To the editor:
U.S. Congressional hearings, disclosures from various oversight authorities, and public access of heretofore secret and not leaked intra- and inter-department government agency memos made further lower level official deceptions, obfuscations, exaggerations, and distortions glaringly public. These disclosures showed how we were wrongly led to war in Iraq. The fallout from these revelations included domestic distrust, international senses of anger and betrayal, and long-term global distrust of America.
Many in our nation already distrust our leaders; their words have too frequently been shown to have been false, their deeds have been seen to be shady or sneaky, and their reactions when caught have shown little remorse. Such deepening citizen distrust likely will instigate yet less voter involvement in choosing future leaders and generate lowered interesting working with leaders’ requests to improve our governance. An unenthused, cynical populace is a dangerous circumstance.
A notable and gracious few nations bought into America’s appeal for coalition help in our Iraqi invasion. These nations offered their armed forces, their treasury, and their image for a noble peace as a result of the flawed Bush Administration’s appeals. These recent revelations likely instill or add to their sense of betrayal, anger, and lack of willingness to cooperate in the future.
Our geo-political world has become one requiring close cooperation assistance, and support for each other. When these qualities are lacking, we see chaos such as in North Korea, the India-Pakistan region, the Middle East, the China-Taiwan scene, and in Latin America.
We need leaders who will earn public trust, who can inspire productive civic personal and group action, and who works to restore a once held high national image of pride, honor, and trust. Too many political, economic, military, cultural, and business affairs are at stake. If we fail to correct our current leadership failures and pursue a better course, we face losing our superior way of life as well as our national image.
Ken Petress
Presque Isle
