Another "Preemptive" War?
Dear Gentle Reader,
According to CBS News, 83% of Americans identify themselves as Christians. But more and more, even the casual observer is faced with an uncomfortable disconnect between the principles of Christianity as espoused by Jesus, and the decision-making by our highest-ranking government officials.
Jesus said, “Love your neighbor. Love your enemies. Pray for people who treat you badly.”
But the United States military has quietly embraced torture as a way of doing business. The information leaking out from Abu Gharaib and Guantanamo indicates that torture is not an aberration but an accepted practice. An article in the December issue of Harpers Magazine gives an account by a West Point graduate, Captain Ian Fishback in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. “On my very first guard shift…I saw a PUC [person under control] pushed to the brink of a stroke or heart attack. At first I was surprised, like: This is what we’re allowed to do? This is what we’re allowed to get away with?”
Even our country’s motive for going to war with Iraq was wrong. You say that it was justified because we might be attacked? Interestingly, the Germans offered that same rationale during the Nuremberg trials. They contended that Holland and Belgium might have invaded Germany if Germany hadn’t acted first. The court disallowed that argument.
In 1942 during a tense period of WW II, former Vice-President Wallace (an Iowan) made a prescient observation. “We in the United States must remember this: if we are to expect guarantees against military or economic aggression from other nations, we must be willing to give guarantees that we will not be guilty of such aggression ourselves.”
Yet, this week there is discussion about whether the U.S. should start a new “preemptive” war with that Iran, on the basis of suspected nuclear sites in that country. Never mind that the United States has “nuclear sites,” as well as Israel, India, China, Russia, and probably North Korea. Is this any reason to go to war? How many wars can we sustain? Must our foreign policy always rely on war?
Apparently. In a German newspaper the UPI reported, “The Bush administration is preparing its NATO allies for a possible military strike against suspected nuclear sites in Iran in the New Year, according to German media reports, reinforcing similar earlier suggestions in the Turkish media.”
What? Another war of aggression? And whatever became of the part of the Constitution that says the Congress shall have sole power to declare war?
We need to recognize that when the Constitution is reportedly regarded by the President as “just a [expletive] piece of paper,” anything goes, including illegal spying. (Incidentally, Nixon was impeached for illegal wiretaps).
Our country is in critical condition.
According to CBS News, 83% of Americans identify themselves as Christians. But more and more, even the casual observer is faced with an uncomfortable disconnect between the principles of Christianity as espoused by Jesus, and the decision-making by our highest-ranking government officials.
Jesus said, “Love your neighbor. Love your enemies. Pray for people who treat you badly.”
But the United States military has quietly embraced torture as a way of doing business. The information leaking out from Abu Gharaib and Guantanamo indicates that torture is not an aberration but an accepted practice. An article in the December issue of Harpers Magazine gives an account by a West Point graduate, Captain Ian Fishback in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. “On my very first guard shift…I saw a PUC [person under control] pushed to the brink of a stroke or heart attack. At first I was surprised, like: This is what we’re allowed to do? This is what we’re allowed to get away with?”
Even our country’s motive for going to war with Iraq was wrong. You say that it was justified because we might be attacked? Interestingly, the Germans offered that same rationale during the Nuremberg trials. They contended that Holland and Belgium might have invaded Germany if Germany hadn’t acted first. The court disallowed that argument.
In 1942 during a tense period of WW II, former Vice-President Wallace (an Iowan) made a prescient observation. “We in the United States must remember this: if we are to expect guarantees against military or economic aggression from other nations, we must be willing to give guarantees that we will not be guilty of such aggression ourselves.”
Yet, this week there is discussion about whether the U.S. should start a new “preemptive” war with that Iran, on the basis of suspected nuclear sites in that country. Never mind that the United States has “nuclear sites,” as well as Israel, India, China, Russia, and probably North Korea. Is this any reason to go to war? How many wars can we sustain? Must our foreign policy always rely on war?
Apparently. In a German newspaper the UPI reported, “The Bush administration is preparing its NATO allies for a possible military strike against suspected nuclear sites in Iran in the New Year, according to German media reports, reinforcing similar earlier suggestions in the Turkish media.”
What? Another war of aggression? And whatever became of the part of the Constitution that says the Congress shall have sole power to declare war?
We need to recognize that when the Constitution is reportedly regarded by the President as “just a [expletive] piece of paper,” anything goes, including illegal spying. (Incidentally, Nixon was impeached for illegal wiretaps).
Our country is in critical condition.
posted by Patty G. | 10:22 PM
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