SMASH vs. Filner
SATURDAY AFTERNOON, I attended an "Out of Iraq" forum at a local church, featuring a keynote address by anti-war Congressman Bob Filner. After his speech, Filner opened up the floor for questions. He fielded a few softballs from the largely friendly crowd.
Then he called on me.
SMASH: Congressman, I'd first like to express appreciation and gratitude, as a veteran of the Iraq War, and on behalf of all veterans, for all the important work you've done on Capitol Hill in support of veterans' issues.
(applause)
SMASH: But I do have a question...
We all want the war to end, and the troops to come home safely -- especially those of us who have been there. But, putting aside for the moment your differences, and the differences of most of those here, with the current administration on the policies that got us to where we are today:
Are you committed to the success of our military in Iraq, or are you resigned to failure?
(groans)
WOMAN: What's your definition of "success?"
SMASH: I heard a question on the definition of "success," so: a stable, representative government that is capable of protecting itself against threats, without outside assistance.
FILNER: Well, I mean, first of all, let me say I don't, I don't want to be seen as a defender of the previous regime, but that was, I think, the previous regime.
(nervous laughter)
FILNER: Why did we go in? You know, that's what Saddam claimed to have, right? You've got to add some human rights to that, so...
SMASH: Sure, yeah, representative --
FILNER: No, see, you, what you have done, is what I just talked about. That, how the President has gotten away with framing the issue. You framed the issue as "success or failure." And obviously, if you're "failure," you're a -- you're a jerk, right?
...Look, we -- First of all, things can't get much worse than they are now, by the way. They are pretty bad, no matter what Cheney says, no matter what Rumsfeld says. I mean, when you have 200 people killed, you know, in a day --
SMASH: Sir, I've been there --
FILNER: And you know, your brothers and sisters killed, something is wrong. ...And, you know, if we shouldn't have been in there to begin with, then it should not be incumbent on me to try to define getting out.
But I would say, that an international police force, which could keep the peace, it would -- that if we should put that in place at least --
SMASH: Led by whom, sir?
FILNER: The United Nations.
(applause)
SMASH: But, who provides the troops, sir? ...Every international peace force that's ever been of any substantial size, has been led by the United States. There is no other --
FILNER: Well, you know, it doesn't have to be, because it was in the past. But, the British have shown that they want to put troops in, we've got all kinds of --
SMASH: They're already there, sir.
MAN: One question! C'mon, one question, sit down...
FILNER: No, I say, if they could be part of the United Nations. But, I will tell you, even if U.S. troops were part of a U.N. force, and under -- not under -- that would be a Hell of a lot better than we are now. Because we -- because our presence there, has become part of the problem, probably the major part of the problem. So, until we remove our presence, there is going to be an insurgency.
So, as long as we're there, we're failing, in my opinion.
(applause)
...Look, if you define success as "democracy," you know, why -- why would you choose Iraq to go anywhere, anyway? I mean, why are we supporting Saudi Arabia, or whatever? So, success can't be "democracy." Success can't be "lack of autocracy," because we support autocrats other places.
Success, it seems to me for these guys, is control of, not only the -- the strategic positioning, but the oil. So, success for me would say, "we don't need your lousy oil." We could start -- we could put -- we can run this whole country off renewable energy, right this minute.
(applause)
And, we -- we wouldn't even care what happened in Iraq. Like we don't care what's going on in Africa, and we don't care what's going on in Saudi Arabia, we don't care what's going on in all these other nations...
(applause)
Why do we care what happens in this little nation? One reason --
VOICES: Oil!
FILNER: And, so, let's get off oil, and let's care about human rights in their real form, everywhere.
(Audio File: mp3)
Gracie, who was holding the audio recorder through all this, adds some color commentary:
I too was there, and sitting immediately to the right of Smash. What he did NOT include in his post is the electricity in the air, the abrupt mood swing from one of a party to one of high tension. Previously, they had spent 30 minutes or so patting themselves on the back, and spouting their extremely anti-Bush rhetoric (someone even called Pres. Bush's 'regime' as the new Taliban...I'm not kidding). There were several candidates who are running for local positions this year, and they referred to their Republican opponents by initials only, so as not to speak the filth into the room (yes, that was the reason given for the use of initials). This was a happy, ego-stroking party...until Smash was called on.
There were older ladies seated all around us, and the glares that those little girls gave off were enough to freeze Cairo in the middle of August. The looks of confusion on the faces all around us told the story...kind of like "how did one of THEM get in here? It was plain that their little world of security and comfort was shot for the day, and they truly didn't know how to respond other than to shout.
What Smash ALSO didn't mention was the physical reaction of the good Congressman. He went from confident -- bordering on arrogant -- to literally wiping sweat from his brow, lowered shoulders and laughing nervously. His color went a bit pale, and it was obvious from the pacing that he was NOT comfortable. The video is priceless ;-) They didn't expect us to come to their public hall meeting. Apparently the comment "we're here to have an intelligent and compassionate discussion about this. Even if you disagree with us, we're glad you're here" was a bit less than honest.
Regardless, it was a little intimidating being there at first, but the more they spoke, the angrier I got. Smash asked his question, then several others people attending the meeting throughout the audience asked equally pointed questions that made the good Congressman squirm. I raised my own hand to ask my follow-up question to Smash's, but shucky darn, for some reason they didn't see my hand raised. Can't imagine why, given that I was sitting right next to Smash, dressed in a bright color. I'm sure it was just an oversight. It happens to all of us right? ;-)
People...this is serious business. If we don't step up to the plate and be the voice of those who are fighting for our freedom and protection, WHO WILL? Find out where your congressperson is speaking...get involved. Filner freely admitted yesterday that constituents getting involved, making calls to their offices, writing letters and showing up at rallies DO matter. They are complacent (also admitted to by Filner), because they know that people don't care enough to put the time in to get them ousted. NOW is the time to take a stand. This is OUR warzone...and we owe it to the heroes serving overseas to fight just as hard as they are. Our weapons are our phones, our pens and our voices.
I missed much of the audience reaction that Gracie describes, as my eyes were locked on the Congressman. But I did sense the mood of the crowd change, hear the hostile mutterings, and feel the glare of many angry eyes on me.
Good thing this was held in a "peace church."
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