To surge or not, that's the question

The Weekly Journal



I wonder what Dr. King would advise on Iraq?


January 15, 2007

There are no easy answers for Iraq and the risk of failure is enormous, but most of us go on about our lives as if the fate of the world is not being wagered at a high stakes poker game. Not that the average guy on the street could do anything about it anyway. But it is odd, that here in America, most of us are still not affected by what could become Armageddon.

Listening to the so-called experts last week on TV, most say that 20,000 more troops is not enough. The number is more like 200,000. The generals who believe we should have pulled out, were replaced two weeks ago, by generals who support this new Bush strategy. That doesn’t fill me with optimism about this surge.

The new plan assumes that the Maliki government can function effectively. What are the odds of that? I believe Iraq is already separating into three different countries, like Yugoslavia in the '90s.

I don’t think pulling out fast is the answer either. Regardless of how or why we’re in this mess, a stabilized middle east is in everyone's interest. Therefore, the entire world from France, China to Syria, should play a role in resolving the situation. There has to be a part for the UN too. But this means that the US must share the spoils. Share the decision making. Share the redevelopment projects, and most important, share the oil.

I watched a smug Senator Mitch McConnell, the minority leader, tell America last week that although mistakes were made in Iraq, the Bush policies are working because we have succeeded in preventing another domestic terror attack.

If Al Queda wanted to strike the US, they could do it at any time, any where, and there is little either republicans or democrats could do about it. Not even Jack Bauer could stop them.

That’s not to say there aren’t good people working in the government, or that they haven’t foiled several terrorist attempts already. I’m sure they have, and they’ll stop others too, but the only way to end terrorism is to create a world where people have more reason to live than die. At the moment, much of the planet simply has little hope or opportunity. From Darfur to Port-au-Prince – even parts of the South Bronx, the situation is so hopeless for so many, suicide becomes a viable option, a great career move.

There is enough wealth on this planet to ensure that nobody goes hungry. I'm not so far to the left to think it's all capitilism's fault. But seeing the deposed Home Depot President walk away last week with hundreds of millions is just as disgusting as seeing a deposed dictator live the high-life in South America. The system is broke and it contributes to further this cycle of terrorism by creating another generation of children with no hope.

US policies continue to alienate rather than embrace. Somalia is the latest example. For over a decade, we’ve ignored the plight of those living there, but as soon as an Islamist leadership came to power, we backed the war lords, and now we’re engaging in air strikes. I read an article this week about how the Islamists recruit teenagers for the militia. I’m sure they do, but the war lords have been doing that since the start of the civil war; but that got no coverage. This AP article ran throughout the nation. It was propaganda, a subtle vehicle to promote the idea that Islamist regimes are all evil, that only they would do something so heinous as to recruit teenagers.

Americans don’t pay attention to details. They’re more interested in 'Deal or No Deal,' than to understanding what’s really going on in Somalia. This upcoming week, most of the US will be more interested in getting to know the new contestants on American Idol, than the new generals who are now in charge of our forces in Iraq.

Is it really that surprising that we’re in this mess?

Deal or no Deal -- 20,000 more troops...