A nation divided

“All war is based on deception,” writes the great military strategist Sun Tzu.

Using this principle, Hitler told the German people that Poland had attacked first. Convinced that they were being threatened, the Germans followed Hitler into Poland and into World War II.

President Roosevelt claimed Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack by the Japanese. The Americans opposed entering the war and FDR saw war with Japan as the means to get into war with Germany. So the President followed an eight-step plan devised by the Office of Naval Intelligence to intentionally provoke Japan into an attack. Contrary to the official story, there was no radio silence by the Japanese fleet, and messages were intercepted and decoded by U.S. intercept stations. Outraged by the attack, Americans marched dutifully off to war.

President Johnson took advantage of an inexperienced sonar man’s report and claimed there were torpedoes in the Gulf of Tonkin so he could push Congress into escalating the War in Vietnam. There were no torpedoes.

Secretary of State Colin Powell made claims of mobile biological weapons laboratories, and that Iraq had an aggregate of between 100 and 500 chemical and biological warfare agents. No weapons of mass destruction were ever found.

Powell also claimed to have an audiotape proving that Saddam was supporting Osama Bin Laden. However, independent translation of the tape revealed Osama’s wish for the death of Saddam Hussein. Even President Bush acknowledged that Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11. The State Department listed 45 countries where al-Qaida was operating on September 11, 2001… Iraq was not listed as one of them.

Okay, so we are now embroiled in a war that was started under false pretenses and along comes a grieving mother of a soldier killed in Iraq. The country watched with curiosity as Cindy Sheehan made camp outside the Crawford, Texas ranch of President Bush while he vacationed. In the short time of one month, she has made a metamorphic change from a radical anomaly to become “the conscience” of the nation – as Al Sharpton described her at a Camp Casey rally.

Love her or hate her, Sheehan has sparked a grassroots movement that ignited a wildfire of people unwilling to see more U.S. blood spilled in Iraq. The latest polls indicate that the nation has reached a point of transition over Iraq, and Cindy has become the fulcrum to leverage the cause of separate antiwar groups, who are now united.

These activists aren’t your stereotypical Vietnam-era protestors. They are mainstream individuals and families who have proven their devotion to the U.S. of A. or have honorably served their country. Such groups as Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Gold Star Families for Peace, and Iraq Veterans Against the War have converged to tell their story and ask a few questions.

Their questions have caused others to start questioning the motives for instigating a war with a sovereign nation in a time of peace, then remaining after discovering that their justification was erroneous. There is no question that Saddam Hussein did not deserve to rule, as a tyrant who committed atrocities against his people – neither does any dictator who governs his country against the will of the people and causes innocent blood to be shed for self-serving interests.

This is a war that will not end with one nation surrendering, or individuals from a losing side signing a peace treaty. Terrorism is an ideology that has existed from the beginning of time and will be with us until the end of days. Its perpetrators hide themselves in any country and cowardly strike at anytime against innocent citizens around the world. To give into the fear they hope to strike in others is to subject oneself to their will and give their cause more credence.

Invading Iraq has proven to not be a strategic move in the war against terror, and has become more of a liability—draining hundreds of billions of dollars that could be used for more beneficial purposes. To leave Iraq now in its destitute condition, though, would be irresponsible on our part, but “staying the course” for four more years would be unconscionable.

A polarized nation contending against itself will only weaken our resolve. A solution must be found or Sheehan’s grassroots movement will become the impetus that divides a nation that has its strength in unity.

God bless the USA. God bless our wonderful troops serving in Iraq. May they soon be reunited with their loved ones after an honorable tour of duty.

(Rik is a business instructor at NMC and Janel is the owner of Positively Outrageous Results. They can be contacted at: biz_results@yahoo.com)