The nation has forgotten that the Pentagon is an alliance of secret agencies, arms merchants, revolving-door generals and the old entrenched faces that herd them together. It came to absolute power by overselling the “Red Menace.” Congress and administrations prostituted themselves to the insatiable monster in a cozy arrangement of campaign funds in return for obscene budgets.

The Pentagon and the administration invaded Iraq for their own secret reasons. They pushed the war as a crusade to search and destroy weapons of mass destruction. The president shouted his war cry, “You are with us or you are against us.” The gullible citizenry and a compliant Congress echoed him. To evaluate the role the president was given in selling the crusade, one must remember that he comes from the power elite that rules the nation and his allegiance to it is absolute. His first duty is to serve that elite, whatever it takes.

I regret that American lives will continue to be sacrificed to the Pentagon’s ambitions. Victims of our own weapons of mass destruction bring few tears to American eyes. Those who think for themselves will continue to ask the tough questions. Meanwhile, the Pentagon continues to wine and dine the despotic regimes lined up behind its bloody and unstoppable steamroller.

Frank Provost

Hampden