Letter: Gloating over Iraq war while avoiding truth

Friday, April 25, 2003 | 9:15 a.m.

The neocons are pounding their chests in victory over Iraq. All this gloating over the war protesters needs perspective. True, fewer people than expected were killed and maimed. That is good unless you are a relative of one of the dead or disfigured. There are other truths, which it seems, are forbidden for discussion in the media.

The ties to al-Qaida, the large cache of weapons of mass destruction, the atomic program, and Iraq's threat to the United States were all lies that were consciously perpetrated by the White House to cover their real motives.

By invading a country that was not a threat, the United States has broken international law, the rules of the Geneva Convention, and our Constitution. One of the men placed in charge of Iraq is a convicted felon and the other has great conflicts of interest and is outspoken in favor of a militant Israel. The White House has given the first of many rebuilding contracts to the economic supporters of the Republican Party.

What the Iraqi oil does not pay for in the rebuilding will be paid for by the American middle and lower economic classes, as the rich are getting the tax breaks. The world is less safe from nuclear proliferation because of our national policies; and we are less safe from terrorism because of the Iraq war, unless you believe the alert colors are something other than a way to manipulate the public.

Now, the Republicans want to make the Patriot Act permanent to suppress dissent.

Just think, Bill Clinton was impeached, and all he did was lie about sex.

JERRY BITTS