For Want of Command
There's an old war saying that goes like this...

For want of a nail, the shoe was lost.
For want of the shoe, the horse was lost.
For want of a horse, the king was lost.
For want of the king, the war was lost.

And so we open up the month of May with the realization a few of our troops in Iraq (but far more than the six relieved of duty) have literally sabotaged this nation's war efforts through their illegal behavior and mismanagement of prisoners. Our nation's prestege -- as fragile as it may in the ARab world -- has been damaged. Our POWs are in greater danger. And our investment of $87 billion (plus the supplemental $25 billion just requested, just became more at risk.

Why?.... For want of a nail. THE NAIL BEING A LACK OF "COMMAND."

Time will tell just how far up the line of command this scandel will rise. Already some... even Republicans... are grousing about Rumfeld's resignation.

And then there is Guantanamo to consider... and its impact on the moral compasses of troops who see people being held without being charged and without rights to representation.

Are they terrorist...threats to American? How can any of us really know. This is AN administration of secrets.

And secrets are the under underpinnings of rumors, poor moral, mixed messages, and "expected" behaviors, which are watched with a blind eye.

Might it be that our troops viewed this form of incarceration to be equivalent to dehumanizing all prisoners... and therefore anything goes?

If so, it's pay-back time for secrecy.

Filing The War's Expense Report
For all that received and read my Holiday Greeting, you will recall
my page back then regarding the deplorable lack of media coverage
concerning the fallen and wounded soldier. Well, as you may be
aware, currently, the protective strip is coming off this antiseptic media
band-aid, in large part of this due to the number of April's deaths and wounded.

The latest flap in truth-telling are the pictures of flag-draped coffins.
Under a policy first put into effect by President Clinton, such pictures
were no longer to be shown. Of course, in agreement with this policy
is none other than the present Secret Office of the President.

Oddly, just last week conservative, Bill O'Reilly, also railed about these
pictures being negative to the war effort. Astonishing! With all due
respect to personal opinions, there is no Smiley Face to be placed
on war, war deaths, and casualties... both military and civilian.

It is incumbent to know and show the true cost of any war.
Ultimately, every casualty is to be borne by us, "We The People,"
for WE -- with a scant idea of military science and geopolitical
shenanigans -- elect the Commander In Chief. And, our silence
betrays our tacit approval of his... some day her... actions.

For me, naming names and showing pictures of our fallen troops is not
a disgrace, or political gesture. It is a TRIBUTE... a tribute to people who
have placed DUTY ABOVE SELF. Such nobleness deserves more than a
number of KIAs reported in a ten second news sound-bite. Nor is showing flag
draped coffins negative to the war effort. Such images are the "receipt" for an
expenditure that this nation is paying, individual for the surviving families,
and collectively as a society... And just as we as individuals must justify
any purchase, we, who elect our Commander In Chief, have a RIGHT to see
this receipt before paying more despite the war's merits. After all...
Who among us has ever had an open expense account? Then again...
Who among us has not been accountable to the person paying their salary?

I REST MY CASE!

Here's What's At Stake!
With the launch of our site, www.dnc2004.info, it is a good time to state facts which are sure to get lost in all of the political squabbling that is going on. Just what we know today, at stake with this election is the following 1)the prosecution of the war against terrorism, 2) the resolution of the Iraq War, and of even longer term importance 3) the nomination of two-- perhaps three -- Supreme Court Justices. This is not to forget the economy, our borders, health-care, the nomination of other justices,and a bunch of other matters that have grown "long in the tooth" on legislative dockets. Being the first presidential election since 9/11, it is critical to air the issues. This will not be an easy matter with a secretive Presidential Office and an challenger whose position is about as certain as the weather. I anticipate you comments.

Welcome
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