Fool Me Once...

It's no longer a surprise to anyone paying the least bit of attention to the actions of the Bush administration and their rubber stamping comrades on Capitol Hill that citizens of the United States and of the world were severely misled-- about almost everything-- in the build up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

In January of 2003, for example, "White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush continues to work with other countries on a peaceful solution [for Iraq].

'But if Saddam Hussein will not disarm peacefully and it becomes necessary to disarm him by force, then what we would be doing is not only disarming a real and growing threat, but liberating Iraqi people from a brutal, oppressive regime,' McClellan said."

Almost a year before-- in July of 2002-- according to the Downing Street Memos, "Bush had made up his mind to take military action [in Iraq]" and to facilitate this "the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy."

Now, in 2007, there is growing tension between the US and Iran. Yesterday, Helen Thomas asked White House spokesperson Dana Perino if President Bush would consult congress before attacking Iran.

    HELEN THOMAS: Did [President Bush] consult -- would
    he tell Congress before attacking Iran -- before he attacks Iran?

    DANA PERINO: Helen, we are pursuing a diplomatic
    solution with Iran.

    HELEN THOMAS: I'm asking you, does he feel committed
    to ask Congress for permission?

    DANA PERINO: We are pursuing a diplomatic solution in
    Iran.

Déjà vu.

Have we learned our lesson? Previous disasters have an uncanny tendency to slip the minds of Americans, but it's been a mere four years. The warmongers continue to push for military action in Iran while spewing lies about their 'diplomatic efforts'.

Congress certainly won't curb the executive's war plans. It's up to the American people to speak out in any forum and by any means available to them if we are to avoid a sequel to the Iraq debacle.