More Hiding Behiond the Troops

Don't they have enough to do...trying to keep count of things in Iraq: tons of money, tons of weapons and Munitions; tons of terrorists bent on attacking the U.S.( they really say this stuff); keeping track of who is whom in a layer caked civil war;.... and now ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT they have to protect the politicians who blundered into this mess. Yes we cannot even debate the war and its civilian management or the hundreds of billions that we have been ordered to spend BECAUSE..it would be disloyal to the troops... now why didn't i think of this ..in my own life...got a bill at MasterCard that you can't pay..send in some troops and nobody should even mention it again...might discourage the troops.. OK...enough said. Our troops deserve the benfits of the democratic process they the so bravely defend including debate and the will of the people on the important question of wheter we go to war. I think the real problem is that people will become so cynical from hearing this lame brained stuff that they really will stop thinking about our service people..who are not part of the money grab in Iraq nor the politics of wars for elections... .

Hiding Behind the Troops

Americans love and support its military...no, not the billionaires that have been created by the spending associated with the Iraq invasion...the real troops --your children and mine who serve. We want them to be safe and back home after doing the brave parts to protect our country. The civil war in Iraq is a threat to world peace. True and the nations of the world should be fixing it. Now service in Iraq was directed by a civilian non-combatant and now it is proposed that if anyone disagrees with the civilian decisions on Iraq THEY ARE DISLOYAL TO THE TROOPS.... Well... Imagine you are the survivor of a soldier killed in Iraq and you oppose the war...so this is a disloyal person? or you gave up a child in Vietnam..disloyal now? And who is making this loyalty call... probably a man who never served in combat or one who is simply hiding behind the troops for political convenience. There is a shamelessness to this which is appalling in the context of the sacrifices this nation has made to pursue what history may properly regard as a "folly" in Iraq- a policy that had virtually no chance of success from its start...unless you consider the re-election of Bush and GOP domination of government as success ... to most hardly.

If Iraq recovers then what

What does it mean to Americans if Iraq pulls itself back into a path towards peace and civil order? Victory? Well this might be the most shallow victory pool in the history of the country even less rewarding than Reagan's stunning triumph over Grenada. A success in Iraq would mean mercifully that a few troops might return before Bush leaves office unless they move on to Iran. It might mean increased oil production and higher prices... nothing like peace or war to drive up oil prices and Iraq needs money to rebuild where they can pick the contractors.
And in America the Republican Party would stick out its Elephant and claim credit, the military would be in for more praise than we could give; and President Bush would be hailed as the greatest President of all for defeating the nation that attacked us on 9/11 with video of operation Thunder and Awe embedded like newsmen during the invasion. Still for most Americans it would not resonate... 600 Billion dollars could have changed life here for the better( except for that rule against Americans helping each other to better lives) but now it is a mountain of debt that will be felt and then when the new Iraq charges us $3.00/gallon...whew!

Can Iraq Save Itself?

Perhaps with a typical error of focus we look at Iraq as political or military theater: as a contest of interest to the U.S. domestic political agenda. Iraq is also a home to millions with little connection to the U.S. except that we have seized control of a part of their physical place with our military, displaced an autocrat, and have presented them with an opportunity to select government leaders. The civil war-- that has gripped the country almost as soon as the U.S. military deposed Saddam has apparently worsened and has had a dreadful cost in lives and casualties-- has had little to do with global forces but rather with the willingness of a population to find a common interest in security. Thus far a significant number of people have actively engaged and a more significant number seem to acquiesce in the cycle of violence/vengeance among warring factions. As with Saddam, one faction seems in control of the Government...people are treated with regard to their ethnic or religious affiliation. It is unclear how much effort from the U.S. and allies has been aimed at fostering understanding and civil acceptance among these groups... but that would seem far more useful than more weapons or more soldiers...or a new front against Iran. The elements for an ascendant nation of Iraq are in place... but it remains: Can they stop the violence and save their country?