Posts: 1

1. Government and the People

   06.Nov.06, 16:03 EST
   
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   Is anyone else out there disgusted with the President of the United States quoting Osama bin Laden as a reason for supporting him and his party. If not, you deserve what you have. Bush quoted al-Quaeda sources saying that a U.S. withdrawal will be the end of the American empire. So Bush, having lied with Tony Blair about the reason for invading Iraq, and failed fundamentally since, uses an extremist to justify why you should vote for him, Cheney, Rumsfeldt and his party again. That is plain sick. We should demand that the people who govern us are wiser than we are. They have access to better information. They can assemble great minds to work with them. Then why are their actions so stupid? Anyone with an interest in history said this war was foolish - both in Iraq and Afghanistan. The UK has 800 troops in Helmand province, the size of Wales, with the simple task of defeating the resurgent Taliban, re-building schools and persuading the local farmers that alfalfa sprouts are better crops than opium poppy, at 1,000 times the price. Our Home Secretary said before troops were deployed that he would be very happy for the troops to return home having not fired a shot. A half million rounds later, and retreat from the outposts they set up, our paras are battling for their lives, often in close combat. Again, we are playing the game on their field. We have an important war to fight against religious and political extremism, wherever it lies. (including the U.S.) How can we be so suckered into wasting our time, effort and lives on a meaningless invasion of Iraq, meanwhile allowing Afghanistan to fall back into the hands of extremists. Yes, Saddam was a nasty man, but no worse than many that the U.S. and UK governments have supported over the last 100 years. Indeed, it is not long ago that Rumsfeld was shaking hands with the man, whilst handing over consignments of weapons We are hypocrites. Each and everyone of us are implicated because we do not make our feelings known through the ballot box, and before that in pushing forward candidates who truly represent our desires as civilised people. In your voting intentions, you may raise two parallel issues - the economy and the environment. These will be the subject of future blogs. It would be nice to have some response from the MOLI community. Charles