short memories

Even though there are still 50,000 U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and an unknown number of private contractors, President Obama has declared the war ended, and commemorated the declaration in a speech to the nation from the oval office last night, during which he said:

"From this desk, seven-and-a-half years ago, President Bush announced the beginning of military operations in Iraq. Much has changed since that night. A war to disarm a state became a fight against an insurgency. Terrorism and sectarian warfare threatened to tear Iraq apart. Thousands of Americans gave their lives; tens of thousands have been wounded. Our relations abroad were strained. Our unity at home was tested.

"These are the rough waters encountered during the course of one of America's longest wars. Yet there has been one constant amidst these shifting tides: At every turn, America's men and women in uniform have served with courage and resolve. As commander-in-chief, I am incredibly proud of their service. And like all Americans, I am awed by their sacrifice and by the sacrifices of their families."

Obama's account of the war leaves out a great deal. The three things he should have brought up but never did that concern me most are:

1. Initial public approval of the war was only achieved by the Bush administration lying, blatantly and deliberately.

2. As a result of these lies, hundreds of thousands of people were killed, hundreds of billions, perhaps trillions of dollars were wasted, and Iraq was left a smoking, stinking, ungovernable ruin in a chronic state of low-grade civil war.

3. There is no statute of limitations for murder.