|
|
|
|||||
|
"Dear
George: When Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican standard-bearer, determined he had to reclaim Federal forts and facilities taken over by the successionists, he used the historic occasion of his state of war declaration of April 15, 1861, to call for 75,000 militia. History records thousands flocked to the colors to provide Lincoln with the manpower he needed to make the war to preserve the Union. Contrast this with President Bush's policy of conducting the war on Iraq on a veritable manpower shoestring; and with the failure of military recruiters to find the volunteers they need to make Mr. Bush's war. It is now indisputable the lack of boots on the ground was responsible for the widespread looting that took place after the invasion, including unguarded armament stockpiles subsequently robbed to claim the lives of American GIs. It is also a matter of record that recruiters are consistently missing their quotas owing to the war's widespread unpopularity. In fact, if President Bush used the White House pulpit to call for 75,000 more troops for Iraq his action would ignite a firestorm of protest. Where Lincoln had the moral authority and public support required for a just war to save the Union against an enemy that had fired the first shot, the present Republican White House occupant's situation is just the reverse. The majority of Americans now oppose Bush's aggressive war, yet they are reluctant to call for his impeachment. A recent "Tom Tomorrow" comic strip spoofs young Republican neocons who, instead of volunteering themselves for the fight, discuss ways to get more poor and underprivileged youth to do the President's dirty work. Of course, President Bush is not the first White House occupant to start a wrong war. When Abraham Lincoln served in Congress in 1847 he stood on the floor of the House and demanded to know of President Polk where the actual fighting broke out between Mexico and America. He challenged Polk to show him the spot on American soil where the blood was shed, knowing, in fact, that Americans invaded Mexico and the struggle began on Mexican soil as a result of an American incursion north of the Rio Grande. How far the Republican Party has slipped between Abraham Lincoln and George W. Bush! In his Memorial Day address at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery, President Bush compounded his reputation for lying with two whoppers: first, that American presidents have always been slow to make war (Lincoln would have been astonished!) and second, that his actions have followed earlier presidents' high principles because he is slow to anger. That's good for a laugh, of course. Helen Thomas, the veteran White House correspondent, remarked after speaking with President Bush early in his term that he was the only President she ever interviewed who was anxious to make a war. Apart from the tens and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians killed in consequence of Mr. Bush's war, the great losers in this war are the American people, whose reputation has plummeted the world over and who will have a trillion-dollar bill for the carnage when the true costs are computed. Americans cannot believe Mr. Bush is flirting with national bankruptcy but his war is rapidly contributing to the nation's insolvency. And when that happens, their may really be no money left in the Social Security Trust Fund! The public, however, gets the government it deserves. If Americans will not stand up now to protest the Bush invasion, will not take to the streets, will not refuse to pay war taxes, will not turn the warmongers out of office, they can't blame a go-along Congress. Sherwood Ross (electronic mail, August 5, 2005)
|
