Never before in the history of the world has one single leader or nation been so backed by the world's leaders than it was here in America after 911.
Never before in the history of the world has America been so opposed by the world's leaders than it was after March of 2003. What happened in only 18 months?
Many of the problems I have seen today in America is a form of a "partisan split" causing us to become so focused upon one extreme that we cannot even see the other's perspective. This is where people are equated into a specific group based upon their positions. One example is being "Pro-Choice," making the one who is "Pro-Life" feeling as if this individual would support someone seeking an abortion, which is rarely true. The same is true regarding opposition to the "Iraqi War" and that in some way this makes this person a supporter of Sadaam, a Liberal, or a Pacifist. This is an easy way for politicians, media, or other individuals to distort the realities and gain support, and yet remain ignorant of anything more than their own perspective. Being against the War does NOT mean that someone supports Sadaam, nor are they being a Liberal or a Pacifist. One may oppose the War due to the actions and the way that we involved ourselves into this War, the circumstances that preceded it, the animosity America has spread among the other nations toward herself, and the arrogance propagated by America's current administration.
As a former "Warrior" myself, it is imperative to understand that opposing this War by no means indicates any less of a dedication to our Soldiers ("Warriors") who are in conflict today, and in fact, have our complete and undivided support, probably even more than those who have never served. Opposing this "War" is the responsibility of the elders, the fathers and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers who have children or grandchildren in combat, as to the "Morality" and "Rights" of this War.
The argument with Sadaam is sound and just, as by looking upon history we can see what happened with Germany when the world became complacent after WWI. Repeating this would have very regrettable results. In order for Iraq to have a new leadership, armed confrontation against Sadaam was going to be needed at some time in order to remove him from power, the question was who and when? After 911 it was necessary to assure us, here in America, that Sadaam was not a threat after defying the UN on so many occasions. Not only the use of such possible weapons, but selling or supplying them to others as well.
Other pressures could have been applied In order to "force" Sadaam through the world community into allowing the UN Inspectors back in without massing such a large military force. Even in the invasion of D-Day there were mass numbers of "forces" that were used to deceive the Germans, that never really existed. America, lacking patience and insight, decided to send in a large scale invasion force into the area, and this did make Sadaam submit to the UN Inspectors again, but today we see the costs. The White House either neglected to foresee the future developments at this point, or were focusing on invading Iraq no matter what Iraq's decisions would be. When Sadaam submitted to the UN inspectors and nothing was turning up, America was forced to make a decision;
1. Withdraw a large number of these forces and be patient.
2. Maintain them in this location and be patient.
3. Invade
Applying such a large scale force off the shores so quickly is where America made her mistake. Soon it became an unstoppable train with no positive results because of the choices this manifested itself into. This became the point of no return for America. If she wanted to leave these troops off shore for any period of time the expense would be the declining moral of the troops and the financial needs of such a force not passing Congressional approval, especially at the likelihood of only being redeployed later. After 911, the paranoia that engulfed America and the success in Afghanistan caused the American people and their leaders (Senate and Congress) to become arrogant and support the War as of March of 2003. When no WMD were found America changed her demands in order to add justification to an invasion, America's final ultimatum was announced that she would only avoid an invasion if Sadaam and his sons were to leave Iraq, which was not going to happen. This "Final Demand" from the White House made the invasion at this time appear to have been planned from the start by the rest of the world and many here in America, especially when President Bush ordered the people to not destroy the oil wells, before he ordered them to not use any WMD's. The world and most all Americans today, knowing the realities of these WMD's, had no right to tell a person in another land not of its own control to leave it. It is this arrogance that America demonstrated, dividing America from the rest of the World, and making American’s a greater target than ever before outside of her own territory, this is where I have differed from America's current administration.
Before we can understand this war, first it is most important to understand the "Just War Theory."
As we go down the list of these rules we can see that...
1. At the time when we, America, launched our strike on Iraq, Iraq was clearly
no visible threat to America or her allies. All peaceful alternatives were not exhausted.
2. It is the general consensus of most all Americans that the War in Iraq would have
never occurred if there was no oil in their land.
3. There is an estimated 10,000 innocent civilian deaths so far,
with at least four times this number wounded.
On the breach of War I was concerned because the Arab people in the land would never believe that America stands for justice when we continue to allow so many injustices against their people through the hands of Israel. Now, regrettably, after the atrocities of what has occurred within the prisons in Iraq, America has demonstrated and reinforced the people's feelings that America doesn't stand for justice. The Arabs hated America even more than Sadaam, and this is America's second miscalculation that still continues today. I had recommended at that time that by establishing a fair and just judicial system in Israel with the Palestinians, and focusing more intensely on peace there, the Arab people in Iraq and the other surrounding Arab Nations would know that we stood for Justice and would want the same form of justice in their lands. The people would then want their leaders out of power or conform to this justice, including Sadaam. This would then be accomplished by either Iraq herself or through the people supporting such an invasion and with the consensus of most of the worlds major powers, and Arab support as well.
The very first achievement that America declared in Iraq was that the oil was running again, and now we are talking about a very long term presence in the land. These are the reasons why the world and 1/2 of America is against this war today. With America being less than 8 percent of the worlds population, and this country being split over America's decision for this war, this means that far less than 4 percent of the world's population are actually continuing to support it today. The longer America's Military remains entangled in this environment, the greater the animosity will become between America and the innocent civilians that may have, at one time, supported America.
I have heard people say that the people of Iraq rejoiced when Sadaam's Son's were killed, and when Sadaam himself was captured. They take this as an understanding that America is being supported by the people in Iraq. Whenever a person has 2 enemies, they are always delighted at the loss of one of them, and this should in no way indicate that they are supporting America. Most ALL Arabs in the region, with the exception of the Kurds in the north, still wants America to leave.
All the resolve and perseverance in the world will never change a persons heart and in time will only lead to repression. This repression soon turns into oppression, like in the prisons, that creates an environment for acts of terror to be brewed. This only continues the on going cycle of violence. Many Arab's have told me that this is where America is wrong, (example: designing a new flag) and trying to create an environment where the nations past history should be forgotten. A persons past and history is vital for building the character of the person, community, or nation, and these decisions need to be made by the people of Iraq and in their own time and choosing.
The current abuse in the prisons is one of the greatest tragedies we could have ever imagined as Americans, and as an American I am filled with shame of what my Military did, the disgrace and dishonor it brings upon the American people and other former Warriors that have served. America's integrity in the land has been seriously injured and the responsibility lay in the Military's inability to protect those who were imprisoned. It is obvious that such interrogations were being instructed from a higher level than the enlisted man or their direct Commanding Officers to the average person who has spent any time in the Military here in America today. Such interrogations, or "preparations," was greatly intensified by America's zealous desire to find WMD's.
After 911 America changed its diplomacy and these rules of war were changed in order to implement and justify a "First Strike" policy on Iraq on the basis of an "if," and this is where America truly faulted. I find it incomprehensible to know with 100% certainty that Iraq had WMD's, and 0% certainty of any location. I find it equally impossible to believe that America would launch a first strike based upon intelligence from a forged document by a man that had mysteriously killed himself in Britain, and this was all the proof that America and England relied upon. This only confirms that America had absolutely no concrete proof of WMD's as we did during the Cuban Missile crisis where there was actually aerial photos and proof of such weapons.
There are many in America that do not understand why any man would act as Sadaam did if he had no WMD's, to these people I say, "You do not understand the passionate defiance against injustices?" Sadaam was challenging America's authority and her position of power in the world and her continuing complacency regarding the plight of the Palestinians.
It was common knowledge in the Arab world that Osama was an enemy of Sadaam's, and if Osama went into Iraq, Sadaam would have him killed. Sadaam was focused on the Palestinian crisis and the parties there, and he has a long lasting hatred for anything connected to the Saudis as well. As far as War goes, there are winners and losers. In a global view, Sadaam has seriously weakened America's power by dividing the world community against her and has thrust its citizens into a serious financial debt that will effect her long term. The War America has launched has also merged two very long term enemies together, the Arabs with the Persians. Today, so many in Iraq would welcome Osama, and this should be very disturbing.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
America has won this battle, but the final outcome of this war is still yet to be determined. "War on Terror," this form of a War, so vague in its enemy, is not a winnable war. "Acts of Terror" have occurred since Cain killed Able, and suicide killings have been around since at least the time of Samson. We also have our homegrown terrorism such as Columbine, Roccori, Red Lake, and the Governments decisions, oppression, and the tragic deaths of so many people in Waco without accountability to name a few. America needs to focus more on herself, the oppression she supports to leaders overseas, corporate influence, sales of weapons, complacency to injustices perpetrated by governments upon their own people, and silence. As long as America continues to ignore "Oppression, Repression and Injustices" of people by her "Allies" in this world, there will continue to be acts of terror throughout the whole world, and against America for her supporting them. As long as America continues to ignore the oppression and the plight of the Palestinian people in Israel, there will be no "Success" or "True Peace" in any Arab lands.
The old saying, "Two wrongs don't make a right," truly applies to this Iraqi War.
