The War

So, I was not in favor with this war to begin with. I, along with a lot of other sensible people felt it was a situation not worth our $$$ and American lives. Now, I know I don't have access to classified information or anything, but I didn't really see how Iraq was a threat to America. Can they train terrorists there? Sure, but they could train them in Indiana too. And they probably are. The point is that the whole WMD thing has turned out to be a big bunch of B.S. and no now the hot reason we're there is because Iraq, as it was, was a threat to the United States. How ambiguous.

Will a country functioning democratically help stabilize the Middle East? Perhaps. That seems like a good idea. Maybe it will catch on over there...riiiiight. And maybe the women there will go to college and that will be nice. But is it guarenteed? Absolutely not. I'd say it's more likely that no matter what we do now, it's all going to be one big disaster.

HOWEVER.

I do not understand this sudden push from politicians and citizens (for some, granted, not so sudden) that we "Bring the Troops Home!" I'm all for protesting the war. I did, in fact, in a very large march in Seattle before it was really happening...while the plans were being made. But I do not understand what people think is going to happen now. Does anyone really think George is going to go "OK, fine. We quit. Bring everyone back now." And would you want him to?

I'm curious as to what most of these people thought before the war started, and during it's early stages. If you look at the polls, the number of people who "have deep concerns" about the war and the number of people who are dissatisfied with the President's performance as of late are much higher than the number of people who were against going to war in the first place. What does that say about us? We're bored now? We're tired of hearing about it? We're tired of spending the money? We're tired of hearing about 19 year old kids dying in Baghdad? I suppose I point out the obvious when I say "Um, shouldn't you have thought of that in the first place?"

There is only ONE thing that will happen if we do that now and that is that civil war will ensue and the "insurgents" will eventually take over. At least Saddam would speak to us. The folks blowing themselves up now just give on big collective middle finger with a grenade tied around it to the U.S.

We have inflamed a very large number of people who consider themselves to be desperate. I just read this article in Time magazine where a journalist interviewed a man who was waiting for his suicide bombing assignment. It was CHILLING. These mislead souls are absolutely convinced that there is no greater cause, no more glorious way to die, no reason to live when you could be so fortunate to die for Allah and take out a dozen or so Americans on your way out.

Middle Eastern Muslims, if I may generalize, have had issues with America and Western Culture for a long time. Now they have a very specific, very present, very direct and public situation to direct their anger toward. They hate us for this war. Now, that in and of itself is not really a problem. I'm not one to promote a side of an issue simply because it's popular, or shy away from one because it is controversial. However...if the whole point of this war is to somehow protect us, somehow minimize the danger of terror...why on earth would we leave now, inviting them to take total control of an entire country? They wouldn't even have to hide it.

And what about the Iraqis? We have raped their country. Killed their children. Destroyed their homes. Maimed and disfigured thousands. To leave now...it would be shameful. To leave them exposed to people who would like nothing better than to take over and create a far more destructive regime would be totally irresponsible. People who were kind to American soldiers will be hunted down and killed in the streets. Anyone suspected of being sympathetic toward the westerners will be made an example of. We will have "schocked and awed" this country into chaos for absolutely nothing.

I hate this war. It is a poor use of time and money and lives. But to leave now is the worst possible thing we could do.