How To Save Millions from Murderous Despots: Impeach

Despite a political backlash that has turned over the Congress to the Democratic Party, the Bush Administration has continued to escalate aggression in the Middle East with its so-called “surge”; resulting in the second bloodiest August on record since the latest Iraq war began.

William Kristol returned from Iraq with glowing reviews of the surge. We are learning that his account can’t be trusted, but this really isn’t of concern to Kristol or the Bush Administration. The important thing is to keep moving along with the plan. Minor setbacks such as increased numbers of dead soldiers, dead civilians and negative public sentiment can be ignored. Really, what is anyone going to do about it? Even after the public took Congress out of Republican hands, nothing has been done to stop this Administration’s quest for blood. The Democrats folded like a bad hand even though they had nothing to lose politically by standing up to Bush. Therefore, Bush and Cheney just keep marching forward with impunity. With Billy Kristol to re-write history for you, who cares about public opinion? It is irrelevant. They have the power now and will use every ounce available.

Two weeks ago, Bush played energizer bunny, beating the war drum for a few measures, while speaking to the American Legion.

"Iran's active pursuit of technology that could lead to nuclear weapons threatens to put a region already known for instability and violence under the shadow of a nuclear holocaust. “

The impression given is that we are headed toward a new conflict which, Iran could avoid. It isn’t true. Military operations have already been initiated in Iran. Watching Wolfe Blitzer carry water for the Bush Administration when he is told that there are many sources suggesting this is the case, should tell you all you need to know about mainstream media intentions.

If Iraq is a quagmire and badly run, then Iran doesn’t promise to be any better. Actually, that’s a gross understatement. Israel and the neoconservative punditry in the U.S. have been pushing for a nuclear strike against Iran. William Kristol and his band of never-served-in- the-military chicken hawks may not have the credibility of an E.F. Hutton, but the Bush Administration would appear to be listening nonetheless. That the Administration still heeds the advice of utterly discredited advisors is a terrible indictment on its judgment. But as Bush has already noted, “Fool me. You can’t get fooled again.”

In fact, if Bush doesn’t order the bombing of Iran, and it is quite obvious that he will, then Rudy Giuliani, whose foreign policy advisor is Norman Podhoretz, will probably do it himself, if elected (a BIG if).

In any case, Podhoretz said to me, he believes that George W. Bush will settle the matter himself, by bombing Iran before he leaves office. “I’m probably the only person on the face of the earth who thinks that Bush will order air strikes,” Podhoretz says. “But we’ll find out. If Bush doesn’t kick the can down the road, then the issue becomes moot, obviously. But if he fails to do what I think he will do, Rudy seems to me to be the best bet for doing what is necessary.”

As an aside, that statement by Podhoretz shows just how morally bankrupt is the typical neoconservative. The extermination of thousands is like “kicking the can down the road”. The hillbilly reference is apropos of the neocon mindset: Yee Haw!

Depending on the methods used - tactical nuclear weapons vs. ‘bunker busters’ - the loss of life could reach beyond a million innocent Iranians who are caught in the middle and have no options. Even if they were to rise up and change the regime in Iran themselves, they would still be made to suffer. This Administration has shown that it has absolutely no moral compass and cannot be swayed from its murderous path even when it could (and should) mean the end of their own political careers, and anyone associated with them.

Because it is obvious that they have no intention of moderating their designs in the Middle East and plan on murdering hundreds of thousands beyond the number of civilians already killed, there is only one option left to stop them: impeachment. Both Bush and Cheney have proven by their actions that they are unfit to serve.

Some may argue that this would only advance the timetable, but doing nothing will ensure that they continue on that can-littered road unopposed. Doing nothing promises to ruin U.S. credibility abroad (if it still has any) and make it impossible for any individual American to travel safely beyond U.S. borders.

But there are other reasons besides the lies told to justify invasion of Iraq and Iran to impeach this President and Vice President. The unprecedented use of private armies in Iraq – accounts put this at close to 160,000 “contractors” – is not limited to actions overseas. Blackwater has applied for permits to build a private air force base in every coastal state on the continent; besides the military base they have already built in San Diego, California. They already own a significant number of military helicopters and are now buying light fighter planes developed for training and counter-insurgency duty.

The planes only have a range of 3000 miles, not nearly enough to reach overseas without a significant air-refueling capacity or the use of aircraft carriers. As conspiratorial as it may sound, the intent cannot be to use these planes anywhere but domestically.

Back in 1993, when the neoconservative movement came to be influential amongst Republicans, there were plenty of rumors and executive orders that led some commentators to believe that Clinton wouldn’t leave office and would suspend elections. The neoconservatives enticed fiscal conservatives with the “Contract with America” rhetoric while scaring that portion of the Christian conservative movement looking for an Antichrist in every Democrat.

However, once the Republicans came to power, they didn’t do anything to reverse the trend toward an unaccountable, secretive Executive which created new powers for itself by the issuance of executive orders. Stroke of the pen, law of the land” was a coveted power as evidenced by Bush’s novel “signing statements” and executive orders which re-define the way government continuity” is preserved during times of emergency.

Impeachment cannot come soon enough. If the U.S. electorate is not concerned with the actions of its own domestic terrorists in Washington D.C., then it could at least show some pity on the innocent people of Iraq and Iran who did nothing to invite U.S. bombings and invasions.

Unfortunately for those of us living in neoconservative hell (and we are enjoying a cakewalk as compared to civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq) the Democratic alternatives are following the script to the letter. None, except Kucinich, Gravel and Obama to a small degree, are willing to veer from the neoconservative talking points. This is no problem for neoconservative gatekeepers. They don’t have any political ideology or allegiances other than “re-make the geopolitical maps to our liking.” They would support the Socialist Party candidate if that candidate agreed to follow their plans and had a chance of winning the general election. To put it bluntly, they are pimps. The Political affiliation of their whore is not important.

The same Democrats, who are wringing their hands over the situation in Darfur, are by and large taking their political cues from pundits who believe and say out loud thatethnic cleansing works”. Of course, this makes it abundantly clear that impeachment will be resisted by neocon Democrats as much, if not more, than neocon Republicans.

On the other hand, the Amnesty bill was once a foregone conclusion. Chalk one up for The People. Senate members were stunned at the backlash it created. Not only did reaction to that bill shock Republicans and Democrats into dropping it quickly, John McCain’s candidacy was destroyed. His performances in Republican contests since should have given him all the incentive necessary to withdraw.

Of course, a Ron Paul Presidency would be a wonderful reversal, and by all reckoning, has a legitimate chance of becoming reality if momentum continues at its current pace. It can’t come soon enough though. Only impeachment, quickly done, can save the Iranians from mass slaughter at the hands of people who view them as nothing more than refuse; tin cans along the highway of ‘realpolitik’.