QuestionItNow - Still In Iraq - One Year Later

QuestionItNow - Still in Iraq is now one year old. Sadly, we are not in a position to change the title of this blog. It is doubtful we will be able to do so any time soon.

The Iraq war was sold to the American people and the world as part of a greater global 'war on terror.' Strangely, this has turned out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. While Iraq was not a haven for terrorists before we invaded, it has now become a rallying cry, a recruitment tool, and a training ground for the next generation of fanatical radical terrorists. The latest National Intelligence Estimate has confirmed what many progressive thinkers and questioning Americans have long feared, "...the continued U.S.-led occupation of Iraq is increasing the threat of global terrorism by spurring radical Islam."

Still In Iraq examines America at war in the post 9/11 world. We are living in an era unlike any other in our history. Our leaders have invited a perpetual 'war on terror' by ensuring we will have plenty of enemies to fight in this 'generational struggle'. It looks like we plan to pass this war on to our children, and very possibly their children, in the same way the Bush administration is content with passing this war onto the next president.

This is crazy! We need to find a way to get out of this mess and truly focus on homeland security. As Katrina showed us, terrorists are not the only threats to America. We need stronger, not weaker first responders. We need a national guard that is at home to help pick up the pieces after any natural or man-made disaster. We need leaders who will intelligently prioritize our use of scarce national resources, especially during wartime.

During a time of war we need listen to those who have served and have paid the price of war by having "been there, done that." Leaders such as General Wes Clark, Marine Jack Murtha, Marine Paul Hackett , and the Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America *IAVA* are motivated professional American veterans. They know how to plan, execute, assess, learn from mistakes and adjust tactics based upon new information. As professionals they are focused on the mission. They don't cry "Mission Accomplished" until a mission is accomplished.

From what I have seen and heard I believe American military people are the backbone of our democracy. One of them has written the most intelligent analysis of America's place in the world I have ever read. For those who argue no one has a different plan for how to fight the 'war on terror' I say read The Battle for Peace by General Tony Zinni.

I am encouraged that so many veterans are getting actively engaged in politics. It gives me renewed hope for the future. Most importantly it gives me hope for my children's future. I believe we need to turn over a stronger, not weaker America to our children. In a time of war veterans voices should carry more weight in the halls of power. I am proud to say I Vote for Vets . Americans who know and have felt the price of war are the only Americans worthy of leading our proud forces. These are the true patriots.

One year ago, Still In Iraq began with reposts of comments posted on the main website in answer to the question, Why Are We in Iraq? on 8/23/05. The Soldier Cheers! argued that the war was justified based upon Saddam's history of deception and atrocities: Saddam was a threat to his own populace.

However, Cheers! finishes by stating
"I am saddened by the price we are paying for the logical follow-up question to 'Why are we in Iraq' - Why are we still in Iraq? Although peace has returned to most of Iraq, it has not returned to all of Iraq. Again, this is another issue for discussion and thought.

I have my opinions on the answer to "Why are we still in Iraq?" Some I like, some I don't. I encourage anyone who has honored me by reading thus far to submit his/her answer to this question."

Cross-posted at: Bring It On!

Military - Daily Featured - Middle East - Homeland Security

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The Long & Winding Road to 9/11/2001

Much has been made about ABC's prime time fictional mini-series "The Path to 9/11" and how it opens with an unflattering, distorted picture of the Clinton years. In arguing for a more realistic portrayal, I heard one commentator state that by rights the show should have opened with Oliver North and the Iran-Contra Affair. That was a thought stimulating suggestion, but it is as wrong as the so called docudrama.

No, the roots of 9/11 arguably go back to the story is Abraham and his sons Ishmael and Isaac. Still, I trust we are best served by looking for the key foot paths that lead to the tragic events of September 11, 2001 in the 20th Century. Consider the following.

Saudi Arabia: To enhance its position and consolidate its power in the material world, the Saudi Royal family consummated a marriage of convenience to what at the time was a fringe, rigid, dogmatic, authoritarian sect, that was not even considered Muslim by many at the time, the Wahhabis. These ultra orthodox so-called religious leaders have indoctrinated many generations of Saudis into an extremely narrow world view based upon rigid adherence to their hateful interpretation of the Koran. This world view is the underpinnings of Osama bin Laden's' extremist ideology.

Egypt: The assassination of Anwar Sadat for the "sin" of making piece with Israel by the Muslim Brotherhood (founded in 1928) is another example of how far these "true believers" will go to ensure that those who do not share their twisted sense of Islam will be made to pay with their lives. Is it little wonder that Ayman Al-Zawahiri, bin Laden's mentor, was involved in this plot? It is no coincidence that the Brotherhood has very close ties to Saudi Wahhabis.

These are the ideological roads that lead to 9/11. What they have in common is a rigid worldview that believes their way is the only true way of Allah. This mindset is a reaction against modernity and what they perceive as the wickedness of the rest of the world. Any who have a different view of reality are to be punished. They believe "you are either with us or against us." This is a classical case of authoritarianism vs. liberalism.

Unfortunately, recent events in the world appear to be making this message more appealing than ever before to desperate Muslims. The question for the rest of us is this. What can we do to bring these preachers of hate and architects of destruction to justice, while helping to ensure that their thousands of disciples and sympathizers find a path to peace?

QuestionItNow - Still In Iraq

A perfect storm of political imperfection...

by: John Patterson, A Kansas Democrat (reposted with permission)

There is a perfect storm of political imperfection brewing this very day in Iraq.

Bush's arrogant, Neocon-contrived supposition that a psuedo-nation such as Iraq, held together only by the extreme brutality of Saddam and his Sunni death squads, could be knit in one historic military moment into a democratic example to the whole Middle East, is going to be tested to the brink in the days and weeks to come.

Hidden not too secretly away in a Washington Post story this morning is the evidence of the makings of a perfect storm of political upheaval that threatens to become a full-scale "Iraqi" civil war.

But unlike the Civil War we remember in our own American history, this storm has three "fronts", each with its own well-armed military, its own foreign support mechanism, and its own foreign loyalties.

In today's (Sunday, September 3) Washington Post story "A Demand For Saddam Hussein's Release" all three of these converging fronts are clearly identified, and acknowledged as being in the process, at this very moment, of solidifying their independent powers into separate and inevitably warring factions.

1. "A coalition of 300 Iraqi tribal leaders, ...most of them Sunni Arabs, ...on Saturday demanded the release of Saddam Hussein so he could reclaim the presidency and also called for armed resistance against U.S.-led force..."

2. "Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki traveled to the southern city of Najaf on Saturday to discuss the deteriorating security situation with Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani..."

3. "Arabs across the country expressed anger at a decree by Massoud Barzani, president of the regional government in Kurdish-populated northern Iraq, forbidding the Iraqi flag to be raised in government buildings across the north."

Turdblossom just may not be able to stave off this triple-sided civil war, long enough to keep control of a wayward Republican Congress.

Try as they might, while Rove and his extensive web of secret political operatives may be able to manage the slow MSM leakage of truth to the American public, when this three-headed "perfect storm" of Middle Eastern civil war begins to converge, our upcoming political cycle may well prove much more difficult for them to control.

Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld are trying to blame the media, the American public and the Iraqi "people" for this confluence of deadly destinies. If the full fury of this storm hits before election day, and our soldiers are caught in the crossfire, Bush and Cheney and Rumsfeld will have no one but themselves left to blame.

Any US Congress-man (or woman), Democrat or Republican, who is still attached to this war, to the Bush gang, or to some twisted nationalistic ideology, might just lose their seat sooner than they imagine.

John Patterson

QuestionItNow - Still In Iraq