A Small Price?

Well GOP House leader John Boehner well-represents the loss of perspective for much of our national leadership (sorry to say that includes some Dems, as well). In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer (not one of my favorite members of the press for holding the powers that be accountable, which is why I'm impressed with his question to begin with) Boehner has this to say about Iraq:

BLITZER: How much longer will U.S. taxpayers have to shell out

$2 billion a week or $3 billion a week as some now are suggesting

the cost is going to endure? The loss in blood, the Americans who are

killed every month, how much longer do you think this

commitment, this military commitment is going to require?

BOEHNER: I think General Petraeus outlined it pretty clearly.

We’re making success. We need to firm up those successes.

We need to continue our effort here because, Wolf, long term,

the investment that we’re making today will be a small price if

we’re able to stop al Qaeda here, if we’re able to stabilize the Middle East,

it’s not only going to be a small price for the near future,

but think about the future for our kids and their kids.

Of course when he was called on this comment later, Boehner claims to be speaking in terms of dollars only. First of all, Blitzer specifically asks about the "loss of blood" and "Americans killed every month". To me, this only reinforces what we already know about these warhawks to begin with: The human losses and sacrifices don't matter...the financial bottom line does. Even with that, to sit and say we have to think of the future of our kids and their kids...who exactly does he think will be PAYING for this debacle? Obviously he, and the others are quite comfortable in the knowledge that it isn't THEIR kids who are getting killed, nor are they the working masses who die everyday for lack of helathcare, who sacrifice everyday while our infrastructure crumbles around us, or who end up with nothing in their later years while their corporate bosses bank enough money to support the next THREE generations.

I don't plan to use this site to push Edwards at everyone (although I do fully support him) but he will be addressing the nation tonight on MSNBC, right after Bush's EIGHTH major Iraq address to the nation.

From his website, this is a bit of what Edwards will be addressing tonight:

"Tonight, after President Bush makes yet another argument for continuing the war in Iraq, John Edwards will speak directly to the American people in a nationwide address on MSNBC.

Our campaign has bought airtime on MSNBC immediately following the President's address at 9 p.m., and John Edwards will challenge the President's remarks with a strong call to the nation to end the war now.

Please watch in that timeframe—and forward this e-mail to your friends, asking them to watch as well. Each of us has a responsibility to make sure that President Bush and Congress understand that the time for excuses has run out. John Edwards will deliver a strong message tonight on our behalf. It's time to end this war and bring our troops home.

Buying this kind of airtime is expensive. But we believe that President Bush's address must be countered with a strong voice in opposition to the failed policies that have kept our troops in harm's way for far too long. Tonight, John Edwards will continue to lead, and make the case to the nation that we cannot wait for an election to change course in Iraq—we as citizens must make Washington understand that the time to end this war is now."