It's time to end the madness
Editor,
A friend asked how to reconcile peace advocacy with concerns expressed by local military families committed to the mission in Iraq. These families make incredible sacrifices to fulfill a noble sense of duty. Many are angered by fellow citizens who criticize President Bush and the war.
Opinions of military families are important and valid. They deserve serious consideration in the debate over Iraq. Perspectives of military families should not be the sole consideration, however, in defining American policies. Factual evidence and alternative interpretations must counter the emotion-laden support for war. A sane and sensible course may preclude continued support for war.
The Bush administration has lied on almost every aspect of Iraq. Public opinion was manipulated. Congress intentionally misled. John Conyers' congressional report confirmed that the administration did not share crucial information with the Congress. This directly contradicts Bush's assertion that Congress had the same information about Iraq and weapons of mass destruction.
Bush says America doesn't torture. Cheney fights with Republicans in Congress over exempting the CIA on torture. Condi Rice dodges questions about secret prisons and torture centers. Pentagon documents and White House legal briefs outline procedures for torture and exempting themselves from international law. The Red Cross reports access denied to prisoners and secret "ghost" detainees. Physical evidence and credible reports cite continuing use of torture by American agents.
Bush's new information director, Duke University professor Pete Feaver, claims that Americans will support the war if they have a sense of "winning." Continuous casualties and astronomical costs do not matter if Americans remain psyched-up for victory. This illusion of winning has no grounding in reality. The media deception of building new sewers and schools masks the catastrophe of rising fundamentalist power, sectarian violence, and civil war.
Many local merchants have "freedom boards" displaying photos of local armed forces members. Should we consider which of our neighbors and friends are expendable to Bush's campaign to preserve Republican dominance and corruption as we enter the 2006 congressional campaigns?
Bush's advisors are bent on asserting American empire through force.
Elections in Iraq, like those held recently in Egypt, do not translate into democracy or freedom.
Our military is being used to oppress innocent people around the world.
Our own civil liberties have been trampled. Bush breaks any law that infringes on his power trip.
Our best hope to restore peace and sanity is to impeach the Bush administration for the many crimes that have been committed.
Bush hears voices in his head from God talking to him. The Islamic fundamentalist president of Iran reports the exact same experience. It's time to end this madness.
David Daniels
Ronan