Hersh's Chain of Command
Seth C. Lawrence

Once you blow the whistle on a major military blunder or cover-up like My Lai Massacre that occurred during the Vietnam War, your voice sobers even the most optimistic supporter of the current Iraq War.  This is exactly what Seymour Hersh did on Tuesday November 16^th at the fourth annual meeting of the Middlesex Community College One World Series.  While the event was billed as a discussion of Mr. Hersh’s new book, The Chain of Command, it was a lecture on the current Iraq War. 

With thorough detail Mr. Hersh justified his Pulitzer Prize and four George Polk awards that he has received over the course of his career.  Every detail was followed by support. 

The crowd spanned all age groups from high school students to senior citizens, and the group filled the capacity of the lecture hall, and left several people standing in the back.

Instead of rehashing what he had written he used the time to talk about the current crisis that is confronting the American people.  Accusing President Bush of “gambling on premises” Mr. Hersh attacked our current plan of occupation as a form of control.

This was not the end of the story though.  The speech did not conclude with a hopeless note.  Mr. Hersh actually outlined a thoughtful plan as to how we can solve the problems that are presented to us in Iraq.  He said that first and foremost we must talk with the leadership that already exists within Iraq.  This included not only the religious leadership and the leaders of underground political groups that had been hidden under Saddam Hussein, but it also included the leaders of the insurgents.    Second, was that we needed to rely upon and use the vast resources that we had with the intelligence agencies that we have at our disposal. 

With forty years of experience in politics and reporting, any suggestion that Seymour Hersh gives is at least worth consideration.  However, it remains to be seen if anyone shall heed the call of a famous whistleblower.