The following is a message from Paul Haggis to the Oct. 5 protests:
Everyone now knows that this war was sold to a nation reeling from a terrible tragedy by a small group of fanatics intent on hijacking our government. These people, our president and his jackals, do not want this war to end, ever. They do not profit from peace. Instability, terrorism, war, they are certain that these things will keep them in power. They know how to package and sell fear.
Unfortunately, most of our Democrats know this as well. They want to appear strong and presidential, which to them means warlike.
The Democrats will not lead us out of Iraq. As heretical as this may sound, I am more afraid of the wrong Democrat winning the White House than I am the wrong Republican — because then we will feel the need to support “our” president, and his or her “difficult decisions” on how to “do the right thing for Iraq” and “withdraw with honor” We will divide, and conquer, ourselves.
We know from Vietnam that there is no way to withdraw with honor from a corrupt war. The only thing we can do is get out now, and that can only be accomplished by putting millions of people in the streets. We need to show those who wish to lead us, Republican and Democrat alike, that they have no political future if they support anything but immediate withdrawal. Because self-interest is something they all understand.
Thank you for applying the pressure, thank you for keeping it on.
Paul Haggis is a screenwriter, director, and producer whose recent films Crash and Million Dollar Baby won Academy Awards for Best Picture. He is a signer of the Call to Drive Out the Bush Regime.