restore our economy, and put the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work. To strengthen our middle class, we must give all our children the education they deserve, and all our workers the skills that they need to compete in a global economy. We must jumpstart industries that create jobs, and end our dependence on foreign oil. We must unleash the innovation that allows new products to roll off our assembly lines, and nurture the ideas that spring from our entrepreneurs. This will be difficult. But in the days to come, it must be our central mission as a people, and my central responsibility as President.

Pure rhetoric. How many decades have we heard, “end our dependence on foreign oil”? As I said before, the education system is defunct, and manufacturing is no longer the giant it once was and will never be again…

Part of that responsibility is making sure that we honor our commitments to those who have served our country with such valor. As long as I am President, we will maintain the finest fighting force that the world has ever known, and we will do whatever it takes to serve our veterans as well as they have served us. This is a sacred trust. That’s why we’ve already made one of the largest increases in funding for veterans in decades. We’re treating the signature wounds of today’s wars -- post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury -- while providing the health care and benefits that all of our veterans have earned. And we’re funding a Post-9/11 GI Bill that helps our veterans and their families pursue the dream of a college education. Just as the GI Bill helped those who fought World War II -- including my grandfather -- become the backbone of our middle class, so today’s servicemen and women must have the chance to apply their gifts to expand the American economy. Because part of ending a war responsibly is standing by those who have fought it.

Let’s hope he at least adheres to this. Bush certainly didn't what with trying to raise the co-pay, billing the wounded for equipment lost when they were wounded, buying cheap, less effective armor so the profits can soar at the expense of keeping our military personnel safe, etc.…

Two weeks ago, America’s final combat brigade in Iraq -- the Army’s Fourth Stryker Brigade -- journeyed home in the pre-dawn darkness. Thousands of soldiers and hundreds of vehicles made the trip from Baghdad, the last of them passing into Kuwait in the early morning hours. Over seven years before, American troops and coalition partners had fought their way across similar highways, but this time no shots were fired. It was just a convoy of brave Americans, making their way home.

And then be re-assigned to Afghanistan to potentially be killed there…

Of course, the soldiers left much behind. Some were teenagers when the war began. Many have served multiple tours of duty, far from families who bore a heroic burden of their own, enduring the absence of a husband’s embrace or a mother’s kiss. Most painfully, since the war began, 55 members of the Fourth Stryker Brigade made the ultimate sacrifice -- part of over 4,400 Americans who have given their lives in Iraq. As one staff sergeant said, “I know that to my brothers in arms who fought and died, this day would probably mean a lot.”

Such a tragic waste…and no one will be held responsible for this reprehensible act…

Those Americans gave their lives for the values that have lived in the hearts of our people for over two centuries. Along with nearly 1.5 million Americans who have served in Iraq, they fought in a faraway place for people they never knew. They stared into the darkest of human creations -- war -- and helped the Iraqi people seek the light of peace.

So that we can exploit their resources to the fullest and to expand our imperialism…

In an age without surrender ceremonies, we must earn victory through the success of our partners and the strength of our own nation. Every American who serves joins an unbroken line of heroes that stretches from Lexington to Gettysburg; from Iwo Jima to Inchon; from Khe Sanh to Kandahar -- Americans who have fought to see that the lives of our children are better than our own. Our troops are the steel in our ship of state. And though our nation may be travelling through rough waters, they give us confidence that our course is true, and that beyond the pre-dawn darkness, better days lie ahead.

Our children will be worse off than us…there’s that “rough waters” BS again…our course IS true – expanding our hegemony and maintaining war profits…

Thank you. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America, and all who serve her.

I guess Allah isn’t going to bless us anytime soon…