The Occupation of Iraq Must End

Three thousand, four hundred, and thirty four caskets have come home as of today as a result of the American invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq. And still the administration continues to pursue the same failing course. More American troops. More American casualties. More American money spent. And to what end? Is there a stable government in place in Iraq? No. Is there more oil available for export from Iraq? No. Is the infrastructure of the country on the mend? No, on the contrary, much of the infrastructure has been destroyed in the ongoing war.

This must end. America cannot afford the costs in either lives or dollars let alone the diminishing world support for our actions. The new British Prime Minister promises to withdraw British troops from Iraq in a few short months. Why cannot the Bush administration do the same for Americans? Why must we continue to see the daily death counts of Americans? When will Congress see the light and end funding for the war to force a withdrawal?

Too Much Loss in Iraq

Congress has once again bowed to pressure from the Administration and allowed a large funding bill for the Iraq occupation to pass to the President. Americans in ever larger numbers are opposed to the war. We have lost more than 3400 of our soldiers. The cost is already half a trillion dollars in four year. How much more are we willing to spend before an end is called?

The election of 2006 demonstrated a desire by the American people to see a change in the direction Congress and the Administration are taking. We need to see that change become a reality. Write, call, e-mail, or Fax your Congressional representatives today. Let them know we are restless and unwilling to stay the course any longer. Our country is at stake. If we fail to correct this failing course we stand to lose all the country has meant for 200 years.

IED's Increase In Deadly Effect

The number of Americans killed by improvised explosive devices has nearly doubled this Spring. Almost 70% of the deaths among American forces this year were the result of such homemade devices. Improvised explosive devices (IED’s) vary from the simple (perhaps a hand grenade in a soda can) to the very sophisticated (such as multiple separate devices timed to explode simultaneously). The increased threat posed by these devices is the result of more than four years experience for the insurgency. Practice is making perfect in terms of deadly attacks while the American forces continue to stand out as targets for the practice.

We must bring out troops home and must do so very soon if we are to have any chance of ending the bloodshed. Iraq is on the verge of civil war. Our troops are so far unable to even slow the violence within the country at the same time more Americans are dying on a daily basis. Congress needs to take a stand against the President and his misguided course. We need real leadership to bring diplomatic efforts to bear. Military force has been failing for some time with no apparent success on the horizon.

Speak Up and Speak Out

The death toll in Iraq continues to rise day by day. Increasing numbers of Americans are dying as the news reports plans to increase the American force to more than 200,000 by year’s end. This increase is apparently in the planning stages and will include both extended terms for troops on the ground already and new combat units.

When will this ever end? How many Americans must die before the administration and the Congress recognize the futility of the occupation. The American invasion has brought nothing but increasing instability and decreasing functionality to Iraq. Public services are near an all time low. Oil production is a fraction of the pre-invasion levels. By any measure other than the deposing of Saddam Hussein the invasion and occupation has been a near complete failure.

Today we have the power to reverse this course but only if our voices are heard. Write or call your Congressional representatives. Join the various peace protests around the area. Write to your local newspaper editor. We, the people, own our future only if we take a stand and act to make the course the preferred one. Sitting silently by is no longer an acceptable course of action. We must speak up and speak out lest we lose our future entirely.

We Need A Balance of Power In Government Today

As if affairs in the world were not serious enough already, now comes the news that President Bush has authorized covert activity directed against Iran. For months we have heard increasing vehemence in the rhetoric directed toward the government of Iran. Diplomacy has all but been ruled out by the administration. And now the defacto war is escalating without any chance for the American public or Congress to have input into the decision. The President today continues to assume near dictatorial powers in spite of a Constitution that guarantees separation of powers. Only the Congress has the power to declare war. No such declaration has been made for either Iraq or Iran.

The time has come for this situation to change. According to law we have a democracy with three equal and separate branches of government. The continued erosion of this coequal arrangement is endangering our country. The Congress must take back its rightful place as a power in and of itself. We, the voting public, need to let our Congressional representatives know our expectations. We have every right to expect a responsible government, but we will get no such until and unless we each and every one hold our representatives accountable. We can no longer afford a country led by a President with only one course in mind.

End the Occupation of Iraq Today

The US death toll in Iraq is rising day by day. The first six months of this year is the most deadly six month period since the start of the invasion. The administration continues to tell America that the surge is working and that progress is being made. When do we get to see that progress? How do we define progress?

Many hard questions are not being answered by either the administration or the Congress. We see increasing amounts of money being spent while the death toll grows. Iraq is a broken country as a direct result of the American invasion. Civil war has broken out in most of the country. The American presence continues to aggravate the situation and offers more opportunity for the opposition forces to target our forces. No good is being served by the continued occupation of Iraq.

Congress continues to pass funding bills that allow the administration to pursue the occupation. We voters must pressure our Congressional representatives to end this futile course. Write or call today to tell Senators Biden and Carper along with Representative Castle to vote for an end to the war. Only if they begin to hear the opposition voices do we have any hope of stopping the ongoing bloodshed. We must end this war and the sooner the better.

Attack on Iran Suggested by Bolton

The sabers continue to rattle over confrontation with Iran. John Bolton, former US Ambassador to the UN has been quoted as saying an attack on Iran is necessary. The Bush administration seems to know no bounds in the use of violence as opposed to diplomatic efforts to resolve conflict. How much longer can the American public support such a misguided course?

The war in Iraq is failing according to all reasonable measures. The country has been destroyed in large measure. The economy is in shambles. Public utilities including electricity, drinking water, sewers, and garbage collection are failing. And yet administration officials and past officials want to start another military confrontation with Iran. Can they not see the handwriting on the wall?

We must all work to end the continued escalation of violence. Diplomacy and the withdrawal of our troops from the Middle East should be tried. Such efforts were overridden in the haste to invade Iraq. We must not let the administration make a similar mistake in Iran.

Bring Accountability Back to Government

Somehow our society seems to have lost large measures of accountability, the obligation to be responsible for one’s actions. Today we see all around us people blaming others for their actions. People blame their parents. Corporate officers blame each other and the employees for company failures. Our administration puts the blame on any but themselves for the failures in Iraq.

How much longer are we going to sit still and let this happen? When will we voters awaken and hold our elected officials accountable for their actions? We see stirrings even here in our own state, but at the national level we voters seem to be forgotten. The time is here to write, call, and otherwise contact our Congressional representatives. We need to hold them accountable for their votes in Congress. We need to hold them accountable for their words at campaign and other public appearances. Without accountability in government we are in danger of being left without representation.

How Many More Must Die?

In the month of April 104 Americans died as a result of wounds suffered in combat in Iraq. How many more must die before our President and our politicians come to realize this war is long lost? Congress continues to debate if or not to set a date for withdrawal. Every day that debate continues more soldiers die. The President vetoes a funding bill that would continue the war for months to come. And still the soldiers die on a daily basis.

Where is the outrage at this ongoing mess? When will the American public stand up and voice their anger? When will the dying end? We must not let our sons and daughters continue to lose their lives in a lost effort. We have no more children to lose.