11.06.2009 5:12 pm
How many more un-constitutional wars will it take?
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
I wonder how many Americans remember being taught to beware of False Prophets? I find it amazing how easy our political an corporate leaders lay the blame for failed un-conational wars at the feet of We The People. Maybe it could be because those of my fathers generation that had it so good, became so apathetic that they only care for themselves. Through out history the rich and powerful have used the weak and narrow minded as their allies in oppressing Nations. In America We The People are supposed to be in charge. When have we ever held an elected leader to their sworn duty to up-hold our Constitution? How many more un-constitutional wars will it take before God pulls the plug on us?
Ray Vance
St Peters
Not sure if Ray thinks that the Audacity of Hype is one of those pesky False Prophets.
I’m still deciphering “un-conational wars”.
Ray, technically, we’re not at war with anyone. Congress never declared war.
The reason your parents generation had it so good is because of the hard
work your grandparents did. And most of your parents gen helped work
for what they needed and sometimes wanted. you’re the generation who
really has it good….my generation and my sons generation were the folks
who also worked part-time during going to school. And college. My youngest was about 4 when the 286 class of personal computers came on the market.
At about the same time transistorized watches and calculators came on the
market. So Mr Vance, I think at around 1970 the when the constitution started to be sevierly bent.
The danger of a false prophet of course is his ability to persuade people that he is right. All he really needs is a strong dose of charisma, a good speech writer, a few emotional issues to press, and an uninformed audience, and he can become a strong influence of public opinion. And public opinion can be very powerful. At an anti-war protest during Vietnam, Abbie Hoffman was asked how many people would have to be against the war in order to end it. Would it take a simple majority of Americans, or a big majority, or what? He responded that it didn’t take 50% or 75% or any particular number or percent, it just took enough. He was right. When enough Americans stand up, things happen. Just beware of what prophet you’re listening to. The only antidote to a false prophet is for the public to be informed on all sides of an issue, and care.
Wow. It is hard to believe that after twelve years of free, public education that he cannot write any better than this.
the Taliban and Afghanistan are one aspect of a regional dilemma (along with Pakistan and India) leftover from the previous administration.
Give the Afghani people credit for knowing the difference between invasion, conquest and temporary occupation. They’re wary of being abandoned again. According to the reports I’ve read, they’re not the guys attacking us – it’s the sociopaths and criminals trying to regain power.
Pakistan and its nuclear arsenal are even more vulnerable to Taliban takeover! Analysts claim that Pakistan can help clear up this mess but their military resources focus on its border with India due to historic conflicts over Kashmir. They refused to believe that the Taliban presented a threat until recently when they, as we predicted, moved to invade Islamabad. So, while our troops are staged in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s army fights Taliban encroachment and there are intensive diplomatic efforts to ease Pakistani-Indian tension.
Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002
House Vote-297-133
Senate Vote-77-23
Want to blame the false Prophets? We elected them. Then we changed our minds and elected the congressional/senatorial class of 2006 with the mandate to end the war. They could not see fit to do that though because of prior commitments to get re elected.
“The resolution “supported” and “encouraged” diplomatic efforts by President George W. Bush to “strictly enforce through the U.N. Security Council all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq” and “obtain prompt and decisive action by the Security Council to ensure that Iraq abandons its strategy of delay, evasion, and noncompliance and promptly and strictly complies with all relevant Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.”
The resolution authorized President Bush to use the Armed Forces of the United States “as he determines to be necessary and appropriate” in order to “defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq.”
Agreed!! I too am sick of the illegal, immoral unecessary wars on Fox News, Limbaugh, the Chamber of Commerce, and insurance companies. Obama should be fighting the war on al-Qaeda that he is constitutionally mandated to fight. He should direct his hate towards the Taliban, not towards Americans. Obama needs to get off the golf course, stop fundraising, end his endless vacations and live up to his duties.