Too Many Are Dying for Progress in Iraq

The months of April, May, and June this year have been especially deadly in Iraq. On average more than three Americans died on each day in those months. In just two days this week 14 Americans died. All in the name of progress according to the administration. Even the fabled Green Zone is coming under increasing numbers of mortar attacks. The single most protected zone in the entire country can no longer be counted upon to be a safe place for American diplomats and workers.

How much farther must this situation deteriorate before our government begins to recognize the failure. “Progress is being made” is the continuing slogan of the Bush administration and yet the facts belie the words. When will America awaken and demand truth for a change in place of fine words with no substance? We have lost too many children and spent too much money. The time to withdraw from Iraq is now. We as a country cannot afford to spend more lives and more dollars in this failing cause.

More Bad News From Iraq

Now at a time when we in America need some good news comes more distressing news from Iraq. Bad enough is the rating of Iraq as number two on the list of failing countries around the world. Now comes the expert opinion that Iraq is now the number 1 training ground for Jihadists. That is to say, with the American presence and the collapse of most governmental services, Iraq is now the destination of choice for terrorist trainees from may other countries. The Iraqi resistance is large enough inside the country that fighters from outside are no longer needed. Thus the training they receive in Iraq may be exported to their home country or to other places around the world.

The administration continues to say we are making progress in Iraq. What kind of progress can this be when a country is failing as a nation-state and is becoming a training ground for future terrorist acts? Is this what America invaded Iraq to accomplish? What about the War on Terror? How can that be won when we are providing the training ground for more warriors?

America must take a real stand in world affairs. This may start with full and complete withdrawal of all American forces from Iraq. Then and only then does real diplomacy and economic aid aimed at restoring the infrastructure of Iraq have any chance of success. Time is wasting. The longer we stay in Iraq the worse the conditions become and the lower the chance of real success in reversing the damage done.

Accepted for publication in the local newspaper, June 19, 2007.

Another Decade in Iraq?????

General David Petraeus, the commanding officer of American forces in Iraq, is now suggesting American forces will be needed in Iraq for at least a decade for continued counter-unsurgency activity. How many Americans can we expect to lost during that time? The first four years saw losses of more than 800 per year. Are we, the American people, expected to give up another 8000 soldiers to hold a position in Iraq?

Why can our government leaders see the fallacy of continuing the occupation of Iraq. By almost any measure the occupation is failing. What must happen to bring new resolve and a different course? When will our troops be withdrawn once and for all? When will the politicians in Washington begin to listen to the will of the American people and end the fiasco that continues to be Iraq? Another decade? Let us all hope not.

More Children Killed by Coalition Forces in Afghanistan

While the news is filled with reports from Iraq and the death tolls there, news from Afghanistan is beginning to be nearly as bad. Recent reports of an attack on suspected al-Quaida militants by coalition forces did manage to kill seven children without any apparent damage to the insurgents. How much longer will we as Americans continue to support this sort of action in our names? How many innocent women and children must die before we recognize the futility of our actions in both Iraq and Afghanistan?

One could argue that we are fighting a war on terror. In that instance the facts show an opposite reaction. Terrorist attacks are on the rise throughout the world. Would we not be better as a nation and as a leader of the world acting to benefit world economics and undermining the terrorist base? Our ongoing military presence around the world offers too many convenient targets for terrorist organizations. The time has come to bring our troops home and to invest in our own nation. We can offer economic and infrastructure support around the world without being an aggressor any longer. There are no more children left to lose.

How Much is a Human Life Worth?

How does one measure the value of a human life? Can any measure of dollars and cents be accurate? According to recent reports the American government is offering as much as $2500 for the death of an Iraqi civilian as the result of coalition activity (the so-called collateral damage of war time). How much lower must our activities reach before we as a nation begin to reject the ongoing occupation of Iraq? How many lives must be bought with what has the appearance of “blood money?”

And not only are Iraqis dying, but Americans are dying daily in Iraq. How many more American lives must be sacrificed before and end to the fight is called? How many lives must be paid in this apparently losing war? In spite of all the glowing reports from the administration, the facts seem to show the occupation is failing on nearly every count. American and Iraqi death tolls are rising at near record rates. The intensity of insurgent attacks is on the rise. American death rates as compared to injury rates are rising. Basic infrastructure services such as electricity, food, and sewage are at the worst rates of all time.

The time has come to put an end to the American occupation of Iraq. Talk about a permanent occupation should be ended. The longer the American presence remains in the country, the higher will be the toll. Congress should act today to end the war and to withdraw our troops. We have no more children to lose.

Bloody May

The month of May has just ended with Memorial Day honoring our fallen troops. During the month 132 new names were added to the lists of Americans killed in Iraq making May, 2007, the third most deadly month since the invasion began. In spite of all the talk about progress and how the surge is working, Americans continue to die at increasing rates. In addition Iraqi deaths are reaching all time highs. When will this ever end? How many more must die before reason intervenes and our troops are brought home?

As we continue day by day to honor our fallen, let us remember the one best way to honor their memories is by bringing a lasting peace. We need diplomatic efforts. We need an end to the increasing military presence and the threat of more force. We cannot bring peace so long as we as a country continue to use might instead of persuasion.