He Talks Pretty

Those are my principles,
and if you don't like them... well, I have others
--Groucho Marx
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From Seymour Hersh's "Chain of Command" (2004)":

"Referring to the war in Afghanistan, which was then underway, [Joe] Biden asked rhetorically, "How much longer does the bombing continue? Because we're going to pay an escalating price in the Muslim world. We're going to pay an escalating price in the region. And that, in fact, is going to make the the aftermath of our 'victory' more difficult . . . I hope to God it ends sooner rather than later."

"Biden also had these words for the Musharraf regime: "We have to make clear to the Pakistanis that, notwithstanding the fact that we need you very much right now . . . if you are going to continue to foment the terror that does exist in Kashmir, then you are operating against your own near-term interests, because that very viper can turn on you."

"Biden came as close as Democrat had come sine September 11th to straightforward criticism of President Bush's war aims. . . . (290)."

What a difference a day makes. What has happened to old Talkin' Joe? In 2001 he was against Bush's war policies in Afghanistan, but in 2009 he is foursquare behind the efforts being continued by his new boss.

At least Bush was honest in his blinkering of the American public. He blindly but audaciously led the country into a war without end. But how do We the People reconcile the fact that our new administration -- elected amidst anti-war sentiment -- has not changed course?

Why do we even bother to vote?