I’m in a Shakespearean mode of late, so I offer the words of Shylock, from The Merchant of Venice:

I am a Jew. Hath
not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with
the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject
to the same diseases, healed by the same means,
warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as
a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?
if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison
us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not
revenge?

President George Bush’s speech is all over the news — but did you know there are two versions of this speech?

On my own blog I ran THIS POST that analyzed the speech we saw on television.

But then we leared about the REAL speech and did THIS POST.

Since there has been so much heated discussion on my blog of late about Iraq. I thought I would write the definitive post on my feelings about the war. I am going to TRY and keep this short to avoid misinterpretation.

I am against the war. I have been against it almost from day one, as I believed and still believe that the REAL war is in Afghanistan, and the greater danger to our country is Osama Bin Laden.

I believe it was an insult to those who died on 9/11 and their families, to shift focus from finding their murderer to pursuing a war in Iraq.

I believe the American People were lied to about the reasons for going to war, and I believe we began executing a secret war in Iraq well before the war was declared or authorized.

I believe the neglect of our troops in providing them proper equipment and support is a criminal act that should be punished.

I believe that ultimately the abuses at Abu Gharib, Gitmo and in Afghanistan are the responsibility of command, and prosecuting a bunch of low level troops for these abuses does nothing to address the cause.

I believe that to support our troops does not mean that we have to support an illegal and immoral war. Further I believe that REALLY supporting our troops means demanding that they have the best equipment to get the job done, and the best medical and social services when they return home.

I do not believe in timetables for ending the war. We broke a country, we need to fix what we broke and finish the job. But I do believe we need to demand accountability and a strategy rather than idiotic rhetoric. Saying the insurrection is in its “Last Throes,” as your Generals acknowledge a situation unchanged from six months ago, is just adding to the long list of lies associated with this war. Denying the need for additional resources when it is clear that they are needed is not SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS.

I believe that those who most loudly support the war SHOULD be doing something other than spouting rhetoric. I don’t necessarily think that everyone who expresses support for the war on a blog should or could be a good soldier, but I do believe that many of the most rabid supporters who are young, able bodied men and women, should put their money where their mouth is and volunteer if they feel so strongly about it. Perhaps some of the others could support the war by buying additional flack jackets and such, since our government seems incapable of outfitting the troops. The families of these troops have already taken on a tremendous burden. I am sure a few of the Top Conservative Bloggers can afford to donate a few thousand bucks a piece to such a noble cause.

I am going to finish this post with a comment I made last night in response to a criticism of one of my post:

“True patriotism is standing up for what is right. They lied, and over 100,000 people are now dead. I don’t really care about the morale of our troops in light of that. Nor do I care about being right personally. I care about my country and it’s place in History. That place has potentially been irrevocably stained as a result of the actions of a few people whom you happen to support. History will determine who among us is right or wrong. The fact that so many of you on the Right are willing to overlook the immorality of sending our young men and women to war based on a lie, is a sad testament to the state of political affairs in our country today.

The evidence is beginning to mount that this war was executed well before we went to the U.N. or got Congressional Approval. You may be able to live with that, I can not, and will not accept it for the convenience of being accepted as a fellow patriot. My form of Patriotism recalls the founding principals of this country, not the evolving lack of principal in an age of Special Interest.

This will forever divide us, regardless of how we might feel about each other on a personal level. I have committed myself to seeking the truth, no matter how much it may hurt. That hurt may be to my pride if all the actions taken by our government prove to be legal and moral, if they do not, the hurt will be much more grievous, and I pray to God that those of you who did not ask questions, are able to sleep at night with the results.”

So I am going to keep on covering the DSM, and I am going to keep on criticizing our government when I think it is the right thing to do. Call me a Traitor, imply that I don’t support our troops, call me a moonbat, whatever. History will be the measure of all of our patriotism and of the justness and legality of this war. For now there is one thing in which we all agree. We need to finish the job. But when it is done, perhaps before… We all need to take a look at WHY…

Oh, and ONE MORE THING… READ MY LIPS… Iraq has NOTHING to do with 9/11!

“We are not going away.”

Crossposted to ISOU

But didn’t:
“The young people who support me and support the war effort should put their money where their mouth is and join the military.”

“Politicians, like diapers, have to be changed frequently–and for the very same reason.”

-Author Unknown

Have truer words ever been spoken?

Not much of a title but it wasn’t much of a speech. I must admit I’m surprised. Why you ask?. There was no attempt at anything new, not even any new bull shit. The same old spinning platitudes recycled. Of course among the platitudes 911 was mentioned, at least 3 times I think. He emphasized that 911 was the centerpiece of the war on terror. Polls indicate a majority no longer think so. Bush’s rather lame performance won’t change any minds. Once again the plan is not a plan. He will hold on to those who are still heavely addicted to the Kool-Aid but won’t help the numbers.

Not much of a post but once again it wasn’t much of a speech.