Editorial
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
When it comes to casualties in the war in Iraq, no one can put a price on human life. But the cost in taxpayer dollars of U.S. military operations there continues to rise to gargantuan proportions.
According to the Congressional Research Service, Congress already has appropriated $437 billion for war, not including $70 billion approved by the Senate as part of next year's record-breaking Pentagon budget. That's half a trillion dollars _ about three-quarters of it for Iraq, 20 percent for Afghanistan and 5 percent for increased security against terrorism at other foreign bases.
The fighting in Afghanistan, home of the Taliban and training ground of the 9/11 terrorists, is one thing. But an increasing number of Americans see Iraq as a war we can no longer afford. Either way, the fiscal burden will be felt for generations because the cost is being applied daily to the nation's budget deficit.
More than 2,700 American soldiers have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some 20,000 others have been wounded. We would not presume to trivialize their sacrifice by placing a dollar value on the mayhem, but how many more lives may be put in jeopardy when the growing cost of the Iraq war crowds out spending for, say, a new cancer drug?
These are the real costs that will multiply under an administration that has the nation stuck in an open-ended commitment, with no thought to the long-range consequences. And these costs will continue to grow until the American people decide they've had enough.
the war in Iraq is lost
We have lost.
war lost
The Irak war was lost the moment it began because it was Israels war. The US could only lose. The only question was how badly.
Play "White Christmas" on the radio
and EVACUATE the new Iraqi Boat people GOP !
Military occupations always fail
So the US proves again that there has never been a successful military occupation in the history of the world. This one is bankrupting the US.
dude ww2 and the
dude ww2 and the revolutionary war (and 1812) were all sucessful millitary campaigns...
re: W(hite) World War II and The American Revolutionary War?
Uh.. dude... maybe you should start doing deep research and get away from the propaganda historians who sold you the lies about "good wars."
Unless you are a person who are one of the elites who benefited from the money of war... then, you may do yourself a great service to at least read and weigh all of the critical history of what is essentially European Imperial Conflicts on who will control the world.
The only success is the money system of the men who exploit and colonize the planet under capitalism.
For the 88% of the human race who is not classified as white, and even the 98% of the remaining 12% of white humanity who never benefits from the elite caused wars.... many who see the true story... that is not success: it's White World Supremacy.
yup
yup
Seeing the Big Picture
I think a larger perspective may be helpful. The United States and, indeed, all industrialized societies face a fundamentally unsolvable problem. Our economic model, including fractional reserve banking, perpetual government debt, rising equities markets, etc., require unending economic growth to remain viable. It is my view that the US and indeed the world is bumping up against the carrying capacity of the planet, especially with regard to the growing demand/supply imbalance of fossil fuel energy sources.
Peak Oil, defined as when the production capacity of oil reaches its maximum is in sight. New oil projects coming on line have not kept pace with depletion of existing fields for some time now. Production capacity is at about 85 million bbd. I will be interested to see is world oil production will keep pace with demand growth. If total average production in 2006 drops below that of 2005, then one must conclude that we are at the crest of the Peak Oil production bell curve.
What I am saying is that once this reality becomes widely accepted, all world fiat currencies will devalue relative to commodities and massive economic contraction is guarantied. So, the game becomes for the government to borrow or print as much currency as they need without concern for paying it back. The dollar is doomed.
There will be no return to a "pre-911" world. The leaders of the US have decided that military control over energy transit choke points and resource rich areas of the globe will continue under the guise of "The War On Terror". This is how they are planning to deal with resource depeletion; to forstall the inevitable econonic collapse for as long as possible.
It's not a question on if, but when....perpetual economic growth that is dependent upon cheap energy is simply not possible. More information is available at the following link: http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=8677389869548020370&q=smoke%20oil%20and%20mirrors
The only ones that lose are
The only ones that lose are the middle class due to lost benefits and increased taxes needed to finance the war. But, the middle class represents, historically, the greatest danger to abusive governments.
Now, since the government has defined those not for them as being against them, that means the middle class should either be happy with lost benefits and higher taxes or be identified as against the government ie terrorists. To fight terrorism then, the middle class must be eliminated and that is what is happening.
We know now that Dubya in
We know now that Dubya in all his studpity and ignorance as a 60 yr old silver spooner spoiled rotten brat liar fratrat who partied on cocaine and Jack Daniels for 40 yrs while Daddy bailed him out of all his failures with millions of oil loot gotten off dealings with billionaire Saudis like the bin Ladens, used his jackazz kid as revenge after voters kicked him out after 1 term in 1992 with self made peasant Clinton.
Daddy went beserk and unleashed his idiot kid on America and the world buying and rigged him 2 big offices and if you think he didnt know how badly his retard would screw everything up think again as incredibly he just had a carrier named after him even 2 yrs before its completion along with Wall St neocons bumping the DOW along with dropping oil prices in oder to help the Grande Ole Perverts and of course save the impeachment of the worlds #1 terrorist idiot murderer torturer who has allowed NK to get nukes making America less safe.
Gun control
I'm with the Dem's of Iraq and the Environment. If only they did't want to take away my means of self defense against the world's greatest predator - humans.
personally, i'm a liberal
personally, i'm a liberal dem with that one exception, gun control. i believe every american citizen has the right and freedom to bear arms and it is non-democratic to try and take that freedom away. a lot of my fellow young dems are thinking that way now.
Order Out Of Chaos - The War Without End, Amen.
The goal was and still is to NEVER win the war in Iraq or any place else for that matter. The neo-fasctists make far more money losing than they do winning. If you were selling weapons would you want a long war or a short war?
Dead Americans? No problem. Just cannon fodder for the fasctist global elite. We "Commoners" are property of the "Black Nobility" the banking elite. This is all about creating a world government collectivist police-state or a "Techno-Feudal" control grid and global plantation of slaves serving the ultra-rich.
PEAK OIL IS A LIE!!! Research Gull Island in Alaska and a massive new find in the Gulf of Mexico both, with hunderds of years of high grade oil. Hugo Chavez this spring announced to the world that Venezuela has enough oil to supply the entire world for the next 500 years at $50.00 a barrel!
You see, the oil companies have finally learned what the diamond cartel of De Beers has known for decades...tell the world that diamonds are running out and the price will skyrocket.
THE FALSE LEFT - RIGHT PARADIGM, for those of you who still believe that there is a difference between the two ruling parties...They own you! It's all a total lie and set-up. Professional wrestling or good cop, bad cop. They all hold hands behind the curtain at the end of the day and you America are a sucker on an endless crawl through a house of mirrors. One power has and always will control the left and the right. Do you really think that the ruling elite are going to "allow" you to have a voice about how they control trillions of dollars that they have stolen from you?
The only way that you will ever be free is to realize that you have been lied to all of your life by the controllers who are the left gate keepers and the right gate keepers. It's all an illusion to divide and rule.
If you are on the left...Quit! If you are on the right...Quit! BE an "Individualist" not a "Collectivist". Research what a "Collectivist" is. They aren't your friends.
Iraq War
Anonymous, I can only say to you. Every day I thank's God that I live in America, the land of the free, the country in wich you can be the best you can. What ever you are today is the result of what you done before. just think about it. The only impediment in becoming the best you can be is you not one else
Juan Reynoso
You were always going to
You were always going to lose.
It's a scenario where a white 1st world army made up of Christian soldiers cannot hope to win the hearts or minds of those who are neither the same culture/colour or relegion.
Some issues are not solvable with weapons, Iraq is one of them.
And why should the Iraqi's thank you for toppling Saddam? You and the west armed and supported him, encouraged him to wage war on Iran at the cost of allah knows how many common Iraqi lives, gave him the equipment to make weapons to gas his own people, and only got angry with Saddam when they stopped towing the 1st world mandated order of things.
The same is happening with Iran. They want to sell their biggest export (oil) in Euro's for a dozen sound financially responsible reasons or simply do what is best for their nation.
They signed and abided by the NPT until the US started flinging muck at them, now they are scared - they only have to look at Iraq to see what may happen, or look further at Israels nukes.
OF course they want the bomb... I honestly think they just want the US and Europe to stop acting like colonial bullies and piss off back home.
I would be very happy if America launches airstrikes on Irans nuclear facilites and even happier if Irans anti ship missiles cripple a carrier and it's escorts. America needs to learn that wars sometimes go wrong and even the biggest, hardest most armed nation can take a fall.
My sympathies are with the Islamic people of the Mid East, not the burger chewing beer swilling SUV driving, porn addicted politically inept american people en masse.
Time to buy a bunker and hide.
Iraq war
Anonymous, you should place your name, so we be able to know you, only cowards remain Anonymous. You said "My sympathies are with the Islamic people of the Mid East, not the burger chewing beer swilling SUV driving, porn addicted politically inept american people en masse."
I think that we Americans are not perfect, but we are the best country in the world, the problem in America is education and the lack of resposibility to educate ourself, in order to be part of the system to address issues that will support what American stand for.
We can not said we stand for freedom and Democracy and fail to support these principals. I hope you understand what we Americans stand for.
Juan Reynoso.
what a bunch of cowards!
man ! the american people are cowards! they lose a few troops and they are ready to run home, driven off by a bunch of smelly uncivilized murderers and thugs.
Bullshit
Many of us know that we were lied into this war, that it is illegal and Bushco have and are committing war crimes! Do not accuse us all of supporting this cocksucker!!
Pick one
All human beings have choices. We can choose life, or we can choose death. We either work for life, or we don't. We get to make that choice, and we WILL reap what we sow. Pick one....
To the foolish "dude" who cannot understand what he reads.
The "dude" who pointed out that WWII and the American revolution were successful military campaigns entirely missed the point made by the poster before. WWII was not "successful" anyway, it was a disaster, and it's history is not what sheeple think. As for the American Revolution,....what use having won inependence if this is what you made of it? The USA is now under an undemocratic fascist regime.
The previous poster pointed out quite acurately that Military OCCUPATIONS always fail. They do, they always have and they are once again.
With such poor comprehension skills, it is no wonder so many sheeple go "baa baa" in tune.
dichotomy
War is not a solution. Thats the whole point.
War is and always was a failure on everyone's part.
It all begins with the men though. If they believe that fighting a war is the right thing to do, then they decide for everyone. Its because of this that we have war. The terrorists, the russians, the chinese, the americans, whoever, we all play the same game of cards. We're all equally to blame for our participation. We're our own enemy.
And to kill a terrorist with the military is like smashing a fly with an oversized truck.
Where is the international law?? Wouldn't that be welcome after this?
What I think has gone down is Israel and the USA have worked together.
I personally have no issue with Bush tho. He is president. Anyone who is president will make mistakes. Being a president is like having a nation of investigators watching you 24/7. Noeone on the face of this earth is clean enough for the job. They should abolish the presidential role for that reason. Hesitation is good. Maybe, if we had hesitated more, we wouldn't be in this mess arguing who should die first.
The longer it takes to make SERIOUS decisions, the better. We're talking about people, not machine parts, but breathing people! Seriously, when did men ever understand people?? Women do that, don't they? Men are too busy building things and demolishing things, right? Ya, thats what I thought. Where're the woman when you need them? Oh, I forgot, they're there waiting to be groped and wedded. Ya, silly me.
And don't we sound like anti-war lefty liberal freaks?
I almost feel sorry for the right-wingers..
I agree.. Divide the people w/ a two party system and conquer..
Next 3 world country
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
The US was Bankrupt before the war started. Say goodbye to your 401 k plans.
America Bankrupt
I agree fully.
Americas spending on these military campaigns is complete folly. I think the time will come when America fails to meet its financial obligations and goes bankrupt.
meet the new war ....
Meet the new war, same as the ole war. Rich man's war, poor man's fight.
These days it is always the same. The people are manipulated into war by special interests who have their own agendas. Meanwhile Americans in general take it on the chin (and everywhere else shrapnel can hit you) for not getting together and voting the bums of both parties out. This was not the founders intention. America does not go forth in search of monsters to destroy. We do now!
If you read books about the first Gulf War, you'll see this was all about taking control of the area and preventing any nationalist strength to stand up to US/UK. Saddam and his people got screwed in the process. And it was the US that pushed the Kuwaitis to economically strangle Iraq and push Saddam. The US said we had no ties to defend Kuwait - a lie. Saddam went in. We told the Saudis Saddam was going to attack them - another lie. We went in. Then we played chicken with Saddam. Just as he was going to jump, we said too late. We crushed the infrastructure and took them to 3rd world status. In the late 90s, Clinton (at PNAC urging)bombed more infrastructure after using UNSCOM to make unreasonable demands and spy. Then we know the story of Bush II and the lies he and his pals told us to go in again and finish the job.
If you read Greg Palast, you know that the US has been operating on the Kissinger/Baker plan for years. Now the administration pretends they are bringing in Baker to moderate and clean up. They've already cleaned up. Mission Accomplished - Iraq now lives in the stone age.
Iraq
WE MUST NEVER FORGET 9/11
Friends this is the time to question yourself, what is our responsibility as Americans. We are a country in which many believe that we only have rights, and that the responsibility of insuring our political and social economic welfare stability, and not to mention our foreign relations is the responsibility of our Government.
Friends we have issues in our country that we must take the responsibility to be part of the solution and to do what is right. No matter what our political affiliation, we are all Americans and we must do what is good for our country. We can not permit our self’s to be part of groups or political affiliation that undermine what Americans stand for. Our is a country that stand for “FREEDOM, DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTSâ€, and as leaders of the world community it is our responsibility to support these principals.
Our most important issue today is the war on terrorism, we should never forget 9/11, and the cost of eradicating terrorism should not be a reason for us to pull out and run from Iraq nor pull our support to Israel. Our moral responsibility is to support our arm forces and rally for their victory; they are putting their life in defense of Freedom and Democracy, while some so call leader’s democrats undermine the job of our soldiers by making statement, that help the Shiites and Islamic radicals that terrorize the people of Iraq every day killing many innocent people.
Our real enemies are the ones that fail to support Freedom and Democracy and they will use as an excuse their concern for the life of our soldier. Yes is a tragedy that we have loss soldiers in this war. But I will assure you that no price is too high, to insure freedom and democracy. What the Democrats are doing is no right; the tactics use to undermine the job of our soldiers for political gains are not acceptable.
No one dare to acknowledge that we have an enemy within, that their agenda is to undermine the objectives of our Government to gain political power. You count, do what is right for America is your responsibility to get well inform about the issues and our responsibility as a country and leader of the world.
Please learn about what the following people stand for, and ask yourself, are they in support of Freedom and Democracy in the World or are they opportunism hypocrites that undermine our principals to gain political power. Democrats want to "cut and run" , to withdraw from Iraq by the end of 2006, they want to run again like in Vietnam .Is your call, support our Iraq campaign until our job is done, Your vote in this election count. Vote for and in support of our soldiers that are fighting for freedom and Democracy.
HERE ARE THE ONES THAT PROMOTE THE CUT AND RUN POLICY.
Hillary Clinton
Sen. Mitch McConnell
John Kerry
Sen. John Murtha
Edward Kennedy
Ned Lamont
Governor Kulongoski of Oregon
Senator Wyden
Howard Dean William E. Odom
Sen. Russell Feingold
Lois Murphy
Nancy Pelosi
Bob Casey
Joe Sestak
Patrick Murphy
Joe Courtney
Diane Farrell
Chris Murphy
Michael Arcuri
Your vote for a Democrat is a Vote for†Cut and Run policy†It’s this what we want?
Juan Reynoso
Txre1937@hotmail.com
IT believe every american
IT believe every american citizen has the right and freedom to bear arms and it is non-democratic to try and take that freedom away.
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