WAR, HATE and FEAR

Here we go again, our great leader has yet given another speech to a select audience, in an attempt to gather support for the Iraq War, World War III, The War against Terror (a misnomer anyway), Al Queda, Usama (hiding out somewhere in a cave), generally painting a bleak picture of the state of affairs. We are not safer (why not?), the threat is still there (why?) and now we are facing a new threat from Iran. Heck, for as much as I care, this speech today sounded like those given back in 2002 and 2004 before assorted elections. Just the name of the threatening nation has changed, from Iraq to Iran now. Maybe it is still the same threat and maybe Mr. Bush with his dyslexia issues hasn't figured out that he is dealing with two different entities.

Now, while I never believed that Iraq under Saddam Hussein was ever really a threat to anybody (unless he could make wooden planes get off the ground and have them fly to America's coastline, reliving the great moment of flight by the Wright Brothers back some 100 years ago), no, Saddam was no threat. Was he a nice person? No, absolutely not, but human rights and his and his son's violations thereoff did not came into play as a rationale for invading this country back in 2003. I do believe however that Saddam could have been contained, just the the Soviet Empire was contained during the Cold War. He could have been assisinated as well, which would have saved a lot of lives and money for the American Taxpayer, but no, Bush and the Neocons needed to invade and now we find Iraq on the brink of a civil war, with sectarian violence, morgues overflowing with dead bodies, assassinations of those who 'collaborate' with American Forces, and no end in sight.

Now we face the same with Iran, again, another nation governed by a semi-madman, who plans on proceeding with his nuclear ambitions. Whilst I agree that this a real threat that in my humble opinion has been ignored and pushed on the back burner thanks to the war in Iraq, it needs to be dealt with. I do not agree with the war-mongering neocons like Billy Kristol et al. that we "need" to invade Iran. First of all, invade Iran with what? With 130,000 or our troops bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan respectively? With the troops at home between their now almost regular deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan? No, lets just blow up the reactors, we know where they are, somewhere north, south, east and west of Theran (just like the WMDs in Iraq where in the same directions around Baghdad, remember that now infamous Rumsfeld quote). These are the known known and not the unknown knowns. Or, are we relying on cartoon drawings again, just like those that Colin Powell showed us during his speech or indictment of the Iraq regime in front of the UN in 2003.

Bottom line to my rambling here is, I am confused on whether the President is confused. I am in fear about another useless war instead of diplomacy (heck, if we tried it, it might actually work, but we don't know that since Bush really doesn't talk to anybody). I am tired, tired of the hopelessness and doom that this president offers in his recent speeches. I want some hope, not war, hate and fear.