the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Dec 11, 2006
The Senate took just one day to confirm Robert Gates as George Bush’s nominee to replace Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense. The vote was 95-2; not one Democrat voted against confirmation.
One reason for the big Democratic Party win in November was voters’ disgust at the war in Iraq. But no sooner was the election over, than Democrats started backtracking on getting out of Iraq.
Democrats and Republicans portrayed Gates as “refreshing” and a straight-shooter. They praised his “candor.” Why? Because he said “no” when asked if the U.S. is “winning” in Iraq.
Gates a straight shooter? Yeah, he’s a straight shooter. He said right up front that the U.S. would be in Iraq for years. Just as Bush has said all along that the U.S. would be in Iraq for years. Democrats had no problem with that, though, and voted to confirm him anyway.
But if anyone wants to believe that he’s not a liar, all they have to do is look at his record. This is the same guy who, as head of the CIA, falsified intelligence reports during the Reagan years and ran a clandestine war in Nicaragua using hired thugs.
Gates’ record never even came up. Not once did any Democrats ask him about those falsified reports. Not once did they mention his role in the Nicaraguan war.
If the Democrats had REALLY wanted to oppose the war in Iraq, they could have tied up his confirmation until the new Senate gets seated next month; and then they would have voted him down.
IF.
But their actions speak much louder than their words.