Anguish

Strike Against Terror by Thich Nhat Hanh

"Terror is in the human heart. We must remove this terror from the heart."

George Bush is gung ho on Iraq.

Prior to the elective invasion of Iraq, Al Qaeda did not exist in that country. There were no links, repeat no links, between Iraq and the 'Al Qaeda' 9-11 attack.

The failure to adequately plan for a post invasion Iraq, has created the conditions where Al Qaeda is now in that country. In his rhetoric Bush of course, never mentions that it was, and continues to be, his own failure to produce any sound policy that has brought Al Qaeda to Iraq. Bush created the conditions in Iraq that have spurred on Al Qaeda. And for this Americans are supposed to be grateful and supportive.

Instead Bush is now flapping unstoppably about the Iraq Al Qaeda threat. Is there a word that can possibly describe this level of unconscionable behavior particularly coming from a President? We expect this from the right wing hate mongers, they are alas pathologically unconscionable, but we are aghast at the so called president's lack of non-truth restraint.

The Iraq people are now regarded as the enemy. The recent disclosure that all male Iraqis were the probable enemy and consequently needed beatings, is perhaps the ultimate tragic "Catch 22." The level of absurdity is hard to fathom and stomach. Apparently from the Pentagon's point of view the only solution to Iraq is the old 'final solution.' No doubt someone in that lofty perch is preaching this insanity. If you doubt this, recall all of the sadistic torture and binds that have been enacted under the guise of freedom and democracy. The characteristic of perverting words and their meaning is the hallmark of the neo-conservative cadre. What is far more frightening is that it goes way beyond words. So goes our democracy.