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The United States invasion of Iraq was a farce. Furthermore, I firmly believe that the people, who brought it about, including our president and vice president, lied to the American People about the danger that Saddam posed to us and about his ties to al-Qaeda. It is time for the elected representatives of the People to act. Our troops must be pulled out of Iraq as quickly as possible. Yes, the violence, which we have wrought there will continue, but the sooner we are out of Iraq the sooner it will be over. The only way that we will ever win a war in Iraq would be through all-out warfare, which would bring about massive and monstrous civilian casualties for which we could never be forgiven. As much as our military-industrial-energy-complex wants permanent U.S. bases in Iraq, we do not have the right to impose them on a people who have the right to their own self-determination: and setting up a puppet government there, as we have done in other countries, would be wrong. Though it may be good for American (corporate) Interests, it would not be in the best interests of the American People. I do not relish the rest of the world viewing us as hegemonists. In addition, President Bush and Vice President Cheney should be impeached and removed from office. Copyright © January 2007 Michael D. Kerrigan Power to the People I confidently trust that the American people will prove themselves … too wise not to detect the false pride or the dangerous ambitions or the selfish schemes which so often hide themselves under that deceptive cry of mock patriotism: ‘Our country, right or wrong!’ They will not fail to recognize that our dignity, our free institutions and the peace and welfare of this and coming generations of Americans will be secure only as we cling to the watchword of true patriotism: Our country—when right to be kept right; when wrong to be put right. - Carl Schurz, Republican senator from Missouri and German immigrant in a speech delivered at the Anti-Imperialistic Conference, Chicago, Illinois, October 17, 1899 |
