Condoleeza Rice went before our compliant Congress the other day and “testified” (I use the term loosely with this bunch) about our Mideast policy, such as it is. I don’t know what is more sickening, the revelation that well, yes Virginia, we really did want to invade Iraq all along, or that the Senators “questioning” her never bothered to point out the obvious over and over again.

Kos has a great diary entry discussing this, a must read.

If the president sees it as America’s mission to change the political character of Middle Eastern countries and to change the mindset of the peoples therein, and if he is of the opinion that this can be done initially through force of arms, and subsequently through massive expenditures of American money, and if he thinks that this mission will take upwards of a generation, he needs to come before a joint session of Congress and make his case to the elected representatives of the American people and simultaneously to the American people watching at home. He needs to explain why he thinks force of arms (invasion) is the best way to sweep away this “malignancy” and the best way to encourage healthy tissue to grow in its place. He needs to name the countries that he is prepared to invade - Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, etc. He needs to ask Congress to reinstate the draft in order to ensure sufficient men under arms. He needs to warn the American people that sacrifices will be required of them - higher taxes, foregoing expenditures on domestic programs, and should the world’s production of oil be significantly impacted, higher prices for energy at a minimum and perhaps higher prices all around. And most importantly, Bush needs to define the ultimate shape and character that he envisions for these countries so that all can judge whether the effort is worthwhile.

Of course bush did none of this. Instead he lied to get what he wanted and then he put this country on track for perpetual war by walking all over Congress. The man hates this country, he hates our Constitution and he hates Americans, who husbands, wives and children he eagerly sends to die for his greater glory. The proof of that is in the results of his actions and his obvious contempt for our system. It is by no means perfect, but it used to work better than this.