First Day or...Bad Place to Start

Well, what a day to enter the world of blogging. There's a lot of things happening in this crazy, mixed-up world of ours. Hoping to help sort them out, and to find some creative outlet for myself, I have start this blog. I can't make any promise on how often I'll update, or even presume that it will be quality material. Doing my best, thats all I can do.

As you can tell from the title, I'm coming to you direct from the Mighty Midwest, Kansas to be exact. Yes, I am in a place where the average person still believes that Saddam Hussein was connected to the 9-11 attacks, and are proud to count themselves among the 30% still supporting our President.

Speaking of Bush and Iraq, the Commander-in-Chief attempt to rally the faithful around the war by trying to explain to us that al-Qaida and al-Qaida in Iraq are intimately connected, and that we should be in Iraq to fight those terrorists. Either he really is that ignorant or it is an attempt to decieve the American public. Really, either option there is a scary one. What President Bush said is a dramatic falsehood. Not only are the al-Qaida's two seperate organizations with two seperate command structures and resources, but al-Qaida in Iraq is, in reality, an incredibly small faction in the war-torn country. The statistics show that among the over 19,000 "insurgents" that U.S. troops have captured, only about 160 of those were members of al-Qaida in Iraq. The group's operational strength is estimated to be at about 1,200 foreign nationals, Arabs who were angry that America, under the Bush Administration and its various influences, would be presumptous enough to attempt to push its imperialist foreign agenda on one of their sister nations. That is opposed to the millions of Iraqi nationals, citizens of a sovereign nation, who want a violent, murdering invader out.

Now sure, much of the violence is factional, with various groups striving for political power. But those fighters that simply want the U.S. out of their affairs can't be blamed, can they? It would truly be better for all of us if the United States withdrew its troops from Iraq in a timely and mannered fashion. There are things we need to do before we leave, but nothing that is not managable. We are not going to do any "nation-building" in a country that doesn't want us even in their region of the world.

Whew. That was a tiring little rant. Sorry if I seem long-winded. There is actually some good news today...well, maybe. Josh Bolten and Harriet Miers, the members of the Bush Administration that refused to answer subpoenas from Congress are close to being held in contempt. The House Judiciary committee approved the motion, and it will go to a vote in among the whole House. The possible sentence for this crime is one year in prison and a $1000 fine. If you or I refused to answer a subpoena, you know we'd be doing time, so why should a member of the Administration be any different? Aren't they supposed to uphold our laws? Now, as with Libby, Bush would be likely to commute their sentences or pardon them, but if worse comes to worse, Congress should absolutely bring down the big I: impeachment. Too long have Bush and his ilk flaunted the Constitution and our laws. They should have to answer to them, just like any other citizen. The illegal actions of the Administration are numerous, and they should be held accountable.

I know you Bush-supporters would argue that other presidents have done the same, Democrat or Republican, but should past wrongs prevent us from punishing illegal actions now? Where would we be without our ideals of justice and responsibility? We cannot allow the Administration to get away with circumventing the very foundations of our government, just as much as you wouldn't let a murderer go free because someone in the past got away with it.

I must now bid you all a fond farewell. Good luck out there, and may we speak again soon.