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I am a bit troubled to read some of the posts on DU stating we should forego impeachment.
I understand the arguments against it. I understand the desire to 'move on'. I understand that people want to focus on the business of the country and not get 'caught up' in investigations and political bickering. How tempting....how easy....We have work to do, we can't get bogged down with the hassle of oversight.
This isn't a choice of what we WANT to do, but what we need to do, so this country can truly move forward. And, more, it is our moral OBLIGATION to undergo a serious scrutiny of our political system and our collective indifference to the actions of a corrupt government. The American people have stood by and allowed our government to slaughter over a half million innocent people. We have stood and watched a nation dissolve into utter chaos - chaos we unleashed upon people who posed us no threat. Yes, a small portion protested in the streets. And, a few fought even harder then that....Mostly, we have been arm chair quarter backs mistaking criticism of a policy with true dissent against that policy. The first requires only observation, the second requires direct action.
This war has shown the sheer arrogance of the American people from day 1. The lack of questioning, the ease of yielding to a murderous policy, the indifference to death when it is not American blood. Only when cost of began to be felt in American lives and dollars, did we see the support for the war wane. Maybe, it wasn't such a good idea. Let's leave, and move on.
If America really wants to move on, we have to grow up. We have to stop believing that good intentions substitute for our real world actions. It means that we don't just get to make a huge mess and destroy millions of lives without consequence. We don't get the luxury of just 'moving on'.
One, it is unjust to the millions of lives, we have destroyed. THEY deserve accountability more then the American people do. They deserve to have this country demand justice from those who perpetrated these crimes against them. All the people...the men, women, and children who died, the people who lost their sight or limbs or sanity, the people who lost their homes, the girls who have been sold into sexual slavery...And, our own troops who were used as pawns and bore the weight of this entire war for our nation. THEY deserve justice and accountability.
Second, if we do not demand investigation and accountability, we will never heal this lurking cancer. We can't run from this - and, if we try, we will inevitably be faced with another Iraqi quagmire at some future date. Every person who has ever been to a twelve step knows that one of the things required to heal is 'making amends'. A alcoholic must go back and try to make right to those he/she wronged. This isn't just for the people who were harmed by the behavior of the recovering person. No, it is a means for the recovering person to move forward by confronting the reality of what they created, and understanding the real world consequences of their actions. In this way, they become stronger and less likely to repeat the mistakes of their past. It is a process of humility and courage. We must undergo the same process. Retreat is hiding.
Third, it is imperative because those who would seek to start another Iraq must learn that there are severe consequences for such treason. Yes, we have a democratic Congress NOW. What happens when the power shifts again? Will the same people and twisted philosophy dominate us, again? What will they take away from realizing they stole our treasury and committed mass murder with no consequence? No repercussions?
Ultimately, investigations/& or impeachment is not about seeking revenge on the Bush administration. It is just a first step in examining what we are as a nation rather then just seeing ourselves as what we wish to be.
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