America for Sale, (part one)

AMERICA FOR SALE, (PART ONE)

It is practically normal for one to assume that freedom is or would be wanted by all. After all it would take such to even have the right to voice that you wish not to have freedom in the first place. This may sound silly on the surface but when one begins to realize that in communist, socialist, and dictatorship nations you don’t have a right to even voice your preferences one begins to get a glimpse of the necessity of freedom. In communist, socialist and dictatorship nations your mind is made up for you. And the penalty for having a verbal point of view is considered treason, punishment for such an offense range from 25 years (e.g. Cuba) to death (e.g. Former Iraq).

For a great number of years Iraqi immigrants of former Iraq have pleaded to our government here in the U.S. for our help in liberating Iraq because of the cruelty they and their families had and were continuing to endure in the former dictatorial country. But what could we as Americans do to help their cause, after all despite the known atrocities that were taking place in the country of Iraq, it was Saddam HusseinSaddam Hussein’s country and his domestic behavior was out of our jurisdiction, politically speaking. America’s compassion for freedom and the quality of life for our neighbors abroad remained strong but until or unless the former ruler of Iraq causes the U.S. a reason, actual or believed, the U.S. could never gain support to invade this country. As was the case in the Persian Gulf war of 1991.

Saddam Hussein reluctantly provided the U.S. with the reason it needed for the current war in Iraq by sabotaging all efforts made by the U.N. to prove that he had actually destroyed the WMD’s that he was known to possess and also that he was not actually developing nuclear weapons. These claims were made by Saddam Hussein to his neighbors as a form of scare tactics, but it ultimately lead to his demise, and the subsequent loss of his country. Saddam Hussein, on 10 occasions ran the U.N. inspectors from his country, during the Clinton administration, before they were able to complete their inspection. This was clearly done so that he would be able to keep his neighbors believing that he was a growing nuclear threat.

After the attacks of September 11, 2001 the playing field changed. Our new Commander and Chief George W. BushGeorge W. Bush demanded of Saddam Hussein to allow the U.N. inspectors to complete their inspections with the consequence that if he failed to do so the U.S. military would lead a preemptive attack on his country. Saddam took the threat as unrealistic because unknown to the U.S. at the time Saddam Hussein had underhanded deals with several countries (e.g. France, Germany, Russia) and also the U.N. Secretary General Kofi AnnanKofi Annan himself with the oil for food scandal. Saddam Hussein further received promises from the leaders of the above mentioned nations and agency that these nations nor the United Nations would give support for a preemptive strike on Iraq.

Once the war was launched on Iraq, very quickly it became apparent that Saddam’s soldiers would not fight by the accepted rules of engagement agreed upon by respected and recognized nations of the U.N. during the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Their warfare was demonstrated blatantly savage and cowardly. Iraqi soldiers would dress as civilians and even hide behind civilian elders, women, and children, then cry foul when these civilians were subsequently killed on the battle field. These Iraqi soldiers would even kidnap our American Troops and behead them savagely and post the videos of their actions over the internet.

This warfare served as an effective scare tactic to our American citizens at home and also as a psychological disturbing force to our troops on the battle field. As was shown in the many cases of military soldiers who committed war crimes and to a greater or lesser degree were penalized for these crimes. The biggest slap in the face to our troops on the battle was that because of the growing lack of support of our civilians back home the war was quickly becoming unfairly balanced against our troops. The U.S. troops were the only players on the battlefield expected to play by the rules.

This very dynamic lead to our troops being unfairly criticized for their performance in the liberal press, growing campaigns against the war, and the appearance of an American failure in the war and policing of the cities in Iraq. Former Secretary of Defense Donald RumsfeldDonald Rumsfeld’s use of Blackwater USA for the war in Iraq may seem unethical at most but in my opinion it was necessary to protect the troops in the battle field. Our troops were facing a very unfair fight with an enemy who demonstrated no regard for life, leaving all humanitarian and ethical responsibilities to our troops and our troops alone. But due to the use of Blackwater USA the insurgents became more negotiable and the former internet exploited war crimes have faded from popularity. And now the insurgents are crying foul again.

War is ugly, in fact it is the most unpopular form of political debate. Nation leaders would much prefer to handle these matters diplomatically. But in a world of weapons of diverse magnitude, diplomacy becomes a challenge. I support the war in Iraq because it has liberated an oppressed people. To support freedom in this country prohibits me from overlooking it elsewhere. The troops in the documentary came off somewhat dishonorable in my opinion. After all, they volunteered to be soldiers of our military and for whatever benefits they sought they were not naïve to their responsibilities as soldiers. The tax dollars that were used to gain them whatever they sought to acquire was fraudulently obtained and if anyone should be penalized for a crime it should be them for their dereliction of duty. My tax dollars have been wasted in those cases. Many of the men in the documentary ‘Iraq For Sale’ were never soldiers in the true sense of the word. They were merely hustlers.

I happen to come from a family of proud soldiers, whom fought honorably for this country and speak proudly of their service. My father fought in the Vietnam War and came home wounded but proud. Both my uncles fought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Both my grandfathers fought in World War II, And my father in law and mentor is a Tuskegee Airman. He is still alive and healthy today, and I am so proud of them all. My father in law served as an Airman at a time in America when blacks were considered unqualified as men for the duties of an Airman, and he and his fellow Airmen were forced to fight in a segregated squad with the worst of available equipment and proved themselves more than capable by out performing their fellow white airmen in the majority of battles despite their shortcomings of available equipment. As quoted by former Secretary of Defense Donald , “…when in war, you fight with the military that you have, not the military wished for.”

It is my opinion that the, Micheal Moore documentary Iraq For Sale could have better been titled The United States of America For Sale, and it will be if the liberal extremist have their way.