Our country will forever be haunted by what has happened in Iraq. Ridding Iraq of its terrible dictator, Saddam Hussein, doesn't reduce our responsibility for the tragedy that has occurred since our invasion. In getting us into war with Iraq, the Republicans engaged in propaganda (dishonesty) and since then have used it to cover up this war's failure.
It was never much publicized that on June 28, 2004 (four months before Bush was elected a second term), Paul Bremer, as head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, officially handed over complete sovereignty of Iraq to interim Iraqi government officials Iyad Allowi, Ghazi Yawar, and some others who had been picked to govern until after elections had been held. It was expected the Iraqis would treat our people as guests after that. At that time, this might have worked if we had shown some sincerity and re-deployed our troops that same day.
It is estimated Iraq is 97 percent Muslim, a quite religious people. By now, those who were able (two million) have fled from war-torn Iraq, leaving the poor and the pious radicals who consider it against their religion to allow non-Muslim forces to occupy their country. There can be no peace made with these people while our military forces are in Iraq. To them, they are fighting a religious war. These radicals see America attempting to save the world for Christianity and they won't stand for that.
It appears to me Bush has got a nice little religious war started in Iraq. Now if he can just keep the people hoping to win something, he can keep it going. Let us face reality! This "lunatic fringe" is in charge on both sides.
Warren Crackel
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Willmar
