Back from the brink; back to banging war drums

My Senator Mark Kirk completed a remarkable and inspirational recovery from a near fatal stroke last February when he cautiously walked up the Capitol Steps January 3rd to resume his Senate career. It is a tad ironic that Kirk's comeback was courtesy of the best health care and rehabilitation that his lavish Congresscare medical insurance, paid by we taxpayers, could provide Kirk, who worked assiduously as a Republican ideologue to deny even a pittance of its benefits to the 40 million uninsured. But that is another story.

The concern here is that Kirk, back from the brink, is back to banging the war drums against Iran in furtherance of his lockstep support of the Likud wing of he Israel Lobby and the US war party. Kirk has been a zealous proponent of our failed wars of choice in Afghanistan and Iraq from Day One. Now, right out of the gate in the 113th Congress, Kirk has taken a leadership position in the smear campaign to deny Chuck Hagel's bid to become President Obama's Defense Secretary. Why? Because Hagel turned against their Iraq and Afghanistan wars as begin utterly self destructive and contrary America's self interest. He is equally opposed to pre-emptive war with Iran that Kirk signed onto long ago at the bidding of his masters in the aforementioned parties. They know Hagel will  be no patsy who will grease their rush to war with Iran and put the interests of Israel ahead to Uncle Sam's. Kirk signaled his opposition to Hagel by saying, "I am concerned about his past record and statements, particularly with regard to Iran and the US-Israel relationship". He's followed this up with daily emails opposing Hagel to fellow congressman and media friends.

We all wish Senator Kirk a long and productive life. It would be a lot more productive if he could live it as a peacenik who puts America's interests first instead of a warmonger who puts Uncle Sam a distant second.