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Farewell Kisses

By Dave Kettenhofen

Dave Kettenhofen
National Coordinator

In the twilight of his reign, King George has delivered on one of the policies that has been a hallmark of his administration, that of arrogant disregard of the law, both at home and abroad. The presidential pardons of his Iran-Contra partners in crime and the bombing of Iraq were parting shots to the jaw.

The Christmas Eve pardons of six key figures in the Iran-contra scandal was a mockery of justice. Bush's rationale that their actions were motivated by patriotism, and therefore not criminal, was quite enlightening. Apparently whatever is done under the guise of patriotism, in the president's eyes, is fine and dandy. To hell with the law says he.

Actually, his actions weren't really that surprising. What is disturbing though is the fact that Leonard Peltier, Geronimo ji Jaga (Pratt), and scores of other political prisoners are languishing in prison for their patriotism while those upper-crust insiders go merrily on their way. It's like pouring salt in their wounds.

On January 13th, US bombings struck Iraq in blatant violations of the international law. Without the endorsement of a U.N. Security Council vote, but with the backing of Great Britain and France, the U.S., assuming it had a "blank check", retaliated to Iraq's movements within the no fly zone in southern Iraq. It was apparently Bush's farewell kiss to Saddam Hussein.

We have become accustomed to such actions, having witnessed forays into Libya, Grenada, Panama, The Philippines, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and so on during the Reagan/Bush era. International boundaries and diplomacy take a back seat when it comes to the appetites of the power brokers.

So as we bid adieu to Bush, he swaggers away, confident that he has shaken the wimp label. I say good riddance. We have had enough of his lies and distortions.