| Few decisions made in Washington are more | | | | warming-the real world threat-according to the star of |
| monumental than the decision to go to war with | | | | the film An Inconvenient Truth. |
| another sovereign nation. The decision to engage in | | | | Few politicians are more respected, revered, and |
| hostilities where civilians will be killed and U.S. | | | | admired than Senator Ted Kennedy of |
| servicemen and women will be separated from their | | | | Massachusetts. It is his reputation as a model senator |
| families-many never to return-is the gravest that a | | | | that makes his support for the Iraq war all the more |
| president can make and a congress can approve. In | | | | repugnant. On September 27, 2002, the champion |
| the case of the Iraq War, a war predicated on the | | | | swimmer said, "There is no doubt that Saddam |
| existence of weapons of mass destruction in violation | | | | Hussein's regime is a serious danger, that he is a |
| of United Nations Security Council resolutions, | | | | tyrant, and that his pursuit of lethal weapons of mass |
| numerous politicians are guilty of misleading the | | | | destruction cannot be tolerated. He must be disarmed" |
| American people into a rush to war. These politicians | | | | (vi). Apparently, the Senator knows as much about |
| ought to be held to account. | | | | Iraqi weapons programs as he does about operating a |
| Senator John F. Kerry is one such politician. He said on | | | | motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and leaving |
| January 23, 2003 that, "Without question, we need to | | | | the scene of an accident. |
| disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous | | | | Perhaps the two people who most eloquently-and |
| dictator, leading an oppressive regime . . . And now he | | | | mistakenly-made the case for war against Iraq were |
| is miscalculating America's response to his continued | | | | Hillary and Bill Clinton. On October 10, 2002, the former |
| deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass | | | | first lady said, "In the four years since the inspectors |
| destruction . . . So the threat of Saddam Hussein with | | | | left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has |
| weapons of mass destruction is real" (i). Perhaps the | | | | worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons |
| Senator should stop blindly accepting the evidence of | | | | stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear |
| WMD provided by his friends in Europe. Senator Kerry | | | | program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary |
| had apparently held this view for some time. On | | | | to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members . . . It is clear, |
| October 9, 2002, he said, "I believe that a deadly | | | | however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will |
| arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in [Saddam | | | | continue to increase his capacity to wage biological |
| Hussein's] hands is a real and grave threat to our | | | | and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop |
| security" (ii). A Senator like Kerry, who consistently | | | | nuclear weapons" (vii). The Senator's words seem |
| voted against every new weapons program proposed | | | | quite reasonable, considering the words of her |
| for U.S. armed forces, ought be more judicious in his | | | | husband on February 4, 1998: "One way or the other, |
| support for U.S. military adventurism. | | | | we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to |
| It was not just elected officials who beat the drum for | | | | develop weapons of mass destruction and the |
| war against Iraq; political appointees did their part in | | | | missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line" (iix). |
| propagating lies about the Iraq regime's weapons and | | | | Whether it was 1998 or 2002, whether Monica |
| intentions, as well. On February 1, 1998, Secretary of | | | | Lewinsky was in the news or not, the Clintons have |
| State Madeline Albright said, "We must stop Saddam | | | | always provided a united front in their dishonest |
| from ever again jeopardizing the stability and security | | | | justification for U.S. imperialism. |
| of his neighbors with weapons of mass destruction" (iii). | | | | These politicians ought to be ashamed of themselves |
| Considering that Albright spent most of her time as | | | | for misleading the American public. They used their |
| Secretary of State clinking champagne glasses with | | | | provocative words and faulty intelligence to lead |
| the leaders of rogue states, seeing her chastise one | | | | thousands of U.S. servicemen and an estimated |
| should have warned Americans of the dishonesty | | | | 655,000 (ix). Iraqis to their deaths. Weapons of mass |
| behind her comment. National Security Advisor Sandy | | | | destruction were not found in Iraq, the conflict has |
| Berger chimed in a few weeks later, adding, "[Saddam | | | | spiraled out of control, and worse, these politicians |
| Hussein] will use those weapons of mass destruction | | | | have now absolved themselves of responsibility for |
| again, as he has ten times since 1983" (iv). Such blatant | | | | the debacle by claiming they were "misled" by other |
| misuse of faulty intelligence is particularly troubling | | | | politicians. Rubbish. When politicians make monumental |
| considering Berger's security clearance. Perhaps | | | | mistakes that lead U.S. soldiers to their deaths over |
| Berger thought that if he were ever called on his lies, | | | | false premises and diminish U.S. standing in the |
| he could always just sneak the evidence out of the | | | | international community, they should hold themselves |
| National Archives in his underwear to cover his tracks. | | | | accountable for their deceitful statements. And, we |
| Despite the ecological collateral damage inherent in | | | | should hold them accountable, as well. |
| war, leading environmentalist Al Gore decided that | | | | Notes:i) John Kerry for President. 23 January 2003.ii) |
| ousting Saddam Hussein trumped environmental | | | | John Kerry for President. 9 October 2002.iii) CNN. 1 |
| concerns. On September 23, 2002, the former vice | | | | February 1998.iv) USA Today. 18 February 1998.v) |
| president said, "We know that [Saddam Hussein] has | | | | Washington Post. 23 September 2002.vi) AlterNet. 27 |
| stored secret supplies of biological and chemical | | | | September 2002.vii) U.S. Senate Floor Speech. 10 |
| weapons throughout his country" (v). Apparently, | | | | October 2002.iix) CNN. 4 February 1998.ix) Toronto |
| spending billions of dollars chasing non-existent WMD | | | | Star. 12 October 2006. |
| was more important than combating global | | | | |