It is not unfortunate that the President “has committed our country to a nonessential war” it’s that so called “liberal thinkers” like yourself have swallowed the exact same lie as the so called “conservative thinkers”. Allow me to introduce myself and my “unique perspective”. I’m Sergeant Michael Nordstrom USMC and my two tours in the name of the noble cause of Iraq has given me a unique perspective. I would first like to know what you refer to as “meaningless war”, is any war “meaningful”? I think the share holders of Halliburton stock would find this a VERY meaningful war. Meaning their pockets are full. The people of Iraq would also probably be able to find some meaning in this meaningless war. Especially, when taking into account that the IBC(Iraq Body Count) puts documented war related deaths at over 90,000 and total deaths since the start of the war is estimated at over a million with 5 to 7 million Iraqis refugees still displaced. I think this shows what is the deadly serious meaning of “meaningless wars”.
But at least we are way ahead(or behind) in the body count. That is unless you take into account the service members who die of their wounds out of country, apparently they don’t count the same, and you probably better toss in the ones who commit suicide because of undiagnosed post traumatic stress disorder. Also don’t forget the thousands of wounded, many who will face the rest of their lives as amputees or permanently disabled. Maybe you shouldn’t put so much in the value on each sides losses.
I’m also curious about your friend Corey. What is the dirty job he’s having to do to bring freedom to Iraqis. Is it publicly shaming people at a checkpoint? Or maybe kicking in the door to a house Gestapo style in the dead of night? Maybe he’s lucky enough to drive the roads of Iraq, keeping KBR goods and services flowing in and out of U.S. bases. Does he get to help in the construction of all the new hospitals and schools? Though you would think they might focus on trying to get running water, electricity, and oh yeah solving the fuel crisis the country with the 2nd largest oil reserves in the world. You should ask him if a civilian contractor replaced him so he could stand guard. Whatever the rewarding work he is doing I do hope he isn’t have to kill too many Iraqis to get them to understand freedom, they don’t seem to understand they are free now as long as they do what we say.
I would like to know where you came up with the idea that a change in Iraq policy, such as reducing troop levels, is going to result in dead peoples’ “hard work” going to waste. How many more need to die be enough to justify the 4,000 already killed. The “good” we have done has already been lost and only gets worse as this war stagnates. The situation in Iraq is far worse then in 2003. The Iraq government is corrupt and purposely divided in order to keep the region in turmoil. The Iraq Army is impotent, and as recent combat shows, still unable to fight without heavy U.S. military assistance. The living situation is the worst it has been yet in the 5 years of conflict, with the most basic of services barely functioning. I challenge you to go yourself and protect these “good works” if they are so important to you. For a Democratic supporter you sure spout the same Republican nonsense, like those who believe that not supporting war spending will leave the troops without beans and bullets in Iraq?
If you plan to continue to call yourself a liberal thinker then think liberally. Do not justify violence with violence. Iraq will resolve itself however it will with or without U.S. interference. Educate yourself on the actual situation and encourage your Marine friend to do the same. It’s easy to believe a lie if you don’t know the truth. The “obvious criminals of 9/11” aren’t in Afghanistan they are in the White House. And if you really want to know what I think those 4,000 dead service members really want is to not be dead.
