Whose Table? (Bill C. Davis)

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

By Bill C. Davis

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1112-21.htm

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Accusations of "Incompetence" take both Bush and Pelosi off the hook. Bush can say - "If I only knew." Pelosi can be the school principal who will know how to correct the execution of a criminal decision. But until she calls it what it is her exact articulation of words will be worthless. The "new direction" and "change of course" chatter will be revealed as the hollow bromides they are unless and until she stops calling what happened "incompetence."

The arsonist who caused the most recent fires in California was tracked down as the fires were being fought. So too the culprits for this war need to be found, questioned and at least be relieved of their positions. And this can happen as and if the war begins to end. And as James Baker reports his findings and makes his suggestions someone from the newly elected congress might suggest that all war profits be returned to the US treasury. That would put a few scratch marks on the table.

The population of the United States also needs to do a kind of examination of conscience. 76% of Americans were for the war in Iraq in April 2003. Sterile and exhilarating at the same time, it was a light show whose victims were far away and remote in every way. The protestors and human shields emerge now as American heroes. The manipulated population might be waking up and the question of how could this happen to us is one we need to ask not only of ourselves but demand that the new congress ask the commander-in-chief.

While in Richmond, Virginia recently I saw a stunning piece of graffiti written in red - "Atone. Impeach. Now." It implies citizen culpability and power. We let this happen and we, through this newly elected congress, have a chance to atone. But taking the most powerful remedy off the table makes the table a set decoration and the people sitting at it actors mouthing words and playing pre-digested scenes...