Listening to Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and their cadre of “cheerleaders” attempt to convince us—the US public, the voting public—that “progress” is being made n Iraq, I can only wonder what episode of “Fantasy Island” they are talking about.

They sure are not describing the reality on the ground in Iraq. At least not according to what I have been reading. And not according to the letters I’ve received from veterans of this war in Iraq. They tell a story of chaos, instability, death and destruction, and a lack of everything from equipment to food and water.

Bush tells us that “freedom” and “democracy” in and for Iraq are on the way—with the upcoming elections offered as proof positive of future success in Iraq, at least according to Bush and the “spin” provided by his teams of “perception managers.” I remember years ago when Nixon, Gen. Westmoreland and the rest of their “marvelous mob” kept telling the American public how well things were going in Vietnam. That, yes, there were a lot of people being killed, but we must not let that deter us from achieving victory. After all, better to fight the Vietnamese there than let them come here to the US to wage war. Sound familiar? Different war of “choice,” but the same deceptive language is being employed.

Fool me once; oops … fool me twice; shame on me!

The truth of what is happening on the ground in Iraq, and here in the US as a result of this Bush/Cheney war of choice, is in direct contradiction to their badly written “Fantasy Island” episode. People are dying and being killed in wholesale numbers and all Bush does is pontificate on how we must “stay the course.”

Over 1,037 dead US troops—60 dead so far this month alone, with the month not over yet—how many more? The wounded and those medically evacuated out of Iraq are over 24,000—how many more?

Bush has yet to show any loyalty or respect for those he sent off to die in Iraq; while Bush talks about honoring the troops, he still refuses to attend even so much as one funeral for those who have been killed in his war of choice in Iraq.

This Bush war of choice has turned Iraq into what it was not, ground zero for fools and fanatics—theirs and ours. This war of choice is rapidly becoming a meat grinder for all who are there, and is driving Iraq closer and closer to “fractionating”—or simply put, tearing apart into three very distinct and separate regions, areas, states, or whatever you want to label them.

In the meantime tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis, over half of which are women and children, are paying the ultimate price—their lives.

But Bush tells all how “freedom” and “democracy” are on the march in Iraq. Oh really? At the rate people are being killed, Iraq will become free—free of all human life!

All of this death is a direct result of an invasion/war that was based on lies and deceptions. No WMDs, no Saddam 9/11 connection, no nothing—just a continuous stream of “trust and obey” from Bush and company.

Forty years ago this nation was lied and deceived into the Vietnam War. We now know, thanks to the Pentagon Papers, how bad and deep the deception was. Even after the Exposé it still took another 2-3 years before it was finally over—with over 58,000 Americans and over 2 million Vietnamese dead as a result of that bogus war.

Today, we hear all the same catch phrases from the Vietnam war days being repeated by Bush and company: “Better to fight them there than here,” “We must stay the course,” “Our safety depends on it,” “Promote freedom and democracy,” “If we cut and run our credibility will be at stake,” “Winning the hearts and minds,” and the list is seemingly endless.

In the meantime the bodies are piling up like cordwood—like some kind of grotesque monument to the Bush war of choice in Iraq. Will we sit back in silence as another 58,000 names are written on another wall?

Bush refused to listen to anyone prior to the Iraq invasion. Many attempted to explain that invading Iraq would open a “Pandora’s Box” of insurgency and urban warfare, that it would in effect destabilize the region. Bush would not listen and now Iraq is an unmitigated disaster. He still refuses to listen and continues his pontificating on how “progress” is being made in Iraq. Bush is either brain dead, on drugs, or both if he really believes that progress is being made in Iraq.

The Iraqi people are being decimated as are the US troops sent by Bush to Iraq. Bush and company do not care how many die. All they care about is Iraq’s oil and gas, and the bases the US will have there so as to better “control” the entire region, with the aid of Israel. Look out Iran.

Wake up America! The barbarians are no longer at the gate; they’ve taken over the “house.” And in the process are bankrupting our national treasury as a result of this Bush war of choice, which has become more a war on poor people by the rich power brokers than a war for freedom and democracy.

Jack Dalton  is a disabled Vietnam veteran and freelance writer who lives in Portland, Oregon. He can be reached through his Web site. He also maintains a blog through the Raw Story. He welcomes all comments—good, bad, or ugly; while not all are answered, all are read. His email address is jack_dalton@ommp.org.