February 10, 2025
Letter

Calling Sen. Smith

President Bush and his administration keep beating the drumbeat for war against Iran, saying Iran has plans for nuclear weapons, although the intelligence agencies say this is not true. Generals against war with Iran suddenly resign from office. Generals for war are promoted. A few weeks ago, Vice President Dick Cheney made the rounds of countries of the Middle East. Just recently, Bush went to Israel, ostensibly to celebrate Israel’s 60th birthday, and now, a few days later, Israel’s Prime Minister Olmert is calling for a blockade of Iran’s ports.

I believe our Congress has failed utterly in its duty to rein in this out-of-control president. His policies of war against unthreatening countries, torture, refusing to answer to congressional subpoenas, secret rules and secret signing statements saying he will obey only those laws he wants are so nuts as to make Catch 22 sound like a model of common sense. But these have already happened. With luck, we can reverse these outrages to our democracy and laws and other nations after he leaves office.

However, if President Bush gets us entangled in a war with Iran, he may very well begin a world war. Stopping such a conflagration may make getting out of Iraq look like a cakewalk.

Congress seems to be asleep. When our democracy was threatened by Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s witch hunts, Maine Sen. Margaret Chase Smith had the courage to stand up and say his behavior was illegal and unacceptable. I do not see any corresponding courage in our present congressional delegation. To every season, there is a purpose, and sometimes bipartisanship is not a good strategy. Cooperation with an out-of-control politician is not middle-of-the-road reasonable, but caving in to a bully.

Sen. Smith, where are you?

Jane McCloskey

Deer Isle


Have feedback? Want to know more? Send us ideas for follow-up stories.

comments for this post are closed

You may also like