Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

When the "weapons of mass destruction" falsehoods that rushed the U.S. into the Iraq War were proven untrue, the Republican spin control machine changed the goal for waging war in Iraq. Suddenly the reason for the Iraq War became the need to spread U.S. style freedom and democracy all over the entire Middle East.  Has Bush spread freedom and democracy in the U.S.?  

Instead of "freedom and democracy" the rush to the Iraq War evolved into civil war in that beleaguered nation.  But that didn't stop Administration officials from taking bows for doing a magnificent job.

Some humanist-thinking individuals, who realize that over 100,000 Iraqis have been killed in a senseless war, loathe seeing U.S. service personnel dying almost daily.  Others return without arms, legs, or hopes for the American dream.  All the while the Iraq War rages on.  

We have seen what happened when Palestinians were allowed to vote. They voted for Hamas.  Did anyone think that 50 years of occupation would bring about any other result?  When much of the Hamas democratically elected government was kidnapped in a rage over the outcome of the democratic vote, the civilized world watched in horror.

Hezbollah responded with rocket attacks on Israel, killing some Israelis and kidnapping two Israeli soldiers.  Bombs began falling on the Gaza Strip and in Southern Lebanon.  

Hezbollah and Hamas leaders were targeted for assassination.  The Hezbollah leader in Southern Lebanon escaped assassination when Israeli planes bombed his residence in a reply to this.  He has declared war on Israel.  Lebanon has experienced 200 deaths, while roads, airports, and bridges have been destroyed.

Iran and Syria have been accused of helping Hezbollah with rockets.  Bush's response is that "Israel must defend itself."  Fouad Siniora, Prime Minister of Lebanon, while his nation is being bombed and its infrastructure demolished with 200 reported deaths thus far, has declared,  "Terrorists are fighting each other on both sides and we are caught in the middle."

President Vladimir Putin of Russia calls for restraint.  Condoleezza Rice has called for Israel to show restraint, basically asking for a balanced response to the kidnapping of the 2 Israeli soldiers Israel wants safely returned.

Hezbollah claims that it will stop its efforts if Israel will free the 10,000 prisoners of war being currently held who have not received trials or had formal indictments handed down against them to date.

Many nations are asking for the United Nations to negotiate an end to the great tragedy.  Some spokespersons within the Arab world claim that Israel is a terrorist nation subsidized by the United States.  The charge is that Israel has been supplied with every kind of weapon, including nuclear weaponry.

Is this true?  Let the UN check out these claims.