A Speech for Endless War

[unhappycamper]

A Speech for Endless War
by Norman Solomon
Published on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 by CommonDreams.org

On the last night of August, the president used an Oval Office speech to boost a policy of perpetual war.

Hours later, the New York Times front page offered a credulous gloss for the end of "the seven-year American combat mission in Iraq." The first sentence of the coverage described the speech as saying "that it is now time to turn to pressing problems at home." The story went on to assert that Obama "used the moment to emphasize that he sees his primary job as addressing the weak economy and other domestic issues -- and to make clear that he intends to begin disengaging from the war in Afghanistan next summer."

But the speech gave no real indication of a shift in priorities from making war to creating jobs. And the oratory "made clear" only the repetition of vague vows to "begin" disengaging from the Afghanistan war next summer. In fact, top administration officials have been signaling that only token military withdrawals are apt to occur in mid-2011, and Obama said nothing to the contrary.

While now trumpeting the nobility of an Iraq war effort that he'd initially disparaged as "dumb," Barack Obama is polishing a halo over the Afghanistan war, which he touts as very smart. In the process, the Oval Office speech declared that every U.S. war -- no matter how mendacious or horrific -- is worthy of veneration. :wtf:

Obama closed the speech with a tribute to "an unbroken line of heroes" stretching "from Khe Sanh to Kandahar -- Americans who have fought to see that the lives of our children are better than our own." His reference to the famous U.S. military outpost in South Vietnam was a chilling expression of affinity for another march of folly.



unhappycamper comment: "every U.S. war -- no matter how mendacious or horrific -- is worthy of veneration"........

Really? The loss of a perfectly good generation of Americans in Vietnam is "worthy of veneration"? I cannot believe a Democrat said that.

1. War/occupation in Iraq was never smart.
2. War/occupation in Afghanistan is folly, pure and simple.
3. War on your citizens is not smart.
4. Your "Team of Rivals" sucks as do many of the bush policies and neocons you have adopted.
5. Your base is getting tired of Republicans (still) running the Democratic show.

[EFerrari]

1. One of the things I find most disturbing about this administration

is its willingness to cozy up to violence and brutality. I don't know how else to say it.

The first big speech Obama gave to a Latino group was to a Cuban exile group, CANF, that has funded acts of terrorism both in Florida and in Cuba. Then, shortly after he was sworn in, he went over to CIA and praised the agency when they were under fire for destroying evidence of their kidnapping, black site and torture programs. We still don't know how many prisoners died in secret, do we? Then there was Honduras and Hillary's people supporting the coup which from "go" was brutally, murderously repressive and still is today. Now, he calls that war criminal Bush a "patriot" over an illegal immoral war that not only cost American lives but made us less safe.

When I put all of that together, it's not possible to find it cute when Obama has photo ops with puppies and babies.

[cowcommander]

2. Obama isn't a pacifist

He never campaigned as one

[EFerrari]

3. You don't have to be a pacifist to object to acts of terrorism

or torture or the overthrow of a democratically elected president or to a war criminal like the torture president.

[glitch]

9. You do if you're only capable of holding two thoughts on any issue: black or white. nt

[PuraVidaDreamin]

4. If Obama would just stand up for the Constitution!

That's all I ask. But he treats it like Bush did.

[unhappycamper]

5. HEY!

:hi: Cutie!

Howse it going?

[PuraVidaDreamin]

6. You Know what I mean!

Surf's UP dude-

Earl might fly right over my yurt in the woods!

The chickens and ducks are laying eggs

Just made a huge batch of beach plum jelly!

We must get together and play soon- whatcha planning for Veterans Day-
Maybe I should request it off?

[unhappycamper]

7. Yes, please plan on coming up to Boston on Veterans Day.

It'll be the usual stuff: behind the motorcycle cops about a block behind the street sweepers. But we always have a good time.

[Swamp Rat]

8. k&r

[Octafish]

10. Is it 1984 yet?

I also stand in "awe of their sacrifice."

[Catherina]

11. Rec'd with great sadness and a heavy heart. This is not what I voted for. n/t

[Blue Owl]

12. Don't forget about the children!

Let's help spread the message that it's OK to lie, cheat, and steal!

Greed is good. Honesty is bad.

Illegal wars are good. Helping the poor is bad.

[Solly Mack]

13. k/r