|
These are the times that try men's souls, and the duration of the Iraqi war has tried the souls of Americans like nothing else in since the Viet Nam War. We can see the challenge by comparing the Iraqi war to World War II. Almost all Americans supported the "good war" and sacrificed to win that war-- not just in foxholes but on the home front as well. The names of heroes and generals filled the newspapers, weekly magazines, and radio waves. By contrast, the Iraqi war appears to many Americans to be yet another quagmire-- a stalemate much like the Korean and Viet Nam war, with no good outcome in sight. As regards to the Iraqi war, I have great difficulty reconciling the following propositions, and perhaps they cannot be reconciled: 1. We are not winning in Iraq. The president's formulation is: as the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down. We are not standing down and troop casualties are mounting. 2. The president will respond the commanders on the ground to provide whatever resources they need to win. 3. The president and the commanders on the ground claim they have all the resources they need to win. Since we aren't winning, can we conclude that the commanders cannot do the job as they are oblivious to what needs to be done? To look at the progress of the World War II in comparison to the Iraqi war, let us compare each year, year by year for the two wars. Year One 1941 Hitler attacks Russia (June 22).. Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, Philippines, Guam force U.S. into war; U.S. Pacific fleet crippled (Dec. 7). U.S. and Britain declare war on Japan. Germany and Italy declare war on U.S.; Congress declares war on those countries (Dec. 11). 2003 Iraq War begins (Mar. 19). Bush declares mission accomplished and an end to major combat operations. Troops remain in Iraq. (May 1) Number of US combat deaths reaches 147, the same number as in the Gulf War. (July) Saddam Hussein captured. (December 13) Year Two 1942 British surrender Singapore to Japanese (Feb. 15). U.S. forces on Bataan peninsula in Philippines surrender (April 9). U.S. and Filipino troops on Corregidor island in Manila Bay surrender to Japanese (May 6). U.S. and Britain land in French North Africa (Nov. 8). 2004 Last of Spain's troops leave Iraq. Abu Ghraib torture uncovered. (April) Congress votes overwhelmingly, 96-0 and 410-12, to continue funding the war in Iraq (July) Year Three 1943 German 6th Army surrenders at Stalingrad-turning point of war in Russia (Feb. 1-2). Nazis seize Rome (Sept. 10). 2005 The age limit for entering the Army Reserve is raised to 40. (March) Cindy Sheehan begins her protest against the Iraq war at Bush's ranch. (August) US Marines massacre 24 civilians in Haditha, including several children shot to death execution-style. (November 19) Year Four 1944 U.S. and British troops land at Anzio on west Italian coast and hold beachhead (Jan. 22). U.S. and British troops enter Rome (June 4). D-Day-Allies launch Normandy invasion (June 6). Hitler wounded in bomb plot (July 20). Paris liberated (Aug. 25). Americans invade Philippines (Oct. 20). Germans launch counteroffensive in Belgium-Battle of the Bulge (Dec. 16). 2006 Bombs detonated inside a major Shia Muslim shrine, beginning a wave of sectarian violence. (February) The age limit for entrance into both the Army Reserve and Active Duty is raised to 42. (June) 100,000 Iraqis march and protest in Baghdad against the US-backed Israeli war against Lebanon. (August) A National Intelligence Estimate report, completed in April, is leaked. The report is a consensus of 16 government agencies, and finds that the Iraq war has increased the threat of terrorism. (September) A poll conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, for CNN, finds 34% support for the war.(October) In year five during World War II, Germany and Japan surrendered. In year five in Iraq, the United States will have to make fundamental changes, beginning with the replacement of present commanders who don't appear to know how to fight and win. We either need far more troops, a surrender of Iraqi territory to whatever forces may take over, partitioning of Iraq into autonomous provinces, a graduated but determined draw down, or some combination of the above. It is more than self-evident that the status-quo cannot be sustained. |