Listen, my children, to a tall tale spun about a Castle of White. Most of its inhabitants are lacking the magical silver stars and purple hearts that once upon a time permitted entry to the palace. Disgruntled, they seek to ensure that no one with purple hearts or silver stars is ever again allowed into the kingdom again.
In 2004, a highly decorated Iraq War veteran returns to the kingdom, which is named America. She speaks out against the abuses at a prison called Abu Ghraib and testifies to Congress, enlightening the citizens of the kingdom about
the atrocities committed by American soldiers there. She says that it is not the fault of these soldiers, but of their government. She says that the inhabitants of the White Castle made them act in a dishonorable way.
The inhabitants of the White Castle are evil and incompetent and their reasons for going to war were based upon lies and fantasies. The war in Iraq goes badly, and America is eventually forced to withdraw in a less-than-honorable retreat. Because of the testimony of the decorated veteran, Congress decides to act to ensure that the Geneva Conventions are upheld, and investigates the country's leadership. Eventually, the King of White Castle is forced to resign in disgrace.
Fast forward to the year 2040. The same highly decorated veteran is running for president. She has a chance of winning against a disastrous and unpopular incumbent, a boy prince whose father served in the White Castle of the evil ones. Suddenly, a not-so-shadowy group emerges. They call themselves the Abu Ghraib Prison Guards for Truth. They say that the Candidate exaggerated her bravery in War. (All of the records from the time expose this as a lie.)
But even worse, they say, is the fact that the Candidate accused American soldiers of torturing Iraqi prisoners. They are indignant at this, although all evidence from the times proves her accusations to have been true.
They say that by talking of the atrocities at Abu Ghraib, the decorated veteran undermined the morale of all American soldiers in Iraq. The Abu Ghraib Prison Guards for Truth imply that her whistle blowing helped America to lose the
war, and that she is therefore unfit to be commander in chief.
Bizarre story right? Could never in a million years happen?