Saturday, August 21, 2021

Afghan Blame

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: AFGHAN WAR


Afghan Blame

 

Do not play the blame game

In Afghanistan at this late date

The sun has long set

The writing on the wall

Has faded to dust

 

This tragedy was decades in the making

Three presidents have tried and failed

To withdraw from the endless war

If you need to blame someone

Cast your vision back to the beginning

When an inept leader

Demanded a war of vengeance

And lost interest when the mission

Lost its clarity

And the glory lost its luster

 

If you need blame

Look to our military leaders

Who year after year reported progress

When there was no progress

Who all but promised victory

When victory was a tortured mirage

Who refused to plan an evacuation

Despite many years of notice

 

If you need blame

Look to our intelligence agencies

Who have established a record

Of incompetence unrivaled

In modern history

 

If you need blame

Look to the chorus line of cheerleaders

And talking heads who demanded war

And now question the consequences

 

If you still need blame

Blame the hypocrites and warmongers

Blame the pimps of patriotism

Blame the foreign policy experts

Blame American exceptionalism

Blame the history of empires

Blame yourself

For not speaking out

Until now

 

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