Times of Crisis
To understand the essence of being duped into supporting the invasion of Iraq, we must recognize the following:
Sen. Robert Byrd wrote that prior to the Iraqi war resolution some senators were almost terrified at the prospect of being labeled "unpatriotic," if they voted against the resolution. He doubted that some members fully comprehended the magnitude of Bush's grab for power and that Congress was relinquishing its Constitutional authority and responsibility. Byrd's concern was that Bush was given a "blank check" for the unrestrained use of military power, when Congress surrendered its congressional prerogative to declare war.
We find our country trapped again in a quicksand of lies, because Bush propogandist repeatedly claimed Saddam's weapons of mass destruction posed "a serious and mounting threat to our nation" with consequences that would be "grave and tragic" if we failed to act. We were repeatedly told that the Iraqi regime possessed "vast arsenals of deadly biological and chemical weapons". "We cannot wait for final proof, the smoking gun." "It could come in the form of a mushroom cloud."
Eisenhower's Sec. of State John Foster Dulles observed: "In order to bring a nation to support the burdens of maintaining great military establishments, it is necessary to create an emotional state akin to war psychology. There must be the portrayal of external menace. To achieve this it is necessary to depict one's own country as a shining hero and the other country as the vilest villain. Once such an ideology has been fostered, the nation is a long way on the path to war".
Michael Parent's "Superpatriotism" points out: "We are told that during times of crisis we must trust the president. Democracy is not about trust; it's about distrust, accountability, public exposure and responsible government. We must impress on our fellow Americans to trust Congress less and themselves more."
Sen. Robert Byrd wrote that prior to the Iraqi war resolution some senators were almost terrified at the prospect of being labeled "unpatriotic," if they voted against the resolution. He doubted that some members fully comprehended the magnitude of Bush's grab for power and that Congress was relinquishing its Constitutional authority and responsibility. Byrd's concern was that Bush was given a "blank check" for the unrestrained use of military power, when Congress surrendered its congressional prerogative to declare war.
We find our country trapped again in a quicksand of lies, because Bush propogandist repeatedly claimed Saddam's weapons of mass destruction posed "a serious and mounting threat to our nation" with consequences that would be "grave and tragic" if we failed to act. We were repeatedly told that the Iraqi regime possessed "vast arsenals of deadly biological and chemical weapons". "We cannot wait for final proof, the smoking gun." "It could come in the form of a mushroom cloud."
Eisenhower's Sec. of State John Foster Dulles observed: "In order to bring a nation to support the burdens of maintaining great military establishments, it is necessary to create an emotional state akin to war psychology. There must be the portrayal of external menace. To achieve this it is necessary to depict one's own country as a shining hero and the other country as the vilest villain. Once such an ideology has been fostered, the nation is a long way on the path to war".
Michael Parent's "Superpatriotism" points out: "We are told that during times of crisis we must trust the president. Democracy is not about trust; it's about distrust, accountability, public exposure and responsible government. We must impress on our fellow Americans to trust Congress less and themselves more."
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