NOT BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY

Today is Memorial Day 2009. I dedicate this column to my late father and late uncle – both veterans of “The Big One- WWII” –, to my nephew, an Iraq War veteran and to others in my family who served in the armed forces. Thank you.

I had planned to do posts about President Obama’s speech on national security given at the National Archives and on Cheney’s speech at the American Enterprise Institute. Rather than doing that, let me make these comments instead.

First, here is why Dick Cheney is such a dishonorable and disreputable being. First and foremost, the Dick had the opportunity to be part of our efforts in Vietnam. But, rather than serve he chose instead to receive several deferments that kept him out of the armed forces. The Dick could not even serve one tour of duty but it is perfectly acceptable for our young and not so young men and women in the reserves and National Guard (who did not sign up to go fight on foreign soil) to serve multiple tours of duty in Iraq. It is then ludicrous for us to regard the Dick as any expert on war tactics, interrogation methods or anything of the sort. Because while the Dick may argue that the use of barbaric means were justified to get to the desired ends which is our continued freedom, the Dick refuses to acknowledge the real costs of these efforts. “and when the entire population is targeted by a terror network, nothing is more consistent then to stop them.”

“You can look at the facts and conclude that our comprehensive strategy has worked…or you can look at the same fact and conclude that 9/11 was a one-off event.” Well, here are some facts in terms of costs of the Bush comprehensive strategy. The first is 3,000 – the number of lives lost on September 11, 2001. The Dick always like to speak about what happened AFTER 9/11. What he never wants to acknowledge is that 9/11, the single worst attack on America and the worst breach of security, happened on his watch and that in the eyes of many 9/11 was preventable if we are to believe that it was an attack from outside agitators which is highly debatable. The second number is 5,000 – the number of American lives lost in the Iraq War. We can add to this number the reported HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS Iraqi lives lost and the millions of people affected by families who have died, been maimed, and displaced due to the war. The third number is less exact, but let us just say it is TRILLIONS of dollars – this is the cost of the war. For that amount of money we could have established a national health care program and had plenty of money left over for better education, better infrastructure, and better transportation. So, not only is it about money spent, but also about money lost including the billions for which there still is no accounting. The final number is also less precise but let us use $700 billion and rising (actually the number is more than a trillion dollars) – the cost of the financial bailout which occurred because we were too busy trying to justify the unjust war instead of concentrating on the financial security of our citizens. “Being the first vice president who had also served as Secretary of Defense naturally my duties tilted toward national security. I focused on these challenges day to day…I had the advantage of being a vice president content with the responsibilities I had.” These responsibilities clearly did not include serving the American public.

There is also another cost that is far less measurable and that is the loss of freedoms of our citizens due to the passage of the Patriot Act. And, of course, we can add the costs of all the increased security measures.

And here is why we have these costs. In his speech last Thursday the Dick had the audacity to say these words, “Nine-eleven caused everyone to take a serious SECOND look at the threats that had been gathering for a while.” This seems to imply that prior to 9/11 national security was not a priority. Had national security been a priority instead of where W was vacationing next during the first eight months of his presidency, then 9/11 might not have happened. Of course, I repeat that would only be true if we believe that 9/11 was actually caused by outside agitators.

The key point that the Dick keeps ignoring is that VIOLENCE ONLY BEGETS MORE VIOLENCE. President Obama said in his speech, “We went off course. It was an assessment that was showed by the American people who nominated candidates… who despite our major differences call for a new approach- one that rejected torture. They risk the lives of our troops by making less likely that others will surrender…and more likely that Americans will be mistreated if they are captured.” One can be sure that if we are waterboarding them, they are doing that and much worse to us. And, we now have no avenue to turn to for justice because of own breaches of international law. So, one does not have to tear apart Cheney’s speech bit by bit to understand that he is on the wrong side of the issue and is no real authority on the subject matter.

Incredibly during his speech, the Dick actually suggested that Abu Ghraib was some unfortunate aberration by bunch of rogue soldiers. He said, “At Abu Ghraib, a few sadistic prison guards abused inmates in violation of American law…For the harm they did, to Iraqi prisoners and to America’s cause, they deserved and received Army justice.” Dick, oh please. Those soldiers acted on the orders handed down by the superiors which included those at the highest level of government – President, Vice President, and Secretary of Defense. Even if that were not true, ultimately it was the Bush Administration that was responsible for h actions of these soldiers. “And it takes a deeply unfair cast of mind to equate the disgraces of Abu Ghraib with the lawful, skillful and entirely honorable work of personnel trained to deal with a few malevolent men.” For the Dick to detach himself from Abu Ghraib is just further fantasy on his part.

Now comes word that Cheney is shopping for a book. Really, Dick? You have no shame. All of this new found care for our security is just his attempt at creating a market for a book just as the Iraq War created new marketing opportunities for his pals at Halliburton. Maybe he could title the book, “My Forty Years in Washington Working Toward the Downfall of America by Dick Cheney” If he had any honor he would donate the proceeds of the book which is nothing more than blood money to help those whose blood he needlessly shed.

Ha, honor! That is what I learned from my father, my uncle and, yes, my nephew. My father and uncle were both drafted into service and served in the segregated Army. My father told tales of how they had to steal basic rations from prisoners of war who were treated better than the African American soldiers. He and my uncle then returned home to a country whose freedom they defended only to be denied many of those same freedoms based upon their skin color. They could have and rightfully should have been bitter man. But they had honor and were proud of their service and continued during the remainder of their lives to work to better this country. My nephew who only signed on to get financial help for college found himself in Iraq during the first wave. He returned home and had to fight tooth and nail to receive the financial assistance he was due. He is somewhat bitter yet he continues to honor his commitment to the Reserves.

This is what Cheney could do if, indeed, he was an honorable man of high repute. Instead of talking about enhanced interrogation methods his focus would be on ensuring adequate resources for all the veterans who are each wounded in some fashion. How about the Dick ditching the suit and tie, putting on some overalls, and donating his time, energy, and personal finances towards building new homes for those severely handicapped war veterans? How about visiting the men and women as they recuperate in hospitals around the world? How about the Dick actually serving as an instrument of peace and reconciliation instead of violence and injustice? How about the Dick fighting for the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” so that all who still want to volunteer for the military as well as all those in military can serve openly, proudly, and honestly?

Now, I am not giving an Obama a pass on national security, but I do agree with his approach. First, I agree that the photos of the abuse should not be released. Those photos will cause even more shame, but also cause more violence. I agree with Obama that Gitmo must be closed and I rebuke the Senate vote to cutoff the funds that would allow this to happen. We created the mess and if we have to feel less safe because these people are on US soil, then so be it. Those who do not study history are bound to repeat its mistakes. In the 1930s and 1940s we opened up internment camps and rounded up all the Japanese people living in the US and herded them off to these camps. Not only did we lose their intellectual talents, we also were forced to pay their descendants billions of dollars in reparations. I disagree on abandoning juris prudence in some cases as injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere.

Memorial Day 2009 – a day to honor those who served and especially those who gave their lives to keep us free. It is not a time now or ever to pay attention to those who are only out for self-aggrandizement.

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

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