Your Most Trusted Source of Foreign
News and Views About the United States
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Your Most Trusted Source of Foreign
News and Views About the United States
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By Mazen Hamaad
Edited By Rob Gibran
August 13, 2005
Translation
provided by 
"No one died when Clinton lied" read the large sign, one of many that express
strong opinions against the misleading justifications that were used to wage
war on
Some analysts have described this phenomenon
as a new and excessive expression of anti-war sentiment; one that has grown
in force as President George Bush's popularity has hit an all-time low amid
the troubles that the "Iraqi situation" has caused the
When he denied his relationship with Monica
Lewinsky, Bill Clinton also lied to the American public, but no American soldiers
were killed because of his lies. He even publicly apologized when it became
clear to everyone that he had not been truthful. Due of the lies that his administration
has perpetrated to start this war, President Bush, on the other hand, has killed
many: at last count, 1,845
But Bush did not apologize, even when the lies were uncovered. Instead, he built new lies on top of the old ones, and switched to new pretexts to keep the war going. But in the face of a growing tide of dissent and anti-war sentiment, these excuses are starting to falter as well.
It is true that the terror attacks target
civilians, and these legitimate acts of resistance against the occupation
reap only one American to forty or fifty Iraqis. It is also true that the
American war against
What was missing during the Vietnam War was the web of lies that has taken a central role in the Iraqi war. This "lie" factor has become such a huge issue with the [American] public that they are now using the "road sign" to vent their feelings of displeasure. This new innovation can now be added to the list of other means of communication, such as using the Internet, blogs or chatting, public demonstrations, seminars and conferences.
Experts estimate that hundreds of thousands of drivers and pedestrians view anti-war road signs every day, and one "sign artist" says that it takes just seven minutes to make one of the signs, and another seven seconds to put it up! Much of the recent growth in road signs has centered on the Iraqi war lies, and this artist is no different. He posted his latest work next to another sign that read "Support Our Troops." It said: "Impeach the Murderous Bastards Who Sent Them to Die for a Pack of Lies."
On a busy highway in California, one sign simply said "This War is a Lie." Another one reads "We've forgotten Osama." A third one "praises" Karl Rove, Bush's senior advisor, by saying "We support Karl Rove," but the poster is prominently signed "Americans for Treason!"
According to British journalist Rupert
Cornwell, these signs cost only a few dollars, and are written on cardboard
or cloth. These signs may be unlawful but their impact is as powerful as
the paid advertisements that are affixed to the sides of every
The core problem that has yet to be fully comprehended [by the U.S. administration] is that most American and British people detest lies and liars, and will not allow themselves to be fooled or intentionally deceived by fabrications and imaginary excuses for invading Iraq.
The political leaders in both Washington and London are still trying to twist the truth and hide the facts to conceal their web of deceit. But for every hour that passes, proof of this deliberate campaign of disinformation is reaching new audiences. Eventually, the unfettered truth will create a public outcry of indignation; one that would not accept the lame excuse that a cessation of hostilities represents a win over terrorism.
This time, such a lie would not be believed. People are starting to see that owning up to one's mistakes saves lives and stops terrorism, but changes of this magnitude take time. As luck would have it, time is the one thing we have a lot of.
