A 2003 Essay on Iraq and Afghanistan

Here is an August 22, 2003 Letter to the Editor of mine that was published in several western Wisconsin newspapers in early Sept. 2003. I think we've come to see several things become reality. Instead of where I talk about President Bush's 2004 re-election campaign, just insert the Republicans majority in Congress in the 2006 mid-term elections. I'm not trying to "tell anyone so" post facto, but I put it here to show that the problems this letter and other Club documents pointed out, some now 5 years ago, have not been resolved. The questions and problems pointed out then should show us what? That the leadership has consistently failed, are still failing for the same reasons? That they need to be replaced? Or that we have been dealing with timeless problems of the political and military policy of this war, problems that need resolution. I hope people will comment on this entry.

22 August 2003
Dear Editor,
America has not yet won the global war against terrorism. Most citizens realize that much struggle remains between our country and the enemy who seeks our total destruction. But how would we define a victory? Can we win with the current foreign policy?

The war with and occupation of Iraq gives some useful insight on these questions. We were told before the war started that the arrest or death of Saddam Hussein and his sons, the destruction of the Republican Guard, the end of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction capabilities, and the capture of Baghdad and Tikrit were the primary military objectives. Complete regime change was the ultimate political objective, apparently to result in a democratic government and the economic reconstruction of Iraq. As far as the military objectives, only the arrest or death of Saddam Hussein remains unresolved. All other goals were met. (The end of Iraq's mass destructive weapons came by default)

Over one hundred days after President Bush declared "mission accomplished" the reports of dead and wounded continue on a daily basis. The American Government denies the existence of a guerilla war, saying the attacks on our armed forces come from "uncoordinated" "terrorist." That's how guerillas fight No matter what word play the United States' policy makers try for public relations effect, another national war of liberation is in the process of exploding in the Middle East.

Afghanistan presents another example of the problem of defining victory in the multi-front war against terrorism. The Taliban government fell in December 2001, retreated, and regrouped. Now the Taliban make ever bolder attacks against the transition government's authority. The Taliban attacks aim to show the Afghani population that only they can provide stability.
The worst-case scenarios for both Iraq and Afghanistan would take the form of mass, organized or spontaneous, attacks against coalition and NATO forces Such an offensive, if successful, might have an effect similar to the 1968 Communist Tet Offensive in Vietnam. How would Americans react to 100 American deaths over a three day period? What would happen in terms of popular support for the occupation of Iraq? What about Bush's re-election campaign? God, protect our troops from this probability

Evil men brought upon us the war with terrorism. We must understand why we seem to be failing now, and correct the mistakes. The foreign policy elite in charge of our grand strategy have a well-documented record, before taking office and since then, of wanting to militarily dominate the Middle East. Only a shameless apologist would deny the role the special oil interest plays in our policies so far in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a two-party problem that must change. Too many lives have been sacrificed already because America has not implemented a policy of positive economic and cultural growth with others. Unless we devise a political policy other than the complete destruction of the Muslim religion we will fight this war forever. We must change our leadership.

Sincerely,