President Bush 43 famously declared four years ago that the American War in Iraq was over and won. Since then it has been an OCCUPATION, with a predictable, understandable insurrection erupting during the occupation, and a terrible civil war emerging and growing rapidly SINCE the American war in Iraq was won.
Many U.S. citizens find it unacceptable, and disrespectful of our military forces (who were and are magnificently doing just as they were ordered) to quit a war that is not over, even if the war was not justified by any of the reasons given prior to unleashing it.
But the war was over in 2003, and it’s past time for ending a divisive, bloody, counter-productive, human rights and treaty violating, internationally condemned, brutal, costly, degenerating, four year OCCUPATION. Thousands of American troops have been killed, and many tens of thousands have been grievously and permanently injured so far during this occupation.
Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, and well over a million Iraqi citizens have fled their country to adjoining nations as destitute refugees during this occupation. The number of the dead, crippled, or desperate people who have lost or fled their homes and their lives, greatly exceeds the entire population of the state of Wisconsin. And remember, Iraq had nothing whatsoever to do with the 9-11 attackers, and Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction, the two reasons cited prior to the invasion of Iraq.
Does the Administration and Congress really think this situation, or the security of citizens of the United States, will be improved in the foreseeable future by continuing the detested occupation and even sending more troops?
The American War in Iraq was over and won four years ago.
What do Americans want and need from Congress and the President?
We want you to END the OCCUPATION of Iraq NOW. Not after the election. Not next year. Now.
If you think the United States occupation of Iraq should be ended this year, call 1-888-851-1879 and ask to be connected to your Representative and Senators and give them that message today. The person answering your phone call can connect you directly using either the names of your member of Congress and Senators, or your zip code.
hearts and minds 
Fine article on stopping the war as it was declared won years ago. I sent it around.
Comment by Carol — March 22, 2007 @ 3:59 pm |
I love idiots..all part of the problem and not part of the solution…easy…get your butt over there and raise up your hand and tell everyone to stop, go home, and watch tv …simple…best of luck.
Comment by Tom B — March 22, 2007 @ 4:04 pm |
I will send it now after I replace your name with mine. Thanks for writing.
Comment by Tom G — March 22, 2007 @ 4:06 pm |
Nail on the head!
Did you hear the news item yesterday that Haliburton is planning to move its headquarters to Dubai. The potential tax savings–$billions.
Haliburton is the company Cheney headed prior to becoming VP.
Isn’t that a hoot. It is in their interest to keep the war going.
They take piles of our money already.
Why stop, especially when they can go offshore and not pay taxes on it.
Haliburton’s stated justification?
“We want to be positioned to take advantage of potential future energy sources in the Middle East.”
As if they couldn’t do it from here.
Did you know there is a peace march on Saturday? Are you interested in participating?
Comment by Howard H — March 22, 2007 @ 4:14 pm |
Excellent letter, Clyde.
Comment by Marliss — March 22, 2007 @ 4:22 pm |
Well done, Clyde.
Comment by Don B — March 22, 2007 @ 5:05 pm |
Do you think an immediate withdrawal of all US troops is fair to the people of Iraq? My take is we should clean-up the mess we’ve made, even though we did not have just cause for making the mess in the first place.
Also, when I think of sending more troops, I can only think of my father and his buddies who did not have adequate support at times during their service in Vietnam. I don’t think any US soldier should be faced with the same situation.
Comment by Jim L — March 22, 2007 @ 5:08 pm |
The author replies:
Those are both excellent key points, Jim. I can not argue convincingly either for or against them, though I do have a meager for-what-it’s-worth response.
1. Whether the current Administration CAN (or WOULD faithfully try to) clean up the mess (rather than have a very different agenda) is a different question from whether we SHOULD clean it up. But it’s a relevant question. Also very relevant is careful consideration of the likely implications and consequences of the alternatives, rather than just doing what seems like the easiest thing in the very short run, or making the decision merely for narrow political advantage.
Analogies can be, and often are, very misleading. That said, I suggest the analogy of somebody breaking and entering and trashing your home. Should that person or gang be in charge of cleaning up the mess? Would you want them to hang around and order you around until they decided they were done cleaning up the mess as they see fit?
2. The troops currently there could be, and by God, certainly should be, very well protected during a redeployment out of Iraq. And I’d guess that doing that now would result in less total casualties than doing it later. On the other hand, if continuing the occupation somehow develops into a beautiful koom-by-ya, peace and love political environment (don’t hold your breath), the U.S. troops would then be under no threat of death or injury from hostile actions, and could pack up and re-deploy home without any security precautions at all. More realistically, excellent security precautions could be rapidly established now, to protect a quick and early withdrawal of all troops from Iraq.
But I am neither trained nor experienced as a military strategist or tactician or diplomat. And I really have to admit that I don’t know enough to say with any certainty, much less authority, whether “the mess” could be cleaned up, or how it should be done if it is even possible. I’m just a citizen in a democracy with an opinion that I’ve thought seriously about.
Comment by clyde — March 22, 2007 @ 5:12 pm |
Thank you for your response. I enjoyed your analogy in #1; really puts some perspective on the situation. As a country, we’re in a very complex situation out there in the Middle East. I guess the “right thing” to do depends on who you are and what your actual objectives are. And after giving it more thought, I think there would be great benefits from an immdiate withdrawal, but think that a gradual withdrawal is more realistic. Hopefully, the Democrats in Congress will mandate some type of withdrawal soon.
Comment by Jim L — March 22, 2007 @ 5:17 pm |
Thanks for this letter to the editor, Clyde – we have it posted on our Action Alert section of our Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice web page.
Comment by Judy M — March 22, 2007 @ 5:21 pm |
Well said and defended Clyde. Somber point and perspectives.
Also an addendum to the Halliburton move, having corporate headquarters outside the governance of the Charter-holding nation, gives them near complete immunity from the laws of man… the only thing tying a Corporation with threat, is the possibility that their charter could be revoked and assests liquidated to pay for their actions… with their headquarters in Dubai, it will be much harder to actualize this action… watch how many other corporations move to Dubai through 2012 when most of the construction projects are completed.
Comment by colbydog — March 23, 2007 @ 7:53 am |
I think if actual Declarations of War were required many of the issues that we face now today and back in Viet Nam would have been averted. This use of power against global terrorism is so vague it’s no wonder we’re in this mess.
Comment by Jessica B — March 23, 2007 @ 9:34 am |
Attractive colors and design on this site. Title of this thread is as timely now (two months later than when it was published) as it was four years ago. Excellent.
Comment by Vigilante — May 5, 2007 @ 5:38 pm |
[…] do your part, as you see fit, to commemorate this anniversary, to end this tragic occupation, and to bring our troops home now (along with all the contracted mercenaries). […]
Pingback by Coming Home, When It’s Over, Over There « hearts and minds — March 12, 2008 @ 5:56 pm |