Am I asking for too much?

Dwight David Eisenhower issued a strong warning about the military-industrial complex. He was speaking from the perspective of seeing what government by big business did to Europe -- specifically Germany -- in the 1940s. With the Bush II administration, we have finally achieved government of, by, and for Halliburton.

Many Americans were terribly shocked when Eisenhower was caught in a big lie: He had flatly denied that the US was operating planes over the USSR only to have the Soviets produce not only the plane, but also the pilot in 1959.

The government can't always tell the truth. In time of war, deception is an important ally. The War Magician, a book I read many years ago, recounted some of the tricks a magician designed to help the Allies misdirect the Germans. Even during peacetime, the government can't tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

But the government can't always lie, either.

Bill Clinton lied about sex in the Oval Office, but was generally straight with the American people when it came to his political agenda. George Bush, on the other hand, has probably never told the American people a lie about his sex life, but has lied about, twisted, or spun nearly every point of public policy put forward by his administration.

I would be delighted for my country to once again be respected for its principles, but even a cursory examination of the world press and the current administration suggest that this will not happen in my lifetime.