Oklahoma Soldier Questions President's Word
While working on rounding up e-mail addresses for the Sept. 17th Constitution Day Redress Campaign organized here on TPMCafe, I came across this letter from a soldier in the Tulsa World. Perhaps Republican Sen. James Inhofe, a key member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, should read what one of his constituents is saying about the president and the war he and his GOP have so blindly supported.
Army Reservist Kyle Tibbits, who completed two tours in Iraq, writes:
If every reason we went into Iraq was a lie, wouldn't that make Bush the liar? Would he not be held responsible for each American hero who lost his or her life for the intent of keeping America free, because this country and all the great people in it are what drives us to complete every mission, no matter the danger.
Many of our troops share this young man's perspective and provides us with a new definition for "support the troops" -- Stop lying and bring 'em home.
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And if you want to see which senators REALLY do not support the troops, go check out who voted AGAINST minimum periods between deployments for our troops today in the Senate.
Morgan
With reasonable men I will reason; with humane men I will plea; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost.
-- William Lloyd Garrison (1805 - 1879)
July 11, 2007 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
No surprises here, Morgan. Maybe soon all our screaming against the hurricane created by these monsters will begin to be heard.
July 11, 2007 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was watching CSPAN when I heard Inhofe's name called as a "No", filibustering Webb's R&R amendment.
Later Sen. Grassley was squriming on NPR, saying he thought Americans would not appreciate the GOP doing the political calculation and voting to withdraw. Funny, isn't withdrawal what the American people want? So he's saying Americans don't want the Senate to do what Americans want? Is there any hope for these guys? Remedial logic?
July 11, 2007 11:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
These guys are so paranoid about being percieved as "losers" they can't even vote to give our troops a REST without fearing someone from their neocon base calling it a vote for RETREAT from Iraq.
Remedial logic? I think a coop full of chickens could find a high level of logic than these GOP whimps.
Morgan
With reasonable men I will reason; with humane men I will plea; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost.
-- William Lloyd Garrison (1805 - 1879)
July 12, 2007 12:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
And Boehner calls US wimps!?!?!
July 12, 2007 7:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Remedial courage?
Tom
July 12, 2007 4:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh look, Lieberman voted against.
Who does he caucus with, again?
thosethingswesay.blogspot.com
July 12, 2007 7:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Lieberman sees his role in this administration at that of Moses .... As an Indy, he wants to "part the seas" of Congress to free his people in the Middle East.
Mel Brooks would have field day making the movie. I can see the title now: "Bush's Bible Stories." or "Bush's BS."
Morgan
With reasonable men I will reason; with humane men I will plea; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost.
-- William Lloyd Garrison (1805 - 1879)
July 12, 2007 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Perfect title, Morgan..
July 12, 2007 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know if anyone has commented on a particular assertion that the President made in his speech in Cleveland. He said:
I was of the understanding that Kagan and Keane, the surge architects, came up with this number and no-one really knows how. I had no idea this was Petraeus' call.
Is there anyone here with some insight on this? Or should we just chalk this up as another little lie?
July 12, 2007 6:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Gen. Petraeu, Gen. Shinseki, Gen. Sanchez, Gen. Abizaid ... what difference does it make -- they're ALL generals? Bush gets a little confused about which "general" he was talking to, probably because they're all wearing uniforms and act like servants in front of him.
Morgan
With reasonable men I will reason; with humane men I will plea; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost.
-- William Lloyd Garrison (1805 - 1879)
July 12, 2007 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
And what circle of hell is it that is reserved for a man who holds the power to stop something, has been told the mission is failing and is not winnable? Told by his own CIA director!! And continues to lie about it!!!
After the nation clearly registered a desire to end the fiasco! (= last November!)
See today's Washington Post article: CIA Said Instability Seemed 'Irreversible'
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/11/AR2007071102451.html?hpid=topnews
July 12, 2007 8:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hell is too good for him!!!
July 12, 2007 8:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe they need your help, then, in contriving a "new circle."
Try: Dante@Inferno.com
July 12, 2007 8:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wish there were a GOD so SHE could arrange a "special" punishment for these monsters! With no soul or conscience "Georgie" and Dick "The Monster" Cheney are immune to remorse so I'll just hope I'm wrong about religion and that some "FORCE" will arrange for them to SUFFER for eternity!
July 12, 2007 9:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
If there is a God they will see a new book every six months, detailing the abuses and failings and comparing them to Nixon (as in, "worse than"), while contrasting them with the successes of the Clinton term.
July 12, 2007 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
I hope so, Tom. We'll be able to hear the screaming and gnashing of teeth forever if that happens.
July 12, 2007 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
The level of stupidity that oozes out of the White House -- like methane gas rising from a Stockton, Calif., feedlot -- is staggering.
My heart goes out to all those families who've lost loved ones to Bush's dangerous ego -- Americans and Iraqis alike. Bush's "authoritarian rule" makes Saddam's seem almost quaintly provincial.
And the desciption of that meeting on Nov. 13, 2006, reminded me of those televised "briefings" Saddam used to broadcast. The only thing missing at Bush's was the armed bodyguards.
Oh, wait .... That's right Cheney (Bush's Darth-Vader-esque) bodyguard was there, too, with his hairtrigger sneer, cocked and ready to go.
(Tony Snow must be Bush's "Minister of MIS-Information.")
Morgan
With reasonable men I will reason; with humane men I will plea; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost.
-- William Lloyd Garrison (1805 - 1879)
July 12, 2007 12:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
You have a gift for descriptive phrasing matched by few, Morgan! And I think your analysis is right on target!
July 12, 2007 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
... and is planning to bomb Iran.
Tom
July 16, 2007 6:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
I saw a new Army commercial last night. Their new pitch is, a lot can change in two years. And it shows soldiers getting all this great training in just two years time. Basically the message is you'll be a completely different person in two years.
But in my opinion, the hidden message is that in two years we won't be in Iraq anymore. So by the time you get through with your training, you won't be sent to that hell hole. Trust us. Would we lie to you?
In other words, now even Army recruiters are praying for a Democratic presidency.
But as I said to my wife, I bet there's a lot guys in Iraq right now who thought that way when they joined back in 2004.
July 12, 2007 11:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
After 9/11 my son went from the Army National Guard to regular Army so he could fight the terrorists that blew up the Trade Center. I cautioned him to find the facts first before committing himself and his future to this president. His response:
"Mom, why would my government lie to me?"
Why, indeed. This jaded, almost cynical, "Mom," watched "her" government lie about Vietnam and Watergate, and watched three of her nation's best and brightest leaders gunned down in cold blood by "homegrown whackos." All before he was even born.
Some history lessons must be learned and appreciated through experience. And this generation is learning theirs. And the issue of "trust" is off the table, trampled in the mud along with the Constitution.
Morgan
With reasonable men I will reason; with humane men I will plea; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost.
-- William Lloyd Garrison (1805 - 1879)
July 12, 2007 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Always remember to separate the country from the administration. The Executive Branch lied and lies but the country is
going to survive these monsters because
"We The People" will only tolerate so many lies.
July 15, 2007 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just another reminder to everyone, as Morgan cited, our collaboration continues on the Constitution Day Redress campaign. We invite everyone to check in with their ideas and updates. For background information, Tom Wright's seminal blog is here. Current collaboration and updates continuing here.
Morgan, thank you so much for another vital installment in the emerging story.
Tish
"No nation is conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground." - Cheyenne saying
July 12, 2007 7:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Almost six years after 9/11, does there seem to be any diminishing of the strong support of George W. Bush and the Republican Party by veterans and active duty military? Do military types still put their trust in the Republican Party, viewing George Dubya and his cronies as merely an aberration of the 'values' party?
July 14, 2007 7:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, Bronto1, "military types" have already begun to question Dubya. Read this Marine's story or go to Deanie Mill's Two Quick Videos Tell It All.
It's difficult for our soldiers to get their story out because this administration has put a media mote around the troops and has put a gag on family members to keep them from speaking out on their behalf.
Only a few members of the military and their families, usually parents like me and Deanie Mills here at TPMCafe, have the cojones to tell the truth.
Try not to lump "military types" into one basket ... the military is a reflection of all segments of American culture and political persuasion. The only difference is that they took this oath:
July 19, 2007 9:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
As a disabled vet it makes my heart break to see how this administration has abused the trust of these fine young people. Along with the commitment to serving comes a hope that we will not be used in vain or for the political purposes of a political party.
This administration has sadly failed on both accounts... and people like Mr. Kristol are still at it writing in the Washington Post trying to convince us that the sky isn't blue.
July 15, 2007 4:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Darren,
Thank you for your words, for being with at the Cafe. You honor us.
Hug,
Tish
July 15, 2007 9:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
...
Why in the name of all that is important to a democratic republic would any citizen with an IQ over ninety not question this President's word?
July 19, 2007 7:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
If a person's IQ determined the success or failure of a nation, then ours must be in the bottom of the tank, because our president hasn't much more intelligence than a wooden fencepost.
I can feel compassion for those lacking the intellectual acumen to comprehend the truth or the lies surrounding this president.
But for most, theirs is self-imposed ignorance, political apathy and intellectual laziness that keep them believing every word "their" president utters.
If it were only that these irresponsible people enabled this president to be placed – and kept -- in the Oval Office then I would probably feel pity for them. But because their irresponsible behavior keeps my son in Iraq and has caused the death of his friends along with 3,621 others, I only feel disgust at their selfish negligence.
Someday, they will have to ask forgiveness from whichever god they worship for choosing to be deaf, dumb and blind to the truth.
Morgan
With reasonable men I will reason; with humane men I will plea; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost.
-- William Lloyd Garrison (1805 - 1879)
July 19, 2007 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
"...because our president hasn't much more intelligence than a wooden fencepost."
Actually, I think a wooden fencepost would come out first in a head to head competition.
Tom
July 20, 2007 4:12 AM | Reply | Permalink