Have Your Say on Iraq - Here's one of my many "says"
Dr. David Sanders, candidate for the office of U.S. Representative for the 4th Congressional District of the State of Indiana.
Dr. David Sander's campaign website offers viewers an opportunity to "Have Your Say on Iraq. He poses the questions: What is the United States role in Iraq? What can be done to improve the deteriorating situation in Iraq?
Below are my thoughts; thoughts you may or may not share.
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Winston Churchill made these statements. Like him or not there is great truth in them.
“You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else.” - At least in the five years -
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
“If you are going through hell, keep going.”
“The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is.
“You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ...and I, Duane Short, say "confront... but don't kill them."
In the middle quote Churchill, posthumously, implies we move on... as in, "get the hell out of Iraq."
If we could stay and produce positive outcomes we should stay... but we cannot because we went in illegally and under false pretenses. During our occupation we have made many strategic errors, operational blunders (e.g., Abu Ghraib), and have committed a litany of malfeasances. For example, nine BILLION dollars intended to help Iraqis is gone, utterly without a trace. I could go on but will not, here.
In the end we must admit before we can correct this administration's mistakes and crimes. Congressional Democrats and Republicans alike must share blame as their votes on Iraq issues warrant. We cannot correct course by keeping the same captains at the wheel that took us so terribly off course into such perilous seas of discontent.
Nothing we do will, at this point, will be pretty but in the old days this was referred to as paying for our sins. Unfortunately, innocent Iraqis will pay as well. Bush supporters can keep calling Bush's actions anything they want but there is no worse error than to attempt to cover past sins. We, as a nation, must face our sins, even those of us who (unsuccessfully) fought long and hard to prevent Bush's invasion of Iraq.
The sooner we leave, the sooner the smoke and fog of war will clear. Only then will Iraqis begin to complete their march through and out of their seemingly unending hell.
We can help Iraqis economically and via many humanitarian forms of benevolence, but not from the end of a gun barrel or from high-flying jets dropping so-called smart bombs. Nor can we impose our form of Democracy on them. Democracy of any form can only be self-willed, self-fashioned, and self-imposed. The Bush administration is seeking to impose its narrow political will on the new Iraq. Nothing could be less effective and less smart.
Dr. David Sander's campaign website offers viewers an opportunity to "Have Your Say on Iraq. He poses the questions: What is the United States role in Iraq? What can be done to improve the deteriorating situation in Iraq?
Below are my thoughts; thoughts you may or may not share.
---
Winston Churchill made these statements. Like him or not there is great truth in them.
“You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else.” - At least in the five years -
“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
“If you are going through hell, keep going.”
“The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is.
“You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ...and I, Duane Short, say "confront... but don't kill them."
In the middle quote Churchill, posthumously, implies we move on... as in, "get the hell out of Iraq."
If we could stay and produce positive outcomes we should stay... but we cannot because we went in illegally and under false pretenses. During our occupation we have made many strategic errors, operational blunders (e.g., Abu Ghraib), and have committed a litany of malfeasances. For example, nine BILLION dollars intended to help Iraqis is gone, utterly without a trace. I could go on but will not, here.
In the end we must admit before we can correct this administration's mistakes and crimes. Congressional Democrats and Republicans alike must share blame as their votes on Iraq issues warrant. We cannot correct course by keeping the same captains at the wheel that took us so terribly off course into such perilous seas of discontent.
Nothing we do will, at this point, will be pretty but in the old days this was referred to as paying for our sins. Unfortunately, innocent Iraqis will pay as well. Bush supporters can keep calling Bush's actions anything they want but there is no worse error than to attempt to cover past sins. We, as a nation, must face our sins, even those of us who (unsuccessfully) fought long and hard to prevent Bush's invasion of Iraq.
The sooner we leave, the sooner the smoke and fog of war will clear. Only then will Iraqis begin to complete their march through and out of their seemingly unending hell.
We can help Iraqis economically and via many humanitarian forms of benevolence, but not from the end of a gun barrel or from high-flying jets dropping so-called smart bombs. Nor can we impose our form of Democracy on them. Democracy of any form can only be self-willed, self-fashioned, and self-imposed. The Bush administration is seeking to impose its narrow political will on the new Iraq. Nothing could be less effective and less smart.
posted by Duane Short | 9/01/2006 04:57:00 PM
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0 comments
NEWS ADVISORY
David Sanders—Democratic Candidate for US Representative (4th District) and the Mayor of Mitchell, Butch Chastain, Discuss Opposition to a Proposed Massive Explosion Near Mitchell
Wednesday, August 30,2006--Dr. David Sanders, candidate for the office of U.S. Representative for the 4th Congressional District of the State of Indiana, and the Mayor of Mitchell, Butch Chastain, appeared at a press conference at 10:00 AM Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at the Mitchell City Hall, 407 S. 6th Street in Mitchell.
“It was reported in the Las Vegas Review Journal that it was proposed that Indiana become Ground Zero for the testing of a massive explosive. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is planning an explosion called “Divine Strake”—the detonation of one million four hundred thousand pounds of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil. It was originally scheduled for the Nevada Test Site. After protests from residents and questions from members of Congress from both political parties, it was indicated that the test would be postponed and probably held elsewhere. A quarry near Mitchell and Bedford was suggested as the new potential site.
“Here is the description of the aftermath of the explosion from the head of DTRA, ‘it is the first time in Nevada that you'll see a mushroom cloud over Las Vegas since we stopped testing nuclear weapons.’
“A spokesman said, "The dust cloud ... may reach an altitude of 10,000 feet.”
Dr. Sanders stated, “Detonating this explosion here would have been completely unacceptable. If it is not safe for the middle of the desert in Nevada, it is not safe for a populated area like Bedford. Negative impacts on the highly valuable limestone of the area and upon groundwater have been discussed.”
“We have been informed that the site here in Lawrence County is not under consideration now. Why it was initially mentioned by a DTRA spokesperson is still a mystery. I believe that we should regard this settlement as a victory for community activists. I was proud to be a part of the opposition. I applaud Mayor Chastain and his efforts. In my judgment ongoing vigilance is nevertheless necessary.
“It is astounding that the incumbent Congressman for this district was apparently not aware of Bedford’s identification as a possible test site despite mentions of this fact in the media. It is even more incredible that his highly condescending response to concerns about the explosion was that Indiana ‘needs to be educated about this project and its possibilities.’
“The people of Indiana did not need to be ‘educated’ about the ‘possibilities’ of Divine Strake. We have been educated about the fact that, according to the owner of the quarry, a spokesperson for DTRA apparently identified a quarry in Mitchell as a potential test site for Divine Strake without notifying the quarry owner. We have been educated about the fact that there were previous DTRA explosives tests at the quarry without any public notification. We have also been educated that Congressman Buyer does not care about the people of Lawrence County. It is evident that Congressman Buyer needs to be ‘educated’ about his responsibility to defend the interests of his constituents. Actually, it is not surprising that a Congressman who wanted to use nuclear weapons in Afghanistan (“Put a tactical nuclear device in and close these caves for a thousand years," said Buyer in a 2001 interview with Indianapolis television station WRTV) did not oppose a massive explosion in a part of the district he almost never visits and takes for granted. It is time that the people of the 4th District use their votes to “educate” the incumbent about the proper role of a United States Representative.”
Dr. Sanders is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University. His expertise concerns gene therapy, cancer research, biodefense, and pandemic influenza. His research on the Ebola virus led to his participation in a United States Biological Weapons Proliferation Prevention Program. His responsibilities included inspecting a formerly secret bioweapons laboratory in Siberia.
http://www.sandersforcongress.org
Dr. Sanders’ connection with Purdue University is mentioned for identification purposes only and does not imply University endorsement.