Bring our forces home
In recent news it has been reported that the Government Accountabilty Office states that Iraq has met only 3 of 18 benchmarks for political and military progress. This result certainly doesn't fall under my definition of success. Our President and his policies are deluded.
I would hope that Congressman Platt's support of the unjust, unprovoked war in Iraq would soon change to coincide with the will of the majority of the American people.
Before the war even started, I was writing the White House imploring them to not invade Iraq. I was following the situation daily, and felt that the UN inspectors were doing their job and that they should be given the time to complete their mission. We did not have support from other world powers, we were alone, we were diverting forces and intelligence from Afghanistan (consequently we still haven't eliminated Bin Laden) to Iraq for what I perceived was part of the Bush administration's agenda from DAY 1. Cheney, Rumsfeld and the other "Chicken Hawks" saw in Iraq potential for oil reserves. Yes, Saddam Hussein was a nasty man. But I was convinced that the aging dictator's regime was doomed to eventual failure and that some subversive group from within his own country would seize the day and remove him. I had no access to CIA reports, but I knew I was right. I could even see in Colin Powell's face the lingering doubt. He was duped by his bosses. And it infuriated me that the most Americans were falling for the fear mongering and the "They attacked us first" rhetoric spewed by the Bush group. Americans had become lemmings, following our leaders blindly into a a failed foreign policy.
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However, I do see some rumblings of discontent, finally, from a few of my conservative friends, which gives me cause for hope.
The American people were "betrayed" by the lies that led us into war. That is treasonous. Impeachment is too good an outcome. War crimes and treachery need to be prosecuted, not shoved under the rug when 2008 removes these despots.
You can't force democracy on people who don't comprehend it. Democracy has to come from within and then it will take years for any country to figure it out.
Look at our own county's history. We endured a Civil War less than a century after our Declaration of Independence.
The people of Iraq will have to rally. We need to re-deploy our overworked, stressed out service people safely. We must start doing that now. That will give Iraq the time to begin to do things correctly or destroy themselves with their religious hateful bickering.
Yes, we made a mess of things. The next President should start his or her administration by apologizing to the world for the "sins" of the previous administration, then the most forceful diplomacy ever attempted should be their first priority. We cannot do it alone anymore. We are perceived as arrogant bullies.
We need to bring our forces home. Unfortunately, I think we're going to require them on our shores because our vulnerability is within our own borders. We need to get rid of the "gay" thing and allow talented men and women who want to serve to do just that. It has been widely reported that gay translators have been fired from the military. We need help from all of our good people.
We also need to restore pride in our nation. The shame now is overwhelming.
I appeal to Congress. Bring our troops home. End this senseless war now.
Marg Gotwald
Springettsbury Township
Lost Patience · September 5, 2007 12:25 PM
Well said,I echo your sentiments.
Sane · September 5, 2007 12:27 PM
Oh no, they upgraded 4 more benchmarks to "sorta met". So everything is fine...go back to sleep.
Jeff Spangler · September 7, 2007 8:06 PM
Iraq is an endless religious civil war which Petraeus admits is militarily unwinnable, and we can't sustain current or pre-surge levels much beyond March because we don't have enough troops.
If a drawdown is inevitable, why continue to "stay the course" and lose more lives to babysit the Iraqis who won't step up and run their own country? The only way Bush will change course is if Congress defunds this war.