Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty stated President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863. Lincoln went on to say, "Now we are engaged in a great Civil War." President George W. Bush on March 19, 2007 stood before the people of the United States and said, "Good Morning, Four years ago today coalition forces launched Operation Iraqi Freedom to remove Saddam Hussein from power" and started a civil war that was conceived out of lies, misinformation and a desire by Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld to control the oil in Iraq. He did not say that (of course) but should have said "now (we) find ourselves engaged in the middle of their civil war in Iraq". He did not say that either but today the coalition forces are pulling out of Iraq and leaving us there because we went there under false pretenses and trumped up information. His vice president Dick Cheney said last week that the British pulling their troops out indicates we were having success in Iraq. If that is the case why are we sending in 20 thousand more Mr. President? Is this another lie?

Bush did not say that the only thing that has been successful is the removal of Saddam, which was a mistake, because Saddam did not allow any terrorist in Iraq badder than himself. We have not removed any weapons of mass destruction because there were none. Bush did not say why the oil in Iraq, has not covered the cost of the war nor did he explain why our gas in America is now being sold to us at $3.50 per gallon. If the oil supply has not diminished from the war in Iraq is the high cost here to increase the profits of his oil friends. Bush told us the Iraqis would bow down in the streets and welcome us as liberators. Instead we are now seen four years later as occupiers and are greeted each day with roadside bombs blowing up our tanks, hummvies and killing over 3,200 soldiers. . . some welcoming committee. Bush did say that "12 million people came out to vote in a free election" hopefully for leaders who would listen to them and not like our president. It has been reported by CBS News that some polls show that only 18 percent of Iraqis  have confidence in the war efforts, while US confidence has gone down in the mid thirties and is sinking fast. Dick Cheney has said he is not there to read polls on what America is saying but to give Bush the best advice he can regardless of what we want. Even with our freedom of public expression and demonstrations against the war Bush is hell bent on trying to win a war he started that has gone awry. Some leaders, whether dictators or democratically elected, have the same problem, hating to admit they are wrong.

Bush went on to say "we are in for some good days and bad days ahead" this is a far cry from him landing on a aircraft carrier saying "mission accomplished" four years ago. Some accomplishment.

The President also said "Congress has the responsibility to pass a clean bill that does not use funding for troops as leverage to get special interest spending for their districts." He did not remind us that it was the Republican led congress that funded a "bridge going to nowhere" in Alaska. Nor did he remind us that Halliburton has stolen billions of our dollars without President Bush saying a mumbling word. Of course this is the company that Dick Cheney was president of before being elected vice president of the United States. Halliburton stock has gone from $10 to over $35 dollars per share since the war. Of course they were given war contracts without having to compete in a bidding process and Cheney had a private meeting with all oil executives and told the public "you have no right to know what was agreed on." Sounds like a Saddam type of government to me.

Lincoln went on to say and concluded in the Gettysburg Address that a "government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish" he did not say I am your president and I know best.

Yes four years we started something that has proven wrong and we need to correct it sooner not later.

Brothers and Sisters Think About a Law Enforcement Career

To the brothers and sisters of the Inland Empire and beyond, I offer you a great opportunity to seek a career in law enforcement with the Riverside Sheriff's Department, San Bernardino Police Department and California Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. The pay and benefits are "greeeeaaat" to emphasize the animated Tony the Tiger plus the weather is always good. You are close to the desert, mountains, ocean, Colorado River, Palm Springs, Hollywood, Disneyland, Las Vegas to the north, Mexico to the south and Los Angeles to the west. The other good thing about these agencies is that they are committed to diversity. This has not always been the case but is true today. Now I know that law enforcement is not one of those employers that we looked to (or at) with much favor but we have to change that. It will not be easy for you to suit up and run around the neighborhood. Give this career some thought because it is an honorable profession. If you are in high school ask your guidance counselor to invite a recruitment officer on campus to talk about a career. If you are in college call the recruitment department and get engaged in a dialogue. If you know someone in law enforcement ask them about things that you may have questions about such as racism, shootings, perceptions by the community, qualifications, background checks, physical qualifications and any other thing you can think of.

Take a look at the recruitment ads in the legal, want ad and job announcement section of the paper. They are also listed on our website www.blackvoicenews.com.