End The War!

[jackola]

First, I think it's important to say that "End the War" is just as much a bumper sticker slogan as "Abortion is Murder" and "Support the Troops". It's more difficult of an issue than you can fit into 3 words. You can't just end war, just like abortion isn't always murder and there are numerous ways to support the troops (my favorite of which is to bring them home).

So how do we end this disaster? We obviously can't just disappear from the region, because we would leave the place in chaos. Not to mention, I KNOW that won't happen. Even after the war is 'over', we will still be there to some extent. In the very least, Halliburton will still be there collecting cash for Iraqi oil.

I think it's a very obvious mistake to escalate the war. It's beyond me that Democrats could win the majority of Congress due to the public's discontent with the war in Iraq (at least the media says so) and this Republican administration decides it's a good idea to escalate the war with more troops and more funding.

Not that funding is a terrible thing. Our troops need protection. But perhaps we should be more specific about such funding. Dropping 12$ Billion in cash onto a war zone is not the best option.

Guardian: How the US sent $12bn in cash to Iraq. And watched it vanish

After thousands of deaths and the largest defense budget of all time, the question on my mind is "what for?"

That's the question the media should focus more on, and focus on it honestly.

Comments

[sisyphus238.livejournal.com]

I second that and would add that's it time they called a spade a spade and announce that the president is INSANE or, at the very least, delusional.

[melban.livejournal.com]

I actually have to give you credit since you seem to realize that we can't just pull out. Now as far as escalation no one can be certain until this things is over.

[jackola.livejournal.com]

No, actually, I am quite certain that not another person deserves to lose their life for this cause and this purpose.

[mme-furiosa.livejournal.com]

As much as I HATE this war, and have been against it from day one, and have railed against the addition of 20 thousand more troops, I think it is time to call a spade a spade:

We have half-assed this "war" effort from day one, underestimating the power of a militant minority to undermine the efforts of a national majority through subterfuge and guerrilla tactics.

It is time to do something for these people whose lives we have stolen, whohse country we have dismantled. Listen to this and tell me what you think about finally doing the job right:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7260605

Anne Garells has been living in and reporting from Iraq for the duration of this war.