2000 Americans Dead....Two Parents grieving their children and honoring others at Arlington National Cemetery
On Wednesday communities from all over the US came together to mourn our fellow citizens who have been killed in Iraq. Along with the American Friends Service Committee, Military Families Speak Out, Gold Star Families for Peace, Vets for Peace and Iraq Vets Against the War called for "Not One More Death - Not One More Dollar" for war in Iraq.
Mr. Bush, appearing in front of a group of Air Force wives in Virginia once again stated that we must "stay the course" to honor our fallen citizens. He was faced both by a demonstration outside his event as well as hecklers during his speech - one with the same theme echoed in earlier speeches.
His nominee for the Supreme Court withdrew her nomination under pressure from his own party. I guess she, like many of us, are having a difficult time seeing exactly what the course is...
And on Friday, "Scooter" Libby and the rest of the country learned that lying to the FBI and to the Grand Jury has legal and professional consequences. He was indicted in the Plame case and resigned to professional "atta-boys" from the President and Vice President. However the legal charges pan out, his willingness to lie simply shows the length the Administration will go to silence critics and protect themselves. And since official statements made before this indictment by the White House denied any involvement of Rove and Libby in the case at all, it shows that lying is an acceptable strategy to get out of tight spots and to avoid criticism: Rather like WMDS and Saddam's alleged involvement in the events of 9/11.
One thing is certain - more Americans have died and will continue to die as long as this country tolerates lying from public officials. It has already happened. The last I heard, the American death toll had risen by 12 since our vigils on Wednesday.
It is time to bring the troops home and care for them when they get here.
