About Iraq

mr_cj_jr asked:


Perhaps throwing shoes will insult the insurgents enough to leave Iraq.
Think of all the BILLIONS we’d save if we did that!

Thoughts?

Jack

Richard L. Griffith asked:


 

During his run for the presidency Republican candidate John McCain has vigorously repeated his vow to defeat what he refers to as “the transcendent issue of the 21st century”, radical Islamic extremism.  It has become the centerpiece for his bid for the presidency, and a tired phrase on the stump.  Yet we are less than 10% into the 21st century, and it is probable that what he sees as the transcendent issue of our time is more likely to be a thin sliver of the next 100 years. 

What do you suppose American leaders in 1908 would have suggested was the transcendent issue of the 20th century?  In 1908 Jack Johnson, a black man, was the heavyweight boxing champion of the world and promoters were looking for a “great white hope”.  The Chicago Cubs were about to win the world series, and the first Model T rolled out of the Ford Motor car company. The top issue of the 1908 election revolved around commerce abuse.  In the presidential election, both political parties rested their chances of winning on persecuting the “sins of the railroad industry”.  William Jenning Bryan called for the socialization of the railroads, which led to the eventual victory by Taft.  Citizens feared typhoid and tuberculosis more than they worried about the Japanese eye on the Philippines.  

Neither candidate mentioned the looming possibility of nuclear warfare, which was arguably the transcendent issue of the 20th century, because we had yet to harness the power of the atom.  They saw the world and the issues facing the nation through their experiential lens, and the political zeitgeist of the day.  We cannot fault these leaders for missing the largest single threat that faced the 20th century, but then again, they did not make such grand claims.

John McCain has.  Since the tragic attacks of 9/11, he has viewed radical extremism as a legitimate justification to wage war on those who would oppose U.S. policy regardless of whether they pose a threat to the United States.  Hours after the fall of the twin towers McCain solidified his malicious intentions towards Iraq, and used the “transcendent issue of our times” as a leverage point to lead the call for war.

However, he too is limited by his 20th century experiences and lacks the vision to see what may be around our collective corner.  This lack of vision will prove costly if he is elected President.

He refuses to leave Iraq until “victory is achieved”.  Doing otherwise is equated with “raising the white flag of surrender”.  It is not hard to see where this worldview comes from.  His experiences in Vietnam have likely led him to a singular conclusion; that we cannot withdraw without honor and victory, because the withdrawal in Vietnam caused him and his comrades so much suffering.  Yet he cannot see that he is repeating the mistakes of Vietnam.  Vietnam was lost partially because there was little reason to fully engage in the conflict other than to win the conflict, and because the conditions that constituted victory were never defined.  So that war slogged on until the nation lost the will to continue it. 

Senator McCain has repeatedly been asked to define “victory” in Iraq and has failed to do so.  Without this operational definition of the end game, the war can never end for him.  McCain reminds us of the legends of the Japanese soldiers who continued fighting on remote Pacific islands long after the end of the Second World War.  Soon the Iraq war will be over, but he is determined to stay and fight, determined to win the war even though he does not know what victory looks like.  For him the war may never be over.  And therein lies the real danger of electing John McCain president.  Because make no mistake he will find a war to win.

The transcendent issue of the 21st century may prove to be radical jihadism, but history would suggest otherwise.  It may be wise for us to actually leave our post 9/11 bomb shelter and engage with this century before we know the dangers, and yes, opportunities that lie ahead.  Our challenges are sure to be great, and I for one would like to see a clearer, and more forward thinking mind at the helm than John McCain’s.



Jessica

redneck452004 asked:


I have made some homemade salsa for my son in Iraq. Do I have to can it like you can tomatoes?
I guess my question is what is the best way to ship to him ?

Jerome

Eileen Fleming asked:


On June 19, 2008, Rob Krall, Editor of OpedNews.com sent his 400+ unpaid writing staff a plea to wake up and report on the recent devastating flooding in the Mid West.

I replied with a reminder of the following misery when the levees broke after Hurricane Kat blew threw three years prior.

Among the thoughtful comments posted on the thread is now an harmonious ending from Vic Sadot, Broadside Balladeer with his rendition of The Nightmare of New Orleans.

But I begin and end with Bob:

“If it keeps on raining the levees are gonna break”-Bob Dylan

It has been three years since Hurricane Katrina blew in and exposed that the empire has no clothes.

What happened in the Big Easy was foretold five years prior in a five-part series in the New Orleans Times-Picayune and in the 2004 October edition of the National Geographic.

What had been published as a fictional story became fact; for it laid out the scene of the aftermath of Hurricane Kat that the world viewed in reality on TV.

Local officials and FEMA were well informed about the probability that even a slow-moving category three hurricane would cause catastrophic loss and a lot of human miseries, for 19th-century levees were not designed for that eventuality.

For years, climatologists have predicted and warned us that powerful storms will occur more frequently in the 21st century, because of rising sea levels from global warming.

The hardest-working marsh in America is the Louisiana bayou, and its health has been neglected. For three hundred years, men have built walls and levees to control that mighty force of nature, and it has wrecked havoc on New Orleans’s natural defenses. From the Mississippi border to the Texas state line, Louisiana is losing its protective fringe of marshes and barrier islands faster than any other place in the U.S.A.

Homeland Security should protect the homeland, but the War in Iraq costs American taxpayers millions a day on top of the $135 Billion the ‘war on terror’ began with.

The very innards of our nation are collapsing, and a government that has been commissioned to protect its citizens continues to blow it big time in support of Big Oil and the Industrial Military Complex.

“Any nation that year after year continues to raise the Defense budget while cutting social programs to the neediest is a nation approaching spiritual death.” - Rev. MLK

In 2007, Project Billboard and the Center for American Progress released an analysis of the cost of the Iraq war, detailing exactly multiple projects to make America safer at home and stronger abroad.

“The “Opportunity Cost of the Iraq War” report reveals that for the cost of the Iraq war to date [2007], the United States could have undertaken 18 major projects to strengthen its security in the world and at home. Some of these include:

§ Adding two new divisions to the Army

§ Putting 100,000 new police officers on the nation’s streets

§ Doubling the size of the Firefighters Grant Program

§ Doubling America’s Special Operations forces

§ Undertaking significant improvements to safeguard ports

§ Funding important initiatives to safeguard loose nuclear weapons

“More could be done to better secure or eliminate nuclear weapons, material and technology to prevent terrorists from developing and exploding nuclear or dirty bombs….These are just a few proposals that would have represented a better investment in America’s security than the…Iraq “war of choice.” http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2004/08/b171440.html

No thinking person disputes the oppressive nature of Saddam Hussein’s regime and also understands that Iraq was not involved in the planning or execution of the September 11 attacks and Iraq did not have a collaborative operational relationship with Al Qaida. But, American army bases in Afghanistan and Iraq are based all along the oil pipe line and we the people have a homeland that is under-funded.

On June 20, 2007, Sen. Chris Dodd [D-CT.] sponsored S. 1668: Gulf Coast Housing Recovery Act of 2007, a senate bill that required the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to allow specified uses by Louisiana of certain funds under the Road Home Program and set a deadline for the Housing Authority of New Orleans to make a certain number of dwelling units available for occupancy among many other things to benefit those still suffering the aftermath of Hurricane Kat.

From July from July 27-Aug. 2, 2008, I hope to find out how progress is going and will also be reporting from Central City, New Orleans on the good works of committed social justice compassionate Christians who have connected through NEXT International, because their hearts were broken and remain open to the horror we all witnessed when our sister and brother citizens were stranded on roof tops and in squalor after the levees broke.

Our sister and brother citizens on the Gulf Coast have been forgotten by most; for out of sight is out of mind. Hearts turn cold and harden when we forget to remember what had once pierced them apart. But, redemption is always possible and we the people can do something, when we know the truth.

If it keeps on raining, the levee’s gonna break

If it keeps on raining, the levee’s gonna break,

Some people are still sleeping

Some people ARE WIDE AWAKE.

-Modern Times, Bob Dylan

COMMENT from Vic Sadot, Broadside Balladeer

The Nightmare of New Orleans

Thank you for citing the little known fact that what happened to New Orleans was entirely avoidable and was in fact predicted by the two sources that you cite, The Times Picayune and National Geographic. Most of us did not find this out until after the disaster. I checked these claims out and found them to be true. In fact, the cries before Hurricane Katrina were shrill and completely ignored by the Bush-Cheney regime. It’s just one more impeacheable offense in the 35 listed by the truly honorable Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

I write some blogs, but mainly I write topical songs or “Broadsides”. I also play good time Cajun/Zydeco songs from the Louisiana bayou. Here are the lyrics to the The Nightmare of New Orleans, a song that combines the Cajun French and the Broadside traditions. It tells the story of the criminal negligence before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina. There are two sites where I have posted the song in full. The first one, Last FM, even offers a free mp3 download. Send it to anyone that you think might get something out of it. You won’t be hearing this song on the corporate radio waves.

Free mp3 download of the song The Nightmare of New Orleans

http://www.last.fm/music/Vic+Sadot/_/The+Nightmare+of+New+Orleans

Forty-one Songs by Vic Sadot at ezFolk.com:

http://www.ezfolk.com/audio/vicsadot

The Nightmare of New Orleans / Le Cauchemar de La Nouvelle Orleans

Do you know what the French word “cauchemar” means!

It’s a “nightmare” like right there in New Orleans!

When they let the levees sink in disrepair

The warnings were shrill, but they still didn’t care

Yes, Bush cut the budget… Sent the money to war

Now the great “Crescent City”… has death at her door

Well, Bush is a Nero fiddlin’ kind of guy

He flew over the city in a plane in the sky

The next day he’s back on vacation again’

Playing golf with his corporate empire friends

It’s “criminal negligence”, leaving people to die!

Now the mighty “Big Easy”’s left wondering why…

Est-ce que vous connaissez “nightmare” en anglais?

(Do you know what “nightmare” means in English?)

C’est la Nouvelle Orleans completement sinistree!

(It’s New Orleans completely destroyed!)

C’est criminelle de laisser les gens la mourir!

(It’s criminal to leave people to die!)

De ne pas les fournir les miens a partir!

(To not provide the means to leave!)

Une tempete sauvage d’eau et de vent!

(A raging storm of water and wind!)

C’est le cauchemar de…la Nouvelle Orleans!

(That’s the nightmare of New Orleans!)

The “Free Market” way to evacuate New Orleans

Was to issue and order without providing the means

For the poor to get out…There was simply no way!

Hard winds and high waters came crashing that day!

Now I see what that singer was trying to say

When he said that “they’re trying to was us away”

Do you know what the French word “cauchemar” means!

It’s a “nightmare” like right there in New Orleans!

When they let the levees sink in disrepair

The warnings were shrill, but they still didn’t care

Yes, Bush cut the budget… Sent the money to war

Now the great “Crescent City”…will never be like before

Est-ce que vous connaissez “nightmare” en anglais?

(Do you know what “nightmare” means in English?)

C’est la Nouvelle Orleans completement sinistree!

(It’s New Orleans completely destroyed!)

C’est criminelle de laisser les gens la mourir!

(It’s criminal to leave people to die!)

De ne pas les fournir les miens a partir!

(To not provide the means to leave!)

Un enfer predit pour les plus indigents!

(A Hell predicted for the most poor!)

C’est le cauchemar de… la Nouvelle Orleans!

(That’s the nightmare of New Orleans!)

Copyright Seeptember 3, 2005 Victor Rene Sadot/BMI/Orbian Love Music



Howard

Liz asked:


He is flying air support missions in Iraq. But I don’t know if they receive email from Yahoo or only through Military branch email address.

Diane

Ernie Fitzpatrick asked:


Coming out of the Easter weekend, will we learn anything from what Jesus tried to convey to us? How many times did Jesus, who became the Christ, tell us to love our enemies, turn the other cheek, and not become embroiled in violence? But who believes that because much of the church preaches a blood-thirsty God who demanded the death of His son. So, thing it not strange that sometime this week we’ll be reminded on the senseless killings when the American death toll of American lives reaches 4,000 in Iraq!

A roadside bomb killed three American soldiers north of Baghdad on Saturday, pushing the U.S. death toll in the five-year conflict to 3,996. Also Saturday, Iraqi authorities reported that a U.S. air strike north of the capital killed six members of a U.S.-backed Sunni group - straining relations with America’s new allies in the fight against al-Qaida.

Two Iraqi civilians also died in the roadside bombing, which occurred as the Americans were patrolling an area northwest of the capital, the U.S. military said in a statement. Two of the soldiers were killed in the blast and the third died of wounds. And does anyone think McCain’s visit to Baghdad last week did anything but further embolden the hawks in America?

Let’s take Jesus and religion out of the equation and ask ourselves this question. How smart, how sensible, how wise is it to respond to the killing of 2,900 of our citizens with the killing of 800,000 of their people (mostly innocent civilians (babies, children, and non violent mothers and grand mothers) with the added cost of another 4,000 of our citizens. And the number of seriously wounded and maimed is in the tens of thousands.

Did I mention the HALF TRILLION in financial resources to support the killings? Add our lust and greed for consumerism (in it’s many forms) to this debt and we’re facing a financial crisis that could well destroy the US$ and American leadership (whatever is left of that) around the world.

This is insanity!

With the war entering its sixth year, President Bush paid tribute Saturday to America’s fallen service members, saying in his weekly radio address that they will “live on in the memory of the nation they helped defend.” Speaking for the Democrats, however, Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey called on Bush to “face the reality” in Iraq and “tell us the truth” about the cost of the conflict as America is struggling with a faltering economy and mounting casualty tolls.

U.S. officials have pointed to a number of positive signs, including a 60 percent drop in violence since Bush ordered 30,000 U.S. reinforcements to Iraq early last year. Iraqis have also made some limited progress in power-sharing deals among rival Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish communities.

But here’s the TRUTH!

If we pull out in 6-12 months, Iraq will revert back to their theocratic mindset for running a nation. If we pull out in five years they will revert back to their theocratic mindset. If we’re there another decade, the same will happen. Muslims, regardless of ilk, believe in a theocratic government, not a democratic one wherein there is separation of church and state.

We evidently learned nothing from Viet Nam. Will we learn anything from Iraq? Let’s face it. Viet Nam and Iraq would never have been fought were it not for our POWER, WEALTH, and ARROGANCE! The state of our nation is not good in too many ways: neither morally, nor philosophically.

Sad indeed!



Diana

Todd A. Smith asked:


During the 2004 presidential campaign, the Iraq War was the hot-button issue separating John Kerry supporters and George W. Bush supporters. The insurgency was raging, and people on the left and the right were adamant about their candidate’s position on the issue.

Fast forward to 2008, and the Iraq War has taken a back seat because of the success of the troop surge, which has quelled the sectarian violence. Nevertheless, the war is still a crucial element of this campaign because the next president will likely determine how long American troops will remain in the Middle East. Regal Magazine looks at Barack Obama and John McCain’s stance on the war and how it will affect the security of Americans abroad and at home.

“Here is the truth: fighting a war without end will not force the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future,” Obama said. “And fighting in a war without end will not make the American people safer. So when I am Commander-in-Chief, I will set a new goal on day one: I will end this war. Not because politics compels it. Not because our troops cannot bear the burden-as heavy as it is. But because it is the right thing to do for our national security, and it will ultimately make us safer.”

According to Obama’s official website, more than 1,000 American troops have died since the surge began, despite the increased security, and the Iraqi government has not stepped forward to assume responsibility of leading their country. The website goes on to say that more than 1.75 million soldiers have served in the Iraq War or in Afghanistan, and of those troops, more than 620,000 have completed multiple deployments. Furthermore, military equipment is wearing out at nine times the normal rate as a result of wear and tear in the harsh environment of Iraq.

Senator Obama believes the decision to invade Iraq prevented Americans from going after Osama bin Laden and others involved in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The Iraq War has lasted longer than World War I, World War II and the Civil War with more than 4,000 Americans killed and more than 60,000 wounded.

Obama’s campaign says the removal of American troops will be responsible and phased with the consultation of military commanders and the Iraqi government. His website states that military commanders believe combat brigades can be safely redeployed at a pace of one to two brigades per month, meaning all would be removed within 16 months of him taking office.

However, Senator McCain believes a speedy withdrawal of American troops would only lead to instability in the Middle East, making it less safe for Americans at home.

“I do not want to keep troops in Iraq a minute longer than necessary to secure our interests there,” McCain said. “Our goal is an Iraq that can stand on its own as a democratic ally and a responsible force for peace in its neighborhood. Our goal is an Iraq that no longer needs American troops. And I believe we can achieve that goal, perhaps sooner than many imagine. But I do not believe that anyone should make promises as a candidate for President that they cannot keep if elected. To promise a withdrawal of our forces from Iraq, regardless of the calamitous consequences to the Iraqi people, our most vital interests, and the future of the Middle East, is the height of irresponsibility.”

McCain has been a leading advocate of the troop surge since day one. According to his official website, sectarian violence has been reduced by 90 percent from June 2007 to March 2008. Deaths of civilians and coalition forces have also been reduced by 70 percent.

McCain believes it is imperative that the Iraqi government be able to support themselves before the end of the Iraq War and he believes that is possible through an improved Iraqi economy. He believes that if there are more jobs for Iraqis, fewer citizens will be interested in joining insurgent groups. Until that occurs, he is against ending the War in Iraq.



Emma

too_live_forever asked:


How can one diplomatically withdraw from Iraq without the government collapsing by their popular beliefs? And do we really want to insure our particular political system in Iraq after all?

Tamara

modu asked:


The war is not justified, but necessary!

The first impression that resonate in the minds of most Americans on the war in Iraq, is why the war in the first place? They do not see any reason, neither has anyone suggested or given vivid clue for the war. All we hear is that the late Saddam Hussein was a bad leader who mercilessly killed his people, or had links with terrorist activities and possessed some “weapons of mass destruction” (WMD). The purpose for the war is not clear to common reasoning, and the current alarming scenario is the hard driven pursuit by the present administration to continue with the war, and now with the adventure of fostering democratic values there with our precious human and material resources, even when there are lots to deal with here at home. Most troubling are young men and women who have lost their dear lives in this “war venture,” others mentally and physically maimed for life. Before going further, we salute the brave military men and women at crossfire, and those, who have lost their lives and left families behind. We honor their bravery and say they are true heroes of this generation. To their dear families, we express our heart-felt prayers and strength into their good hearts in carrying on the good baton their loves ones have left behind.

Let us respectfully continue… There is another view and very large one that believes the war is about oil business, which is to serve the pockets of few political and economic “cabal” within the system. What a costly assumption to make! The following question to this line of thought would be, the oil owners, are they not going to sell their oil? The country, Iraq is sustained from sale of her oil at an internationally regulated standard and price. Therefore, why would people assume to waste lives and great financial resources would be the best option to get or manage the oil from Iraq? This thought process is too ordinary to hold any substantive conclusion. As fact, there is an organization called OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) that regulates oil quotas (supplies) and prices based on prevailing market indices. Meaning, there is a well-established market structure that controls oil production, sale and prices with prospective buyers, and not go there, “grab the country’s oil” mentality as some assume it to be.

Brothers and sisters of this great territorial space called, United States of America. The necessity for the war, which those in power and few have seen through, but have not been clearly brought to the open for all to have better understanding, but are counting on the judgment of history to prove the present unpopular political cum military option as right to the overall future of this country and Western civilization in general cannot be over-emphasized.

Here is the picture and very direct to the point.

After the 911 attack, the message became very clear that the texture of open dialogue within the Middle East part of the world was too narrow or possibly none existent to be over looked any more by those concerned with the existence of humanity in free, cordial, and positively agreeable and disagreeable complexities of the world. What this means was that the composition of open society, which is not totally embraced in that part of the world was no longer a comfortable atmosphere to live with. The clear message from 911 was the frightening realization that action needs to be taken now to address this critical issue or neglect it and pay the price of annihilation in future. Hmm! It should be stated clearly that not the entire Arab world supported the 911 attack. However, that incidence was a clear message, which was the silent but primarily an attack on the values of Western civilization, which our democratic principles such as freedom of expression, to live, to practice your religion, to pursue happiness, to empower oneself financially, socially and others within civil constituted laws. The prime perpetrators of that act only gave insight of the danger and claim held by others against the Western democratic values. That is, the pursuit to impose their will on all by the use of force. Therefore, the planes into the twin towers were instruments of fear, an attack on the fabric of our common course to live free within civilized laws that breeds on respect of individual rights. Given the fear factor was allowed to settle in, the next would have been loss of confidence in the social/economic composure of this great country, which eventually would have shaken everyone’s livelihood and led to the gradual strangulation of the values we all cherish, the sustaining power of Western civilization. The fear factor or intimidation runs contrary to the brave and open values of this country. Thus, it was repelled or fought back with love for the innocent lives lost and faith in our objectively accommodating, workable and fair system to all human legal pursuit.

Again, the 911 incident was a wake up call to the consciousness of Western civilization to boldly take action not only in stopping such from happening again, but to use all necessary civilized, but firm resolve to push the agenda of fear back and keep its soul disjointed, which would help to douse its evil plots. It became imperative for both systems to frame out a workable atmosphere where more accommodation of values would exist, even within the differences, rather than the extremist dagger-sword approach. Hence, the Iraqi equation was given birth to as the most viable, broad based, integral solution between the belief systems of the Middle East and West. This means, it became the best possibility with the most rewarding result into the future to all parties. The Iraq equation is like any regular conference or seminar, where all participants may not necessarily agree, but the meeting gives all the opportunity to serve their varying interest in a civilized forum. As a result, those who could play this workable arrangements with the West, has always been the moderates whose views in their systems are either sidelined or driven so far to the background and out of fear of severe consequence can not share their opinions in the open. The calculation was arrived at and firmly too, that this was the right time to aggressively embark on the fence-mending divide between our social, cultural and political textures before it became too costly to handle. The big picture was to steam roll dialogue, accommodation and civil regulations in a central location within the Middle East cultural system. Thereby, sowing the seed that would broaden decision-making process. As this in the long haul, empowers individuals to reason out based on their perceptions and having the capacity to express their views freely within civil legal coverage or provisions and not the stereo-structured arrangement only to one common aggregate based on worship.

Again, the country Iraq, with its multi-cultural background and location found itself as the perfect fit for this open and fine tuning agenda. Now, the reasons wiped up for the war venture by our political leaders were not justified. They were not conclusive enough to justify for war and largely were wrong, period. Notwithstanding, going after one individual who master-minded the 911 attack, was not the solution, because the issue was more of an institutional composure and painfully doing nothing after the fruitless pursuit, would not have been the best bargain to the future generation of this beloved country to handle. That would have spelt weakness into the minds of our children. As fact, most people who are against the war today would have screamed weakness to the same political leaders here for doing nothing after the unsuccessful pursuit. Therefore, the necessity for action that is broad base, far-reaching and result prone could not be compromised. The clear message to anyone who harbors or tries to cause undue harm to innocent Americans was that, there would always be with great repercussion. As a result, the war became a necessary option to satisfy this long-term goal of pursuing common values, where peace, accommodation and stability of all interests from the West with the Middle East would be reasonably maintained. What we have on our hands is more than conventional war but a reform agenda. This is because, the success of a democratic Iraq with good influence of Western democratic values would gradually spread around that part of the world and encourage other moderates to clamor for open dialogue into their political communities, which would then act as internal check on extremist approach within their systems against the West. Some would ask, if that is our business? Partly yes, because peace is a global commodity and the present world is a community with lots of critical issues that requires well-grounded resolve to move all towards good coordinating level despite the differences in our historical, cultural, religious and economic backgrounds. Peace must be aggressively pursued if peace must be sustained or else, we all wallow in anarchy, which may eventually choke everywhere, including your proposed “isolated enclave” that is, if we follow the narrow suggestion to remain aloof. Peace needs to be enforced if we really love peace and progress in the world. This means, for true peaceful agenda to reign, we must infuse some measure of equitable firmness and not coercion or else we run the risk of been weak. This is because, the line between peace and weakness is very thin and if we cannot distinguish both clearly, then; we may live one for the other, and wrongly contending to be doing the right thing.

Presently, most people only see the war from the negative and they have every right to, because nobody likes loss of lives and properties as we witness from news out from the war. The fact remains that the young men and women who have died and those still in battle, are staking their lives for the freedom and peace of the world. Some may not agree, but that is exactly what these brave military men and women are current engaged in Iraq. This is because, they have taken the challenge into the “heart of the storm,” which needs every considerable attention and modification. Therefore, they deserve all moral, financial and logistic support necessary to win the war, despite some of our reservations to the defense policy approach currently been applied. The message we should all understand is that this is a very long term investment and attempts by major political players to back off, means we have backed down and mortgage the future for a higher price. The current issue should be viewed by all above politics, because we are dealing with our survival as progressives and the befitting legacy to our dear children, which is freedom and prosperity. The progress in Iraq will become comfortable to all, 15 to 20 years from now. As I told a group sometime ago, it is more than a 100 years project. That center is strategic for all things good to that area, to the West and World peace in general. Emotion has nothing to do with this course. It is realization checkpoint. The checkpoint is this, whether we like to hear it or not, there is a silent war on staged and marked by another against Western civilization. Turning your back or being friendly is not and will never be the solution. What we have on our hands cannot and must not be handled with kid’s glove. Rather, we must stand firm, to not only resist, but also be decently aggressive in saying no to fear and repression with the power of our collective resolve, which means, though with respect to their values, we should relentlessly influence our democratic ideals into that region and not imposition. We must wake up to our call or loose all we cherish unknowingly by taking the side of weakness. Peace is always for strength. We must now chart the corrective course that respects the values for others to live and live with us in progress and mutual kindness without compromising an iota of our National Security values. This is because, the stronger the United States remains, the better for peace and stability in the world. If we confuse peace for silence or withdrawal and allow our emotions instead of reality to determine the future, then that is the beginning of the end to all that we dearly hold…our torch of liberty.

Whichever side you belong, the God we trust is that of hope and love, and will always triumph.

Imoudu Iziokhai

MA 02145

info@vmodu.com



Justin

gyorzxk asked:


We have already spent over 300 billion in Iraq alone. That is billion with a B. How long can this continue without increasing revenue?

Christopher