I heard the Darryl Worley fight song, "Have You Forgotten" while scanning radio stations this afternoon. I had forgotten this song, which came out in 2003 shortly after the US and the Coalition of the Willing had invaded Iraq. It's powerful in a jingoistic way, but it immediately caused a knee jerk reaction when I heard it once again after 7 or 8 years. It begins:
I hear people sayin'. We Don't need this war.
I say there's some things worth fightin' for.
What about our freedom, and this piece of ground?
We didn't get to keep 'em by backin' down.
They say we don't realize the mess we're gettin' in
Before you start preachin' let me ask you this my friend.
Have you forgotten, how it felt that day?
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten, when those towers fell
We had neighbors still inside goin through a livin hell
And you say we shouldn't worry bout Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?
I remember how a national tragedy was turned into an excuse to conduct Operation Iraqi Liberation. I remember how Iraq became the most dangerous place on Earth due to the Bush administration's arrogance and incompetence. Soon tens of thousands would be dead, millions made homeless due to bombs, ethnic cleansing and civil war. I remember the missing WMDs, the missing millions of dollars, the lies and corruption, the propaganda about Pat Tillman and Jessica Lynch, and how we were continually turning the corner in Iraq.
And I remember who it was that said we shouldn't worry 'bout bin Laden:
"And, again, I don’t know where he is. I’ll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him."- George W. Bush. March 13 2002
August 21, 2006:
Q What did Iraq have to do with that?
PRESIDENT BUSH: What did Iraq have to do with what?
Q The attack on the World Trade Center.
THE PRESIDENT: Nothing!! ... Nobody has ever suggested that the attacks of September the 11th were ordered by Iraq.