I’d like to address my comments to one particular person this week. The rest of you are welcome to listen. I’d like to address my comments to former president George Bush. I don’t know if you’re listening Mr. Bush, or if you even surf the ‘net. I do know you have time on your hands.
I’d like to talk to you about the Persian Gulf War, Mr. Bush, and I’ll tell you up front that I opposed that war. I was one of those people out in Pennsylvania Avenue every week during Desert Shield and every night during Desert Storm. Yes, I was one of those people with the drums that kept you from sleeping. How are you sleeping now?
I keep thinking about the Gulf War because I keep reading about it in the newspaper. The smart weapons, it turns out, were not so smart after all. The Patriot missiles were not as accurate as the army claimed. I’m not surprised. I didn’t believe the Pentagon then and I’m not shocked to find out the generals lied.
I’ll let you in on a little secret, Mr. Bush. There was one line of Gulf War propaganda that worked better than the others. That line was “Support Our Troops.” “Support Our Troops, Bring Them Home!” we answered from the street.
But then the yellow ribbons started showing up. I was across from the White House the day Mrs. Bush hung the big yellow ribbon over the front door.
I’ll admit it was hard not to look at those yellow ribbons and not think of a person in harm’s way. And now we find that tens of thousands of troops were exposed to toxic gas and nothing was done. Nothing was done for their protection, Mr. Bush, because you and your generals didn’t want your war to look bad on television. Thousands of veterans have been sick since they got home only to face denial from a military establishment that can’t admit when it’s wrong.
And I can’t stop thinking about Persian Gulf civilians who are in harm’s way even to this day.
“Support Our Troops” – what about it, Mr. Bush? You lost the next election and so now you sit and sow your sour grapes and tend to your own interests. As I said before, I know you’ve got time on your hands. Why don’t you spend it as an advocate for the troops you once commanded? Now is when they need you.
What about your partners in propaganda, Hill&Knowlton, official public relations firm for the Gulf War? Couldn’t you enlist their aid again and maybe this time do some good?
Yes, Mr. Bush, I opposed the war, but supported the troops. “Support Our Troops, Bring Them Home.” Bring them all the way home, to an America that stands by its deeds and its citizens. There was a frequently-used phrase in your administration, Mr. Bush: “Not on our watch.” Your watch is over, Mr. Bush, but the long night watch continues for thousands of poisoned veterans and their families and no dawn is in sight.
Support Our Troops
I’d like to address my comments to one particular person this week. The rest of you are welcome to listen. I’d like to address my comments to former president George Bush. I don’t know if you’re listening Mr. Bush, or if you even surf the ‘net. I do know you have time on your hands.
I’d like to talk to you about the Persian Gulf War, Mr. Bush, and I’ll tell you up front that I opposed that war. I was one of those people out in Pennsylvania Avenue every week during Desert Shield and every night during Desert Storm. Yes, I was one of those people with the drums that kept you from sleeping. How are you sleeping now?
I keep thinking about the Gulf War because I keep reading about it in the newspaper. The smart weapons, it turns out, were not so smart after all. The Patriot missiles were not as accurate as the army claimed. I’m not surprised. I didn’t believe the Pentagon then and I’m not shocked to find out the generals lied.
I’ll let you in on a little secret, Mr. Bush. There was one line of Gulf War propaganda that worked better than the others. That line was “Support Our Troops.” “Support Our Troops, Bring Them Home!” we answered from the street.
But then the yellow ribbons started showing up. I was across from the White House the day Mrs. Bush hung the big yellow ribbon over the front door.
I’ll admit it was hard not to look at those yellow ribbons and not think of a person in harm’s way. And now we find that tens of thousands of troops were exposed to toxic gas and nothing was done. Nothing was done for their protection, Mr. Bush, because you and your generals didn’t want your war to look bad on television. Thousands of veterans have been sick since they got home only to face denial from a military establishment that can’t admit when it’s wrong.
And I can’t stop thinking about Persian Gulf civilians who are in harm’s way even to this day.
“Support Our Troops” – what about it, Mr. Bush? You lost the next election and so now you sit and sow your sour grapes and tend to your own interests. As I said before, I know you’ve got time on your hands. Why don’t you spend it as an advocate for the troops you once commanded? Now is when they need you.
What about your partners in propaganda, Hill&Knowlton, official public relations firm for the Gulf War? Couldn’t you enlist their aid again and maybe this time do some good?
Yes, Mr. Bush, I opposed the war, but supported the troops. “Support Our Troops, Bring Them Home.” Bring them all the way home, to an America that stands by its deeds and its citizens. There was a frequently-used phrase in your administration, Mr. Bush: “Not on our watch.” Your watch is over, Mr. Bush, but the long night watch continues for thousands of poisoned veterans and their families and no dawn is in sight.
“Support Our Troops” – what about it, Mr. Bush?