By Arthur Silber

12/02/08 "Once Upon A Time" - -- -Let us begin with the proposition of greatest importance. From my essay, "The Missing Moral Center: Murdering the Innocent":
There is one final point to be made about all this -- and that has to do with the supreme value of a single human life. In our desensitized, dehumanized age, most people have almost no appreciation for what I'm talking about, and our political establishment and media only make this grievous failing worse. Each of us is unique; not one of us can be replaced. Each of us has a family, loved ones, friends and a life that is a web of caring, interdependence, and joy. When even one of us is killed or horribly injured for no justifiable reason, the damage affects countless people in addition to the primary victim. Sometimes, the survivors are irreparably damaged as well. Even the survivors' wounds can last a lifetime.

This is of the greatest significance. There is nothing more important or meaningful in the world. No moral principle legitimizes our invasion and occupation of Iraq, just as it will not justify an attack on Iran. Therefore, when the first person was killed in Iraq as the result of our actions, the immorality was complete. The crime had been committed, and no amends could ever suffice or would even be possible. That many additional tens or hundreds of thousands of people have subsequently been killed or injured does not add to the original immorality with regard to first principles. It increases its scope, which is an additional and terrible horror -- but the principle is not altered in the smallest degree.

So think of the five-year-old Iraqi girl who is no more, or think of any one of the countless other victims of this criminal war and occupation. Think of their families and friends. Think of the lives that have been altered forever, and of the wounds that will never heal. Think about all of that.

Contemplate the devastation and the horror. Make it real to yourself. And ask yourself if forgiveness is possible.
We now know -- at least, those of us who are minimally honest know -- that the United States government has murdered in excess of one million Iraqis. In yet another attempt to break through the massive wall of resistance erected by our government, the U.S. media, and the American public, I once put this in terms that I hoped would hit home more directly:
For ease of computation, we'll use approximate figures. Assume the U.S.'s war crimes have resulted in one million deaths. That is roughly 1/26 of the total Iraqi population. An equivalent number of American deaths would be 11.5 million people. 3,000 Americans were murdered on 9/11. In terms of casualties, 11.5 million deaths represent 3,800 9/11s -- or a 9/11 every day for ten and a half years.

Let me repeat that: a 9/11 every day for ten and a half years.

Perhaps you think these casualty figures are highly inflated. Fine. Cut them in half. That's a 9/11 every day for a little over five years.

Every day.

Do you begin to understand now?
Our government, our media and most Americans remain absolutely determined not to understand.

Let us proceed to a second proposition of great significance. The ruling elites in the United States have been committed to a foreign policy of American hegemony for over a century; this has been especially true in the decades following the end of World War II. This foreign policy of global hegemony, to be actualized by overthrow, assassination, war, murder, torture and occupation as required, has been and remains a fully bipartisan affair. Both Republicans and Democrats, insofar as the parties bearing those names are central institutions of power in the United States, embrace this policy; very often, Democrats have been notably more aggressive and ruthless in pursuit of this end than Republicans (always excepting the current war criminals in charge of the executive branch). I have detailed this bipartisan policy of murder and conquest in numerous essays; see all of my "Dominion Over the World" series (all the essays in that series are linked at the end of that article), and the other articles linked in those pieces. Scan the archives for still more.

The Democrats were never going to end the occupation of Iraq, as I noted in a post just prior to the 2006 election: "An Election Conceived in Nausea." The other predictions in that post have also been borne out by events. Predicting how loathsome the loathsome Democrats will be is not a difficult task -- not if you are minimally honest.

In a new article, Matt Taibbi details the nauseating depths of the Democrats' abominable record over the last year. Taibbi notes the Democratic leaders' lofty calls to inspirational principles -- from Harry Reid ("We have the presidential election," Reid said recently. "Our time is really squeezed."), and from Nancy Pelosi ("We'll have a new president," said Pelosi. "And I do think at that time we'll take a fresh look at it.") Reid and Pelosi offer such resounding calls to first principles as more and more people are slaughtered every day. Couldn't you just die? Lots of people are dying, but not anyone you know (or Reid or Pelosi knows) -- so you don't give a $h**.

We expected the dems to stop the war and to no avail. That is the great disillusionment of this country now. We no longer believe anyone is able to end the illegal war that baby shrub has us embedded in now for the duration

As a democrat I feel betrayed by the democratic congress who at least implied they would try to end that occupation in Iraq, now that they are in.......nothing.......I have never felt this disenfranchised by our government

wELL, MADISON. iF YOU ARE SO PEEVED AT THE DEMOCRATS, VOTE REPUBLICAN AND TEACH THEM A LESSON

Actually, if you actually believe anything any politician says, you are a bigger fool than them, 'cause they think we believe them. Each generation of politicians promises to solve all our problems, then they promptly f*** them up worse...lol

I suppose the real quistion is after over a trillion dollars spent OVER 4,OO DEAD AMERICANS and Bin Laden still running loose the alleged mastermind of 911 by the way, what have we got to show for our actions?

How about we watch this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqb7jT47Al0

Well, thanks to the patriot act they stopped the Brooklyn Bridge from being blown up for one.

Our Politicians: By their fruits you will know them: Liars and murders. Put them on TRIAL!!

There is no easy way out of Iraq without making things worse both here and over there. Not because they'll "follow us home", but this is our mess we clearly are the ones who broke it and thus we have responsibility to see this through. If we pull out right now we risk a genocide of Iraqi people, which will definatly bite us in the ass as we will be blamed for that too & increase our middle eastern enemies that much more. Complicated problems require complicated sollutions and this is extremly complicated, pulling out over night is NOT a sollution;^]

I understand that thinking however we never should have gone in there in the first place and I would be happy to see those responsible on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity, I think that would go a long way in restoring some type of credability to america. I feel that the evidence is overwelming for a conviction

Maybe after Bush leaves office, but not before as it would leave us in a dire situation. It was the right war at the wrong time I think, but right now focusing on why we went in is irrelevent to the sollutions, we went and now we have to solve the puzzle;^]

I totaly disagree that it was the right war at the wrong time and totaly disagree that bush and gang shouldnt be put on trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity and while the wheels of justice are turning we appeal to the UN for help and truly build a coalation of nations to help rebuild Iraq and allow it to govren itself in a way chosen by the Iraqi people. Perhape then they could forgive us. stunning how a few hijackers with box cutters managed to drag this nation to its knees, If Bin laden was the mastermind behind 911 he couldnt be more pleased by the outcome

The right time was in the past, when saddam was actualy commiting the genocides. Imagine if Bush got impeached or convicted but Cheney got off, do really want Cheney in total control? And even after Cheney is Nancy Pelosi, not a good scenerio either. No, we need to hold off for this final year and wait 'till we have new leadership. I know some say "anybody's better than bush" but that's incredibly naive, it can always get worse;^]

would it have been a better time when the terrorists were at your front door?..

I think you need to get with reality, we have the mightiest military in the history of the world, if terrorist ever make it to my front door its because we let them in.

lol what!?! Tell that to the British, mighty military and the civilians get hit by terrorists. The British must have let them in?

Are you telling us to become a closed, isolationist society that does not allow new immigration and monitors Muslims where Islamic Radicalization comes from? lol

Saddam and Iraq should have never been our focus from get. Bin laden should have been our focus. Baby shrub pointed everyone in that direction and the fools that everyone is they followed.

The perpetrator of 9/11, after thousands of Americans died and thousands of Iraqis died, should not be standing today but he is. That is the problem.

As for terrorists, sorry to tell everyone but terrorist exist in all nations of all races and backgrounds, we have not even made a dent in the "terrorist" pool. It is just stupid, well baby shrub said it so we know it is stupid, to think that we have even touched a terrorist stronghold.

We were already in Afgan when bin laden perpetrated his crime out of Afgan so what makes anyone think we are doing anything to prevent a terrorist from doing anything????!!!!

The only thing that has helped us so far from being hit again is our homeland security updates. That is it. The war in Iraq has actually stirred the pot and made us more enemies than we had before.

Come on people say it loud WHERE THE HELL IS THE PERPETRATOR OF 9/11!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You supporting the Department of Homeland Security and the Patriot Act? Are you being sarcastic?

americas insane responces to 911 should have the perpatrators of it cackling with joy as no war could have done the damage we have inflicted apon ourselves. Our standing in the world is diminished and our econonmy is in shambles

actually it's people like you who have the terrorists cackling with joy...the response to 9/11 has them on the run with no time to cackle and are not really having joyous time....

smo:

I see no fruits of the Holy Spirit in you. Let Jesus be the Judge, just like the Bible says He will do - that you make a half-hearted attempt of quoting.

Lindyy