Please critique my LTTE

There are some really good writers, good researchers, and good minds here on DU. Below is my first draft of a letter to the editor of the local fishwrap. There is a 250 word limit and I am currently at 243.

Editor:

It was the administration’s lies about weapons of mass destruction that convinced Congress to cede its war powers to the executive branch. That soon led to the United States preemptively invading Iraq, toppling its government, and capturing Saddam Hussein. When the weapons were nowhere to be found, the raison du jour became liberating the Iraqi people from a brutal regime.

The administration’s other big lie was that Saddam Hussein was connected with terrorists. In every speech, they included Iraq, evil and September 11 in the same sentence. The compliant media acted more like stenographers than journalists until a majority of citizens came to believe this. When pressed, even Bush had to admit that there was no evidence linking Saddam Hussein with September 11.

The seeds of hatred and demonization had already been sown and cultivated. Torturing Iraqis is excusable as revenge for the 3000 who died in New York City. Gang raping teenage boys and women is just “blowing off steam.” Using dogs and broom handles to terrify prisoners is just “hazing.” Torturing a nine-year-old boy is only “softening up” his father. Every day, more horrors are revealed at more sites across Iraq and Afghanistan.

The administration’s response? Ban digital cameras and quickly round up a few low-level scapegoats. Although Bush knew about the torture months ago, nothing was done until photos started appearing. His harrumphing is transparently disingenuous. We have to get these war criminals out of office as soon as possible.

Do you want to use your remaining words to ask for votes for Kerry?

For example, instead of:

That soon led to the United States preemptively invading Iraq . . . .

this:

That soon led the United States to a "preemptive" (actually preventive) strike against Iraq . . . .

There is a difference between a preemptive attack and a preventive attack. The former is permitted under international law; if a nation is under the imminent threat of attack, it may strike first. The latter is impermissible; the threat is not imminent and would only materialize at some future time, if at all. A preventive strike is simply an act of unjustified aggression.

Although Bush claims his doctrine is one of "preemption", that is a misnomer. It is actually a doctrine of prevention. It is nothing less than a pretext to go to war against any sovereign state at any time for any reason or no reason at all.

Properly considered, the invasion and occupation of Iraq is a war crime on its face.

It was the administration's lies about weapons of mass destruction that convinced Congress to cede its war powers to the executive branch. That soon led to the United States preemptively invading Iraq, toppling its government, and capturing Saddam Hussein. When the weapons were nowhere to be found, the raison du jour became liberating the Iraqi people from a brutal regime.

The administration's other big lie was that Saddam Hussein was connected with terrorists. In many speeches, Bush had closely associated Iraq, evil and September 11. The compliant media acted more like stenographers than journalists as a majority of citizens came to believe that Iraq was responsible for 9/11. But when pressed on ??/??/??, Bush finally had to admit that there was no evidence linking Saddam Hussein with September 11.

The seeds of hatred and demonization had already been sown and cultivated. Torturing Iraqis is seen as excusable as revenge for the 3000 who died in New York City. Gang raping teenage boys and women is just "blowing off steam." Using dogs and broom handles to terrify prisoners is just "hazing." Torturing a nine-year-old boy is only "softening up" his father. Every day, more horrors are revealed at more sites across Iraq and Afghanistan.

The administration's response? Ban digital cameras and quickly round up a few low-level scapegoats. Although Bush knew about the torture months ago, nothing was done until photos started appearing. His harrumphing is transparently disingenuous. We have to get these war criminals out of office as soon as possible.