Theatre of War

What a heavy week it's been on the war front, with so much drama leading up to the anti-clamactic Surge & Sacrifice scene from the Oval Office. Like most news junkies, I was drawn into the story, only to realize that what we've experienced this week is not drama but rather tragical farce.

All the weeks leading up to the event, we were contstantly told that Bush and minions were examing all options and consulting with every possible agency of government and Pentagon that had anything to do with the so-called "Mission in Iraq." Meanwhile, the duly-elected representatives and senators began to sound more like a unified chorus in a Greek tragedy, expressing the fears and doubts of the common people -- rather than their usual role of jarring voices setting one side against the other.

But in the end, what a let down. The surge began before the official announcement and it will continue on because there is not a damn thing you or I can do about it. About 60 senators are showing some spine and many more representatives -- but not enough to over-ride a presidential veto. The power is still in Bush's inept hands.

Now we have threats, long brewing and now overt, against Iran and Syria, along with continued plotting to take over Iraqi oil deposits by Big Oil and all who profit from those corporations.

The only way I can see to change things at this point may have to begin assembling huge demonstrations all over the country and especially in Washington, DC. The Republicans in congress who continue to support Bush need to realize that their days will be numbered once Bush is gone. There is a rally planned for DC on January 27th. Are you going?

Tilting at wind turbines and the White House

Forgot to put this image at the end of my last post. These are the wind turbines (not windmills as I posted earlier -- the phrase must now be changed to "tilting at wind turbines" I suppose) I saw on the bus ride back from Washington DC. They represent a breath of fresh air, the progressive movement toward problem solving rather than the conservative need to never budge.

CNN rebroadcast Nancy Pelosi's swearing in along with her speech and her gesture toward the future -- the welcoming of children up to her seat of power to lay hands upon the gavel. Very nice symbolism!

These are hopeful times, and it is especially heartening to have the Democrats standing up to the War in Iraq on day 2, nicely undercutting all the White House propaganda leading up to the long post-poned decision about to be dropped upon us by the Great Decider some time next week. The Dems say No to the Surge and the military report they can only muster up 9,000 maximum new troops when Bush is demanding at least 20,000.

Lots of protesting was going on in Washington the past few days. I saw a bunch of folks setting up for an anti-Bush event just outside the capitol building. Cindy Sheehan has been active along with many other anti-Iraq War groups. I met two people, parents of a young war resister by the name of Darnell Anderson. You can read his story of resisting assignment to Iraq here. They came to DC to lobby for their son's freedom. They opened my eyes to the large numbers of military and ex-military who are resisting this war in numerous ways. Check out this organization for more information: Iraq Veterans Against the War Deployed.

We all have to keep the pressure up in order to bring these young people home from the horrors Bush and his minions created in Iraq. George Bush proves every day how easy it is to stall and put off facing reality. He somehow doesn't think the election last November was any kind of message to him personally.

Will we all have to go back to Washington to protest by the millions in order to stop the madness?

The People Have Spoken But The Decider Won't Listen

The Bible-thumpers want to slap you with it but never apply it to their own backsides. A case in point:

Iraq. As in thou shalt not kill. Instead, send over 25,000 more troops to ...? What will they do over there -- lead us to victory or more flag-draped coffins? The Decider has put off his decision until after the holiday glow has receded into 2007. It will be interesting to see this drama play itself out. Some 70% don't want to play Follow the Leader any more. Will the Decider grow unhinged to the point of total scariness? Will his minders step in and prevent him from creating even more harm?

Meanwhile, have you taken a good look at the number of huge military bases the US has built in Iraq? Who will slip into those armed castles once the US finally redeploys? Or is the Bush regime stalling so they can disassemble those camps and send what's inside to another country looking for "democracy" Neo-con style. That could take a long time.

If you feel your anti-war resolve fading away as you face all the hoopla of the holidaze ahead, visit Matt Carter's web site and check out the front line videos. Then think once more on the Great Decider who has decided to postpone his decision on Iraq until the new year, even though he has already made his decision.

Out of Iraq

Somebody, please -- get the US forces out of Iraq. The major media have decided to call it a civil war today. Civil war is never civil. It's a bloody disaster whatever you call it.

Bush apears to be delusional with his insistance the violence in Iraq is spurred by Al Qaeda . He's starting to feel the pressure. A federal judge says he does not have the right to designate who is a terrorist because his executive order is too vague. We need a whole lot of people stepping up all at once, surrounding the mad emperor and telling him NO. You can't torture, you can't spy, you can't wage war whenever you choose.