Today is September 11th. Three years has passed since the worst act of terrorism on American soil. The American people demand action and accountability. However, our requests have fallen on deaf ears. I find three particular examples humiliating as an American where unquestionably our government has failed us.
First, launching a "preemptive" war with Iraq. Now, the evidence is clear. There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. There is no connection between 9/11 and Saddam Hussein. Now, 146,000 American troops are in Iraq, 1,000+ of them dead and 7 times more wounded, plus well over 10,000 Iraqi men, women, and children are dead ("War in Iraq"; www.IraqBodyCount.net). We've spent $144 billion, plus undoubtedly billions more, on a war that numerous experts, both inside and outside the government, say is causing more terrorism that it is containing. The American people demand action and accountability.
Second, Abu Ghraib will forever remain a scar on the American conscious. These images of torture by American soldiers have become icons of America to many. 54% of Iraqis believe that "all Americans behave this way" and 61% believe that no one will be punished ("Iraq Index," Brookings Institute, Sept. 10, 2004). Our government has failed us at critical time in our history, and left the chain of command intact and unpunished. The American people demand action and accountability.
Third, the 9/11 Commission discovered "the system was " and the "public was not warned" (www.9-11commission.gov). When the dust settled, the White House clearly did not perform its job adequately. Yet, they have not apologized, Ashcroft and Rice still have their jobs, and Osama bin Laden remains at-large. The American people demand action and accountability.
What's that saying? "Three strikes, and you're out"...
