The United States Has Lost its Moral Authority

[indigobusiness]

Even when it becomes painfully obvious, it's good to see it spelled out in black and white. Who can refute this?

Hollings is a true patriot.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/062704A.shtml
-------------------------------------------------------------
The United States Has Lost its Moral Authority
By U.S. Senator Ernest F. Hollings

Peoples the world around have a history of culture and religion. In the Mideast, the religion is predominantly Muslim and the culture tribal. The Muslim religion is strong, i.e., those that don't conform are considered infidels; those of a tribal culture look for tribal leadership, not democracy. We liberated Kuwait, but it immediately rejected democracy.

In 1996, a task force was formed in Jerusalem including Richard Perle, Douglas Feith and David Wurmser. They submitted a plan for Israel to incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Clean Break. It proposed that negotiations with the Palestinians be cut off and, instead, the Mideast be made friendly to Israel by democratizing it. First Lebanon would be bombed, then Syria invaded on the pretext of weapons of mass destruction. Afterward, Saddam Hussein was to be removed in Iraq and replaced with a Hashemite ruler favorable to Israel.

snip

President Bush must have known that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. We have no al Qaeda, no weapons of mass destruction and no terrorism from Iraq; we were intentionally misled by the Bush administration.

snip

In the war against terrorism, we've given the terrorists a cause and created more terrorism. Even though Saddam is gone, the majority of the Iraqi people want us gone. We have proven ourselves "infidels." With more than 800 GIs killed, 5,000 maimed for life and a cost of $200 billion, come now the generals in command, both Richard Myers and John Abizaid, saying we can't win. Back home the cover of The New Republic magazine asks, "Were We Wrong?"

Walking guard duty tonight in Baghdad, a G.I. wonders why he should lose his life when his commander says he can't win and the people back home can't make up their mind. Unfortunately, the peoples of the world haven't changed their minds. They are still against us. Heretofore, the world looked to the United States to do the right thing. No more. The United States has lost its moral authority.
===
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/062704A.shtml

[tom_paine]

1. We lost it after the Bloodless Coup of 2000

Very few noticed it at that time, though.

[indigobusiness]

2. That was a HUGE clue to our moral integrity...

but our catastrophic foreign policy and bungled war adventures will choke the life out of our chances at redemption. We are a floundering leviathan in its death throes.

Nothing short of a miracle will save this country, now that the abuses we have wrought, around the globe, come home to roost.

The accounting of damage goes so much deeper and extends deep into hidden areas of psyche and soul, that it isn't readily recognized.

The planet is in serious decline, and so are we. The sort of contrition, sacrifice, and fundamental change needed to save us a country just isn't in the cards. We are far too vain, ignorant, and unwise for that.

RIP America. We hardly knew ye.

[RoBear]

3. I've been saying for years

that America will not last. I think I got the first clue when the religious right co-opted with Republican party (idiots!) and paid more attention to their agenda than to the Constitution. It won't be long and the whole thing will be history. Feeling a little blue this a.m.--can you tell??

[indigobusiness]

6. welcome to DU, RoBear.,,,It is a shame how this country has

squandered the world's resources in order to self-perpetuate its lust for material wealth. We had a chance to lead by example and show the world how to be a self-sustaining--fed, clothed and sheltered society living in peace. But we lost sight of the wisdom of modest means and the fullness of a simple life. We are glory hounds, and want to live in guarded castles...like impudent kings.

[indigobusiness]

4. Moddy--could you move this thread to 'Articles, etc"...please?

I should've put it there, but I wanted to see if it would spark a discussion.

[Cheswick2.0]

5. the question is what are we going to do about it?

When does the revolution start? When do we stand infront of the white house by the millions and demand that bush GET OUT OF GORES HOUSE?

[indigobusiness]

7. I once asked that question...

but I realized somewhere along the way we lost our moral compass and had no chance to find our collective way...to the Whitehouse or anywhere else.

We are a house divided, and we are falling.

[spanone]

8. What moral authority? Never had it to lose.

[indigobusiness]

9. The world once looked up to us, and we had "moral authority"

to be an example to the world after WWII. As far as "moral authority" goes in terms of invading the middle east, I would agree with you.

[indigobusiness]

10. for comic relief

http://sludgereport.blogspot.com/

[indigobusiness]

11. x

x