I was in my 30’s when the Vietnam debacle was gong on, and I never liked it, nor thought we should have been there. 99% of vets from Vietnam agree. It was an unmitigated disaster, and pointless. But back in the 1960’s and early 70’s, the people who opposed Vietnam were the hippies and druggies, and I couldn’t identify with them either. I couldn’t stand them, but I agreed with what they were shouting about, singing about, and protesting. Why did they have to be so damned uncouth, filthy, and full of drugs? We’ll never know fully, but today it’s different. According to a recent poll, over 80% of Americans hate the Iraq mess, and wish Bush and their representatives had never OK’d it and invaded a nation which posed no threat to us. It is this late realization, plus refusal of those who voted for Bush to have his way, that may cost the republicans their seats. They refuse to admit they made a mistake. But today, those 80% plus of America who hate Iraq and what Bush hath wrought, aren’t the great un-washed, druggies, and flower children. They’re you and I, Mr. and Mrs. America of all ages and political persuasions. We bathe, don’t take drugs, and cut our hair. We hate Iraq, and hate those who allowed it to happen. We aren’t hippies, but feel exactly as the hippies did during Vietnam. Get us OUT and do it NOW. A recent interview on BBC of the head of the Iraq bank, plus many other distinguished positions in war-torn Iraq, said that the way to stop the carnage is to get out NOW, and the longer we stay, the worse it will get. As of Wednesday morning, October 18, 2006, in just 17 days, over 70 American soldiers have died this month, for this pointless, useless, expensive, criminal adventure, foisted upon us by George Bush and his Congressional cohorts, who should be hounded out of office for their votes and actions. I am well aware that nothing I can write will change anything, because so few read this column. Why do I do it? Because it vents my spleen. If I say it here, at least I have done my best to correct huge errors, even though they will never be corrected. This column is sort of like shouting from a rooftop, with no one caring or listening. Suits me, at least for a little while longer.
