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Archive for March 17th, 2008

Iraq…The Never Ending Story

2 comments March 17th, 2008

A short preface to my comments:  I am not a military expert.  I did not serve in the armed forces (however I am appreciative of those who have served in the military including my father, father-in-law and uncles whose service was in WWII as well as friends, acquaintances and colleagues who are or have been in wars and conflicts from WWII through Iraq).  I, also, appreciate the extraordinary courage and dedication of American servicemen and women who are and have been in Iraq…. With all that in mind..

Remember the enjoyable fantasy movie from the late ’80s..”The Never Ending Story”?  Well somehow we’ve created a never ending story of horrific proportions.  Our president has led us into a complex situation in a simple minded fashion.  He must not of had a clue about the vacuum he was going to create when our country toppled Saddam Hussein.  There was no vision of the scenarios that have been created.  I have the sense that that when we went to Iraq he thought we would be welcomed like the troops that liberated Europe at the end of WWII.   He ignored the advice and counsel of experts and allies.  We continue to lose lives (American and Iraqi).  We’re spending obscene amounts of money.  There is a never ending supply of suicide bombers to combat our forces.  It’s hard to tell what progress has occurred other than the recent reduction  of violence with the increase of American forces.  Along the way our president has made ridiculous statements… (remember “Mission Accomplished”?) and under his leadership we’ve seen staged demonstrations such as the tearing down of the Saddam Hussein statue.

I know there are no simple answers to this situation.  I do believe we need to conclude our Iraq involvement in an expedient fashion.  John McCain says we’ll be there for the next 100 years.  I do not believe creating a Never Ending Story is the the answer to the fiasco of the Iraq conflict.  This conflict is not going away before the election in November.  I hope the American people will choose a leader who has a plan and a course of action to end it soon after the election

Jon Murray

Jon MurrayÂ