Today's Article
This White House
works to poison any
legitimate debate on
practically any
subject under the
sun.
works to poison any
legitimate debate on
practically any
subject under the
sun.
The American Spark
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How Does 'Dubya' Get Away With So Much?
By Cliff Montgomery - July 14th, 2008
George W. Bush recently released a report meant to "ensure that the [U.S.] Congress is kept fully informed on
U.S. military activities in support of the War on Terror and in Kosovo."
In fact the short audit was only released to the House of Representatives on June 17th, 2008, because such a
report is demanded by the War Powers Act.
All the same, the document reveals how this White House consistently finds ways to violate the spirit--if not the
letter--of Americans' constitutionally-recognized Natural Rights, and how it consistently does so through a
deliberate use of rhetorical hubris and logical fallacy.
The neo-conservatives in the White House do not so much attempt to control political debate, inasmuch as
they work to poison any legitimate debate on practically any subject under the sun.
Such actions usually ensure that opponents must constantly explain themselves and their positions to a
confused populace. With their opponents duly occupied and the populace properly confused, the Bush
Administration then goes on to do what it damn well pleases, with no one to stop their continuing progress.
Take, for instance, Bush's claim that his report will ensure "Congress is kept fully informed on U.S. military
activities in support of the War on Terror and in Kosovo."
Yet one of the principal matters discussed in the study deals with service members currently stationed in
Iraq--which, of course, never had anything to do with the War on Terror, and does not to this day.
We invaded Iraq for two principal reasons: 1.) Hussein's Iraq was said to retain vast stores of chemical,
biological and nuclear weapons, posing a threat that we had to eliminate; 2.) Hussein, Bush further claimed,
was a supporter of Osama bin Laden, whose terrorist group al-Qaeda attacked America on September 11th,
2001.
Those are the only claims which may rightly make Iraq a theater in Bush's "War on Terror." Yet both claims
were long ago proven little more than cynical lies, acts of deceit told to American troops and the U.S. public for
no valid reason whatsoever.
So Iraq is fruitless nation-building, nothing more. To declare it to be part of the "War on Terror" is to continue
the deceit. Hopefully we care enough for our troops to cease being accomplices to that unpatriotic lie.
Later in the study, Bush claims that "the U.S. contribution to the MNF (Multi-national Force currently in Iraq)
fluctuates over time, depending on the conditions in [the] theater as determined by the commanders on the
ground."
Yet this is a clear half-truth, at best. Retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the former head of U.S.-led forces in
Iraq from 2003-2004, made headlines in Oct. 2007 after declaring that the Bush Administration was forcing
U.S. soldiers in Iraq to endure "a nightmare with no end in sight," thanks to Incurious George's
"catastrophically flawed, unrealistically optimistic war plan." Sanchez added that Bush's "surge" strategy is little
more than a "desperate" move which would not create long-term stability.
Hardly the glowing terms one would expect for a White House which claims it is only following the plans
"determined by the commanders on the ground."
When asked by reporters why he publicly expressed his views almost a year after retiring from active service, he
replied that he felt it wasn't right for active duty officers to openly challenge the orders of civilian authorities.
More recently, Admiral William Fallon resigned as head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on March 11th,
2008, at least in part because of his clashes with the Bush Administration over its increasingly belligerent Iran
policy and King George's mad insistence that Iraq continue to receive military priority over both Afghanistan
and Pakistan.
Fallon served as "the top U.S. military commander for the Middle East," stated a March Associated Press
article. Yet when he openly disagreed with the White House, it apparently pressured him to resign his post.
The day before Fallon's resignation announcement, Defense Department Press Secretary Geoff Morrell
stated to reporters that Fallon "still enjoys a working--a good working relationship with...Secretary of Defense
[Robert Gates]."
But then Morrell added, "Admiral Fallon serves at the pleasure of the president."
The very next day, the U.S. CENTCOM head who had openly disagreed with Bush Administration military policy
in the Middle East was gone, and Gates told reporters Fallon's resignation was "the right thing to do."
So Bush indeed listens to his commanders on the ground--as long as they tell him what wants to hear.
The best way for Americans to counter such madness? Insist that this White House no longer poison public
debate through openly misleading rhetoric. Bush and his minions must be discussed according to what they
actually do, not by what they only pretend to do.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
By Cliff Montgomery - July 14th, 2008
George W. Bush recently released a report meant to "ensure that the [U.S.] Congress is kept fully informed on
U.S. military activities in support of the War on Terror and in Kosovo."
In fact the short audit was only released to the House of Representatives on June 17th, 2008, because such a
report is demanded by the War Powers Act.
All the same, the document reveals how this White House consistently finds ways to violate the spirit--if not the
letter--of Americans' constitutionally-recognized Natural Rights, and how it consistently does so through a
deliberate use of rhetorical hubris and logical fallacy.
The neo-conservatives in the White House do not so much attempt to control political debate, inasmuch as
they work to poison any legitimate debate on practically any subject under the sun.
Such actions usually ensure that opponents must constantly explain themselves and their positions to a
confused populace. With their opponents duly occupied and the populace properly confused, the Bush
Administration then goes on to do what it damn well pleases, with no one to stop their continuing progress.
Take, for instance, Bush's claim that his report will ensure "Congress is kept fully informed on U.S. military
activities in support of the War on Terror and in Kosovo."
Yet one of the principal matters discussed in the study deals with service members currently stationed in
Iraq--which, of course, never had anything to do with the War on Terror, and does not to this day.
We invaded Iraq for two principal reasons: 1.) Hussein's Iraq was said to retain vast stores of chemical,
biological and nuclear weapons, posing a threat that we had to eliminate; 2.) Hussein, Bush further claimed,
was a supporter of Osama bin Laden, whose terrorist group al-Qaeda attacked America on September 11th,
2001.
Those are the only claims which may rightly make Iraq a theater in Bush's "War on Terror." Yet both claims
were long ago proven little more than cynical lies, acts of deceit told to American troops and the U.S. public for
no valid reason whatsoever.
So Iraq is fruitless nation-building, nothing more. To declare it to be part of the "War on Terror" is to continue
the deceit. Hopefully we care enough for our troops to cease being accomplices to that unpatriotic lie.
Later in the study, Bush claims that "the U.S. contribution to the MNF (Multi-national Force currently in Iraq)
fluctuates over time, depending on the conditions in [the] theater as determined by the commanders on the
ground."
Yet this is a clear half-truth, at best. Retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the former head of U.S.-led forces in
Iraq from 2003-2004, made headlines in Oct. 2007 after declaring that the Bush Administration was forcing
U.S. soldiers in Iraq to endure "a nightmare with no end in sight," thanks to Incurious George's
"catastrophically flawed, unrealistically optimistic war plan." Sanchez added that Bush's "surge" strategy is little
more than a "desperate" move which would not create long-term stability.
Hardly the glowing terms one would expect for a White House which claims it is only following the plans
"determined by the commanders on the ground."
When asked by reporters why he publicly expressed his views almost a year after retiring from active service, he
replied that he felt it wasn't right for active duty officers to openly challenge the orders of civilian authorities.
More recently, Admiral William Fallon resigned as head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on March 11th,
2008, at least in part because of his clashes with the Bush Administration over its increasingly belligerent Iran
policy and King George's mad insistence that Iraq continue to receive military priority over both Afghanistan
and Pakistan.
Fallon served as "the top U.S. military commander for the Middle East," stated a March Associated Press
article. Yet when he openly disagreed with the White House, it apparently pressured him to resign his post.
The day before Fallon's resignation announcement, Defense Department Press Secretary Geoff Morrell
stated to reporters that Fallon "still enjoys a working--a good working relationship with...Secretary of Defense
[Robert Gates]."
But then Morrell added, "Admiral Fallon serves at the pleasure of the president."
The very next day, the U.S. CENTCOM head who had openly disagreed with Bush Administration military policy
in the Middle East was gone, and Gates told reporters Fallon's resignation was "the right thing to do."
So Bush indeed listens to his commanders on the ground--as long as they tell him what wants to hear.
The best way for Americans to counter such madness? Insist that this White House no longer poison public
debate through openly misleading rhetoric. Bush and his minions must be discussed according to what they
actually do, not by what they only pretend to do.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!