Nightmare in America Pt.3 (Iraq)

The truth about Iraq is that we have helped perpetuate repressive regimes like Iraq for too long. Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait; at one time or another American governments and our "agencies" have helped put in place or propagated these thinly veiled dictatorships in the Middle East and elsewhere. Our trade in oil for international support has empowered and emboldened these regimes to become more authoritarian, giving them the funds, arms, and political clout to do as they choose in their backyard whilst the rest of the world is mollified.

No more. Iraq was our chance to make amends to the people of Iraq for our role in Saddam's decades of dictatorial excess.

But we did lie to the American people---yes- I voted for the war in Iraq based on the intelligence reports coming out of the White House. Yes, I stand firmly behind our troops who are there. But those lies are now responsible for this mission becoming an occupation rather than a liberation.

When President Bush lied to the American people about why we were invading Iraq, when President Bush lied to the UN, to the Security Council- to the whole world- he was also lying to the very people we hoped to liberate; the Iraqi people.

And it is that lie that is killing American troops in Iraq. Because President Bush could not stand and admit the past failures of American foreign policy before the whole world. Instead he had his West Wing intelligence advisors cook reports taken from exiled Iraqi politicians and public relations firms representing the former royal family; gave it to Collin Powell for a veneer of respectability; and then went about hawking it is a legitimate reason for a preemptive invasion.

My fellow Americans- I would have figured out a way to tell you and the Iraqi people we're sorry for the past 4 decades. We're coming over there with a UN Security Council approved force and giving you a chance to run your lives the way you want. And then we'll be gone.

Oh--before I forget- Bush's assertion that I flip-flopped on the Iraq war because I wouldn't vote to approve an $86 Billion pay raise/ funding for body armor bill- thus I do not support the troops- is utter gibberish. That bill only gave a pay raise to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan- and included a pay decrease to the rest of our troops. So who really supports the troops, and which candidate is grandstanding on the backs of the boys in harm's way?

Cynical? Manipulative? Partisan to the point of propaganda? I'm proud myself and Mr. Edwards voted against that bill. I'm sorry it passed.