Senator Bill Nelson, who voted for military action in Vermont is now claiming that someone from either the White House or DOD told the Senate that Iraq had the capability of hitting the East Coast of the United States with some sort of UAV flown off a "tramp steamer". The UAV in question, it was claimed, would have a cargo of chemical or biological weapons.
Now that Saddam has been captured, no weapons found, no UAVs found (other than some truly pathetic balsa wood things), Nelson is saying that the Senate was deceived.
Of course, he also says he can't identify the person who gave the Senate this information.
Which means that our beloved Senators wer duped, or allowed themselves to be duped. Did any of them ask pointed, pertinent question regarding these supposed capabilities? Did they question the source of the data?
In other words, did they fulfill their duty as legislators and representatives of the people?
Probably not.
Lately, our Representatives and Senators have done a woefully inadequate job of questioning the President and his cornies in the Executive Branch, a task they seemed quite willing to do under the Clinton Administration. And any who do question things are quickly branded as traitors. A case in point was Max Cleeland, a Vietnam Vet who lost three limbs in combat and was labelled a cowardly traitor and defeated in the 2002 elections.
We and our elected representatives at all levels need to start challenging the Bush administration claims on everything. It is fact that we were lied to about WMDs, Iraqi ties to al-Qaeda, and the WTC attacks. We've been kept in the dark about energy policy. We've been deceived about the utility of tax cuts and the time frame for Medicare reform. What does it take for people to start asking questions?
Asking tough questions and insisting on real answers is the only way to preserve our way of life...one that's based on indivdual freedom, not the best interest of politicians and corporations.
Posted by Chris at December 17, 2003 09:55 AM