Remember the lead up to our Invasion of Iraq. The Bush-Cheney machine steamrolled our country into believing that Saddam Hussein and Iraq was responsible for the Twin Tower and other attacks on 9/11/01 that killed about 3,000 civilians.By Oct. 7, 2001 we under the auspices of a NATO Joint Force invaded Afghanistan to get Bin Laden and his Al Qaeda terrorists who were responsible for the attacks.This invasion was not enough for the Bush Administration who with the approval of Congress then decided to start a war against Iraq. Blind fury ignited Congress to acclaim The Iraq Resolution of War in Oct. 2002 based upon the false claims by the Bush administration that Saddam was ready to unleash Weapons of Mass Destruction against us, and was involved with Al Qaeda terrorists in the 9/11 attacks. Within several months after Congressional approval of the Iraq Resolution of War we invaded Iraq in March, 2003. We have continued sending American troops to fight both wars since they began and to date more than 5,000 American have been killed and tens of thousands maimed or mentally deranged as a result of the two wars. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and Afghanistan civilians have also perished and been maimed. Both countries are in shambles and refugees are barely living in refugee camps where meager food supplies and medical needs are inadequate. We have spent about two trillion dollars of our taxes for these "off-budget" wars and war supplies authorizations. The Veterans Administration will spend an estimated 3 trillion dollars for the lifetime care of wounded and disabled veterans. As of this moment we are still fighting in both countries and Bin Laden and most of the Al Qaeda leaders remain free. This fact should be sufficient to realize that the two wars have failed to eliminate Al Qaeda, and a valid argument can be made that Al Qaeda in fact has become stronger and more dangerous than ever. The two wars have rained havoc, desolation, despair, and death on all involved for what purpose? Yet, we seem to accept the status and take timid steps to end the wars while continuing to lose American troops and spend billions more for no rational reason. This clearly demonstrates that Congress continues to give "Thumbs Up" to war even after President Obama has been in office for about 10 months.This delusional behavior is constantly favored by both political parties, however the Republicans are more vociferous in their support for war than the Democrats.
While the two wars continue to take their tolls in both lives and money our Congress dilly dallies with health care reform that at best may help insure more Americans at reduced cost, and at worst will further fatten the bottom lines of insurance companies by requiring insurance for everyone without any cost reduction benefits.
Have you watched any sessions of the Senate and House on C-span TV during the last 10 months. If so, you are aware of the constant bickering and obstruction by the Republicans and the gradual acquiescence of the Democrats to Republican demands to limit health care coverage and oppose a public insurance option that could reduce costs for everyone covered. Meanwhile the so-called debate goes on and on while a Harvard University study estimated 45,000 American citizens die annually because they cannot pay for medical care. Additionally hundreds of thousands face bankruptcy and foreclosure of their homes because of extravagant health care costs that they are unable to pay, often even if they have insurance coverage. Possible poverty becomes their fate. The debate over health care for all Americans has been resounding periodically in the Senate and House chambers for nearly a century, and this time the Congress has been vociferous. The Republican Party has steadfastly opposed any reform while the Blue Dog Democrats us double talk as they stealthy try to water down any reform. No one can predict the outcome but we can all agree that health care is less important than war to our elected Congressional representatives.
War in Iraq and Afghanistan that our country has fostered and supported for nearly a decade proves beyond doubt that our appetite for war far exceeds that for health care reform even if more than 45,000 of us die in our country annually because they cannot pay for health insurance. At the present rate of loss of American lives in Iraq and Afghanistan it will take at least 90 more years of war there to equal one year of loss of life due to inability to pay for health care. Congress, particularly Republican seems to care less. They clearly acclaim "Thumbs Down" for health care reform. Death is preferable just as in war.
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