When Will Leadership Mean Telling the Truth?

The debate on the Iraq war making its way through Washington this week via General Petraeaus’ testimony before Congress, brings to light the chronic issue of our policy debate today–how dubious facts are often related as truth to buttress political positions. We are well aware how the weapons of mass destruction “data” was used to build a case for going to war in Iraq and despite public numbness toward the deception this type of “factually-based” opinion is rampant in Washington policy-making circles. Many such examples of this type of “fact-finding” were evident in the General’s testimony yesterday–down to the differention of how an individual is shot to delineate if it a crime of war or of “ordinary circumstances.”

Let’s be clear–facts are something that are not only observable, they are points that can be agreed upon by all those involved. Instead of basing violence statistics on the entry wound, would it not be more effective to discuss number of poeple shot? Then there is no debate and we can have an honest discussion about what is really happening in Iraq.

If we are to effectively move forward in our appraoch to this ill-conceived war and indeed in all our policy decisions, they the public must require our political leaeders to stop the spinning and start using real facts. Why not start a discussion of what is going on Iraq by agreeing on what is really happening. How many civilians are being injured? How many are able to access basic public services? How many children are enrolled in school? Until our policy discussions are based in facts we all agree to, we will never be able to move forward.

So to all those in Congress I ask that you begin your debate about the war by agreeing on the facts. In doing so, you will cut down the political rhetoric and begin making progress by staring from a place of agreement.