Web Letters: Seven Years Since September 11

In my view, this article touches on the real reason that we are in Iraq. I have researched the question of our presence in Iraq for the last three years, and my research comes to the exact same conclusion. There is much more however. The neocons (Project for a New American Century)--Cheney, Feith, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Kristol (Bill and Irving), Pearle, Kagan, to name a few--hijacked the executive branch of our government and used Bush and 9/11 to use our military and the good will of our people to covertly carry out their self-appointed belief that America has a "manifest destiny" to transform the Arab world, protect Isreal and start the process of pre-emptive democratization of the Arab world. These neocons adhere to the thinking of Leo Strauss (U of Chicago) who proclaimed over and over that Plato's "Republic" and his use of the "noble lie" to keep unreliable citizens in the dark is the correct way to run a country or society. In effect, these neocons believe that they know better, but they must lie to the rest of us because we are the great unwashed and just need to be manipulated into going along with what they "know" is required. John McCain is very closely associated with this group of neocons, particularly Bill Kristol. If elected, Senator McCain will continue on with the neocons' agenda--including lying to the American public. Senator McCain's strong adherence to the beliefs of these neocons must be made known as soon as possible so that the American people can make an informed judgement about his candidacy. I don't have the resources to bring all of this to the light of day, but The Nation does. Not only does all of this "co-religionistic" manipulation need to made known to all of America, but these neocons must be taken to account! They have inflicted major damage to us and we are letting them off the hook.

William E Schneider

Denver, CO