Kirwan Articles 

October 2003

Where is the complete plan for the Middle East? Beneath every human enterprise there has to be at least the basic outline of a plan. But where is the plan for Iraq?

he Bushwhacker has clearly repeated that he will not be moved by demonstrations, by facts on the ground, or by the lack of international support - having declared that his decision was the right one (to attack Iraq), and nothing further need be looked at. But there are many problems with all of this kind of thinking.

For one thing the numbers of US casualties have not been clearly reported. The number of troops withdrawn from combat, from debilitating injuries is far larger than the Pentagon will admit, currently bordering around 8,000 people. The number of combat related deaths has also been shaped and limited for reporting purposes. But neither of these facts is the point. The point is that all Americans on the ground or in the air in Iraq, have become simply human targets, for those who want us gone.

If there were a plan, there would be a cut-off point, when leaving would be mandated. But that kind of thinking involves reality. The Cabal will not tolerate even a discussion of anything that might smack of failure - no matter how small. Instead we are told: "things are steadily improving in Iraq." The citizens of Baghdad admit that now they have freedom of speech, but they have no freedom to leave their houses, because there is NO security in that city. Most people are glad to have the additional freedom, but at the same time they loathe the new threats to daily life.

YES, there is business flourishing again in the streets of Baghdad, but only during daylight hours, and shopkeepers have to be wary of drawing too large a crowd of shoppers - because crowds draw the ire of the roving gangs, and that often leads to bomb attacks.

The international community, the non-governmental organizations have understood the messages of the attackers in recent weeks and are leaving the country in numbers. But the Cabal is refusing to acknowledge any change in the status of their occupation of that land. Without a plan no one seems to be able to gauge what objectives had to be met, for our invasion to be called a success.

This was not helped by the many and various fraudulent excuses given for the attacks in the first place. And the behavior of US forces has not helped clarify anything that Bush says he is seeking to gain by remaining in that country. "Elections" is the latest reason given for hanging around, but these are intelligent and educated people who can manage their own affairs, especially with the help of the United Nations, once we get out of the way - so why are we prolonging the misery and continuing to place Americans and Iraqi's at risk of death, or worse, by remaining where we are not wanted? www.usatoday.com/news

After all, who is Bush to say that "We're staying the course" when the people who are doing the dying are not his relatives, but only willing conscripts, who signed up to protect America, not to invade the rest of the world. Where will all this end?

How many more must die before Bush is held to account for his actions, and the actions of those in his perverted administration? As long as this continues with no end in sight we will be seen to be the harbingers of murder, kidnapping, mayhem, and lawlessness on a grand scale. Is this something that congress can afford to continue to remain blind to? Will there be yet another holiday recess in congress without an investigation of 911?

When is enough, enough? Bush repeatedly says that all of this:" is based on the lessons learned from the events of 911." But no one can learn anything when there has still been no investigation, and it's now been over two years since this dire event occurred. Will congress go home to turkey and fund-raising, and leave those Americans at continued risk-again?

We've been told over and over again - how things have always been improving. First it was after the government fell - things would immediately improve. Then with the murder of Saddam's sons (plus two others), we would very soon capture Saddam and all would soon be well again. Back then; the attacks per day were approaching ten. That was before the attacks on the United Nations, and the Red Cross. Now we're up to 35 attacks, or more, a day and there seems to be no end in sight. The only constant in all of this is that Bush has remained firmly committed to pay no attention to reality, to the opinions of former allies, or to continuing events.

IF there were a plan, maybe there would be some kind of gauge for knowing where we were, amid all the bloodshed and destruction - but there is no plan. When Powell was questioned before the war, there was no mention of any exit strategy, because we did not plan to leave. That subtle fact never seemed to make the news. And it is still not a topic that the major media wants to discuss, probably because it would mean admitting that we cannot stay.

But there's a larger issue here. The United States military is supposed to be under the control of civilian leadership. First we have no real leaders in the administration, just a bunch of privateers. Secondly, the military of the USA has become the enforcement arm of private interests, whose goals and purposes are not those of this nation or its people. Our troops die in US uniforms, but they were not fairly put in harm's way by the will of the people of this nation. And after their service they are not treated as valued human beings who have put their lives on the line for the policies of this administration - instead they are just tossed out like so much used up waste.

Congress should be forced to stay in session until this whole matter is resolved. And the troops should all be brought home. Iraq should be left to the United Nations and the Iraqi's, and we should begin paying for what we've needlessly allowed the Cabal to destroy in our names.

Right - don't hold your breath!

kirwan

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