Once again the U.S. military is conducting major combat operations in Baghdad's Sadr City slum. Urban street fighting, daytime air strikes, refugees fleeing, the whole 9 yards. The targets are Shiite extremists who have been killing our troops and obstructing the so-called progress of a freely elected Iraqi government. Oh yeah, we are winning but we have to do this sort of thing from time to time -- no biggie.
So for the foreseeable future the violence rages on, US troops will continue to die, Iraqis will die, and according to President Bush it is all for the cause of our freedom here at home.
The Iraqi insurgents hate us for our freedom -- didn't ya know?
Will Americans ever wake up to the harsh reality that is Iraq? At this point it is too frustrating to care or look for an answer to that ridiculous question. Sort of like the definition of insanity when stated as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."
I'm very close to embracing the truism that I can do nothing to stop this tragic war that has been enabled, encouraged, and carried forward by our cowardly Congress along with millions of careless and complacent citizens of this country who, for the most part, have no stake in the game.
On that note ....
Let me tell you who the people are who do care and do have a stake in the game. They are the servicemen and women that make up the Individual Ready Reserve. Most have completed multiple tours in Iraq, have been honorably discharged from the military, and have started new lives with the hopes of putting this horrendous war behind them. Now, many of them are receiving letters in the mail commanding them back to active duty to fight in Iraq -- again.
Can you imagine? If you're not in their shoes probably not. However, my guess is that they feel used and abused by a system that has no consideration or regard for their previous selfless service to this country when they risked death on countless occasions.
These people are walking down the same streets as us every day and we don't even notice them. They are direct, remorseless, sharp, snappy, tenacious, and quite saucy. They are justified in their feelings and deserve better from this country. After all, they have more than earned a right to live their lives in peace.
These "call ups" of those who have already fought in Iraq are a direct result of the unshared sacrifice of the American people who live a life of irresponsible citizenship by enjoying the benefits of being an American while turning a blind-eye to the bloodshed.
Most able-bodied "young Republicans" could relieve the stress on our combat vets by enlisting themselves to fight in a war they so ardently support. Anything is possible, but for them to actually put their bodies where their rhetoric is -- not likely. (Yes, I will beat this dead horse into the ground).
Moving on to numero uno -- POTUS.
It must be so easy for George W. Bush knowing that the joke is on all those who have blindly supported him every step of the way either directly or indirectly. Whether you're one of his little toadies in Congress or one of his contemptible street corner subservients, it is inevitable that egg and mud will be dripping off of your faces once the smoke clears.
Soon, President Bush will return to his Texas ranch with millions in the bank while you get to sink with the ship.
But how much damage will be inflicted upon the rest of us while we wait? As I search for an answer to that question I can't help but think about the fables used to sell the war. Well, that's a moot point.
At this stage in the game the lies about WMD and Al-Qaeda links to Saddam are irrelevant. What is relevant is that we are in this war for the long haul. Unless of course a miracle happens that creates a situation that allows us to pick a Democratic nominee to face John McCain and win back the White House -- that is stated under the assumption that Senator Clinton or Senator Obama will make good on their promise to end the war.
Please pardon my skepticism -- but it isn't like we haven't been lied to before by our elected officials who promised us a way out of this mess.
Anyway ....
The war in Iraq is over. Despite the fact that we are still fighting, we have yet to define victory, the ultimate outcome is uncertain, and there is no end in sight -- it is over. The only remaining questions are: How many more of our brave troops will have to die? How many more billions will be spent? Both questions are unanswerable but the figures are surely tremendous.
america can't move into any place in the world
and say to its people:
let me show you how to live.
the backlash is kneejerk,
and it includes automatic weapons
and roadside bombs.
the arrogance implicit and explicit,
shows a stupidity beyond belief.
only an mba scion cheerleader
could have concocted such a war
and such a battle plan.
this soulless game
can only end in armageddon.
pull out.
map draw.
u.s. base in kurdistan.
a chunk to iran.
the lionshare to saudi arabia (the guys who flew jets into the world trade towers).
the shit has hit the fan.
there are NO good answers to what bush has done.
we all must eat crow.
or eat more crow later.
the republicans like to call it: "throwing money at it."
as in, you can't solve education by throwing money at it.
these are rich people, whose sons and daughters go to private schools -
they don't want to "throw money at it."
and rich people who have special health care plans
that don't include the rest of us.
as far as healthcare - they don't want to throw money at it.
but the war in iraq is a special cause,
because the poor fight it,
and they are starving the beast of american social services.
they say: throw money at it.
as rev. wright said: god damn america.
This is a great piece by Scott Ritter which dovetails nicely with John's piece:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/050608M.shtml
Your analysis is so correct. Frankly, I felt the moment we invaded that the inevitable result of such a monumental mistake (I did not believe any of the justifications cooked up) would be a long, compicated, endless tragedy. The costs, both the human and the monetary, are only vaguely understood by too many citizens. They will be better understood as the true measure of our historic blunder cripples our economy for years to come (it has already begun). The sad thing is, things will get worse as leaders fail to lead and citizens remain either disengaged or artificially engaged (i.e. placing their energy into supporting "hero candidates" instead of being heroic enough to hold every candidate's feet to the fire on this issue). We either ignore Iraq or we wait in hope for our hero when we need to be the leaders of this process. War is the organizing principle of society and such peace as may be attained requires the conscience of an informed and active citizenry.
Thank you kindly, I could not have said it better myself.
V/R
John
Excellent post.
screen of 9/11, via Condi and a host of others. Check these out.
http://www.state.gov/secretary/former/powell/travels/4562.htm
http://www.as.coa.org/article.php?id=1048
Maybe we were sold down the river already, and Iraq was just another
smoke screen.
But if Bush and Chaney sell the idea of an Iranian threat and
the need to eliminate it, then 100 years just might come true.
Agreed. An attack against Iran is real threat to this country and world peace.
V/R
John
They will strike and fade. Strike and fade. For them it is life and death. For us it's really far more like a hobby, or a project. The two situations are simply not comparable!
We should not be there at all, and, as screwed up as Al Sadr is, at least he belongs to that place. What is to be gained? What is to be lost by us?
If you simply ask any of the pro-war faction to state a purpose, they hem and they haw, and can never provide anything even approaching a coherent answer. The fact is that the instinct for life, combined with the phenominal level of personal armament in Iraq guarantees that our every effort to "help" those folks do things that they are opposed to can only prove harmful to all involved, and, at the same time, obviates our need to feel like anyone there is helpless without our "protection".
Your last paragraph in your reply was very well stated -- thank you.
V/R
John
Do you think it is possible for a representative group of Iraq and Afghanistan vets to go, en masse, to the Democratic Convention (I'd say the Republican convention, too, if I thought it would be possible) and lobby for the opportunity to make a prime time statement/speech detailing all that they have had to endure in a blatant attempt to shame the pols and the people into paying attention to and caring about all of these issues?
I know of at least one Democratic super-delegate who, if asked, would probably do everything in his power to make that happen!
I think it is an outstanding idea. Is it Senator Biden you speak of?
V/R
John
Where is your anger, Senator Obama? You are the presumptive nominee - start demanding that this war end now - we don't have to wait for your inauguration. Force the American public to face what this country has wrought.
Great analysis and reply -- thanks so much.
V/R
John
And, oh, by the way, when has it been proven that the President KNEW that there were no WMD's in Iraq? I haven't seen this, and it takes foreknowledge to make a lie, in case you were'nt sure!
Semper fi
Where the heck was the "one percent doctrine" (that Ron Suskind wrote about) when we really needed it!
I might add that before you do that, you might want to check who is president before you sign that paper.
Semper fi
The idea of involuntary recall to duty as having "convinced" soldiers is a stretch.
Did that freak in Austria "convince" his daughter to bear his children?
So very true my friend.
V/R
John
"The nobility of the soldier willing to give a life for country and God
lies silent and still amidst the broken promises of leaders.
Send them not to futile sacrifice on shores so far from home.
But keep your word to all that serve that none shall die in vain."
~ a poem a brother Vietnam medic
"You turn a corner in the dark and there he is. You congeal into a bundle of inanimate fear. Where in your soul and body is the anesthesia for what is coming? But there is no escaping him. (You soil yourself and it runs down onto the cold, wet stone under your feet.) It is your turn now." ~Henry Miller
The Howard Zinn comments are right on target.
V/R
John
The sense of entitlement we have is no different to that of the Roman Empire, or that of Alexander of Macedonia, or the British empire. Under the auspices of protecting people from communism, or Islamo fascism, we have gained strategic posts, financial wealth, and political power as anyone who caters to soccer moms fears and dumb blue collar knee jerk patriotism will find it an optimal way to win an election.
The problem is if you ask a Sunni if a Shiite is equal to them, they will laugh you all the way to Mecca and back. And conversely the same is true. These are tribal factions we're talking about, with no sense of loyalty to centralized government. What kind of national pride can you have in a nation crafted by Great Britain, a foreign power and one time oppressor nation. How can Iraqis feel a sense of patriotism towards their country when centralized government has proved nothing but destructive and dismissive of their needs.
Shouldn't we talk about the philosophical ramifications of delivering democracy to countries that don't understand its precepts, especially when we still have yet to perfect it in this country?
I could not agree more. You are 100% on point. Thank you.
V/R
John