Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Iraq Disaster Coming to a Close

America's greatest self-inflicted wound since the Civil War officially came to an end today, with the announcement of the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Every one of the over 4,400 America lives lost as a result of the lies told to Congress and to the American public is a case of felony-murder (it being a felony to lie to Congress) for which no-one will be brought to justice in this life; and George W Bush, Richard Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and Condeleeza Rice would be prudent to pray every day that there is no justice in the afterlife.
More than 10% (some studies say more than 30%) of the 1.5 million Americans who served there can be reasonably expected to endure a life of PTSD and/or TBI, a crippling epidemic that was, as noted above, inflicted by our nation on our nation.
Today, shortly after counseling a Vietnam era PTSD survivor on a matter (short answer: sorry buddy, but the your service to our nation has left you screwed and there is nothing you or I can do about it; try to rise above!), I saw a memorial  on 1st Avenue in Seattle to the Washington State troops killed in action. I didn't see their walking wounded comrades, but they're here.
Iraq is now quite friendly to Iran (you didn't read that in your corporate-owned newspaper? surprise!) Russia and China are both stronger, relative to the U.S., than they were before our forces were frittered away in another land war in Asia. The high moral ground we held after 9/11 was completely wasted.
Many of us saw this coming. Millions of us warned that this war of choice was based on lies, and as lies so often do, would lead us to disaster. We hoped to head off this calamity.
We failed. The aristocracy of evil who sent better men and women to die for their lies prevailed. They live lives of comfort and luxury while their victims rot, some in graves, some still walking.
We who failed still owe the survivors. The crimes were committed in our names, by our elected leaders, and in a democracy that means they are our crimes. If our current leaders are too cowardly to prosecute them, it remains for us to make restitution to their victims.
In the face of this calamity, we are not helpless. The good news is that we each can do what we can. In my case, Lawyers for Warriors and SDMCC are little enough. In your case, what will you do?

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