The war in Iraq is not going well. The Iraqis are fed-up with America’s military occupation, religious leaders are calling for rebellion and coalition deaths are on the rise – all predictable outcomes of a war that began over a year ago for all the wrong reasons.
We don’t take pleasure in seeing Bush’s war falter. Too many 20-year-olds have been killed or maimed for there to be anything but sadness at the unfolding events. But it could have been different – had we focused on the war against al Qaeda, had we not insisted on going it alone in Iraq. Now, if we continue to insist on withdrawal from Iraq according to the June 30 (read: Nov. election) timetable, the country will disintegrate into chaos and could very likely revert right back to dictatorship. So much for our vaulted “freedom” and “democracy”.
We cannot afford to leave this President at the helm. We need someone to take charge who is not personally vested in a predetermined outcome in Iraq. Someone who has not alienated a good portion of the world. Someone who is willing to work with the United Nations and Arab nations. Someone who is willing to be humble.
The 20-year-olds in the deserts and cities of Iraq, scared out of their minds, deserve nothing less. There are callings high enough to demand the ultimate sacrifice for one’s country, but this just isn't one of them.
This was too predictable. A leader has to have more vision than Bush. This is one time I'm more than happy to say "I told you so"
Posted by: Dave on April 9, 2004 02:12 PMUnhappily I have reached the conclusion that we are living with a government that is becoming more and more fascist. The average working stiff does not matter; he's at best considered a resource, at worst a drain on the corporate budget. Only the organization counts: the company, the party, the state. Give your all for the team, and collect your reward -- an old age of ceaseless toil because the board of directors looted your retirement fund and "downsized" or "outsourced" your job right out from under you. Send your child to "liberate" Iraq, and get him/her back in a body bag. That entitles you to patriotic pride and bragging rights, but not to companionship -- or grandchildren. Face it, if you ain't one of Dubya's elite cronies, you ain't exactly human, my friend. Just an unimportant member of the peasant class.
Posted by: GeeGeeBee on April 10, 2004 06:47 PM
