WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET MAD?

As "We" have now reached the 1246 day mark since we invaded Iraq I feel I must ask this question. I'm not even going to get into the politics or real motives for our presence in Iraq (which are many and very complex) but rather want to focus on today and the tomorrows we face.

I should point out before continuing that I am NOT someone who would be labeled a "Conservative" and I am NOT what would be labeled a "Liberal". I am, however, an American citizen with family roots in this country that goes back 386 years. I have no particular interest in any organized political party. If one must use a label, I suppose, Independent Citizen would sum my position best. I try not to view any issue or proposal through the prism of "Party Line", but rather on the merits and the sense of it. That said, let's return to the question.

A look at some numbers. September 11, 2001 brought our nation a confirmed count of 2,948 deaths at the hands of "terrorists". This horrendous day affected millions of Americans and others around the world. I would estimate that there was a more immediate effect on AT LEAST 73,700 people that at 25 per death would represent the victims immediate family and other relatives and closest friends. That number may be very conservative but the point will be made. The events of 9/11 took place 1,800 days ago. The lives of those affected will, of course, never be the same. Our Government went to the extreme of creating a federal fund that offered a large "settlement" to the families of the victims essentially because the deaths were due to "terrorist" attack. This was a decision that still needs further justification.

From all appearances, "WE" got mad in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.

More numbers.

As of today, August 16, 2006, a "reported" 2,602 American military personnel have met their demise (virtually all at the hands of "terrorist" or "insurgents" or as they are more recently called "death squads") and an additional (reported) 19,511 have been wounded. Using the same 25 per victim rate I used when referring to the 9/11 victims, 65.050 immediate family members, relatives and closest friends have had their lives dramatically and forever changed. When the wounded number is included the total swells to 552,825!

I say again, "WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET MAD?"

The continuing reasoning we receive from the current administration is simply unacceptable. Every day we are asked to be patient. We are told that it is imperative that we remain engaged in Iraq and Afghanistan "until we win". We are well past the point of demanding to know exactly what that statement means! Does it mean that every single individual or group now in Iraq or Afghanistan that wishes to and is willing to harm or kill our militiary personnel must be eliminated before we can claim that we have "won"? Does it mean that all those wishing our demise in the ENTIRE WORLD must either give up their "fight" or attitudes toward America or be killed before we can claim we have "won"? If either of these two possibilities are even close, then it is also well past time to stop this "limited" engagement we are now doing.

The current process of "killing us slowly" is exactly the kind of "war" our "extremist" enemy wants us to fight because they realize that not only can they sustain the fight but they also know that "we" cannot "win" in the end. No matter what we do (well almost) we will be incapable of attaining an absolute victory. This is a religious struggle, a cultural struggle, and a power struggle that is so ingrained in the hearts and minds of a huge number of people throughout the region and the world (and is growing daily) that makes the idealistic wish that we want to "change the hearts and minds" of the "oppressed" people in that region by bringing to them the "gift" of Democracy (whether they want it or not) an astounding example of absurdity. It won't ever happen!

The current process of "killing us slowly" is also for equally absurd reasons "acceptable" to the American people. While an actual comparison to the Vietnam "conflict" cannot be made yet (mainly because the casuality numbers haven't grown high enough) our collective mentality seems to be similiar as we "accept" the daily body count numbers that filter into our lives a few at a time. We seem to file them away like we would stock levels or minutes of usage on our cell phones. They are not making us MAD! The turning point for the American people to begin to realize the hopelessness of attaining "victory" in Vietnam was the ever increasing body count and the fact that we saw it on our televisions night after night. One ploy of the current administration has been to effectively keep the sight of the flag covered caskets or the devastated family member out of the public eye, a very clever tactic. We (in the collective) have alway been fairly passive to the loss of our best and brightest when it happens a few at a time. History has shown, on the other hand, that events like the attack on Pearl Harbor or the attacks of 9/11 (and a very few others in our history) bring us to the point of actually getting MAD. Why is this? Is not the life of even one soldier (or civilian) just as important when the person is killed alone as the lives of hundreds or thousands that are killed at the same time? Isn't the collective deaths of 2,602 individuals enough to generate some real American anger? Will "we" become MAD when the death toll reaches 3,000? 4,000? 5,000. 10,000? What will it take?

Again, without getting into the reasons or merits of our current presence in Iraq and Afghanistan, the fact is that we are there. The fact is that Americans are being killed (or wounded) on a daily basis and have been for 1246 days (longer when our date of entry into Afghanistan is considered). The question is how long are we going to continue a "limited" or "police action" posture in this "War"? Are we mired again in a "war" of attrition (as we were in Korea and Vietnam) Are we truly committed to winning? While certainly not an advocate for war, I do believe that if the United States is going to be involved in a "war" then it must be waged with only one goal and that is to do whatever it takes to WIN. We MUST put a higher level of sanctity on each and every life and stop putting out troops in what amounts to a shooting gallery every day. We must stop being concerned with the effects of an all out effort to eradicate this elusive enemy. If that means completely destroying whole towns or villages in order to save Ameican lives, then so be it. Towns and villages can be rebuilt; American lives cannot! The practice of the "terrorists" or "insurgents" of "hiding" among the "civilians" must be addressed and altered. The American Government must make the necessary decision to evacuate the innocents (at whatever the inconvenience and cost) and then eliminate the enemy even if it means eliminating the structures that hide them. Enough is enough! We cannot continue to fight a "war" without the full commitment and authorization to our military to win! I doubt that any rational and effective military commander does not share in that premise.

Would it be unpopular? Probably so. Would it get "ugly" for awhile? No doubt. But in the end, the more important question must be; What value does America place on the lives of our troops and citizens in general? Political correctness must not enter into these necessary decisions. The clear choices are that we must either pull out of this self made combat zone(s) or take the steps to finish it! Any choice that simply continues the "stay the course" path of the past months and now years is not only morally wrong and is creating a needless waste of so many of our troops and countless civilians in the nations we now occupy, is simply NOT ACCEPTABLE!

While this "war" is being waged on foreign soil, why aren't American "mad" that our own internal security issues have not been solved? Come on people, this is real! Over 300 BILLION U.S. tax dollars have been spent "rescuing" citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan. Do you think that the problem of American homeland security could have been radically improved for that amount of money? Over 6 BILLION each and every month (by the estimates being published) is being spent in Iraq and Afghnistan and the number is only growing. That's all well and good and a nice humanitarian gesture. Are "we", the American people entiteld or deserving of at least an equal amount of financial commitment in order to secure OUR safety?

So, I ask again; "WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET MAD?

1246 days - 2,602 killed AND COUNTING!

Time to Think Again! What do you think?