We, the people, are responsible

We, the people, are responsible. We, the people, continue to allow our troops to occupy Iraq. To that end we are each and every one responsible. We are responsible for every American and Iraqi death. How much more will we allow before we insist the course be changed?

The administration has begun to tout the decrease in violence in Baghdad as a result of the surge in troop numbers. The reduction is only in numbers of people murdered and fails to take into account the increased deaths from car bombs. The use of such twisted facts and half-truths has become an every day occurrence. We, the people, are responsible for accepting these lies as fact.

We, the people, must rise up against the continued violence incited by our presence in Iraq. We, the people, must demand truth from our government to replace the overt lies and the partial truths we get every day. We, the people, must take responsibility for our country and work to get back on course. We, the people, are in charge of our future only if we take action to return our country to its former greatness.

Time for Action--Use VPI Tragedy for Base

America suffered a terrible tragedy this week with the murder of 32 people at VPI. The media frenzy is on. We are treated to constant reminders of just how and when and where so many died. At the same time the tragedy that is Iraq today continues. Every day more Iraqis die a violent death than were killed in Virginia this week. Every death in either country is a senseless loss.

What is America to do? How can we take a tragedy in our own country and make something positive from the event? I suggest we each and every one put ourselves for just a moment into the mind of the parents who just lost a child. Think how very sad their life just became. How every will those parents deal with this loss? Be angry. Be very angry.

Now turn that anger to a positive note. Think of the Iraqi mothers and fathers losing their children each and every day. Be angry. Be very angry. Turn that anger toward the administration that insists we stay the course in Iraq. If we, the American people, insist on an end to the occupation, the needless deaths will no longer be our responsibility. Until the time American troops are withdrawn from Iraq every death, every family broken is a burden put directly on our shoulders.

VPI and Iraq

This week saw the murder of 32 innocent people at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. The tragedy is unfathomable. America has too often suffered just such an event. Our collective sympathy is due the parents and friends of the dead and wounded. We must stand in their support as the healing begins.

And yet in the midst of our suffering and mourning we should not lose sight of the continued events in Iraq. The Iraqis suffer a loss equal or greater than the loss at VPI every single day. How can we turn the American tragedy into a lesson for all the world to see? We suffer today in our country and we tend to overlook the suffering around the world. What can we do as a country to resolve this problem?

We can offer our sympathy to the Iraqis just as we offer our sympathy to each other in our time of tragedy. What about more support? How many Americans are willing to put themselves into the mindset of an Iraqi mother or father who just lost a son or a daughter? How would we react if we suffered these losses each and every day in our own country? We as a nation must ponder this issue lest we lose sight of the ideals upon which our country was founded.

Baghdad Fell Four Years Ago

The fall of Baghdad was celebrated just four short years ago. What do we have to show for that victory today? More than 3200 American soldiers have died. The Iraqis suffer daily without electricity, plumbing, or drinking water. School attendance is far down compared to pre-Saddam days. Uncounted thousands of Iraqis are either dead or have fled the country. Civil war seems to be well on the way.

How much more must we lose before we recognize this failing course? Americans are dying daily. Billions of dollars are being spent. The time has come to withdraw. We have no more troops to waste. The money being spent in Iraq would be put to better use here at home.

Contact your Senators and Representatives. Tell them the time is now to end the occupation and bring our troops home. Tell them we wish to spend no more money other than that required for withdrawal. Together we can make a difference. Together we can change this failing course.

NO MORE MONEY for Iraq

Contrary to administration claims, the situation in Iraq shows no real sign of lessening tensions or greater security in spite of a massive US push into Baghdad. In fact the death rate for Iraqis is some 15% higher last month than before the surge began. American casualties remain relatively stable over the first three months of 2007 at more than 80 killed per month. When we will ever see any real progress? Is progress even possible?

The invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq were illegal acts that have cost the US more money and more lost lives than we can ever afford. The time has come to protest loudly and end this fiasco. The Congress is home for Easter recess. We have a chance to let our Congressional representatives know how we feel before the next spending bill can be finalized. Another $100 billion is requested. I suggest we just say “NO.” No more funding for this occupation except that necessary to bring our troops home. No continuing monies for the occupation of Iraq whatsoever.

Tell Your Congress Critters--NO MORE WAR

Congress has begun their Easter vacation without finalizing a spending bill for supplemental funding in Iraq. As might be expected the Pentagon has begun the scare tactics with warnings about spending delays affecting troop rotations, training, and readiness. This sort of propaganda just won't fly in the face of the facts. The pentagon has in its budget plenty of money to continue any activity already planned until well into May or even later. No expected delay in the current funding is going to affect any troops on the ground.

The issue at hand is benchmarks within the bill requiring signs of progress in Iraq in order for the American occupation to continue. Finally we are seeing signs of a Congress listening to the will of the people. The time has come to end the American occupation of Iraq. If a supplemental spending bill must be passed, then limits on future monies are appropriate. Our troops should not stay one day longer in Iraq than required for withdrawal, but that seems not to be the will of the Congress and certainly is not the will of the President.

Perhaps if every eligible voter rose in opposition to ongoing funding of the occupation we'd see an end to the loss of American lives. The time to tell your Congressional representatives your opinion is here. They are home for the Easter recess. There is no better time than the present to tell them NO MORE WAR.

WH Threatens Spending Bill Veto

The rhetoric from the White House is mounting with accusations of "failing to fund the troops" aimed at Congressional Democrats. Congress has in fact voted to spend over a hundred billion dollars on the war. That appropriation includes modern body armor, better armored vehicles, and improved health care for returning veterans. To date the President has been given every cent he asked for, and then some. Bush's threatened veto of the current spending bill based on benchmarks for progress in Iraq is one more example of poor judgment on his part.

The President should heed the advice of his own Secretary of Defense. Robert Gates says benchmarks may actually encourage the Iraqi government to take more responsibility for its own defense. The President's approach is to continue the current failed policy. Why not give an alternative a chance to work? Congress has a clear mandate from the voters for just such a change of direction in Iraq. The President should not be insisting on yet another blank check, and support that alternative.