Washblog

The Domino Theory Redux...

Somebody needs to tell George Bush that the Domino Theory has been disproved. Perhaps George Bush's evasion of military service during Viet Nam extends to an evasion of learning the lessons of Viet Nam...

One of the justifications’s for the Viet Nam war was "the Domino Theory", if Viet Nam became a Communist country, all the other Southeast Asian countries would tip, one after another, to Communism, like, well, dominos. But Viet Nam DID become a Communist country; and what happened to the rest of Southeast Asia?

A Communist Viet Nam did NOT tip Southeast Asia to communism...
A Democratic Iran will NOT tip Middle East to democracy...

But the STILL Bush administration tries to make this argument for democracy in Iraq tipping other middle eastern countries to a different style of government: "As I stated in a speech in the lead-up to the war, a liberated Iraq could show the power of freedom to transform the Middle East by bringing hope and progress to the lives of millions. So we're helping the Iraqi -- Iraqi people build a lasting democracy that is peaceful and prosperous and an example for the broader Middle East." President George Bush from: President Discusses Iraqi Elections, Victory in the War on Terror.

How can he say this? Ignorance of the history that proves the Domino Theory did not hold up in the real world. I repeat:

A Communist Viet Nam did NOT tip Southeast Asia to communism...
A Democratic Iran will NOT tip Middle East to democracy...

Big Time Patriot

Murtha's teaching moment for the rest of us:

Don't watch the bouncing ball.
Read between the lyrics and think for yourselves

Using the same old lies, war-starters, war-supporters and war-manipulators are well onto the slippery slope to no-credibility.

When the national media publishes presidential and vice-presidential repetions of the "same old, same old," as the "same old same old," we see the media  acting more like a 4th Estate.

Jack Murtha is the latest to step to the plate, wave a bat at the pitcher and point at the farthest reaches of center field..

And in the stadium, dang near 70% of the crowd is chanting, "hit it out of the park."

The other 30% in the stadium know their pitcher can't strike Murtha out. Their fear is  that Murtha will hit one out no matter what pitch - fastball, slider, knuckleball, trick pitch - is thrown.

Forget that Murtha is a Democrat.

He's an American citizen modeling our highest duty to country. Ignoring party politics and the pretense as to who has the highest patriotic philosophy - he demands that we return to our simplest and most common-sense principles.

We must actively support the Murtha's whose actions merit trust; and whose actions take a higher profile than cheap words, name-calling and political smearing.

I don't agree with everything Jack Murtha has done as a member of Congress  but I also do not live in the past.

Murtha's action exceeds the palid example we've gotten from Bush, Cheney, McClellan,. the RNC, the DNC, DLC, Demo presidential wannabe's and scheming hide-and-watch celebrities positioning themselves for the big move in 2008.

Jack Murtha, I salute you.
Go Jack!

Adam Plays to a Non-Existent Majority Political Philosophy: "Gradual troop reductions helps keep me politically viable."

The 2nd Looie pretends he's smarter than the combat veteran who's had a proven and long career on the front line.

News Tribune:Tacoma lawmaker endorses gradual troop reduction in Iraq

WASHINGTON – Just back from a trip to Iraq, Rep. Adam Smith said Friday the situation is not as grim as portrayed but that the U.S. soldiers he met are stressed and ready to start coming home.

The Tacoma Democrat said an immediate pullout would be a mistake. Instead, he suggested a gradual reduction of American forces over the next six to 18 months from the current level of 160,000 to between 50,000 and 80,000 at the end of 2006. Troop levels could drop to between 10,000 and 15,000 by the end of 2007, he said.

Adam ain't no Murtha that's for sure. Murtha of course can afford to be a truth-teller. He doesn't have much at risk regarding his political future. He's already been there and done many things - most of which politically have been related to his military experience and authorize what he knows; where he is justifiably knowledgeable.

Adam on the other hand open demonstrates a politician's personal conflict between common sense/common good and his stay-in-office priorities. We can see him coping with that temptation by advocating a questionable compromise that keeps him "centrist" or "moderate"  but also prolongs the horrendous consequences to our troops and their families.

Letter from local soldier killed in Iraq; Cpl Jeffrey Starr letter, Bush didn't tell all...

In his speech yesterday on Plan for Iraq, Bush discussed a letter found on the laptop of Corporal Jeffrey B. Starr (WA local soldier killed in Iraq):  see at link

Bush left out, as Paul Harvey says, the rest of the story at NY Times

   

Another member of the 1/5, Cpl. Jeffrey B. Starr, rejected a $24,000 bonus to re-enlist. Corporal Starr believed strongly in the war, his father said, but was tired of the harsh life and nearness of death in Iraq. So he enrolled at Everett Community College near his parents' home in Snohomish, Wash., planning to study psychology after his enlistment ended in August.

But he died in a firefight in Ramadi on April 30 during his third tour in Iraq. He was 22.

Sifting through Corporal Starr's laptop computer after his death, his father found a letter to be delivered to the marine's girlfriend. "I kind of predicted this," Corporal Starr wrote of his own death. "A third time just seemed like I'm pushing my chances."

The President of the United States should have respected his memory by being honest about Cpl. Starr's story. He was not.

Daily Kos: State of the Nation

Christmas Gift; Documentary The Power of Nightmares

Recommended BCC documentary; The Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear

We give this a Highly Recommended rating, please take the time to view, it is full of detail and if you don't watch all of it, guaranteed you will learn something new even from watching bits of it!

Hi Friends,

We watched all three; and the history relevant to US getting into Iraq is profound. So much so that we believe it a valued gift at Christmas this year...it contributes immensely to the dialogue with language not yet used. A BBC documentary that US media will not air in this country....it's apparant why not once you see the videos. Highly recommended, and sharing among my 'bring them home now' friends. Lietta (and Arthur; he found them and shared with me)

The Power of Nightmares -
THIS IS A MUST WATCH DOCUMENTARY
Each program is 58 minutes long - - Real Video -11-26

Part 1 http://tinyurl.com/7qhmt
Part 2 http://tinyurl.com/af2aw
Part 3 http://tinyurl.com/8j27y

Dicks gets it, Dick doesn't...

It's good to hear when a Democrat realizes that their support of the Iraq War was a mistake and they admit.

"Three years ago, U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., loudly and proudly backed President Bush's plan to deploy troops to Iraq...

...Now he's joined the growing ranks of politicians who believe the war was a mistake _ his vote, the invasion, and the way the United States is waging the war...

...Dicks now said he believes the intelligence was "doctored" and that the White House did not prepare for or deploy enough troops for the insurgency that's unfolded. He said he would "absolutely not" have voted for the war had he known there were no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction." from: State congressman reverses opinion on Iraq - Once in favor of Iraq war, now Dicks calls it a mistake.

It makes me proud that this guy comes from my state of Washington, although I wish he had been a bit less trusting when the administration was selling the war in the first place.

Dick Cheney of course is tight with the administration in putting their own pride and desire to never admit error as a goal much more important to them then competence or what will help America.

Big Time Patriot

We're screwed

Okay, maybe not really.  But when Jesus' General is feeling mopey and out of it because of the state of our world, what is to become of us?

We live in a time when one party openly attempts to prevent legitimate voters from voting, using illegal and reprehensible tactics, and feels no shame about it whatsoever.  Their defenders are convinced that it's okay if the King County GOP broke the law; because they were in the act of attempting to prevent other people from potentially breaking a law, at some future date.  And even if the voters they've abused weren't actually breaking a law, wrong is wrong, so again, it doesn't matter if the GOP broke the law, because they were just trying to right a possible wrong!  What kind of world is this?!

The witchhunt has become the norm.  Discrediting others has become more vital (and in many minds, sadly, more credible) than proving your own case.  The Republican Party has taken their supporters so far down the rabbit hole that it is seemingly unthinkable for them to crawl back out to the light of day.  Any tactic, no matter how unpleasant, no matter how unethical, no matter how dirty or cheap or illegal, is okay as long as it serves the good of the Party.

They don't even try to hide it!

When will we provide the light needed for wavering Republicans to see their way out of the lies and smears?  What will that light be?  Will it be "Together, we can do better"?  (hint: no) 

"You guys are pathetic! Pathetic!"

So says Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA) in this article about yesterday's debacle ensuing from Jack Murtha's proposed amendment to begin withdrawal from Iraq. 

Murtha, a 37-year Marine veteran and considered the voice of the Pentagon brass on Capitol Hill, suggested that since our mission in Iraq has been accomplished (depose Saddam - check, start democracy - check, stop WMD production - check by default), and our troops are now nothing more than walking bullseyes and recruiting posters for insurgents, it's time to begin withdrawal from Iraq.  His amendment called for redeployment at the earliest "practicable date", establishing a quick-reaction force and Marine presence in the area, and pursuit of stability through diplomacy.  Of course, such measured approaches to withdrawal are anathema to the Republican mind, which reads all this as "cut and run".

Adam Smith (WA-09) posts to Daily Kos

Adam Smith and Dennis Kucinich wrote a diary today urging that the White House Iraq Group be investigated.  It seems to be lacking action items for us, and is mostly informational (their resolution was blocked), but it's still good to see the Rep from the 9th posting on a blog.

Now if we can just get someone from his office to understand they need to stay around and answer comments!  Baby steps, baby steps...

Click here to read the diary.

The kids are alright

It is great to see our youth speaking out, speaking up, taking a stand. Bleak economic prospects and perpetual war will do that to a person, but these kids are surprisingly aware of the lies and deceptions that the Bush Administration used to invade Iraq.

"I'm just tired of what Bush is doing to this country," said Ryan Wisniewski, 15, from Ballard High School. "Tired of fighting a war we don't need to be fighting and spending money we don't need to be spending, killing troops we don't need to be killing."

"I'm doing this because I care about what's happening to this country. I care about the future," said 14-year-old Emma Staake, from Roosevelt High School. "People are dying every day. The war is stupid. It's just for money and power, and we've been lied to."

"I'm against the war. There was no point in doing it. Bush did it for oil and blinded us with weapons of mass destruction." said Montana Posse, 15, of Ballard High School.

"It's cool to just feel the solidarity and know there's a community of people who support each other." said Jeff Stein, 16, of Ingraham High School.

Smart kids, indeed.