April 11, 2008
Philip A Farruggio

I sat and attempted to view the Senate hearings this week concerning Iraq. They had the general and the ambassador back after a 7 month  'extended tour of duty.' This visit marks the passage of the 5th year of a US occupation of Iraq. Notice how this writer refuses to state what even the left leaning pundits foolishly echo: the Iraq War. There is no Iraq War! There is no War with Iraq!

Our 'war' with that nation was over the minute their soldiers laid down their arms and went home. From that moment on it became the Iraq Occupation, which is now in its 6th year. Yet, the Democratic Party, supposedly the 'party of opposition,' is once again compliant and complacent .

Senator Levin, Democrat from Michigan, gave his opening salvo to the general and the ambassador, and to the White House.... and finally to we the people. What did he say? Did he challenge the legality and the morality of the invasion of Iraq and its subsequent occupation? Did he call for substantive hearings on the run-up to this mess? Did he echo what the majority of Americans are asking: " What in the hell are we doing in Iraq, and get those kids out of there.... now!"

No, he played the tried and true blame game. Levin railed about "benchmarks to be met by the Iraqis " and " when is it time for the Iraqis to take over leadership of their own country and deal with its security?"

Funny, Senator Levin, what if?

What if the DEA or ATF falsely barged into your home, guns firing, on information that proved to be a ..... pack of lies? What if , Senator Levin, these guys murdered.... yes... murdered your child and wounded your wife and destroyed your home and its belongings?

Destroyed!

Then they took over your home and stayed there, pending further information and instructions. Finally, after you are forced to share your destroyed home with ATF or DEA agents, some joker tells you "Hey Levin, when in the hell are you going to control your home? Your other kid is outside throwing darts at my men! Control him Levin.... before we do!"

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I stand on a street corner in my town with other dedicated patriotic neighbors for 42 months straight! We hold signs demanding no funds for this occupation, our troops home now, and congressional hearings of investigation and possible impeachment (and indictments) for the Bush/Cheney gang and all those who lied us into Iraq.

Few people ever stop and park to join us. Why?

Well, many still hold faith in those Democrats like Senator Levin. Then, when a true patriot like a Clint Curtis dares to stand tall and run against a right wing Republican incumbent like Tom Feeney, his own Democratic party attempts to push him aside. They would rather run someone more in line with Senator Levin, and most of the other ' middle of the road make no waves' Democrats- the ones who continually voted to fund this occupation, while refusing to seek hearings of inquiry into the invasion.

You remember, the hearings that Rep. John Conyers promised us on national television over 18 months ago.

Benchmarks! Accountability! Horse manure!

The only benchmarks should be how many from the Bush White House should be indicted for treason. There are four thousand plus American families that would bear fabulous witness to it. Factor in another half a million plus Iraqi families to echo the same indictment.

So sad, how many from our street corner still have hope in the Democratic party. When will they learn? When will Americans learn that this two party system is a scam and a con?

"Fool me once.... shame on you! Fool me twice....shame on me!"

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Philip A Farruggio [send him email] is a free lance columnist, small businessman and activist. Since the 2000 elections, he has written over 80 op ed columns- few if any get published or posted. to review some which have been shown, just google his name.

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