Quagmire in the USA

by Mark Yannone
September 11, 2003

". . .imagine how we’d feel if we were a poor, weak country that couldn’t retaliate, while enemy troops, having cut off our electricity, moved in and occupied us. Imagine that the power outage went on for months, while the temperature rose as high as 125 degrees. . . ." - Joe Sobran, "Quagmire in the Sun," August 19, 2003

The right decision always boils down to the Golden Rule, doesn't it?

As we have been asked, how would we have reacted if the roles were reversed, and Iraqis bombed and occupied the United States for whatever resources a few Iraqi leaders and senior executives could divert? Would anyone who survived that assault ever forgive the invaders? Not just the individual invaders and instigators--their entire country.

Not likely. But this invasion of Iraq has even worse consequences. Not only have Americans made mortal enemies in Iraq, a certain sector of America has made mortal enemies around the world and here at home, in America. Our federal government has demonstrated its utter disregard for property rights, national sovereignty, human rights, law, and justice. Our president and congressmen have lied to us repeatedly. They have subjected us to great danger, many thousands of innocents have been killed, and thousands more will die. Americans are once again the objects of ridicule, fear, and distrust worldwide. We can expect repeated acts of retribution for the injuries caused by our government.

And as we spiral into unimaginable debt and unrecoverable devaluation of our currency, our irresponsible, lawbreaking representatives and senators sit impotent before our insane dictator. When they are not fiddling their thumbs expressing one mindless, ceremonial "sense of Congress" after another, they busy themselves forging legislation to further enslave and punish us, as though we were the enemy.

Meanwhile, state after state, community after community is rising up in opposition to this domestic attack by our own federal government. How long will it be before these defiant, freedom-loving Americans will have to beg the citizens of France, Germany, Japan, and the old Soviet Union to help us fight off our own military?

It seems impossible doesn't it? But is this quagmire what you expected when you confidently cast your vote for George W. Bush less than three years ago?

Update 08/31/07
Ron Paul reiterated these sentiments during the presidential debates of 2007.