Must read Stars and Stripes Letter to Editor

[lebkuchen]

Money can’t fix Iraq

Why do we allow ourselves to be brainwashed into thinking that money will eventually buy our way out of Iraq. The only people who believe that philosophy are the ones responsible for putting us there.

I keep reading in the newspapers that “we will not be intimidated,” “more and more Iraqis are supporting our programs” and that “we will win this war.” Has anyone noticed that this little war of ours is starting to look like the one between the Israelis and the Palestinians? Their little conflict has been in the news forever and shows no signs of stopping. I once asked a Middle Eastern person how long the conflict between the Jews and Arabs would continue. He replied: “Until the last Jew has disappeared.”

The Iraqis are using the same terror tactics as the Palestinians and will be able to prolong this conflict for as long as they wish. As with the Palestinian-Israeli war, too many of the Iraqis see us as invaders and occupiers and will continue to fight as long as we are on their land. They see the United States as an Israeli ally and, consequently, their enemy.

In the Middle East, the nation of Islam is stronger than an allegiance to any nation. What is seen as an enemy to one is an enemy to all. King Richard the Lion-Hearted ran into the same problems in the 1100s. Current headlines read: “Attacks are increasing, but we are going to use more power.” We have all the groundwork for a long conflict in Iraq.

It is difficult for Americans to believe the Iraqis would prefer to be led by someone like Saddam Hussein rather than a liberator from the West. But many Iraqis view the American troops as infidels. Better to be led by a devil you know than by an infidel — a nonbeliever.

In response, our leaders are providing a wonderful example of “brute force” politics. We are determined to make our present Iraqi policy work, no matter the cost. Somehow, it has become un-American to criticize current foreign policy. It is taken as a slam against our brave troops, who are trying to implement orders while dodging bombs and bullets.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Our forces are dedicated, loyal and committed to providing a better life for the Iraqi people. But we cannot — and should not — cram our way of life down their throats.

Even worse, while trying to teach the Iraqis how to institute a democratic way of life, we are not willing to let American citizens exercise their democratic right of dissension.

However, I think it is more un-American to sit quietly by and let our government drag us into one quagmire after another, especially when we find out, too late, that the whole policy was based on lies and deception. I think it is un-American to sit idly by and watch our young troops getting killed day after day, to see billions of dollars going to help foreign cities, and to put up with trusted leaders who dance around the truth and wrap the American flag around their misbegotten causes.

We have too many citizens who need health care, food, homes, education, schools and jobs. Let’s fight our own war on poverty and take care of the United States first. Winston Churchill once said: “Americans will always do the right thing … after they’ve exhausted all the alternatives.” Well, it is time to do the right thing for America — not next week or next year, but now. We also had a president who said: “You can fool some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all the time.” It is time for some of us to stand up and say, “Enough is enough.” My representatives in Congress know how I feel.

Clifton J. Jester
Kadena Air Base, Okinawa

http://estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=18689