Plan for Ending the War in Iraq
“Here is the truth: fighting a war without end will not force the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future. And fighting in a war without end will not make the American people safer.
So when I am Commander-in-Chief, I will set a new goal on day one: I will end this war. Not because politics compels it. Not because our troops cannot bear the burden- as heavy as it is. But because it is the right thing to do for our national security, and it will ultimately make us safer.”
—Barack Obama, Clinton, Fayetteville, North Carolina, March 19, 2008
Read more about Barack Obama's stand on Iraq at http://www.barackobama.com/issues/iraq/
What do you think we should do about Iraq? Go to Comments and share your ideas.
4 comments:
American missions should be sound in structure and acknowledge the lives they will cost.
In my personal experience I passed on a job offer in aug 01 that would have placed me on the 83rd floor of WTC and been a definite victim of the WTC attacks.
The Bush retaliation and conveinent war has cost 4000 american troops and over 40,000 Iraqi deaths, contrasted to 3000 in the WTC attack.
Every form of faith that has organized into a religion has a source of zelotry that focusing on ange towards those who do not conform to their beliefs.
We cannot fight ideas with bullets and hope to be successful. In addition there is no return on investment on bullets.
Disrupting a culture is fairly easy, many unbalanced citizens of our own country have shown us that terror is capable with little investment.
However it is the size of the glory to change perceptions that radicals seek.
Education to the public on the protocols of other religions is one additional step that can be taken to foster greater appreciation.
We must withdraw from Iraq to prevent these ideals of us as a global terror in the radicals minds.
In addition we must publicize the vast variety of religious beliefs within our own country to the world.
The best prevention of global conflict is unified goals that affect all human existence.
The computer and personal power of the internet is an example, health discoveries, as well as green energy will help the world view america as less millitaristic and more innovative, it is truly our greatest strength and defense.
The Bush administration in its final months is handing out a series of gifts to the oil and gas industry, both at home, pushing for opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and then in Iraq, which is now allowing foreign multinationals (such as BP, Texaco)to gain control over Iraq's oil fields (the same companies that were kicked out of Iraq in the '70s). Horrifying as it is, the Iraq war really was about oil. And about the offshore drilling here at home - what's actually going on is the oil and gas companies may not even bother drilling. What they're doing is stockpiling leases. They're not using the leases they already have and they want more because it gives the oil companies control over supply. That's what allows them to fix prices. We absolutely must neutralize the oil and gas thugs and get this country off oil dependency. The good news is, WE CAN. Al Gore's 10 year plan. Please support it.
Regarding Plan for Ending the War in Iraq, I believe this must be a first priority. The U.S. is sliding toward a $1 trillion dollar cost for this effort. We cannot sustain this economically. The armed services are over-extended. We cannot sustain this effort based on available man and woman-power. The strain on service personnel and their families has been extraordinary. The democratically elected Iraqi government is asking us to go.
We need a reasonable exit strategy. This is not a semantic discussion on what success looks like. We need a plan of departure now.
I have always been against the war in Iraq and that is part of the reason why I support Barack Obama. My notion about an exit strategy is that we need one as soon as possible. I am not sure if Obama's idea about shifting troops from Iraq to Afghanistan is the best approach (I would rather see them come home) although I understand that there instability there as well. My notion for withdrawal is for the US to have a schedule for withdrawal. This will be a painful process for all involved. But, like the process of my daughter getting her wisdom teeth removed, it is better for them to be removed sooner rather than later because, although pain is inevitable, the pain will increase the longer she delays. Plus, the cost will increase. We should divert some of the money from maintaining the troops in Iraq to more training of Iraqi security forces so they can protect themselves. I don't think of this as failure! The failure occurred a long time ago when President Bush decided to start the war. My biggest fear is that the US will further tarnish its moral authority by continuing on the current path. I do not want my daughter (currently 18 years old) to become an adult while thinking that it is a US custom to invade sovereign nations and wage immoral wars - - - for oil!
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