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Public D
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Admit it. You thought twice about the timing of the operation to free the hostages in Colombia. McCain. Trailing in the polls. Goes to speak about Free Trade in Colombia. The week a CNN poll found that 51% of Americans now 'feel threatened by free trade.' As President Bush continues to push a new Free Trade agreement with Colombia through before leaving office. The Republican Presidential nominee. And one-time prisoner of war. Is briefed about the rescue operation prior to its execution. The raid is a success. Cable news headlines like "McCain Knew" and "McCain met with Colombians prior to Hostage Rescue" and "Colombian Hostages Free" are read by millions of Americans watching muted TVs in bars, gyms, and noisy households across America. Heading into the Fourth of July weekend. When those Americans will stand around the grill and say, perhaps jokingly, but with the same predictable effect:
"Did you hear that John McCain freed four hostages in Colombia . . . Rambo-style?" "I thought he talked them into freeing them using the logic and magic of Free Trade ideology?" "You may be right, but it doesn't matter. He's totally like Jack Bower! And he's running for President!"
No doubt. It's wonderful that the nightmare is over for the hostages and their families. No question about that.
So what's that funny odor then? Coincidence? And of the variety that makes any healthy suspicion seem like an ungrateful, bitter, unappreciative conspiracy-theorist (Liberal Democrat) concoction?
Maybe. But maybe not.
If we've learned anything about today's Republicans, esp. the Bush Administration, it is that use of the military for political purposes, and conversely, politics for military purposes, are most certainly on the table. We don't even need to bring up the unanswered questions surrounding 9/11 (though we should: http://www.911weknow.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=24&Itemid=49) to make that point.
How different is the calculated effect of repeating "Saddam" "911" "WMD" "Al-Qaeda" when seeking go-ahead for preemptive war in Iraq, from repeating "McCain" "Freed Hostages" "Colombia" when seeking to put your party's man in the White House on a wave of perceived Foreign Policy experience, aptitude, and glory? The public is too busy looking for work and cheap gas to give it more thought than that – especially when the story feels better if one doesn't.
This kind of dramatic, calculated (even maniacal) thinking is what guys in the upper echelons of politics, the pentagon, and the CIA do for living. It is their job.
Our job, our patriotic duty if you will, as post-911, still-at-war-in-Iraq Americans should be to question, critique, and apply healthy doses of skepticism to all actions taken by our leaders. Particularly when something doesn't smell quite right – certainly when they stand to gain, and our country stands to be lead down another distracting bunny trail while our economy, environment, and all manner of priorities slide out of view – along with our pride and say so.
If it's true that the White House and the Republican Party, again, used the foreign stage as an extension of domestic politicking, McCain truly is 'more of the same' – and in the most dangerous way imaginable.
Let's hope not. Because their next act might yet be opening 'in (a military) theater' in Iran this summer blockbuster season.
http://www.alternet.org/audits/78986/ |
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http://www.toomuchonline.org/index.html
http://www.hr676.org
http://www.pnhp.org/publications/the_national_health_insurance_bill_hr_676.php |
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Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:51 am |
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Dave Starr
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| As opposed to Obama meets with Code Pink & accepts contributions. |
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I used to care, but I take a pill for that now.
Pushing buttons sure can be fun.
When a lion wants to go somewhere, he doesn’t worry about how many hyenas are in the way.
Paddle faster, I hear banjos. |
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Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:38 am |
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Public D
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Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:45 am |
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strattonsigns
F L I N T O I D
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| Heaven forbid if we have a chance to nail Osama when Obama is in Iraq.....guess we should just delay that until it's politically correct timing right? Sometimes you are just off the deep end....is your last name Pelosi? |
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Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:11 pm |
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Dave Starr
F L I N T O I D
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Public Pelosi? That's a scary thought.  |
_________________
I used to care, but I take a pill for that now.
Pushing buttons sure can be fun.
When a lion wants to go somewhere, he doesn’t worry about how many hyenas are in the way.
Paddle faster, I hear banjos. |
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Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:53 pm |
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Public D
F L I N T O I D
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quote:
strattonsigns schreef:
Heaven forbid if we have a chance to nail Osama when Obama is in Iraq.....guess we should just delay that until it's politically correct timing right? Sometimes you are just off the deep end....is your last name Pelosi?
You're right. Now if Obama doesn't catch Osama or free some POWs, his (guilt) trip to Iraq will be construed as an amateur's failure – or a distasteful, trivializing photo op.
Nothing wrong with playing the devil's advocate, strattonsigns. The atmosphere of doubt, distrust, and suspicion is Bush's cross to bear, not ours. There's an old Texas saying that goes, 'Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.' |
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http://www.toomuchonline.org/index.html
http://www.hr676.org
http://www.pnhp.org/publications/the_national_health_insurance_bill_hr_676.php |
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Thu Jul 03, 2008 2:20 pm |
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