Cross posted at http://www.peaceisactive.com
I love the United States, but I can't sit by and keep my mouth shut while the Bush Administration drags our name through the mud.
Ethnic Cleansing
In order to support "democracy" and our "national interest" the United States is supporting a government in Iraq that includes Shia militias who are engaged in ethnic cleansing. Sunni residents in Baghdad can't leave their homes in many neighborhoods and often refuse to seek medical attention because they fear Iraqi security and militia forces who run or guard the health ministry and hospitals. Millions of Iraqis, both Shiite and Sunni, have been forced to leave their homes due to threats and violence.
It took years for the Bush administration to acknowledge the "civil war" going on in Iraq. How long will it take them to admit that there also is "ethnic cleansing" going on in Iraq?
Terrorism
In order to support "democracy" and our "national interests", the United States is supporting terrorist groups who are starting to attack and terrorize the Iranian people.
If you think it is impossible that the United States would support terrorism, then you probably are unaware of our support for Osama bin Laden during his terrorist days in Afghanistan. You also might want to look into the history of Guatemala, El Salvador, Argentina, and other countries where the United States supported government and non-government forces engaged in terrorist acts.
War As An Excuse
This is the problem with a strategy of war. Once war begins, it is easy for leaders to say that we need to do whatever we need to do and if bad things happen, well, it is war so what do you expect.
I think the Bush Administration would like to always be engaged in war so they can justify every rotten thing they do as something that must be done because we are at war.
We don't have to live according to the strategies and excuses of war. We shouldn't allow our governments to start wars on purpose under false pretenses. We shouldn't allow them to justify torture, terrorism, and ethnic cleansing with the "well, we are at war so what do you expect?" excuse.
What do we do now?
We stop listening to the lies and misleading statements of the Bush Administration. They are engaged in disinformation campaigns because, well, we are at war, and sometimes you need to lie while at war. Do we really expect any truth from this administration?
We need to get back to strategies of peace or else the Bush Administration and their successors will continue to use the excuse that we MUST support terrorism, ethnic cleansing, disinformation campaigns, secret arms deals, loss of legal rights, etc... because we are at war.
We all want to be for the team, but there comes a time when we need a new coach, a new general manager, new players, new waterboys, and new announcers.
We have the power to elect different leaders.
We need to raise our voices in protest to say that the strategies of war are not OK with the American public.
We have the ability to live in peace.
We have the ability to set a positive example.
The best strategy for long-term security and prosperity is peace.