This war is wrong.
The war in Iraq...
It all started with the Russian pullout from Afghanistan.
When Russia pulled out of Afghanistan, we all cheered. Afghanistan was free. Yes, they were, but they were left broken, impoverished, and desperate. They were left as a prime breeding ground for religious fanaticism. Religious fanaticism, as we all know, breeds terrorism, regardless of the religion.
The 9/11/2001 terror attack on the US brought terrorism to the public. Now we knew what terrorism was, and could do. We promptly attacked Afghanistan, to close the training camps and bring the mastermind behind it all to justice. We succeeded in closing the terrorist training camps, but not capturing Osama Bin Laden. Today, Afghanistan is still a mess. This year, 2024, Afghanistan grew a bumper crop, a record crop, of opium poppy. Most of this drug money goes to fund terrorists and drug lords. The US has no one in its leadership with the knowledge of how to build a stable country. Thus, Afghanistan remains a complete failure. Currently, this disaster is spilling over into Pakistan, making a bigger mess than ever before.
Arguably, Afghanistan was not the right country to attack to thwart terrorism. Saudi Arabia is where over 90% of the terrorists were, and still are to this day, born and bred. Saudi Arabia is the country which embraces the religious preaching of hate and violence. We did not, and still have not, addressed the source. In fact, religious fanaticism is still preached throughout the Middle East. Until this is corrected, the war on terror will continue, indefinitely.
Iraq then eventually got into the game by attacking Kuwait. This displayed their desire to expand using their military. This brought them to the forefront, to the attention of the world. Having been driven back from Kuwait, they subsequently began elimination of their Kurdish population in their northern territories. The US responded half-heartedly with a no-fly-zone over the Kurds. The US figured it could make some deals after Saddam settled down. Surely he would take the hint. But that didn't happen.
Iraq responded by funding terrorism, opening camps, and, it's gravest mistake, refusing to allow inspection of its nuclear power plants. The rest of the world could not have cared less about Iraq. But for the US, disbarring nuclear inspections was just the excuse we needed. The Weapons of Mass Destruction campaign began.
But why? Iraq was killing people by the droves all around. Not that we actually cared. We don't help African countries who do likewise. So why did we care about Iraq? Stability was the reason. Stability of the all-important oil supply. Anything that gets in the way of the oil supply must be eradicated. Bush senior had failed. Bush junior would attempt the task. At least Bush senior knew enough to get out. Unfortunately, he did not know enough to finish the job by capturing Saddam.
Bush junior was placed into power by the oil companies. His task: get the oil in Iraq.
Everyone knew the WMD campaign was lame. Everyone knew, including the media, including every government official, that it was all lies, and excuses, based on trumped-up garbage evidence. Everyone knew. The whole world knew. You probably did too.
Unfortunately for us, getting the oil in Iraq is not such an easy task. None of us would have cared if we had gotten in, taken the oil, and stabilized the country in a timely manner. Make peace, get rich, great job, with a bonus.
They were all warned about the religious fanaticism. They all knew. What they didn't understand, was just how real it was. It is difficult to understand the effects of abject poverty, of malnutrition, of desperation, when you're sitting up in your cushy office chair sipping a latte with visions of your bank account growing to monstrous proportions.
So, our current situation, caused in general by short-sighted, greedy, unintelligent leadership, is that:
1) The war on terrorism is a complete failure, with more terrorists and more religious fanaticism than ever before.
2) Afghanistan is having record drug crops, feeding the terrorists there, and still cannot defend its own government.
3) The Afghan fanaticism is spreading into Pakistan.
4) Iraq has been in a civil war since the beginning of our occupation. Absolutely nothing has been accomplished. No oil flow. No infrastructure built. Violence continues to rise. We continue to stay out of sheer greed. There is oil money at stake. Billions. There is defense money at stake. Billions. Do you really think our leadership cares about a few human lives when there is so much money to be made? Of course not. Get a clue.
5)And last but not least, even our allies are deserting us. The Australians are pulling away. The British are pulling away. And we have even alienated the Russians again, to boot.
Our Foreign Policy isn't just a failure.
Our Foreign Policy is a SPECTACULAR failure.
Democracy in Iraq? I don’t think so. Democracy cannot work where religion is so heavily ingrained into the system, especially when those in the system all believe that anyone who does not believe exactly as they do is the enemy. Their religions are violent, and demand conversion or killing of “infidels”. This is what they preach. This is what they know. How can religions such as these work together in a government? They can’t. They won’t. They are taught to hate and kill from birth. (American Muslims are primarily moderate, and the previous statement does not apply here! Iraq is a completely different world, a nightmare you would have to see to believe.)
Over 3600 Americans killed. Tens of thousands of Americans wounded. Even more traumatized for life. Countless American families wrecked. And for what? For absolutely nothing, that’s what. Our brave men and women are sacrificing their lives in a perfectly pointless war with no end. That, in my book, doesn’t constitute a waste. It is beyond a waste. It is a tragedy.
Personally, I’d like to see Bush and his entire administration charged with genocide, crimes against the American People, crimes against the Iraqi People, and crimes against Humanity. We need to make an example of this administration so that future leaders won’t take war so lightly. It’s just a game to them. It’s a matter of principle for me. When I get into office, they will be brought to trial. They will be convicted.
Richard H. Clark
Independent Presidential Candidate
www.MiddleClass2008.com
