Former East Texas Congressman Charlie Wilson called for Democrats to unite behind Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden or risk losing the social programs enacted under Democratic presidents from FDR's New Deal to Bill Clinton.
"We have another war now," Wilson told the Texas Democratic delegation jammed inside Denver's Hard Rock Cafe, playing off the title of the book and movie, Charlie Wilson's War. "We have to defend the New Deal programs that we still have left (but) that the Republicans try to destroy every session."We have to defend all the union rights that came into being under Franklin Roosevelt ... and still exist today."
Wilson, whose autobuography detailed the covert U.S. operation to undermine the Soviet presence in Afghanistan in the 1980s, delivered a "give 'em hell" speech laced with the salty language expected of a colorful Texas pol.
His message: End the war in Iraq and concentrate the U.S. military might behind the effort to demolish Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Protect reproductive choice. Promote stem cell research. Boost the minimum wage.
"Anyone who works a steady job shoild not live below the poverty line," Wilson said.
He offered harsh criticism of GOP candidate John McCain, calling him more hawkish that President Bush. But he flubbed the line intended to boost the fortunes of the Democratic ticket.
"We should be led by Osama bin Laden," he said before sheepishly correcting himself to "Obama and Biden."
I would like to reach Charlie Wilson. I feel so strongly about his mistake in Afghanistan. I teach university, graduated from Stanford, have four degrees. I was fortunate enough to visit Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakstan in 1984. I realized how clearly that the tribal state of Afghanistan was so much better off under the progressive Russians. Yes, I dont dispute the number of Afghans that died under the regime of Russia --- but the majority of people, and especially the women, were so much better off under the Russians. Simply look at the statistics of literacy. Charlie Wilson, why didn't you have a plan for the future benefit of Afghanistan if the various rival tribes did receive the Stingers that you sent them and then did win the war against Russia (which they did)? How proud you should be having yelled "Freedom to the Afghans" and ensuring the victory of the Mujahadeen, and thus the repressive Taliban! You, practically single handedly, moved the Afghan society, particularly women, clearly back to the Middle Ages. I hope you are so proud of your victories over those "Commies" who were actually bringing a crucial middle eastern country into modernity.
Posted by: Dr. A. M. Harrop | January 04, 2009 at 07:42 PM