Is permanent war – one Iraq after another – to be our future?

[kpete]

Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Guest Editorial: Polk:
The Iraq War and the Presidential Election
William R. Polk


Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Guest Editorial: Polk:
The Iraq War and the Presidential Election
William R. Polk

With all eyes fixed on the forthcoming election, we must consider the issues that will face whomever becomes our next president for these are issues that we – and perhaps even our grandchildren will have to cope. The urgent issue before our country in this time of great danger is the health of our society and the well-being of our country.

Foremost is the impact of the war in Iraq on our society, our constitutional system and our economy. Like many of you in the room, I have helped to see America through some dangerous times. For me, the searing experience was serving on the crisis management committee of the Cuban Missile Crisis . Then the deputy head of the National Security Council, the Assistant Secretary of Defense of International Security Affairs and I oversaw events during that perilous week. The scars are still with me. But one positive thing I learned then is that the most dangerous thing is to close one’s eyes to reality, to see only what one wants to see. Only in absolutely honesty and clarity is there hope. So please forgive me for laying out here today the cold hard facts with which we must live -- or die.

* * *

So, I want to talk with you today about three things;

First, what is our struggle in Iraq costing us;

Second, the nature of terrorism, guerrilla warfare and insurgency ; and

Third, what should we do now.

Here, I propose to skip over how we got into Iraq, the legal and constitutional issues posed by our policy. Not that these are unimportant, but they are relatively often discussed so I would rather focus on what is less known.At the end, if you will bear with me, I will project ahead on the implications of the thrust of current policy. I begin with the cost of our policy in Iraq:
http://www.juancole.com/2008/03/guest-editorial-polk-iraq-war-and.html
..............

Is permanent war – one Iraq after another – to be our future?

That really depends on how much you and I care. If we don’t care enough to force our representatives to care, no one else will. As President Truman put it, in another context, “the buck stops here.”

Thank you.

William R. Polk
March 1, 2008

PLEASE, read the whole thing:
much more at:
http://www.juancole.com/2008/03/guest-editorial-polk-iraq-war-and.html

[Echo In Light]

1. Noam Chomsky: Why is Iraq Missing from 2008 Presidential Race?

Noam Chomsky: Why is Iraq Missing from 2008 Presidential Race?
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/26/noam_chomsky_why_is_iraq_missing

[madokie]

2. I often wonder how many veterans are there who are in support of this warmongering

one war was enough for me and I'd thought we had maybe outgrown it but hell no it wasn't to be we have to somehow wind up with two chickenhawks leading the charge. If it was someone like Wes Clark then I would feel better for it but someone who didn't have time or guts to face it when they were asked to pick up a rifle, so to say, in a less than honorable war of there fellow neocons making.

[Johonny]

3. don't think so

The country can't afford the war we are fighting now.