Why Democrats Won’t Stop the War

By David Sirota

The nationwide opposition to the Iraq War is based on a host of populist impulses. Some people hate it because they think lives are being sacrificed to pursue the oil industry's agenda. Some despise it because, without a military draft, the U.S. casualties -- 4,00 [RETURN TO ARTICLE]

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    The people will end the war through their “theatrics” on the streets, their spokespeople, their disorganized movement, their writing and persuasion, and their votes. Their efforts will contribute to the legacy of the world-wide on-going anti-war movement. The elitist critics standing on the sidelines mouthing their disparaging critiques will be long-forgotten.

    United States Posted by DeanOR on May 26, 2008 at 10:24 AM

    There is some value to this analysis and reporting. However the author like most other political analysts or correspondents seem to either totally miss the root cause of the war or choose to ignore it.

    First lets get to the root cause of this war and possibly the next one against Iran. The root of this war is ZIONISM (left, right and center) and our polity’s subservience to Israel / Zionism.

    Once thats understood then it becomes clear what they intend to do to the antiwar front.

    There also seems to be a tendency that likudnik / right wing zionists are bad and the left leaning zionists are good. Thats an error and a trap that a lot of people seem to be falling into.

    The role of the zionists of all shades is to keep the antiwar movement off balance, disorganized, broken into so many smaller groups and sub-gropus that they loose focus and miss their goal.

    So far the zionists have done a dandy job and they will proceed with what they are doing as long as neglect to shine the flashlight on their criminal and corrupt hold of our elite.

    United States Posted by mrmb on May 26, 2008 at 11:47 AM

    Thanks to David Sirota for an excellent column.

    If we take the column seriously, what does this say about the usual liberal strategy of supporting Democrats - any Democrats, including pro-war Democrats - against the Republicans?  It’s a waste of precious time and money, isn’t it?

    United States Posted by Nevada_Ned on May 30, 2008 at 4:00 AM

    The Iraq War is not the problem, it is a symptom. In fact it is not “The War” either

    United States Posted by whattheheck on Jun 1, 2008 at 5:54 AM

    President Reagan predicted, worked for, and accomplished the collapse of the Soviet Union, monumentally assisted by the Soviet Socialists’ incompetence and inefficiency.  American Socialists ridiculed, obfuscated, and denied President Reagan’s accomplishments, as is their wont.

    Now Sirota is looking backward to how the Socialists can stop the war, but the war is over.  Al-Qa’eda is defeated in Iraq.  Mookie is defeated in Sadr City and Basra.  The Iranis have failed in their effort to subvert Iraqi democracy.  And the American Socialists ridicule, obfuscate, and deny President Bush’s accomplishments.

    The Socialists complain bitterly about the “costs” of Afghanistan/Iraq, but in real figures you have to go back to the French and Indian Wars to find a war that was less expensive in absolute terms of American casualties and cost as a percentage of GNP.

    Since Hillary and Kerry and a host of other Democrats voted for this magnificently successful effort, why don’t they just relax and enjoy the success of their policies?

    United States Posted by scorp on Jun 1, 2008 at 11:25 AM

    Scorp,

    Correct!

    We need to maintain a sense of perspective (not something the media care about and most likely don’t even know). Of the 3 remaining vocal candidates, McCain undoubtedly has a sense of this regarding war, but the others either don’t know or simply choose to play on the public’s lack of knowledge.

    We might also add the dollar comparison (inflation) when tallying financial cost and as a percentage of GDP.

    The medical gains both in methods and speed are amazing and should be recognized as well.

    My greatest concerns with the war are that voters will be lulled into believing:
    1.) Iraq is the only important measure  
    2.) The enemy is like our past enemies (national) and can be “contained”
    3.) That no recent attacks domestically mean the threat is past

    We need to elect people who have a working knowledge of history and a longer memory than our news reports consider.  This applies to all aspects of leadership, military, economic and social — everything is interrelated.

    ——————————

    I am currently reading the Memoirs of U.S. Grant and see a great similarity in his comments concerning the US/ Mexican War and political conflicts just as with the fighting in Iraq today.

    United States Posted by whattheheck on Jun 2, 2008 at 6:02 AM

    WTH -

    Thanx for the input. 

    In real terms, the effects of inflation are minimal, as everything in our economy is denominated in dollars.  The actual price rises are in fuel and food.  The Democrats and Socialists have resolutely refused to tap American fuel sources (East, West, and South coasts, ANWR, and more coal than anybody else), creating artificial shortages that have contributed mightily to the costs of energy.  And the shifting of food supplies to fuel production has contributed mightily to worldwide shortages of food.  I am told that the corn to provide 25 gallons of ethanol would feed a man for a year (400 pounds of corn). That is probably about right, as 25 gallons of ethanol weighs about 150 pounds. 

    The Socialists’ struggle for control is getting ridiculously expensive - to me, not to them.

    United States Posted by scorp on Jun 2, 2008 at 11:53 PM

    Scorp,

    I know we are of two minds on the government economic data, but at least we agree on a few things.

    The use of food for fuel is as criminal as the UN/Saddam Oil for Food Scam. Nothing more than pandering for votes.

    The thirty years since the alarm first went off should have brought a good many changes in our energy policy.

    By now we could have a high speed transcontinental mass transportation system which would save energy, lives and improve the ecology.

    We could have developed alternative sources including our vast supply of coal. (I’m into a couple of energy ETFs, but I wish I had invested directly in coal.) I recently read a book about the area where my grandfather and his brothers mined it a century ago. Some mines were loading it directly into the trains which served the midwest.
    As for inflation data I am of the opinion it is close to triple the admitted 4% right now which puts the Dow lower than the 2000 high.

    Yes, everything is still measured in US dollars, which is the main reason we are paying so much today for gasoline. However, adjusted for inflation the price in 1959 becomes $3/gal.

    The biggest problems for people who are pinched today are too much buying on credit, increased taxes passed down to them thru the system

    United States Posted by whattheheck on Jun 3, 2008 at 7:12 AM

    Scorp,

    Here is what think is an interesting article on solar energy.

    http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,550544,00.html

    “We don’t have an energy problem,” says Hans M

    United States Posted by whattheheck on Jun 3, 2008 at 8:50 AM
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