COWARD HAWKS: WAR HAWKS IN THE BUSH WHITE HOUSE

Recently, our much celebrated chicken Hawks...the notorious purveryors of U.S. War Policy......Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Bush have now declared that all the recent vocal threats of war against Iraq necessitates military action if U.S. credibility is to be maintained. I remember a similar rgument used in Vietnam that was noted in my history books, if I am not mistaken.

Dear Hawk-Chickens:

Sirs, if you are not able to pull back from the brink of war because you have opened your fat-mouths too wide, despite the fact that our allies do not support this action, and despite the incredibly high costs both in terms of blood spilled and economic costs, then what could possibly be more weak than then getting pushed into a corner created by your own rhetoric. Surely, you cannot be that weak and stupid, can you? If the question of credibility forces a decision for you as to what action you will or will not take then you are much weaker than I thought, since obviously you created the circumstances of that credibility in question. For if you cannot recognize that this proposed war is a fundamentally bad idea, both in terms of its costs and its ramifications on international relations and Middle-Eastern stability then you are incompetent as leaders. If I were you, I would consider resigning and taking a 101 college course in basic leadership skills. However, to link U.S. CREDIBILITY or your credibility more accurately, to the act of starting a war is not the issue here. If you undertake this military action while aware of all of the negative outcomes that are likely to ensue, then you should simply admit that it is not a good idea and back down. That would take courage. However, you have no courage it seems. Failure to back down when you know that is the best course of action will only demonstrate your flaming COWARDICE and fundamental weakness to admit that your idea of total war was a bad idea in the first place. If you are too afraid to admit that this action would be bad for America, bad for America's long-term security interests, bad for the security of the American people, bad for the economy, and bad for American international relations, then you cowards should not be leading anything or anyone at all. Ironically, by going to war, you will certainly prove how cowardly and weak you are and in so doing, will compromise any credibility you may have as leaders . My suggestion is to demonstrate some CHARACTER, MORAL VALUES and BRAVERY by recognizing the needlessly high costs of this proposed military action and instead choose a different, and possbily more arduous, more noble and diplomatically sound path. "A ranger never takes the easy way." ....that is from the Ranger Creed, of course since none of you served in the military you would not know that, would you? And I might add that sacrificing troops lives in the name of your credibility borders on treason, for the state of your credibility cannot be weiged against soldiers blood.

Mistakes can be forgiven, everyone makes them. But putting political spin on your mistakes and refusing to admit when you have made a mistake, particularly with reference to foreign policy, demonstrates your inherent weakness and cowardly approach to the truth and to your frail inability to approach foreign policy with bravery and determination. Anyone can shoot a gun, not everyone can sell diplomacy. Perhaps you are intellectually incapable of such difficult and skilled action. If you still decide on war, understand that you will pay a monumental political price. You will not deter me or others from anti-war activism or increasing the political stakes as we are not afraid or intimidated by the FBI, CIA, NSA or any other agency. You people don't scare us, especially when we see how weak you really are, all guns and no diplomatic skills, for that is weak and sorry. Your foreign policies do frighten us because they put all of us at greater risk by increasing hatred of America in the world. You will change foreign policy over time or you will face grave political consequences, of that I will ensure. Change is in the air.

I may not know all of the consequences or implications of my actions, firing these preachy emails into the UN and such but I can say I am appalled at the way in which my leaders have dismissed traditional American democratic principles from our foreign policy program. Certainly, you, my leaders have allowed extremist-capitalism to outbalance and taint foreign policy while excluding Democratic principles from it. That is intolerable and will be curbed or we will all suffer. You will learn to stop conducting foreign policy like that in the future or the people will dismantle your foreign policy by themselves, and yes it can be done without government.

I do what I do and say what I say not because I am treasonous or hate the United States, quite the opposite in fact. My motto is: "America: Love it or Change it" and I'm going to change it. I love my country but you have carried forth policies that misrepresent America, and American values: some of our foreign policies are noble and good worthy causes but some of our foreign policies are nothing less than crimes against humanity deserving of prosecution in the International Criminal Court. It is patriotic duty to intervene where lead where leaders have grossly failed in their democratic responsibility, it is every citizens responsibility to do so, despite arrogant assertions otherwise by those in positions of leadership. Our leaders will learn in the future to stand by American principles in their application of foreign policy, I assure you, or we will make them pay dearly. Indeed.

Dissent is an American poltical right despite those who would that revoke that right among other civil rights. Civil rights are guaranteed not by asking rights to be restored but rather by seizing those rights back my open force and direct action to assert civil rights. Free speech, dissent, direct-action, organizing demonstrations, and building popular resistance are democratic American values. You will see the consequences of them in time as this war grows gradually unpopular. Thus, Bush&Co and any Democrats who support this war will ultimately suffer a great political cost because we will find ways to convince the masses that the returning body-bags filled with American troops did die in vain to serve only the corporate interest of Defense contractors and oil producers. This will make Bush&Co and any closely aligned Democrats unpopular and perhaps even hated over time. We will find a way without corporate media.

I believe the war hawks have the mental and emotional bravery to back down from their talk of war. But because they are fundamentally weak and cowardly at heart, they probably will not. Hopefully, they will surprise me and the rest of the world by demonstrating character, bravery and teamwork by working with other countries and the UN cooperatively, by using diplomacy and refraining from unilaterlism or threats to cut off money supply to those who do not capitulate to the U.S. . For if you will risk military lives to save your own credibility and thus your own political ass, you are nothing more than frail cowardly old men, hardly demonstrating the qualities of good, strong leaders. I expect more character, bravery and principled behavior from my leaders. So far, I am deeply ashamed of my leaders for by acting unilaterally, you make a philosophical mockery of democratic American values. If it is credibility you desire, then surprise me and the rest of the world by demonstrating character and bravery by pursuing alternate, more creative and less bloody means to confronting and containing such a despicable low-life as Saddam Hussein. He isn't worth spending American blood on. Linking your credibility to the neccessity to start a war is cowardly, juvenile, immoral and indicates incredibly careless leadership skills. I challenge you to demonstrate real bravery and strong leadership by standing opposed to this idiotic military action and speaking out against a needless bloody war.

Opening your mouth, speaking out, and criticizing your government when you think they are wrong is your obligation as an American citizen. Cherish your constitutional rights by acting upon them, assert them through unapologetic, intentional direct-action. ACT BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, and make no apology for it. IT IS YOUR RIGHT AND YOUR PATRIOTIC DUTY TO UPHOLD CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND AMERICAN VALUES. GO WHERE THE LEADERS HAVE FAILED TO UPHOLD DEMOCRACY AND RESTORE THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE AS THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT: REMEMBER BUSH, CHENEY, RUMSFELD, WOLFOWITZ AND THE CONGRESS REPORT TO TO US. WE DO NOT REPORT OR ANSWER TO THEM. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OUR GOVERNMENT?

FELLOW AMERICANS, GO FIGHT LIKE HELL FOR YOUR RIGHTS AND FOR A JUST,FAIR, AND DEMOCRATICALLY PRINCIPLED FOREIGN POLICY PROGRAM. DON'T GIVE UP THE FIGHT UNTIL THE RIGHTS ARE SECURED AND THE POLICY IS CHANGED. TAKE ON THE POWER BASIS AND GO HEAD TO HEAD UNTIL THINGS CHANGE.

FREEDOM IS THE LACK OF FEAR!!!!
Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

REBEL DEMOCRATICALLY FOR DEMOCRACY!!!!

Sincerely,

Eric E. Johansson
Veterans for Peace, Chapter 69
Bay Area Anti War Coalition
San Francisco, CA
http://www.unitedforpeace.org
Member, Green Party
Member, American Civil Liberties Union
Member, Human Rights Campaign