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CounterPunch
September
25, 2002
Intervention
and Impeachment
The "I" Words
by Molly Secours
Don't abandon Uncle Sam, He needs you! The United
States needs world leaders to orchestrate an "intervention".
Using Alcoholic Anonymous12-step terminology; an intervention
is a gathering of concerned friends and family members who confront
individuals about their destructive behaviors--usually involving
the excessive use of drugs or alcohol. Although George W. is
a recovered alcoholic, perhaps his power-drunk, flagrant disrespect
for international and constitutional law is only a cry for help.
Let's at least give him the benefit of the doubt.
Anyone concerned about Bush's contumacious
behavior is in good company. One of the world's most revered
and respected statesmen, Nelson Mandela's recently told Newsweek:
"the attitude of the United States is a threat to world
peace". He goes on to explain that what the U.S. is saying
with its actions is that "if you are afraid of a veto in
the Security Council, you can go outside and take action and
violate the sovereignty of other countries. That must be condemned
in the strongest terms." Given Mandela's clarity and conviction
perhaps he would agree to facilitate the intervention.
Why do the self-possessed, "can
do" American people need an international intervention from
the rest of the world? The answer is simple. Congress is powerless
to quell the 24-hour/7day infomercial being waged by the Bush
administration and launched by the mainstream media to promote
a war on Iraq.
According to Tim Reid in Washington,
the Office of Global Communications is launching a $200 million
campaign to convince the entire world that Bush is right about
a preemptive strike. This media cocktail might explain why some
Americans are intoxicated by the idea of a bloody Iraqi confrontation.
Inundated with images of waving flags and veterans saluting young
soldiers set to a rousing soundtrack, Americans are drugged into
equating violence with patriotism.
Although many Americans are outraged
by Bush's arrogant manipulation of both Congress and the U.N.
Security Council, the war cry is so deafening, one can barely
hear the dissenting masses uttering the "I" word: .I-M-P-E-A-C-H-M-E-N-T.
Rumor has it that the "I" word has indeed been whispered--however
faintly--in the hallways of ours nations capitol. Article 1 Section
10 explicitly gives Congress, not the president, the power to
declare war and Article 6 Section 2 states international treaties
and agreements supercede the law of the land. Sidestepping congress
and bypassing the UNSC are two constitutional violations that
would make Bush eligible for impeachment. Unfortunately, in Washington
no one wants to risk political suicide by saying it aloud or
take the risk of having persecuted the "lone ranger"
in the event that he actually stumbles into Hussein's living
roon. And now, as it turns out, Congress, knowing that Bush will
go it alone anyway, may cave in to his demands and give him what
wants--enough wiggle room to attack Iraq without having committed
any constitutional violations. And as one person lamented "the
impeachment path is futile: how do you impeach someone who has
no regard for the law and wasn't elected in the first place"?
It is truly ironic that our previous
president was politically castrated and threatened with impeachment
for having sex with an intern while our current leader is deified
for violating international and constitutional law and promoting
bloodshed in the Middle East. The danger for Americans is not
simply the terrorists lurking outside our borders but the terrorists
who are spreading fear in Washington. Since 911, numerous writers
and journalist (myself included) have lost jobs for questioning
the war on terrorism and the motives behind U.S. acts of force
and aggression. Democratic Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, from
Georgia was recently targeted and her congressional career destroyed
for publicly questioning U.S. motives in the Middle-East and
for defending the right of the Palestinian's to have a homeland.
She was attacked and labled "anti-semitic" and unpatriotic
and in September lost her congressional seat.
The U.S. needs international support
to counteract the media campaign in America. The mind numbing
advertising blitz has citizens dazed and confused. Even those
normally capable of rational and critical thought--seem to be
humming the Battle-Hymn Of The Republic while envisioning American
soldiers marching across Iraqi soil donning red, white and blue
Nikes. As our American civil liberties evaporate, opposing voices
are drowned out by the Bush/Cheny/Rumsfeld marching-band triumvirate.
Across this country rallies, marches
and demonstrations are organized daily against the preemptive
strike in Iraq. Just yesterday while President Bush attended
a $1000 plate fundraiser for Republican Lamar Alexander in Nashville
TN, (the country western music capitol of the world), a last
minute rally brought nearly 500 people together to protest.
This was an impressive turnout for a
modestly populated, southern, conservative city--considering
the rally took place on a weekday morning when most people are
working. Over 30 organizations joined forces along with numerous
community leaders. Also present was Naomi Tutu, daughter of South
African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who gave a rousing speech pleading
for Americans to question their government's actions and demand
that Bush adhere to international and constitutional law.
Although the rally was truly an historic
event, the story was buried on page eight of the main newspaper
and given little credibility by any of the media (local and national).
Some of the news coverage referred to the crowd as "peace
lovers" or "peaceniks" and understated the number
of protesters to be "about 100". There was no mention
of the dozens of signs demanding that Bush obey International
Law or Congress. One local newspaper even characterized the rally
as an "anti-Israel" gathering after spotting a lone
woman in the crowd carrying a sign depicting the plight of her
Palestinian people.
While protestors rallied in the streets
of Nashville, Bush took photo ops with local hob-nobbers who
were eager to be seen standing beside a gun-slinging cowboy with
a multi-million dollar marketing campaign. Later on, the pumped
up Texan recited the pledge of Allegiance with some middle school
aged children in East Nashville. In his best Clint Eastwood voice
he stated that although he too wanted peace, "some times
in order to have peace, you must have war". Spoken like
a true outlaw.
What if there was an intervention and
nobody came? Uncle Sam needs you, now!
Molly Secours
is an writer/videographer/activist in Nashville TN. She can be
reached at: mollmaud@earthlink.net
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September
21 / 22, 2002
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An Entire
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Tom Gorman
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Peter Lee
Why Bush
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20 Questions
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Rep. Cynthia
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Cancerous
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Born Under a Bad Sky
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