I’m old – I became politically aware during the Vietnam war and realized that my government had no problem lying to me. I didn’t realize how much they were lying to me until years later when Lyndon Johnson’s white house tapes were released but I knew they were lying to me all along. After I graduated from college in 1968 I went to work for the Defense Intelligence Agency as an analyst. It didn’t take very long before I realized the threat from the Soviet Union was be exaggerated to justify defense industry corporate welfare for weapons that weren’t needed. In an hour President Obama will talk about Iraq. What will he say? Political double speak is what I anticipate. The invasion and occupation was justified by lies and the lies have continued right up to the present day. I don’t know if Obama will lie but he won’t tell the truth.
So who were the winners and losers of our misadventure in Iraq?
The big winner was Iran – the nemesis on it’s border was overthrown and a probable ally was empowered – a Shiite dominated government in Iraq. The military industrial complex was a big winner – they made lots of money.
The losers were the citizens and taxpayers of the United States. A lot of American blood has been spilled and a lot of American treasure has been squandered for nothing – we are less secure not more. And then we have the Iraqi people. Saddam was a bad person but are the thousands of Iraqis killed better off ? Are the thousands of Iraqis in refugee camps better off?
I anticipate that Obama will try to talk without saying anything at all. He may not lie but he won’t tell the truth.
Update:
Well he’s talking and it’s even worse than I thought it would be – take cheer Republicans, I won’t vote for your candidate but no way I’ll vote for Obama again.