Bodies of War

The U.S. Constitution declares that only Congress can declare war, but in Donahue's view Congress did what all Congresses have done since the early 1940's - spinelessly avoiding a mandate to take a stand up or down on this war.

"They covered their eyes and handed the president a piece of paper that says here is permission if you think you have to. That is not what the framers intended. James Madison is the one who said don't give this power to declare war to one man, it's too much of a temptation. If you do he'll get on his horse and draw his sword."

For Tomas Young the Iraq war is over, but it will remain with him for the rest of his life. He's sick every day in bowel and bladder, he throws up every morning. He suffers from erectile dysfunction too, and his marriage has ended.

"Twenty eight years old in the prime of life - what's a sacrifice to you? Nobody knows this. Less than 5% of this nation has sacrificed for this war. And you have all these bomb throwers tripping over bombs crying God bless this and God bless that.

"They can't want to bless everything. These are the hypocrites who would never think of drafting the rich. Unless we draft the rich we'll never get out of our holier than thou breast beating, our insecure declarations that we're the last remaining superpower. Oh sit down - what is your point? The longer we say that the more insecure we appear to be."

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Nster.com