War in Iraq
More than 140,000 Americans are now based in Iraq; their mission is to provide security for the new provisional Iraqi government and to ensure that oil shipments continue unabated from Saudi and other oil terminals in the entire region. American troops continue to experience attacks from Iraqi insurgents, mostly trained soldiers from the former Iraqi army and terrorists from other countries.
How and why did we get into this mess? What efforts are being made to destroy al Qaeda and bin Laden?
In September 2002 President Bush announced his new "pre-emptive war" policy. He executed this new policy when the United States and Britain invaded Iraq with more than 140,000 American and British troops. He did not wait for UN authorization and he did not wait for support from our traditional NATO allies -- Germany and France. Unlike his father, President Bush did not wait for approval from Russia, nor support from Turkey or Saudi Arabia before attacking. The "Coalition of the Willing," basically American and British forces, went in alone.
This reckless action has:
- Diverted American forces from the pursuit and destruction of al Qaeda operatives holed up in Afghanistan and Pakistan for the past 18 months,
- Cost the lives of 2,000 American men and women and more than 10,000 innocent Iraqi civilians -- men, women and children. In addition, more than 5,000 Americans have lost arms, legs, vision and other serious injuries; similar Iraqi injuries are estimated to exceed 50,000.
- Destabilized the entire region, including Pakistan and Iran, two countries that have the capability to use nuclear weapons,
- Attracted terrorists from other countries to join with Iraqi insurgents to attack US military personnel,
- Served to motivate and mobilize countless young Arabs to join the insurrection against the United States,
- Severely damaged United States credibility within the Arab world, and
- Wasted more than $200 billion hard-earned American taxpayer dollars.
Since the end of major combat operations in 2003, the United States has built at least 14 new military bases in Iraq and moved all combat troops out of Saudi Arabia. American troops are now providing security services for the new Iraqi government and making sure that oil shipments continue unabated from ports throughout the region.
In the meantime, the situation in Afghanistan has not improved. The Taliban are regrouping, bin Laden is still missing, the warlords continue to fight for power, the central government is weak, and poppies are being grown, harvested and processed into opiates to generate cash for the combatants.
What have we really accomplished during this War on Terror? For the moment, we have liberated the people of two countries from harsh rulers and have lowered our profile in Saudi Arabia. In addition, we have kept the spot market price of petroleum from straying much above $40 per barrel.
American military units have performed magnificently; we have the best soldiers in the world. If only we had the best civilian leaders... Leaders who know how to use our power and precious resources wisely and with restraint.
