Justice for Those Who Helped Start an Unjust War?
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Historians may dub the war in Iraq "Bush's Folly." But "Rupert Murdoch's War" may be more apropos.
America's NeoCon-inspired war - which killed more than 100,000 Iraqis, dislocated 4.7 million Iraqi citizens, created more than 500,000 Iraqi orphans, several million Iraqi refugees and cost the U.S. treasury roughly one trillion dollars and still counting - is now officially over.
Launched on March 3, 2003, with a much-heralded "Shock and Awe" surprise attack on Baghdad instead of the niceties of a formal and constitutional declaration of war, it died without a whimper last month, in spite of the fact that the misguided leader who got us into the war had declared victory years ago.
The American people were sold the Iraq War by Murdoch's Fox Network more cynically than yellow journal publisher William Randolph Hearst sold them the Spanish-American War ("Remember the Maine!")
Fox was the principal and unrelenting cheerleader for attacking a nation that was not a threat. Fox's talking heads, including O'Reilly, Beck and Hannity, kept up a steady drumbeat for the war from beginning to end. It's no wonder a dysfunctional and disinterested Congress has never investigated how America was duped.
After placing a million of our military in harm's way, with more than 4,000 deaths and 10 times as many serious casualties, the question historians will ask is, "Why, and just what, did America achieve in Iraq?" Brave members of our military, many of whom served three and four tours there at great risk, return home to a nation that was never specially taxed to pay for the effort but told instead to "go to the mall" and shop.
Many Middle East observers fear that after the U.S. leaves, Iraq will inevitably regress into sectarian violence as tribal and religious hatreds are again unleashed.
Those who sought this pre-emptive war, like Bush, Wolfowitz, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Bolton and Rice (remember those mushroom clouds?), assured the American people that it would be over in no time, and Iraqi oil would pretty much pay for it. They've written their books, some even justifying torture and rendition, while many of their most ardent flacks are gainfully employed by right-wing political think tanks and Fox, of course.
None of those in the Bush administration who cynically deceived the American people were punished for their lies. Even Irv Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Cheney's aide who was convicted of perjury, obstruction of justice and lying to investigators in the probe of the leak of a CIA operative's identity, had his sentence commuted by George Bush rather than serve one hour of his 30-month prison sentence.
Libby is now, not surprisingly, senior vice president of the Hudson Institute, a neo-conservative think tank that also employs Bush's former undersecretary of defense, Douglas Feith, as a senior fellow.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who elected to drag an unenthusiastic Great Britain into war on America's side, is largely discredited at home and considered irrelevant abroad.
The skeptical but ever-loyal Gen. Colin Powell, who as Bush's secretary of state made the convincingly false pitch to the U.N. justifying a rush to war (remember those "weapons of mass destruction"?), rather than resign, is now comfortably wealthy, yet appears uncomfortable in his own skin.
Ironically, Murdoch and Fox may soon face the bar of justice, but for offenses totally unconnected to their role in fostering the Iraq war. That's because top executives and employees of the parent company, News Corporation, including the now-defunct News of the World, have been arrested over myriad charges of corruption, including extensive phone-hacking and widespread bribery in Great Britain. James Murdoch, Rupert's hapless son, may soon be charged with perjury and criminal acts by a special parliamentary commission.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is determining if American citizens (including 9/11 survivors) were subject to phone hacking by Murdoch's henchmen, and Attorney General Eric Holder has ordered an inquiry to see if News Corp bribed foreign officials in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
If the U.S. Justice Department proves that Murdoch's News Corp., an American company, bribed British officials as a common business practice, it could jeopardize the television licenses of News Corp. in the U.S.
Wouldn't that be poetic justice?
Paul R. Dunn lives in Pinehurst. Contact him at paulandbj@nc.rr.com.
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Comments
Bentpan 1 year, 3 months ago
Mr. Dunn an excellent example of revisionest history, complete with forgotten bombings under the Clinton administration, support by Democrat lawmakers an other civilised industrial nations. How odd you on the left wish to portray President Bush as a fool, but then turn around and say he manipulated you into attacking Iraq and then funding that war for 8+ years. Carefull once again your hypocrisy is showing.
skylinefirepest 1 year, 3 months ago
Another treatise by the genuine genius, Mr. Dunn, the all knowing Carnak of Pinehurst. How about another article on gun control, Mr. Dunn, since you haven't answered a single question asked of you?? You were even given references to show that you were totally wrong but that, of course, has never swayed you from stating your off the wall opinion! And you say the war cost a trillion?? Geez, that just happens to be a little lower than what Obama just asked for after running through three or four trillion in our pocket change! Maybe we can have a little more class warfare and pass a law to allow Obama and his fellow crooks collect...I don't know....maybe sixty percent of the total income of producers???? That, of course, would be the "rich", the nasty "big business", "wall street thieves", and as always small businessmen and farmers! Then the MAKERS could totally take care of the TAKERS and all the liberal weenie demorats, excuse me PROGRESSIVES, would be happy and Moonpie and Heim and JER and Jimt, and dr would be just downright ecstatic! I would add Harley into that mix but he never states an intelligent idea, he just spouts name calling and hatred. The military used to call that spreading hate and dissension but Harley has elevated it to a science.
Thatcher 1 year, 3 months ago
Very sad. Not suprising, but very sad.
AFCHIEF 1 year, 3 months ago
This entire article is a complete waste of space. Colin Powell ever loyal in his own skin. Yea we saw that loyalty when he backed Obama over McCain.
AFCHIEF 1 year, 3 months ago
harleyman, add Obama to the war crime trials also. He's following all the previous policys set in place by Bush.
JER 1 year, 3 months ago
Skylinefirepest is dissolving into incoherent babble again. Be on guard. Remember, this guy has guns and a questionable mental state. Add AFCHIEF to the list of individuals who are unable to comprehend facts. Bush started the Iraq war, Obama ended it. For all of you who hate class warfare and injecting race into these discussions, I await your loud, long and frequent attacks on the comment made by AFCHIEF regarding Colin Powell.
Yukonjohn 1 year, 3 months ago
Again, Ron Paul has the correct, IMHO, answer to these problems. As a nation, we do not assinate leaders in foreign countries. Nor do we abduct people to be tortured. And before you jump. I am a vet that spent a little over a year in 4 different trips to Riyadh SA in the 70s, kind of before we were "there". I do not like Arabs. Have no use for Islamic Jihadist!! I believe in bombing the heck out of Saudi, as that is where almost all of the 9/11 terrorist came from. Not Iraq. I honestly believe Geo. Bush went in there because of what they had said they would do to his father. I do not believe that going after a former President is the answer. I do see punishing Faux news to the limit. I watch O'Reilly and Hannity every night. Hannity especially favors rendition. Encourages rendition. I think they bear some of the blame of us being duped into the Iraq war. They should pay. How, I do not know, but somehow.
P.S. I have heard Sean Hannity talking about how good rendition is, and how badly we need it, yet, I dont think l have ever heard him tell the audience what it is!! If they knew, opposition would follow.
GreatWA 1 year, 3 months ago
Having watched both The Times and The Sunday Times decline in quality in the UK, as no doubt the Wall Street Journal is, I'm left with the only national newspaper in Australia 'The Australian'.News Corp owns it - you can tell by the slant, sometimes hysterical slant, put on matters which interest or affect Murdoch. The Poms, as Australians call the Brits, have just started to see how much Murdoch has degraded their system & they have a sane public broadcaster in the BBC. Regrettably, you Seppos, as Australians call you Yanks, have a good PBS but nothing 'mass media' to give a disinterested voicet to important issues that are distorted by advertising sponsors, fundamentalist believers, Supreme Court recognised individuals as corporations - who pass all repeat all, the tests for phsycopathy, hence you are going to be bought, sold and bamboozled by Murdoch and his phone hacking, deceptive & dishonest minions.
nothingspecial 1 year, 3 months ago
Wow, what a commentary. I couldn't say it better than Bentpan.
skylinefirepest 1 year, 3 months ago
And a good evening to you also, JER. But there's absolutely nothing questionable about my mental status. You know, because I have stated it frequently, that I cannot stand Obammer, his administration, and what he and his cohorts in crime have done to this country in just a few short years. I make no apology for being a Conservative! I also make no apology for loving this country and being a capitalist! I don't like Democrats, though I do have some left of center friends that I tolerate and even in some cases, like. And I'm always trying to be civil to them as they are a minority class in this country. And I do not, specifically, apologize for my comments to Mr. Dunn as he attacked me personally in the Pilot several years ago with one of his rants about gun control that, as is his usual procedure, made false assumptions and even one out and out lie!
Thatcher 1 year, 3 months ago
harleyman-- Do you actually "see" the hate, "feel" the hate, "smell" the hate, or "taste" the hate? Just let us know. Thanks.
Thatcher 1 year, 3 months ago
And your complaints about "...fake macho." Are you implying that you have real macho? Please let us know. Thanks.
AFCHIEF 1 year, 3 months ago
Blaming Foxnews for the Iraq war. Wow, so at the same time other news agencies were covering this it was soley Foxnews that was the cause to invade Iraq.
skylinefirepest 1 year, 3 months ago
Harley...specifically you and a few others that are semi-regulars on the Pilot blogs ARE the name callers and hate spewers. Go back and check your comments and then please inform us as to what you ever said intelligently as opposed to YOUR name calling and hate filled diatribes!!
skylinefirepest 1 year, 3 months ago
Oh, and Harley...at my age I gave up being macho quite a few years ago. Now I just speak softly and carry a big stick!
JER 1 year, 3 months ago
Good evening to you, skylinefirepest: Those with mental problems are always the last to know. Glad that you don't hate anybody or anything, you just "don't like" and "can't stand" in the strongest possible ways. Glad you don't spread class warfare, particularly when it comes to "the minority class in this country". But hey, you are proud to be an American and a capitalist and really, isn't that all that is really important. Piss on whoever doesn't agree, right? And if that doesn't work, well, you've always got that 2nd amendment in your back pocket. So tell me, are you pulling for Newt or Mitt? Or are you still holding out for Palin? Which one is going to kick the current presidents butt and put an end to your tormented, pitiful nightmare?
JER 1 year, 3 months ago
AFCHIEF: All news outlets covered Iraq. Faux News held the pep rally beforehand and was the pom pom squad during. So tell us, how do you really feel about Colin Powell? I know how Collin Powell feels about the Bush administration: USED. You ever been used, Chief?
AFCHIEF 1 year, 3 months ago
JER, I like Colin Powell. If he would have run President under the Rep Ticket I would have voted for him. BUT for Powell to support Hussein Obama over McCain showed his true colors. That skin color was more important for him over someone who had a 1000% more qualifications.
WDD the liberals are in full support in gutting the military as they always do.
Hembloche 1 year, 3 months ago
We spend close to 700 billion annually on defense. The next closest is China at just over 100 billion. 7 of the remaining 9 top spenders are our allies (the other 2 are China & Russia). Why in gods name do we need to continue spending that much more than anyone else? I see nothing wrong with "liberals" wanting to cut the defense budget by a good amount. Both sides are wrong on this issue. We can't get back to where we need to be if BOTH defense and entitlements are not cut. Of course, defense is the Reps pet as entitlements are the Dems, so we'll never get either side to agree. I'm still with Yukon, Ron Paul's the only choice that makes sense.
Arestorer 1 year, 3 months ago
Hembloche; I agree we need to make cuts across the board. Also agree, The current crop of Politicians arent going to agree...Ron Paul is the only Repub running, that could possibly get my vote....But, He's way to close to the middle for the other Repubs to back..
Nezumi 1 year, 3 months ago
Agree with Hembloche and Arestorer on military spending - current US military spending exceeding the next 17 countries combined is unsustainable.
theonewithsense 1 year, 3 months ago
100,000 dead Iraqis created more than 500,000 orphans. You might want to check your "facts".
JER 1 year, 3 months ago
Cool your jets there wdd101st. I have nothing against the mentally challenged. My comment was directed to skylinefirepest in response to his comment " there is absolutely nothing questionable about my mental status." I was merely pointing out what, in his case, was obvious.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 3 months ago
Is this really what passes for journalism these days?
What did the Iraq war do?
Thats just 10.
JER 1 year, 3 months ago
AFCHIEF: Would you have voted for Powell if he had run on the Democratic ticket? It is inconceivable to you that Powell could endorse Obama over McCain because he valued the positions Obama had taken over those of McCain. That could not possibly be the reason, could it. No, it had to do with race, according to you, which, in my book makes you a full fledged, sheet wearing low life scum racist. The only time you value the opinion of a person of color is when they are saying whatever it is YOU believe. And since I've got you good and upset, Ill throw in my opinion of John McCain. His "1000% more qualifications" includes spending the war at the Hanoi Hilton, returning home after the war and ditching his wife, who had become handicapped, marrying into wealth and having his new rich wife's family orchestrate his election into Arizona politics. He has since used his "war hero" status to keep his job over all these many years. Being a career politician after being career military tells me he's good at living off tax payer dollars. I thought you guys hated people who do that?
JER 1 year, 3 months ago
The AP: Read your post and found it ironic that you think the rest of us live in a dream world. I am going to present an analogy for you. You are playing tennis with your neighbor. Your neighbor has the finest tennis racket money can buy. You also can afford a fine tennis racket but your neighbor says that the only way you can take part in the match is if you use a ping pong paddle. Your neighbor dominates the game. Now fill in the names North Korea, Iran and Iraq and change the story line from tennis match to nuclear weapons. Try to comprehend why these countries might want to obtain the same "racket" their neighbors have. If your first response is "Oh, their neighbors know the correct way to use their rackets", consider how we used ours in the late 1940's.
Nezumi 1 year, 3 months ago
JER, indeed one could make the argument that Bush labeling Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as an "Axis of Evil" and subsequently invading Iraq resulted in an intensification of nuclear weapons programs in Iran and NK, and possibly other nations (Syria?) as an insurance policy against invasion and means of maintaining a dictatorial regime.
AFCHIEF 1 year, 3 months ago
JER, so reading above you would be perfectly fine if Iran got ahold of a Nuke.
Nezumi 1 year, 3 months ago
AFChief - unfortunately I think nothing short of a ground war and occupation will prevent Iran from getting nukes. North Korea has no scruples about selling them. Should the Pakistani gov't fail or be replaced by one of a more extremist bent, I could see them selling nukes as well.
JER 1 year, 3 months ago
AFCHIEF: By trying to explain WHY a country would want to possess the same weapons their neighbors have, you conclude that I am in favor of them having them. It's logic like that that is holding you back. I favor NOBODY having nuclear weapons. But thank you for providing me with the ammunition to blow a very large hole in all the gun lovers arguments. Gun lovers believe that the world will be a much safer place if everyone was packing a firearm at all times. They claim it will make everybody more respectful of the other guy. But when it comes to countries having nuclear weapons, that argument is evidently no longer valid. Make up your minds and let us know which way it is.
JER 1 year, 3 months ago
I have to ask, how do you think other countries that currently have nuclear weapons got them. In many, if not all cases, they got them from us, or at least the technology came from us. So the question about who has the scruples about selling them has already been answered, as well as the question about who is willing to use them to obtain a result. How you view all this depends on where you are located on this planet.