SHAME

I'm no expert, but then there don't appear to be too many experts in how to withdraw from an untenable position where the outcome is a foregone conclusion -- when democratic elections are held in Iraq, the result is more than likely to be a theocratic government of some kind that will not align itself with American interests. And why should it? What are we to them other than occupiers, humiliators aligned with Israel against Muslims worldwide? (their perception) Now that the Abu Ghraib prison scandal has broken, we have no choice but to get out of Iraq. There simply is no way to win the support of the Iraqis after they have become convinced that we hold them in contempt and are not much better than Saddam.

I'm so ashamed of so much about the past few years -- the fact that we permitted and even sponsored the looting of Iraqi assets, first by standing by while historical treasures were stolen and then by privatizing and selling off to foreign interests everything else worth hard dollars (as opposed to spiritual worth). I'm ashamed of our attitude that the Iraqis should be "grateful" for "bringing them freedom" by killing thousands of noncombatants and occupying their country, when we can't provide jobs, clean water, steady flow of electricity, or basic security. I'm ashamed of our president and his administration, that they would propose offering to the Iraqi people benefits that our own people don't enjoy -- guaranteed healthcare prominent among them -- and that the administration is doing everything in its power to oppose for Americans. I'm ashamed of our media and many Democratic politicians, who were too cowed by Bush's surge in popularity post-9/11 to question his policies and speak publicly about their doubts, therefore abdicating their responsibility as public servants. I'm ashamed of Republican politicians who have gleefully exploited the tendency of the American people to rally round their president in times of crisis, to equate every issue with 9/11 in order to pass cynical legislation, exclude Democratic legislators from the deliberative process, and advance an extreme right-wing agenda that would not be acceptable to an American majority were it not largely sub rosa. I'm ashamed of the rest of us who, despite the critical nature of the times, ignore what is happening unless "personally touched by tragedy." Aren't we all touched by this tragedy, this travesty that is being carried out in our name?