Matt Bushman, of course the death toll is not the only measure of success in Iraq. But when there is no clear measure of success, the war becomes easy to criticize because of issues like war profiteering, loss of U.S. credibility, loss of liberty and the creation of more terrorists. But the loss of human life is our greatest expense, and the media shouldn’t ignore it.
Americans are angry because they were manipulated and people died as a result. The administration used fear and Sept. 11as a pretext for Iraq. There is NO evidence to date that Iraq supported terrorists or was involved in Sept. 11 (fabricated evidence doesn’t count).
Where did Saddam get the WMDs he possessed in the 1980s which in turn killed thousands of Kurds? Well, there is more evidence that the U.S. supported Saddam than Saddam supported terrorists.
It’s nice to think we could go sprinkle freedom dust over Iraq, but that is not realistic. Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq have religious strife over 1,000 years old, Bush nor democracy can end it.
Democracy comes from within society, study U.S. history. Iraq is no more of a democracy than Saudi Arabia. And how do we win, Mr. Bushman, when there is no clear enemy to defeat? It’s dangerous to support a war with no end.
Remember, “To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic, but is morally treasonable.” -Teddy Roosevelt.
Rob Fitzroy
Public policy graduate student