It’s amazing how this useless Vietnam like war in Iraq has come to an end with no fanfare. I wrote this piece when the war first started, a blast from the past to be sure. Enjoy, hate it, love it, do whatever, but I hope you find it entertaining as well as enlightening. It’s amazing to look back on something you wrote. This was before blogging was even thought of, at that time I scribbled in many notebooks.

In talking with a young man, he asked me my views on the war. I knew where I stood, so I asked him his opinion. His answers impressed me. He came from a balanced point of view and I shared with him that in modern times it’s a little harder than just agreeing to disagree; we first have to be honest with ourselves then secondly with others. Honesty is an oxymoronic especially in the area of politics. Even in dealing with the warring partie’s party. Both parties paint with broad strokes, the “Right” delicately depicts war as a success, flowers await us. The Left: the worst decision ever; not one thing has gone right. The question is, who’s right, who’s wrong?

The Iraq War

Everyday this picture enters our living rooms…On the evening news(which is quoted as having a liberal bias) Dan Rather takes time to acknowledge a soldier that has died in war. In that moment, as Warhol would say, “Everyone has 15 minutes of fame,” a fame that is necessary.

Why is this war so controversial? Why are people demonstrating and even making hit movies to reinforce their protest? Can millions of people be wrong in their expression of indifference? Isn’t that what America is built upon? Democracy, freedom of speech to gather, to protest, to speak in opposition without being mulishly maligned.

With war there will be indifference, is that necessarily a negative? NO!! It gives us the chance to think, to confer. It should give us the opportunity to look at both sides of the question. A country divided is a thinking country. Instead of continually dividing it more or less lets us start coming to grips with commonality. Instead of being so gung ho within lines of thinking, lets start blurring the lines. If you disagree say that you disagree. Let’s stop being bought and sold. Politicians are elected because of their strong stances. Yes, confidence is the number one seller. Mr. Kerry if you would have stayed strong you would have won. Speak loudly and clearly. Don’t change your mind or opinion based on polling.

Maybe we should only elect presidential hopefuls who’ve actually served in the military. They seem to have a firm grasp on war and the importance of war but also the consequences that go along with war. We have to realize that war is necessary and that this country was built upon war. We didn’t want British rule; America wanted its independence to do as it saw fit . Also Americans are a warring people by nature. No way in hell would we allow any foreign force to come here and try a take over, it would be a blood shed unrivaled.

If history teaches us anything, it should be how to fight wars. First of all, we are there based on falsities or better yet lies. Fine! It’s over so let’s deal with what cards we have been dealt. We’ve invented bomber planes, helicopters and jets with pin- point accuracy. I say this to say, stop sending Thompson from Indiana and Johnson from the Bronx to a ground war in a country where the people have been there all their lives. They know every nook and cranny of the region.

If there’s an uprising where insurgents are problematic bomb them and then send Thompson and Johnson in to recon. Secondly, we are dealing with people who have warring spirits, who are not afraid to die. We have to instill fear within them and show them we mean business, show them we can handle losing casualties. We have bomb and celebrate life at the same time, that’s a testament to faith. Thirdly, I would like to say that losing five soldiers a day after six months is a hefty amount. President Bush is going to have to soothe the savage beast. In other words salvage what little credibility he has left and also appease both factions.

In asking the President about a possible pull-out, he comments “only in victory”… that’s his exit strategy. The question, we must ask, what is victory and at what cost? How is victory defined? It’s true we have committed ourselves to an idea. There is now dissension within the ranks and it started with Rush (Bimbo) calling Colin Powell insubordinate saying  he had to get on board. You had a congressman who wanted to change french fries to American fries now that same congressman is outspoken about the troops leaving. A conservative Senator with two purple hearts speaks out about the administration, once again dissension within the ranks.

Ladies and gentlemen, we do need an exit strategy, not excuses of finishing the job. We can walk and chew gum at the same time. It is true we can’t simply abandon an effort we’ve invested so much time in.  They have a leader, an American prop who soon into his tenure had a hit on his life and eight of his men had been killed.

How could we know there would be such a backlash in the news? Critics alike are saying the news is separatist and communist but the news doesn’t always really care about the real news story, they are about ratings. Ratings are what keep you alive and going. Before I go too far, let’s get back to the war. We are currently embroiled in bringing them democracy, the “Right” says we should be involved while the “Left” says it’s all based on false pretense and they are pushing for an out. The strategy actually favors the “Right” greatly. It makes their position seem clearly made and in good judgement. It also allows them to look like fighters and not quitters while making the opposition to look weak.

The NON-Conformist