Has it really come down to this? There is a new Republican-based "organization" out called "Freedom-Watch" who are launching an all-out ad campaign to try and convince the American public that the U.S. Government should stay in Iraq.

One of the ads features Iraq war veteran Andrew Robinson, who according to Freedom Watch...

"was on his second tour of duty when he was wounded by an IED in June of 2006. Andrew lost the use of his legs."

The ad features Robinson, who is now wheel chair bound, stating that he believes that if Iraq isn't stable it will be a breeding ground for terrorism. He also states that he would go back if he could and that he's proud to be a Marine and to hear Congress talk about surrendering makes him angry. The camera then zooms in on Ronbinson's angry face as dark piano music plays in the background.

This whole new ad blitz by Freedom Watch oddly enough makes me think of the lyrics to an old Steeley Dan song which says..."skate a little lower".

How low are these Republican propaganda front groups going to go to sell the public on this ill-fated, ill-planned, ill-conceived and ill-conducted war? This poor guy in the ad has been turned into a virtual roller skate and for what?

And before any of you Republipukes start criticizing me for what I just wrote, think back to last year's Senate race in Missouri,when Claire McCaskill featured a veteran known as "Josh" who complained that he wasn't getting the treatment he needed from the Veterans Administration.

The Republican War machine let loose on this poor guy like nobodies business. Why? Because he told the truth? Because he came back with all of his legs and arms? He had the sense to know that this war is a farse.

"Josh" was repeatedly slammed by Missouri Republican Jeff Roe's blog, "The Source". As an example here is a link to the Oct. 27 post on Roe's blog:

http://thesource.typepad.com/thesource/2006/10/jumpin_josh_fou.html

Incidently I got into a battle of sorts with several neocons in the comments section. The argument ended with my comment stating:

"You Neocon Chicken Hawks are all alike. All of you yell "support our troops" to anyone who criticises this war, until the ones that return do criticise it."

As for Mr. Robinson's claims...

#1. Who said anything about surrendering? Don't you have to declare war first?

#2  As ill-conceived as this war was/ is haven't all the "objectives" been achieved?

Ron Paul makes this point in his article "Surrender Should Not Be an Option". Paul writes...

"Faced with dwindling support of the Iraq War, the warhawks are redoubling their efforts. They imply we are in Iraq attacking those who attacked us, and yet this is not the case. As we know, Saddam Hussein, though not a particularly savory character, had nothing to do with 9/11. The neo-cons claim surrender should not be an option. In the same breath they claim we were attacked because of our freedoms. Why then, are they so anxious to surrender our freedoms with legislation like the Patriot Act, a repeal of our 4th amendment rights, executive orders, and presidential signing statements? With politicians like these, who needs terrorists? Do they think if we destroy our freedoms for the terrorists they will no longer have a reason to attack us? This seems the epitome of cowardice coming from those who claim a monopoly on patriotic courage.

In any case, we have achieved the goals specified in the initial authorization. Saddam Hussein has been removed. An elected government is now in place in Iraq that meets with US approval. The only weapon of mass destruction in Iraq is our military presence. Why are we still over there? Conventional wisdom would dictate that when the "mission is accomplished", the victor goes home, and that is not considered a retreat. "

As far as Robinson's claim that if "we" pull out of Iraq it will be a breeding ground for terrorist; who do you think set off the IED that put you in the wheel chair? Seems to me that terrorism has increased since we invaded Iraq and the facts prove this!

From PNN Online:

World Terrorism has Increased Sevenfold Since U.S. Invasion of Iraq

"The war in Iraq has set off a sevenfold increase in terrorism worldwide, according to a study published by Mother Jones magazine. The study's authors, Peter Bergen and Paul Cruickshank, analyzed publicly available data on terrorist attacks - using the MIPT-RAND Terrorism database, widely considered the best unclassified database on terrorism incidents - and found that the annual rate of fatal attacks by "jihadist" groups was 607 percent higher after the war than it had been previously, and that the rate of people killed each year in such attacks increased 237 percent.

Excluding Iraq and Afghanistan, Bergen and Cruickshank found a 35 percent rise in the number of jihadist attacks and a 12 percent rise in fatalities worldwide. The attacks are not limited to the Islamic world: The researchers found that the rate of attacks on Western interests and citizens has risen by almost 25 percent, while the yearly fatality rate has increased by 4 percent. The statistical analysis raises serious doubts about the Bush administration's claim that the Iraq invasion has helped stem global terrorism."

From CBS News...

Iraq War Made Terror Worse

"CBS/AP) The U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq has increased the number of terrorist groups worldwide and "made the overall terrorism problem worse," a U.S. intelligence official said in a secret study.

The assessment of the war's impact on terrorism came in a National Intelligence Estimate that represents a consensus view of the 16 disparate spy services inside government, CBS News learned Sunday"

From "Democracy Now"...

The Iraq Effect: New Study Finds 600% Rise in Terrorism Since US Invasion of Iraq

"As the fourth anniversary of the Iraq approaches, new concerns are being raised over the effect the war has had on global security. A new study by Mother Jones magazine has found that the number of fatal terrorist attacks has increased by over 600 percent since the U.S. invaded Iraq. The effect of the Iraq war has been felt from London to Kabul, and from Madrid to the Red Sea. The study contradicts key claims by President Bush that the Iraq war has made the world safer"

None of this matters to "Freedom Watch" (an oxymoron if I've ever heard one), who in an August 22'cd Press Release states that it plans to spend 15 million dollars on its pro-war propaganda between mid August-mid September. Which means, they really don't care about how many more men come back in wheelchairs as long as the cash and the testimonials keep coming.

Clint, Missouri Bushwhacker

Send all correspondence to: mobushwhacker@yahoo.com