Kerry, Gephardt, Lieberman & the IWR of 2002

Now that Saddam Hussein's safely in "coalition" hands let's reconsider what got us, meaning the United States of America, in this mess: the Iraq War Resolution, passed by both houses of Congress a little over a year ago.

Of the nine Democratic presidential candidates five are currently members of that august deliberative body. Of that five only Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich voted against the sweeping legislation authorizing pResident Bush to use force against Saddam Hussein's regime if he (Bush)deemed it necessary.

Of the four who voted to give Dubya Khaddafi these wide-ranging powers three, Representative Dick Gephardt and Senators Joe Lieberman and John Kerry represent parts of the country heavily dependent on the defense industry.

Boeing has a major manufacturing facility within Gephardt's St. Louis, MO based Third Congressional District. In Kerry's Massachusetts Raytheon, maker of the Patriot Missile and deeply involved in developing a ballistic missile defense system, recently opened new global headquarters in Waltham. And Lieberman's Connecticut is home to General Electric and United Technologies, both manufacturers of aircraft and helicopter engines. These two New England states are also the sites of manufacturing facilities for other major defense contractors.

The continuing occupation of Iraq and the never-ending war on terrorism signals good times ahead for the nation's largest defense contractors (remember, Dick, the International Association of Machinists members vote and they're just scared shitless that Boeing may go tits up.)

The Clinton administration more that adequately funded the Pentagon to some, however, it was parsimonious when compared with the lavish outlays of the Reagan and Bush I administrations. So while Dubya preaches guns and butter for all it is the Pentagon that's getting its guns and the investing class getting the lion's share of the butter.

As President Dwight D. Eisenhohwer warned in his 1961 farewell address:"...we must guard against the acquisition of unwarreanted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex."

Voting for the Iraq War Resolution was like handing a pyromaniac five gallons of gas and a book of matches then feigning shock, anger and surprize when he runs off and burns the school down. Gephardt, Kerry and Lieberman are nothing more than accomplices in the continued domination of American politics for and by the military-industrial complex.

I get it. Dam!