Chris Jepson: Which lies to consider

It’s becoming clearer that our job as American citizens is to track which lies to pay attention to. This is particularly challenging as the deceptions multiply at every level of American governance.

One of the biggest lies perpetrated in American politics today combines national security and fiscal accountability. Republicans have in my lifetime claimed proud ownership of both. They babble on about how they keep America strong and our many enemies at bay. They evoke the flag and God and military preparedness. At the same time Republicans claim that, unlike America’s profligate Democrats, they are legitimate stewards of fiscal probity, that they care about the future of America’s children, that debt and fiscal recklessness are strictly the purview of those feckless Democrats.

Let’s examine one issue that clearly illustrates Republican hypocrisy (and tragedy for America): our recent war in Iraq.

First, recall the outraged Republican response to the 2012 Benghazi attack. Republicans immediately attacked President Obama for mishandling the violence. They launched numerous congressional “investigations,” so outraged and indignant were Republicans over the loss of four Americans. Republicans continue to rail and wail over that treacherous Benghazi deception perpetrated by the Obama administration.

Really? Republicans are so outraged over perfidious Democrat deception? “Compared to what?” is all I ask. Remember, my fellow citizen, keep your eye on which lie(s) to pay attention to.

Where are the House of Representatives investigations into the profound tragedy of Iraq and Afghanistan? Seriously, Republicans will invest time and treasure “investigating” the Benghazi incident where four Americans unfortunately died serving America? Where is the Republican outrage over the 4,488 American military casualties in Iraq? Where?

Let’s review the numbers so we understand the scope of this tragedy for our nation. Everyone concedes today (even some Republicans, really) that we went to war in Iraq on fabricated evidence. We engaged in war for no legitimate reason. The parents and relatives of the 4,488 servicemen and women lost their loved ones for no justifiable reason. They died for mistakes in judgment. Investigations anyone? Demotions? Firings? Prison?

Three thousand four hundred and twenty four more servicemen died in combat after President Bush childishly announced “Mission Accomplished” on May 1, 2003. You recall that patriotic moment when the President flew onto the USS Abraham Lincoln and stood cowboy-like, proudly beaming under that ridiculous banner that this was the end of major combat operations. Another 3,424 servicemen died after that absurd assessment.

Approximately 35,000 servicemen were wounded. This does not include the estimated hundreds of thousands of treatment claims anticipated over the next 40 years for PTSD, depression and disability.

According to Alan Zarembo reporting in the March 29, 2013 edition of the Los Angeles Times, “The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will ultimately cost between $4 trillion and $6 trillion, with medical care and disability benefits weighing heavily for decades to come, according to a new analysis. The bill to taxpayers so far has been $2 trillion, plus $260 billion in interest on the resulting debt. By comparison, the current federal budget is $3.8 trillion.”

Republicans (with spineless Democrat acceptance) engaged America in an immoral war, killing and wounding tens of thousands. Republicans put the war on the national credit card. Republicans, by some estimates, put every American family on the hook for $75,000 of that bill.

Republicans lose sleep over Benghazi but sweep Iraq under the rug. Republicans, today, cut food stamp programs for the poor, claiming fiscal rectitude. Go ahead, retch now.

Follow the deception, folks. Simply follow the hypocrisy.

Jepson is a 27-year resident of Central Florida. He’s fiscally conservative, socially liberal, likes art and embraces diversity of opinion. Reach him at [email protected]