What Kind of Example Does US Provide?

WASHINGTON, D. C. (4/17) - If you do not place a high value on truth, then you should not read this article. The bandwagon is now full of Bush back-patters gloating about their high moral ground - how right they were about the war on Iraq and Bush's leadership. As an American, I personally find it all disgusting and appalling.  The  "kudos to us" hubris spreading across America is a slap in the face to truth and just causes. The course of deception that lead to the war on Iraq has made the world distrust America. American global leadership has, and will continue to suffer. We may now be feared as the lone, world power led by neo-conservative hawks, a world power void of respect. 

The mass endorsement by most Americans of this new environment where deception is applauded steps into treacherous territory for America and provides no true cause for pride. Although the military performed with unparalleled effectiveness in their mission and warrants great praise, the Bush leadership has taken us to a new moral low that has severely tarnished America's representation of freedom, truth and justice. The only ones that do not seem to know or care are Americans. One conjures up images of blood-thirsty masses cheering the Roman games, where victory is all that matters. It is about supporting the winning team with pound-your-chest pride. This Administration also seems intent on using the "either you are with us or against us" declaration to garner domestic support as well as tackle terrorism. This serves to divide the American citizenry, for it is now touted to be unpatriotic if you oppose Bush's methods.

Conducting war for the right reason based on evidence may no longer matter in the new American century. The new values could easily be dominance and imposition of will by military might. Now, with its divine sword of moral superiority, the Bush administration is conducting its propaganda campaign for a war on Syria and others. Through accusations based on dubious or false evidence that imply they are a threat and "we have to do it sometime," the Bush administration can set the stage to create more last resort, "unavoidable" wars. The  fear of becoming the next target may find many Middle Eastern countries and beyond questioning the motives of the U.S.  Such policy cannot be sustained in the long run.   

The other night, Richard Perle appeared on the PBS special "Avoiding Armageddon" and talked about a "permanent coalition of the willing" (the UN has proved irrelevant) that will "control" the potential in the world for enormous mass destruction.  Yesterday, Undersecretary of State Richard Armitage said "we will take them down one at a time" like in a wrestling match. This is just part of a daily campaign by Bush, Rumsfeld, Powell, Clarke, and other Bush boys on the path to their global regime in establishing their Rome.