by Dean Hartwell
The Bush Administration, by asking Iraq to provide an inventory of all its weapons capabilities, forced that nation to prove a negative. If Iraq had admitted to forbidden weapons, the United States and its allies would have said, "See? They even admit they have these weapons." Instead, the U.S. has so far called Iraq's self-inventory proof of concealment.
Either way, Iraq cannot win. The Bush Administration appears headed for war. And the public may well not hear much about anything else. So, before we start bombing, we should ask President Bush to submit to the same test it has put to Iraq.
Prove you are not using this war to distract the public from other issues that reflect poorly upon the Administration. Examples include the poor economy, business scandals and the Administration's failure to make progress in the Middle East.
Prove you are not increasing the deficit to inhibit government spending on programs the Administration opposes, like universal health care. The budget has taken a 180 degrees turn from surpluses under Bill Clinton to deficits under Bush. When Bush talks about making tax cuts permanent, he ought to take time to explain to the 44 million people without health insurance why he has no money for them.
Prove that the new September 11 Commission is not a sham designed to discourage a serious investigation as to why we were unprepared for the attacks. The President and Vice-President Cheney at first told then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle not to pursue any investigation. If there are reasons why Bush opposed an inquiry, the public should know.
Some politicians keep the heat off themselves by putting it on others. It is time for the public to turn the heat on President Bush.