Peace now

In 1967, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “A time comes when silence is betrayal. That time has come for us.” Religious and community leaders throughout the US are calling on Congress to set a new course in Iraq by September 21, the United Nations International Day of Peace. The invasion and occupation of Iraq has caused the deaths of 2,500 US soldiers, at least 100,000 Iraqis, and consumed billions of dollars in resources. We can urge our members of Congress to develop a specific and comprehensive strategy for ending the war by withdrawing our support for the current open-ended occupation of Iraq. As Rev. Lois Powell writes, "It is time for those of us who love our country to act and speak out."

Three cheers for MSNBC's Keith Olbermann for having the courage to speak truth to power in response to President Bush's cynical attempt to silence media critics by insinuating that they are al Qaeda propagandists.

Mr. Bush, you are accomplishing in part what Osama Bin Laden and others seek—a fearful American populace, easily manipulated, and willing to throw away any measure of restraint, any loyalty to our own ideals and freedoms, for the comforting illusion of safety.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports that Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is holding up the release of a report on the use (and abuse) of pre-invasion intelligence until after the mid-term elections in November. Is it possible that the Republicans have something to hide?