Letters to the Editor
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... and a lifetime of consequences
This is as well reasoned synopsis of the shifting justifications used by this administration to frame the dialogue and rationale for continued engagement in Iraq, and speaks honestly to this government's elusive definition of success in the region. It's a useful reminder of how a pliable press and apathetic public enable the worst forces in government.
While the administration has been highly successful in creating the boundaries of discourse on Iraq, defining the effort in terms of national security, democracy, and morality, in fact the United States has never been at more risk for retribution by highly motivated interests in the region as a result of these policies. To this growing threat we have only ourselves to blame. Somehow, our only answer has been to broaden the definition of "terrorist", "terrorist state", and demand new calls for actions against a broader set of "rogue" and "dangerous" powers in the region, like Iran.
Our policies are not only unjust, unconstitutional, and unwise, but have bankrupted our nation and our destroyed our world standing, our dignity, and the individual freedoms that generations before us fought so hard to achieve.