In this citizen's eyes, at least.

Arrogance of Power
Today, I Weep for my Country...
By US Senator Robert Byrd
Speech delivered on the floor of the US Senate
March 19, 2003 3:45pm


I believe in this beautiful country. I have studied its roots and gloried in the wisdom of its magnificent Constitution. I have marveled at the wisdom of its founders and framers. Generation after generation of Americans has understood the lofty ideals that underlie our great Republic. I have been inspired by the story of their sacrifice and their strength.

But, today I weep for my country. I have watched the events of recent months with a heavy, heavy heart. No more is the image of America one of strong, yet benevolent peacekeeper. The image of America has changed. Around the globe, our friends mistrust us, our word is disputed, our intentions are questioned.

Instead of reasoning with those with whom we disagree, we demand obedience or threaten recrimination. Instead of isolating Saddam Hussein, we seem to have isolated ourselves. We proclaim a new doctrine of preemption which is understood by few and feared by many. We say that the United States has the right to turn its firepower on any corner of the globe which might be suspect in the war on terrorism. We assert that right without the sanction of any international body. As a result, the world has become a much more dangerous place.

We flaunt our superpower status with arrogance. We treat UN Security Council members like ingrates who offend our princely dignity by lifting their heads from the carpet. Valuable alliances are split.

After war has ended, the United States will have to rebuild much more than the country of Iraq. We will have to rebuild America's image around the globe.

The case this Administration tries to make to justify its fixation with war is tainted by charges of falsified documents and circumstantial evidence. We cannot convince the world of the necessity of this war for one simple reason. This is a war of choice.

There is no credible information to connect Saddam Hussein to 9/11. The twin towers fell because a world-wide terrorist group, Al Qaeda, with cells in over 60 nations, struck at our wealth and our influence by turning our own planes into missiles, one of which would likely have slammed into the dome of this beautiful Capitol except for the brave sacrifice of the passengers on board.

The brutality seen on September 11th and in other terrorist attacks we have witnessed around the globe are the violent and desperate efforts by extremists to stop the daily encroachment of western values upon their cultures. That is what we fight. It is a force not confined to borders. It is a shadowy entity with many faces, many names, and many addresses.

But, this Administration has directed all of the anger, fear, and grief which emerged from the ashes of the twin towers and the twisted metal of the Pentagon towards a tangible villain, one we can see and hate and attack. And villain he is. But, he is the wrong villain. And this is the wrong war. If we attack Saddam Hussein, we will probably drive him from power. But, the zeal of our friends to assist our global war on terrorism may have already taken flight.

The general unease surrounding this war is not just due to "orange alert." There is a pervasive sense of rush and risk and too many questions unanswered. How long will we be in Iraq? What will be the cost? What is the ultimate mission? How great is the danger at home?

A pall has fallen over the Senate Chamber. We avoid our solemn duty to debate the one topic on the minds of all Americans, even while scores of thousands of our sons and daughters faithfully do their duty in Iraq.

What is happening to this country? When did we become a nation which ignores and berates our friends? When did we decide to risk undermining international order by adopting a radical and doctrinaire approach to using our awesome military might? How can we abandon diplomatic efforts when the turmoil in the world cries out for diplomacy?

Why can this President not seem to see that America's true power lies not in its will to intimidate, but in its ability to inspire?

War appears inevitable. But, I continue to hope that the cloud will lift. Perhaps Saddam will yet turn tail and run. Perhaps reason will somehow still prevail. I along with millions of Americans will pray for the safety of our troops, for the innocent civilians in Iraq, and for the security of our homeland. May God continue to bless the United States of America in the troubled days ahead, and may we somehow recapture the vision which for the present eludes us.

I concur 100%
Now that the "Die-ing room" war is coming to a close, Americans need to work at regaining our dignity. We need to oust the cancerus leadership that is killing us and bring in fresh new blood that can act in the interest of, not just our nation, but of the Worlds interests. The next time we reach out to the world we should do it with a handshake and an apology, not with a gun and arrogance.
HomerJ

I thank you, HomerJ, that gives me a small believe that all that illegal, arrogant disregarding of humanity and law America's leadership has performed to the world will not be forgotten and covered under victory cheers and "America is the best" paroles.

Maybe America has won this massacre they call war, but meanwhile it lost the ties to many a friend and also the former good reputation of reliability.

I hope for all you folks that this nightmare called Bush administration will be gone forever latest 2004 and that those guys are drawn to responsibility somewhen...

This was and still is the worst administration of your country since ever, and this I mean as I say it.

And of course, let's not forget it, I will be the first to welcome America back as a real friend in times of a new, honest and human leadership.

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Riot Act on Apr 10, 2003 ---</FONT></center>

Amen.

It's not going to be easy to get rid of them. They really like being in power.

I still have some hope... Hitler and his people also liked being in power and the world got rid of them in the end... he even started it all with a comparable incident to 9/11, the great fire in the "Reichstag" (not really comparable by size, but in America everything is somewhat bigger).
With that I do not want to say that 9/11 was also a "homegrown" incident, but even that fact wouldn't surprise me too much.

But anyhow, I'm sure the rest of the world would rather accept several Saddam Husseins in the world than an unreliable, unpredictable and threatening leadership in America.

In fact, the main part of the western (and of course eastern) world is against Bush.

And that will do it's work.

Worth a look-- this article on baseball and the First Amendment by Tim Robbins.