With the 5th anniversary of the Iraq War having come and gone, is it not time for us to end the senseless killing that has taken place over the last 5 years?
What have we accomplished with the 4,000+ American Soldiers dead, 29,000+ American service men and women wounded and the 89,000 Iraqi civilians killed?
In 1922, Winston Churchill, in a letter he wrote to David Lloyd George, termed Iraq an "ungrateful volcano"........what has changed in 86 years?
Jonathan Blake
White Salmon
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Isn't It Time We Ended This War?
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24 comments:
I believe that the majority of US citizens agree it is past due time to end this war. It should have never ever started.
it is very worrisome that there is a distinct possibility that none of the presidential candidates will end the war - they might bring home a few token troops but the need, or the perceived need, for oil on the part of the oil conglomerates may be decisive. only a strong and determined effort on the part of the American people can end this war. So march, demonstrate, write letters, do everything you can to end the war. It's been done before, and it can be done again.
"the need, or the perceived need, for oil on the part of the oil conglomerates may be decisive"
You bring up a good point about oil and it's part in this war. The cynic in me believes the Iraq War has always been about oil.
Hopefully the price of gas alone will be a wake up call for our country, as I fear our politicians and corporations will continue to push for privitization in Iraq because of the size of their oil reserves and the fact that there is so much money at stake.
Fortunately as it stands right now, the Iraqi Parlement can't get anything done so that probably means that they won't be handing their oil reserves over to US and European oil corporations any time soon. But make no mistake, that is exactly what the current administration has wanted all along.
One country's sense of entitlement over another country's resources is bad foreign policy and is morally wrong.
Some might argue that it is good economic policy to try to secure this oil since it drives our economy.......but I would counter......was it morally the RIGHT thing to do especially given the loss of so many lives? I don't think so.
Jonathan Blake
White Salmon
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/
The cost of the Iraq war to OUR pocket books...................
http://www.nebraskansforpeace.org/articles/damagereport.php
$21,000 is the estimated cost per household of this war so far..... and rising.
In the last 7 years we have witnessed huge tax cuts for the very rich and massive debt piled up on the backs of the middle class.
It is amazing to me that some politicians are suggesting we continue down the same path and continue to remain in Iraq.
What is equally amazing to me is that so many people are in favor of this strategy and so many of those that disagree with it simply remain silent.
Imagine if China immediately called in our debt and each household in America had to pay their share of the bill we have incurred for the Iraq War.
Could yo write a check TODAY for $21,000?
Jonathan Blake
White Salmon
Hey guys, rather than sit back in you comfy chairs and critisize everything why don't you buy the book "End Game" by people who deal with big problems every day? the book is written by Paul Vallely Ret. and Tom Mcinerny Ret. USAF.You all just hear what the media wants you to hear, not the consequences of your cut and run attitude.
If you were to lend it to me I promise you I would read it in it's entirety and return it to you.
But there is more to this issue than just the opinion of these two authors.
But in the book they wrote:
"We cannot wait to achieve these goals or expect that these changes will happen of their own volition. In some cases, achieving these goals will mean overthrowing regimes, as we did with the Taliban and Saddam Hussein, though the means by which we do so might vary.
I don't understand what business it is of ours to interfere in other nations affairs.
As for the authors dealing with big problems every day....they are both retired and on pensions.......what is their big problem, trying to crack 80 on the golf course?
Jonathan Blake
White Salmon
I left one thing out......
What in your opinion would be the consequences of the US....to use your term, "cutting and running"?
In my opinion, I think by leaving Iraq, we will end the death and wounding of American soldiers, have an opportunity to rebuild a military that has been decimated over the last 5 years and save the country hundreds of billions of dollars that could be used to pay back China or be reinvested here at home like the infrastructure or education or how about border patrol?
Why do you think we should stay there and what is your vision of victory in Iraq because I have NEVER had a supporter of this war give me a definition of what victory is.
The way I see it, fighting terrorism and terrorists the way you are suggesting is like a never ending game of "whack a mole".
Do we bring the troops home when the last terrorist has been killed?
Jonathan Blake
White Salmon
— Lt. Gen. Thomas G. McInerney retired from the U.S. Air Force as assistant vice chief of staff of the Air Force and director for the Defense Performance Review. Maj. Gen. Paul E. Vallely retired from the U.S. Army as deputy commanding general, Pacific, and is the senior military analyst for FOX News Channel.
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/mcinerney_vallely200405200844.asp
Analyst for FOX News? Interesting!
http://www.nytimes.com:80/2008/04/20/washington/20generals.html?_r=3&hp=&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin
This is what is so frustrating about trying to have a discussion about this war with people who support it.
I gave some of my reasons as to why I oppose it and someone says that I have a "cut and run" attitude.....yet they won't give me any reasoning or basis for their argument that we stay and fight and what their definition for "victory" is.
I understand that people will disagree about issues......especially one like this...... but have the fortitude to stand up for your convicitons.
I am not ashamed of why I believe in peace and have no reservations about telling you who I am.
Joanthan Blake
White Salmon
"Remember when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor..."
"Germans?"
"Forget it, he's on a roll"
I'm behind Jonathan all the way!
BTW, Happy 50th Birthday Jonathan! Cheers!
the Jerusalem Post says today that Bush plans to attack Iran before he leaves office. Please write to him and your Washington senators and tell them no! you can google your senators and e mail them.
Why didn't John McCain vote for the revised GI Bill?
I am strongly opposed to the war in Iraq, but we owe it to our veterans to provide them with better benefits when they come home.
He want's tax relief for the rich and he wants the war to continue so we can keep paying hugh amounts to military contractors, but doesn't want to take care of the men and women in uniform when they come home!
Jonathan Blake
White Salmon
"However, McCain said he opposed Webb's measure because it would give the same benefit to everyone regardless of how many times he or she has enlisted. He said he feared that would depress reenlistments by those wanting to attend college after only a few years in uniform. Rather, McCain said the bill he favored would have increased scholarships based on length of service."
Poppycock! If a person enlists, serves his/her term of duty and possibly puts their life on the line for us (right or wrong), that person is entitled to whatever support we can give. McCain's reenlistment argument is specious, designed to placate the party faithful - assuming there are any left.
I agree with you. It only takes one tour of duty to get shot, blown up or killed.
Jonathan Blake
White Salmon
"Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan writes in a surprisingly scathing memoir to be published next week that President Bush “veered terribly off course,” was not “open and forthright on Iraq,” and took a “permanent campaign approach” to governing at the expense of candor and competence."
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more serious acts of disloyalty to one's sovereign or nation.
Hey why don't you invite Osama to set up a training camp here in the states? seems like the majority want to put their heads in the sand and let the terrorists kick their butts.
a responsible foreign policy is the only way to end terrorism. Stop giving Israel carte blanche, cut back on energy use, end the Iraq war, get out of Afghanistan--this is where we should start.
"Hey why don't you invite Osama to set up a training camp here in the states? seems like the majority want to put their heads in the sand and let the terrorists kick their butts."
The last time I checked, we weren't going after Osama and have not been for over 5 years......maybe you need a geography, history and anthropology lesson to help you sort things out.
Your "drive by" comment offers nothing in the way of explaining your reasoning or basis for your opinion what ever that may be.
It's hard to take your comments seriously, and the fact that you won't put your name to them leads me to believe you are not too confident in your stance.
Jonathan Blake
White Salmon
It would give the same benefit to everyone regardless of how many times he or she has enlisted..
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Jenifer
LaserShield Wireless Home Alarm Security Systems
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