THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008
No Honesty In Today's Politics
Giovannelli Central, By RAY GIOVANNELLI
Blaise Pascal, the 17th century scientist and religious philosopher, observed that no one should expect to meet more than three or four honest people in a lifetime. I wonder what his estimates regarding honesty would be in American politics.
Honesty is the delicate tissue of faith that holds humanity together, and lies diminish mutual trust.
As far as I can tell, elected officials believe that us little people cannot be trusted with the truth. Politicians are often high-minded people who assume they know what is good for us. When they get caught telling lies, they continue to try and deceive us by using spin tactics that take the rough edges off of what they said. One of these tactics is the use of euphemisms such as:
"Gaffe", meaning to blunder.
Sen. Clinton's supporters might say that she committed a "gaffe" when she said she landed in Bosnia under sniper fire, instead of "she's a liar."
Other examples of euphemisms include: "Terminate a pregnancy" instead of "killing a fetus". "Meaningful relationship" instead of "committting adultery." "Running an adult book store" instead of "peddling pornography."
The most recent gaffe, exaggeration, white lie or whatever you want to call it, is the promise to "bring the troops home" whenever Iraq is being discussed.
This is a promise that cannot be kept and those making it know that out-front.
The troops cannot be "brought home" for some of the following reason:
First - The war on radical Islamic terrorism is a reality and the primary battleground appears to be the Middle East. Disengaging now would embolden the enemy; they would view themselves as victors, when as a matter of fact they are on the run, hiding in rat holes.
Second - Access to Iraq. Oil would be lost to supporters of al qaeda and other terrorist groups.
Third - Soon after our retreat, vengeful insurgents will kill innocent people with impunity and the Middle East would be subject to unrelenting anarchy.
Lastly - The troops would not be sent home, but rather redeployed to Afghanistan and later, probably back into Iraq when a fledging Iraqi army has been destroyed by Iranian and Syrian invaders.
We cannot let this scenario unfold.
The pledge by politicians to "Bring the troops home" during the midst of a war is patently deceitful as a campaign promise and illogical as sound strategy.