On the Iraq War
The war in Iraq must end. There is universal agreement among our military and civilian leadership that success in Iraq requires a political, not a military solution, and that the Iraqi people must take control of their own destiny.
No amount of American lives or money will force the Iraqis to end their civil war. We must tell them that we are leaving, and then do just that within the next 12 to 18 months. Concurrently, we must shift our efforts to an intensive diplomatic mission. We must engage Iraq’s neighbors and the community of nations with a stake in regional stability to join in mediation, peacekeeping and the rebuilding of Iraqi infrastructure.
Where does Sue stand? Side by side with President Bush’s failed policies and gross mismanagement of the war. Side by side with President Bush when he recently notified Congress he has no intention of enforcing their ban on permanent bases in Iraq. Side by side handing a blank check to President Bush as he has spent $650 billion dollars on the war…and continues to do so at the rate of $2.5 billion dollars each and every week.
Where do you stand on the “peaceful” religion of Islam taking over the United States much like they have done in the Middle East, Europe, etc?
I think that Frank Livingston’s comment epitomizes the fear-mongering that Sue Myrick and the right wing have used to justify their irrational foreign policy and sell it to the American public. Clearly, it is time for new leadership to clean up the mess that Bush and Cheney and Myrick have created.
I wholeheartedly support the use of diplomacy and soft power to influence the outcome of key strategic events and the behavior of key strategic regions. We need to get away from
(a) Thinking war solves anything. War hurts people and breaks things, the ultimate act of arrogance. These actions — hurting people and breaking things — are not tolerated in children. As a nation, we can do better.
(b) Thinking that we know best. Collaboration improves outcomes. Bullying does not. We understand so little of life, culture, and politics in Iraq that we need to include the wisdom of others in our planning and in our acting.
In response to Mr. Livingston:
Islam IS a peaceful religion with much the same tenets as Christianity. Unfortunately, only the extremist fundamentalists get all the press. (And, no, I am not a Muslim. I am a Christian.)
But, if I were you, I would take a closer look at the extremist fundamentalists here at home; ie the so-called “Christian” right!! They HATE everyone who does not agree with their theology and HATE was NEVER in the messages of Jesus.
The war in Iraq has very little to do with Islam and everything to do with oil. And it needs to end for many reasons. Among them are:
1. People are dying.
2. It is costing the United States its economy, our rights and our freedoms which have been slowly whittled away by fear.
3. People are dying. People are dying. People are dying.
Indeed oil is becoming a thing of the past. While it will still be needed for chemicals Very shortly it will be eliminated from automobiles.
Our only solution is to use a variety of technologies that are readily available today. Such as Tidal, Solar, Wind, Geo thermal, and Hydroelectric. We need to use these resources to produce hydrogen and power our cars from such.
If people would stop dumping money into wars that can never be won, and started putting into new energy production, then we might already be out of the oil crisis.
I was absolutely apalled at the DVD insert that was placed in the Charlotte Observer last Sunday. Last I heard, there was something called freedom of religion here. Apparently, the Bush administration has effectively caused everyone to forget about the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. I think people need to stop worrying about what everyone else believes in and worry about themselves. Afterall, beliefs are a PERSONAL aspect… not something you choose or to force on other people, but what, inessence, makes sense to you as a PERSON.