Remembering 2003
The U.S. wanted their invasion over Iraq. We knew this
world leaders knew this; everyone knew this.
Many of the world’s greatest streets were transformed
into causeways flooded with peace marchers, millions of them,
while men attempted to convince other men of war’s legitimacy
in the UN Assembly in front of a veiled Guernica.
Intelligence for war lacked substantial evidence
but loud voices regurgitating catch-phrases drowned quieted reason.
American and Allied forces amassed off the shores of oil-rich deserts.
Threats to our lives and national security hung over us.
We scrambled under orange and yellow alerts, frightened
buying out duct tape and plastic to cover windows and doors.
We lost our holidays and weekends to the fear of possibility.
Peace failed. The world council’s failed. I watched the bombs
tearing down the structure of Baghdad while running at the gym.
We were told our shock and awe would bring quick surrender.
We were told their people would greet us as liberators.
We were told many things that contradicted the telling of earlier things.
Nothing occurred as expected.
In the summer, the president replicated Top Gun bravado to declare victory--
its apparent he’s consumed by image and perceptions.
Iraq became the new terrorist hotbed--Our soldiers their victims.
The roadmap to reconstruction lay nearly in tatters.
The president taunted our unknown enemies. "Bring it on."
Was this machismo or an indication of his lack of intellectual substance?
He’s not the one on the front lines.
At this year’s ending, mishap and terrorism continue to follow
our soldiers unyieldingly even after the capture of Hussein.
Death has taken too many of our soldiers and too many of their civilians--
the U.S. will not count their casualties anymore.
Comparisons to Vietnam are vocalized by the Left and Right.
The president promises the troops home by Spring.
Promises should never be made over blood and broken bones.
10:26:36 PM  | |
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