Without pressure, the Democratic Congress probably will not take decisive action to bring home the troops now.  More lives will be lost by going along with sending an additional 20,000 or so troops, knowing full well in advance the policy won't work, but doing it anyhow so as not to appear "weak."  Only a deep understanding of the hypocrisy of US policy, and then pressure to change it can hope to prevent more Vietnams and Iraqs from continuing to happen, and without that understanding, never learning from history. 

Bill Blum is highly critical of both Democratic and Republican administrations.  Since we soon will have a Democratically controlled US House, and a nominally Democratically controlled Senate, it is important to get the word out that the foreign policy of the US needs to be wholly different than it has been, especially in modern times, modern times defined as since the end of World War II.  People need to be aware that as bad as this Iraq war is, it is not really an aberration.  Bush has made the mistake of being too obvious and pompous about his arrogance.   It is becoming too transparent to the American people they have been had on this war, and Bush has made it transparent due to his ignorance. 

Of course one speech is not going to change the world, but Mr. Blum's message is of utmost importance for enlightenment.  Many people, including a great number of progressives, feel that US foreign policy, although at times flawed, is mostly about trying to do the "right thing."  Or, that although perhaps flawed, the US most always really "means well."

If one reads Blum's works, it becomes obvious this is not an aberration.  That is what we hope to make known to as many as possible by Blum's appearance.  Included below is a background on Blum.