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April 24, 2003

The museum of civilizations' antiquities is pillaged. The oldest artifacts in the world have been destroyed or stolen. Did we not know that our ancient artifacts were at risk in the museum? Were we not forewarned? Yet, we had no protection set up for them and they were there for the taking. Did we not value them enough to protect them? Now it is too late. The theft and destruction is done. At best we may recover some of the treasures that are being traded on the black market. But files and catalogues are destroyed or stolen and thousands of pieces lay broken on the museum floor. Irreplaceable treasures marking the expression of our ancient past and connecting us to the cradle of civilization are lost forever. Where is the integrity in that?

Unexploded cluster bombs painted bright colors and with ribbons are maiming children in their own neighborhoods as we speak. Did we not know that cluster bombs do not all explode and if they are dropped in neighborhoods that the unexploded bombs are especially dangerous to children? Why did we resort to using them in housing settlements? Were we not winning the war without them? Who was hiding in those houses that was so dangerous that we needed to use cluster bombs amidst the families' homes? Where is the integrity in this?

Hospitals have been looted and have no supplies to treat the maimed and wounded. And we say it takes time and we are doing all we can. Did we not expect that there would be maimed and wounded and that there would be looting? If we didn't, where is the integrity in that?

The answer to each of these questions asking where is the integrity relative to our priorities after the war, is a resounding NOWHERE! There is none. We are engaged in a war and a mission that is self- serving. There is no integrity in the way we have set about "Freeing Iraq". Will there be integrity in the outcome when there was no integrity in the process? I think not. You can't get there from here.

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