CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company) did an investigative report on the issue on Nov 20th. Interviewed several American soldiers who were in Fallujah and are still haunted by it. Seems that this was a "chemical weapon" when listed on the CIA website and more importantly when Saddam had it. Also, one of the (US)military training manuals the reporter found specifically said that using white phosphorus against persons as a weapon was prohibited.

Whoops.

Sorry. That should read, "the structural institutionalization of deception."

It would be nice to have a system where such errors could be corrected by editing the original. Although, that might just allow unscrupulous posters to rewrite history ;-).

We have our work cut out for us once we are finally rid of the current administration. They have done such extensive damage to American credibility around the world, that I believe we will need to make an overt and concerted effort to regain it. We have lost our reputation for honesty and high morals. Further, the structural institutionalization deception, and the rewarding of the architects of this institutionalization with high posts in government, mean that no one will trust us until we publically clean house and declare that our policies and institutions are being rededicated to true American principles.

I'm feeling like I did during the Reagan administration: eight years of this administration will leave us with decades of work to undo the damage. Maybe that's their idea of a jobs program.

I love the line:

"The story most people around the world have is that the Americans are up to their old tricks -- committing atrocities and lying about it," Pike says. "And that's completely incorrect."

Actually, that is exactly what happened. US soldiers burned civilians to death with white phosphorus, and then lied about it. There were too many photos and eyewitnesses for the lies to stand, however.