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I'm a Corporate expatriot with a thirty-year background in advertising and public relations turned liberal political blogger. In addition to writing for hypocrisy, I also contribute to the Political Voices of Women Community, OpEd News, and Open Salon.

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Six Years On

March 20th, 2009 • Deb Della Piana
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img_055_iraqprotestEverybody’s talking about the economy right now, and I understand that it is the most critical issue for Americans. But it has been six years since the invasion of Iraq and 4,200+ Americans have died. It is estimated that more than a million Iraqis have died with double that number being displaced. It is a transgression we must not forget, regardless of Obama’s pledge to bring the troops home. They aren’t home yet.

I have written countless words about the Iraq war and I could keep going. There’s no doubt I’ll write about it again, but not this evening. This evening I read two articles that were so noteworthy that I am posting them on Turn-Left and I am urging you to read them.

ann-wright-057One article is by Ann Wright, a former Colonel and a U.S. diplomat, who resigned her position when the U.S. invaded Iraq. Her story is here:

http://www.truthout.org/032009A

The second story is by William Rivers Pitt, who does a wonderful job of summarizing the outright lies told by the Bush administration to justify the war. Here’s an example of the lies the American people were told:

“Right now, Iraq is expanding and improving facilities that were used for the production of biological weapons.”

- George W. Bush, President
Speech to the UN General Assembly
9/12/2002

“Iraq has stockpiled biological and chemical weapons, and is rebuilding the facilities used to make more of those weapons. We have sources that tell us that Saddam Hussein recently authorized Iraqi field commanders to use chemical weapons - the very weapons the dictator tells us he does not have.”

- George W. Bush, President
Radio Address
10/5/2002

“We know that Saddam Hussein is determined to keep his weapons of mass destruction, is determined to make more.”

- Colin Powell, Secretary of State
Remarks to the UN Security Council
2/5/2003

Although some supporters of the war want you to believe that the intelligence was wrong and that the Bush administration was given erroneous information, let’s be clear about this: George Bush, Colin Powell, Dick Cheney, Condoleeza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, John Ashcroft and so many others simply told outright lies to justify the Iraq war. To deny the lies at this point is just absurd.

There Are 2 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by ihentschel on 20 March 2009:

    Thanks for writing this. While I will admit to being as overtaken by the economic situation as anyone, but I have been saddened that there has been so little coverage of the sixth anniversary of this debacle. While many people would like to have it go away, indeed act like it never happened, it is still very much with us, the death tolls are staggering all around and the wounded are stark reminders of our ridiculous escapade.

    The unfortunate footnote to what you entered here lies in the reports leaking out that the G W Bush library will scarcely even mention the war as an event which took place during his presidency.

    The hobgoblins of this era in our history will be with us for many years to come, and only if we keep the facts and realities alive will we have any real chance of preventing a repeat performance. Perhaps by the seventh anniversary we will have some better news.

  2. Comment by Deb Della Piana on 20 March 2009:

    Hey, Ivan, thanks for writing. I have begun the Bush Virtual Library, by the way. I haven’t had much time to consistently work on it, but that should improve after next week when I take a few days rest from work.

    It’s at http://bushlibrary.hypocrisy.com

    The brick and mortar version will be totally fabricated. It will be an attempt to rewrite history. The virtual version will not. It will focus on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. It will focus on torture. It will focus on illegal wiretapping. It will focus on the outing of Valerie Plame-Wilson, an act that would be called TREASON if it weren’t committed by George W. Bush and his lemmings.

    If you visit, keep in mind it is still in its infancy stages and I’ve collected even more stuff from contributors this week, so there will be a lot more material and I will certainly be covering the war extensively. If you have links you’d like me to include, just send them to my email!

    Yes, the Bushwhacker is thankfully gone. However, his legacy will live on in infamy forever.

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