Two very different milestones were reached in Iraq over New Years weekend. On one hand Saddam Hussein was hung, and the 3000th American soldier died while serving in Iraq. There can be no question that Hussein was an evil dictator who deserved to be executed. The timing and venue of his execution were in fact a statement to the terrible state of the country. It was carried out in secrecy in the middle of the night-on a day when executions were banned by the Iraqi constitution and with the hangman not crying out for a free Iraq but instead invoking the name of the most malicious militia leaders as they executed Saddam.
This same weekend it was announced that the 3000th US soldier died in Iraq. What senseless deaths. Our brave young soldiers are dying due to the errors of the policymakers in Washington. Never even in the bleakest moments of the Vietnam War did our situation seem so bleak. Throughout that was we had true allies in the South Vietnamese- sure many were corrupt, some self-serving and some incompetent- but they were our allies they wished for the same outcome as we did-and despite setbacks until close to the very end it was never hopeless. In Iraq with the exception of the Kurds, we have no idea who are allies are, and if there were any, are there any left. We are attacked by all sides and have no strategy on how to achieve any significant goals. We do not even know what those goals are at moment. The only country that is gaining is Iran a member of the “Access of Evil,” Or soldiers are dying needless deaths and our army and Marines are being ground down as they have been ever more over extended. It is true as President Bush states that if we pull out, it will be seen as a victory to the terrorist, Unfortunately we handed the haters of America including Iran a huge victory the minute we invaded Iraq. We have lost. Maybe it could have been different with better planning and forethought. Or maybe it was mission impossible from the start. But either way it is a stunning strategic defeat, and we are a country that does not like to be defeated. The time however, has come to admit defeat and find alternative strategies to rebuild American influence and power. This may not be possible until the Administration that had brought such a disaster on us completes its term and moves out of office- but in the meantime what justifies the deaths of our soldiers? What will be better next week then this week? The only thing we know is that next week there will be more grieving families in the United States, more widows more children who will grow up without there fathers or maybe mothers. War is cruel and freedom does not come without a price- and our soldiers and the nation must be ready to pay the ultimate price for freedom- but not for a continued folly that can bring nothing but more pain and suffering.
Collin Powell was right you break it you own it- we broke the terrible dictator that held Iraq together and as 2007 begins he is no longer of this earth, but we cannot put it back together- if there was a way we could we would be morally required to stay but we cannot due what is impossible. Our leaders will have to face the cruel judgment of history for their follies that have cost so many so much- but for the moment for the sake of the families lets bring this to as swift and end as we can.
