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The
reason the war in Iraq is lost is because too many people
do not believe in the truth, particularly people in
government.
Every human being wants to live in a free country where
there is security and an opportunity to grow, succeed, and
be happy. But who can inspire anyone now to believe that
this government has the ability to create such an
opportunity?
In the final analysis, you have to be able to tell the
truth -- truth you yourself believe in -- to inspire
people. You see, whatever inspiring words come out of your
mouth must be consistent with your behavior, past and
present. So the opportunity to convince Iraqis that the US
will help them achieve peace and security is lost.
I listened to the Secretary of State testify for several
hours before a senate committee and while I was impressed
with her ability to remain cool in the face of negative
feedback and put the best possible face on the
administration's policies, it was clear that her testimony
lacked credibility. That is why this administration will
not be able to win the war or the peace. It is not because
peace is not winnable. It is because they do not have the
insight or the courage to inspire or lead. As long as this
administration is in power, it is unlikely that they will
produce anything that anyone actually needs.
Members of this administration do not believe in the truth
except as a last resort. They do not even know they do not
believe in the truth. I think their attitude towards the
American people and the Iraqi people is this: People
cannot handle the truth. Unfortunately, it's the
administration that cannot handle the truth.
In the same way that parents do not consider themselves
liars when they tell their children fairy tales, this
administration spins tales for the American people. And
they believe they themselves are nevertheless honorable
because they don't believe spinning fairy tales is
dishonest. They simply have no respect for ordinary
People. The US military is not Santa Claus in disguise.
It is too late now. For if this administration were to
tell the truth... the whole truth... and nothing but the
truth, they would expose themselves as liars heretofore.
They are stuck.
It will take a new administration and new leadership...
people who understand the power of the truth--people who
would not lose face by telling the truth--to get us out of
this mess. The question is, can the American people ever
find the wisdom and courage to put such people in
positions of leadership? I see no reason to be encouraged.
What is needed now are mature individuals in Congress who
are willing to evaluate the situation as it is and make
the difficult necessary decisions. This administration
cannot be cajoled into adopting a workable policy because
this administration doesn't have the talent or the
consciousness to employ a workable policy even if some
citizen were to offer one. It is a vision thing. This
administration doesn't have it. Congress doesn't appear to
have it either. It doesn't look good.
This administration has perpetrated egregious crimes
against the people of Iraq and the United States. They
have betrayed the citizens of both countries. If congress
is unwilling to face up to and take responsibility for
that truth, they are surely unprepared to imagine or set
in motion a strategy in Iraq that will lead to a
successful outcome.
If your grandchild was born with grotesque depleted
uranium birth defects, or if your niece's face was burned
down to the bone with phosphorous, or if you witnessed the
results of a neighbor's cluster bomb injury, you probably
would have a difficult time believing that Americans came
to assist you in your pursuit of happiness. While most
Americans probably haven't seen these pictures, I imagine
a lot of Iraqis have. Americans are probably not welcome
in Iraq. And what are the terms of this new oil agreement?
You can't win the prize if you don't understand what I'm
talking about.
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