the War in Iraq ~~ the innocent always pay the price
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the war in Iraq:
I hate war. I believe that war is the last option. That said,
we are in it, so let's get done and get out. Very simplistic I
realize, but why make it more complicated that we need to.
I am aware of one study that indicates that it will take 2
years to get us out of Iraq. That means both my brother
and the father of my granddaughters will both serve, again,
in the Middle East without their families. No, I'm not happy
about that. Yes, I want us to get out! We have so much
that needs to be done right here at home. I am also
reminded of the parable of the woman who cleaned out her
house and drove the demon out. That was good, but she
did not fill her house with good things. So when the demon
came back he found it empty and brought all his demon
friends and the result was worse than the beginning. This
should have been a United Nations decision. We are not
the boss of the world, large and in charge.
I hate war. I believe that war is the last option. That said,
we are in it, so let's get done and get out. Very simplistic I
realize, but why make it more complicated that we need to.
I am aware of one study that indicates that it will take 2
years to get us out of Iraq. That means both my brother
and the father of my granddaughters will both serve, again,
in the Middle East without their families. No, I'm not happy
about that. Yes, I want us to get out! We have so much
that needs to be done right here at home. I am also
reminded of the parable of the woman who cleaned out her
house and drove the demon out. That was good, but she
did not fill her house with good things. So when the demon
came back he found it empty and brought all his demon
friends and the result was worse than the beginning. This
should have been a United Nations decision. We are not
the boss of the world, large and in charge.
War is not my goal, but extracting us from this war is my goal.
The word I hear, on the street, is that we are being successful in our
primary objectives. This is good, but it's time to continue on. My strongest
desire is that for those areas which we currently occupy in Iraq, we
empower the Iraqi people to strengthen their access to hospitals, schools,
security, food, and safe water. If we are able to strengthen the domestic
infrastructure in a positive way then, as we pull out, that structure will
remain strong and facilitate continued Iraqi governance of each of those
areas. Can we do this perfectly? No, I am sure we cannot. Why?
Because we're human and unfortunately we will make mistakes. And yet,
that does not mean it is not my intention to try as best we can to reach
these goals. I am not privy to any military intelligence, because I do not
hold a security clearance and I do not have a need to know. All I know
of the situation in Iraq, before our entrance into the war and now, is what I
have heard and what I have read. It is my belief that everyone has their
own bias, even myself. With that in mind I believe we can still strive to
discern what is truth and what is reality. The hard cold truth is that we are
currently involved in a war in Iraq, that is truth! I care about Iraq and I
care about my family members who are currently serving there. At least
four of my family members have served more than once in the Middle
East since 9/11. I am very glad that there have been no subsequent
attacks within our borders. Europeans have had to deal with frequent
attacks within their borders for many years. I certainly do not want to
invite further terrorist activities on U.S. soil. This is a delicate balance. Yet it
is balance that I believe we can achieve not by ourselves alone but with
the United Nations. My desire is to erase the picture of the ugly American
from the eyes of the world. Rather I would put in its place a picture of a
nation that is respectful of other nations, that is quickly on the scene of
national disasters, that is more than willing to assist positive changes in
other nations, and works with the United Nations rather than against it.
So what is my plan for Iraq.
National security -- much of this is already taking place as we speak. Our
military forces are training Iraqi nationals and they are stepping up and
helping make their communities safe. My plan is to continue and to
expand what is already in place. Defending your homeland, defending
your own community, your own family, is a much stronger impetus than
fighting a war on foreign soil. Our encouragement of these Iraqi militia to
secure their own communities and provide a safe and secure
environment for their children can be the foundational strength for a
peaceful Iraq. Continuing to monitor the borders and continuing to
prevent insurgents from entering and causing damage must continue. If
those desiring to do terrorist activities are not within the borders of Iraq,
and then they will not be able to conduct terrorist activities against the
peoples of Iraq. So not only must the communities be strengthened but
the borders must be strengthened. The knowledge is there in the field to
get this job done. We must honor those men and women who are there
fighting who know how to do it and they know how to keep the Iraqi
people safe. This is neither the time or the place to give specifics on how
such a plan would come to fruition. To do so would be like telling your
chess opponent every move you were going to make in the sequence
you were going to make them, which would assuredly ensure your demise.
The next four items should be in place within a year:
Hospitals and health care -- taking care of these basic needs are
important for any nation, any peoples. We have many organizations in
the states, and worldwide, that are more than willing to step in and training
the Iraqi people, where it's needed, organize health care and provide
necessary supplies. In safe areas, we can allow these nonprofit groups to
assist in Iraqi communities that request such assistance. The Iraqi people
know what they need, we must listen to them and respect their wishes.
Schools -- the children of Iraq, the innocents, are the ones that have
been hurt the most from this time of conflict. They're the ones who do not
understand, they're the ones who have received the greatest losses,
they're the ones whose lives have been disrupted without their
understanding. Having an educational system in place will allow these
young ones to learn and grow up and heal and step up into the places of
government for their nation in the future. They will be the ones who will
remember these times of conflict and then remember the times of peace
thereafter. They will be the ones that can continue peace in Iraq. Their
knowledge will help their nation continue to grow strong and secure. In
areas where schools have been destroyed, my desire is to help rebuild
them. In areas where teachers have been killed, my desire is to help train
Iraqi nationals to step into those positions and become the new teachers.
In areas where all school supplies have been destroyed or stolen, my
desire is to help replace those materials to facilitate educational training.
Food -- as I am not currently in Iraq, I am not aware of the current food
availability for all people. With safe communities would come increased
production of farming and ranching. Having food to eat is a basic
necessity that powers the life of every living person. Again, there are
many groups in the states and worldwide, and would gladly come to the
assistance to assure there was adequate food for the Iraqi people and to
assist them in rebuilding their agriculture and ranching endeavors. In areas
where the Iraqi ask for assistance we should allow those desiring to help, to
make those positive changes.
Drinking water -- without safe drinking water man cannot survive. All of
the aforementioned items could be ignored and men could still survive,
but without good drinking water it is not possible. In desert communities,
such as New Mexico, we know is important is for the availability of water to
be a reality. Reports that I have heard have not indicated that this is a
problem, but I would be disinclined to abandon Iraq without ensuring the
availability of drinking water for all communities.
Let’s do the right things for the right reasons!
The word I hear, on the street, is that we are being successful in our
primary objectives. This is good, but it's time to continue on. My strongest
desire is that for those areas which we currently occupy in Iraq, we
empower the Iraqi people to strengthen their access to hospitals, schools,
security, food, and safe water. If we are able to strengthen the domestic
infrastructure in a positive way then, as we pull out, that structure will
remain strong and facilitate continued Iraqi governance of each of those
areas. Can we do this perfectly? No, I am sure we cannot. Why?
Because we're human and unfortunately we will make mistakes. And yet,
that does not mean it is not my intention to try as best we can to reach
these goals. I am not privy to any military intelligence, because I do not
hold a security clearance and I do not have a need to know. All I know
of the situation in Iraq, before our entrance into the war and now, is what I
have heard and what I have read. It is my belief that everyone has their
own bias, even myself. With that in mind I believe we can still strive to
discern what is truth and what is reality. The hard cold truth is that we are
currently involved in a war in Iraq, that is truth! I care about Iraq and I
care about my family members who are currently serving there. At least
four of my family members have served more than once in the Middle
East since 9/11. I am very glad that there have been no subsequent
attacks within our borders. Europeans have had to deal with frequent
attacks within their borders for many years. I certainly do not want to
invite further terrorist activities on U.S. soil. This is a delicate balance. Yet it
is balance that I believe we can achieve not by ourselves alone but with
the United Nations. My desire is to erase the picture of the ugly American
from the eyes of the world. Rather I would put in its place a picture of a
nation that is respectful of other nations, that is quickly on the scene of
national disasters, that is more than willing to assist positive changes in
other nations, and works with the United Nations rather than against it.
So what is my plan for Iraq.
National security -- much of this is already taking place as we speak. Our
military forces are training Iraqi nationals and they are stepping up and
helping make their communities safe. My plan is to continue and to
expand what is already in place. Defending your homeland, defending
your own community, your own family, is a much stronger impetus than
fighting a war on foreign soil. Our encouragement of these Iraqi militia to
secure their own communities and provide a safe and secure
environment for their children can be the foundational strength for a
peaceful Iraq. Continuing to monitor the borders and continuing to
prevent insurgents from entering and causing damage must continue. If
those desiring to do terrorist activities are not within the borders of Iraq,
and then they will not be able to conduct terrorist activities against the
peoples of Iraq. So not only must the communities be strengthened but
the borders must be strengthened. The knowledge is there in the field to
get this job done. We must honor those men and women who are there
fighting who know how to do it and they know how to keep the Iraqi
people safe. This is neither the time or the place to give specifics on how
such a plan would come to fruition. To do so would be like telling your
chess opponent every move you were going to make in the sequence
you were going to make them, which would assuredly ensure your demise.
The next four items should be in place within a year:
Hospitals and health care -- taking care of these basic needs are
important for any nation, any peoples. We have many organizations in
the states, and worldwide, that are more than willing to step in and training
the Iraqi people, where it's needed, organize health care and provide
necessary supplies. In safe areas, we can allow these nonprofit groups to
assist in Iraqi communities that request such assistance. The Iraqi people
know what they need, we must listen to them and respect their wishes.
Schools -- the children of Iraq, the innocents, are the ones that have
been hurt the most from this time of conflict. They're the ones who do not
understand, they're the ones who have received the greatest losses,
they're the ones whose lives have been disrupted without their
understanding. Having an educational system in place will allow these
young ones to learn and grow up and heal and step up into the places of
government for their nation in the future. They will be the ones who will
remember these times of conflict and then remember the times of peace
thereafter. They will be the ones that can continue peace in Iraq. Their
knowledge will help their nation continue to grow strong and secure. In
areas where schools have been destroyed, my desire is to help rebuild
them. In areas where teachers have been killed, my desire is to help train
Iraqi nationals to step into those positions and become the new teachers.
In areas where all school supplies have been destroyed or stolen, my
desire is to help replace those materials to facilitate educational training.
Food -- as I am not currently in Iraq, I am not aware of the current food
availability for all people. With safe communities would come increased
production of farming and ranching. Having food to eat is a basic
necessity that powers the life of every living person. Again, there are
many groups in the states and worldwide, and would gladly come to the
assistance to assure there was adequate food for the Iraqi people and to
assist them in rebuilding their agriculture and ranching endeavors. In areas
where the Iraqi ask for assistance we should allow those desiring to help, to
make those positive changes.
Drinking water -- without safe drinking water man cannot survive. All of
the aforementioned items could be ignored and men could still survive,
but without good drinking water it is not possible. In desert communities,
such as New Mexico, we know is important is for the availability of water to
be a reality. Reports that I have heard have not indicated that this is a
problem, but I would be disinclined to abandon Iraq without ensuring the
availability of drinking water for all communities.
Let’s do the right things for the right reasons!
