ABC News Debate: 'This is American imperialism. It hasn't worked and will never work.'

Let's give credit to Mike Gravel for calling a spade a spade and labeling American Imperialism for what it is. Imperialism imperils our nation. Our United States does not have the right, duty, obligation, or responsibility to interfere in the sovereign affairs of foreign nations who have not declared war against us. Just as we object to other powers trampling and domineering weaker nations, we must not continue to be hypocrits, but instead lead by example and display power through peace and parity.

The price we have paid for our imperial bloodlust is long and shameful, and being extended daily through the Bush administration's stubborness and Congress' cowardice. 

The staggering losses and failures of Korea and Vietnam, the carnage and savagery of Reagan's Iran/contra arming, and unfinished work of Iraq I stand as national failures of leadership, peace and creative solutions. Important lessons that could have been learned go unlearned time after time.

Now the Iraq II quagmire looms ominously before us even as the craven Whitehouse warlords itch to open up a new front against Iran. Nothing will satisfy their mindset until the globe is set ablaze in ethnic and religious conflict. Their absurd objective is to achieve Peace through perpetual War. We as a people can choose a better path of peace through negotiation, cooperation, and self protection instead of the eternal insecurity, fear and destruction which are the true fruits of their policies.

Where are America's priorities? They are at home: creating jobs for Americans, preserving and protecting our environmental resources, guarding our borders from the Mexican invasion, building great schools, hospitals, and public infrastructure, promoting fair trade with our European friends, promoting positive cultural changes by tapping into the great resource of American creativity, hard work and ingenuity.

Mike is a bold and courageous man but the Democratic party is no longer worthy of his intelligence or leadership. The party leadership will continue to marginalize, ignore, and demote his good ideas. Why? The bosses of the Democratic machine both court and have become beholden to many of the same corporate interests that have fueled the Republican machine since the Reagan devolution.

I urge you Mr. Gravel to be the Independent candidate, the anticorporate antidote to the corrupt duopoly that has stolen our democracy away from We the people. Be the Ralph Nader of 2008. Be the underdog for the people. Be David against the Goliath of American politics. Help return our government to its true owners: We the Citizens of the United States. 

When Mike spoke, they laughed at him and didn't take him seriously... just like they did back in the 60's and 70's. Now look what he has accomplished and done for us in during his past political career. The audience in the supposed debate laughed whenever Mike raised his voice speaking truthfully and honestly, and most likely, they were not really paying much attention to his words carefully.

As Penn and Teller would say, "Politics as usual, .... IS BULLSH*T!"

To Mr Gravel,

I am completely on your side Mr Gravel. We should not treat the Iranians as enemies and a potential threat.

Ideas and mindset lead to actions. Ideas are a direct influence in the way you act and react.

When you said you believe in love as the foundation for strength and courage, I jumped from my seat! How come no one else up there can say that?

How come no one else understands that you have to have love and compassion to make wise decisions?

Your non violent philosophy is the strongest and most courageous of the lot. Your speeches remind me of Thich Nhat Hanh. Have you read any of his works?

But they have not "passed a resolution saying, under no circumstances do you invade Iran", they have washed their hands of the blood of Iranians and gone home instead.

What a contrast between the one-man filibuster of thirty-six years ago and Jim Webb's having gone through the motions on his way out the door.

I am afraid the Neocons are going to attack Iran, and that Iran will defend herself, and that the real war, the one we all don't want to imagine, will be taken up by the Neocons then.

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What matters is making the stand. Eleonai Israel