Public Opinion on the War in Iraq

Picture Courtesy of Arlington National Cemetery

People really do not need my opinion on the war in Iraq. Most of us already know that the war in Iraq was a sham from the get go now but our political leaders still moved on at full speed to put our nation’s military to do what they do best. They fight the battles and they shed the blood. Our troops are the ones that either come home in a coffin or wounded for life. Political speeches are easy when discussing war when it is not your sons or daughters that could ultimately pay the highest price.

General Patton during World War II was nicknamed Blood and Guts because he had the guts and the troops had the blood. His senior reports loved him because he never relented and success was his only goal. The cost of that Generals success is still buried in Europe. General Patton’s only failure was he never knew how to stop fighting.

I’m not surprised at all to see in the New York Times that the American people trust the Military leaders over the President. That ranks up there with a big old DUHHH!

Military Seen as Best Able to Guide War

By STEVEN LEE MYERS and MEGAN THEE
Published: September 10, 2007

Americans trust military commanders far more than the Bush administration or Congress to bring the war in Iraq to a successful end, and while most favor a withdrawal of American troops beginning next year, they suggested they were open to doing so at a measured pace, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll.

On the eve of what is sure to be a contentious debate on Iraq, the results underscored the benefits to the White House of entrusting the top American commander in Iraq, Gen. David H. Petraeus, to make the case that an increase in American forces this year had been successful enough to continue into next year.

Snip and jump

Only 5 percent of Americans — a strikingly low number for a sitting president’s handling of such a dominant issue — said they most trusted the Bush administration to resolve the war, the poll found. Asked to choose among the administration, Congress and military commanders, 21 percent said they would most trust Congress and 68 percent expressed most trust in military commanders. - New York Times

I once received an email that listed the military records of all the members of Congress. Now I wished I saved it. In the email it turned out that most of the people saying we should go to war had no military service at all in their background. Dick Cheney, nope. Deferment. And the list went on of all the war backers. (If you have a copy of that email please forward it to me @ papamoka@hotmail.com or post it in the comments section.)

Kids of politicians in service to our military would be interesting to see. Jim Webb of Virginia has a son in theatre or I hope by now rotated out. Mitt Romney is running for President and yet none of his sons have served in our nation’s military. Hillary just has the one daughter and she will never see the inside barracks of any military post unless she dates a drill Sergeant. My list could go on but it really does not need to.

The time for diplomacy and withdrawal in Iraq is at hand. That fact is clear to the American people and the President is surrounding himself with yes men and Pro Bush people at every speech he makes. It’s not really a big secret that you can not just show up at any location that this President is going to speak at. You must be vetted and cleared as a supporter to the President to attend.

Our nation and it’s war with Iraq was over the minute our government lied to its people. Someone convinced or ordered Collin Powell to give his speech at the United Nations to go to war and that was a man America trusted. This was a man that his word was right up there with God and our people, our nation, the world trusted his word. Our President used him and abused his trust to get what he and his administration wanted. They cast him aside like a flat tire on the highway and graciously let his credibility go with the tire. Where there was once a man of unprecedented potential to lead, he was used like a playing card in a game of poker. Aces bluff only to reveal a hand of only just a pair of lowly deuces. For some odd reason I would trust Collin Powell over our President any single day when it comes to military matters.

Back to diplomacy, America was not founded on nation building and I believe that President Bush had uttered those same words when campaigning for his first election to the Presidency. 9/11 did happen and America wanted revenge. America wanted justice. We wanted blood for the thousands that died at the hands of monsters that happened to come from the Middle East. Label them terrorists or what ever title you want. We wanted an eye for an eye.

Now that the number of troops that have died in service to our nation has surpassed the number of dead on 9/11 do you think it is time for diplomacy with the nations harboring the terrorist?

Our so called American retribution in Iraq and Afghanistan has come to a decision of wills. American will be always stronger for our unity against terrorism but our strength is in our ability to know when diplomacy and talking to our enemies is far more fruitful. That is one message that this current administration will never comprehend.

Papamoka

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