Soldiers are not Fodder
11 November 2006 6:00 am by Taylor Marsh
We are at war this Veterans Day, so the importance is magnified.
We are at war in a country where our soldiers are now being asked to be policemen
and women.
We are at war and now find ourselves long past the time of real hope for influence.
We are at war with the whole world watching nervously to see how we are going to end the
war and when the march will start.
Civilian politicians make decisions about war. It's our military who pay for
them. We owe our soldiers much and we made a down payment on Election Day this
week. But the full of what we owe lies in many installments ahead.
The resentment that will grow out of the Iraq war, once our troops are redeployed,
will be intense. Having never been told the truth about why we were in Iraq,
watching and experiencing the mission creep, no matter what, a soldier's code is to fight, win or die
trying. The men and women fighting in Iraq will be robbed of complete satisfaction, though
their job was very well done. They'll then start wondering about betrayal. Rummy's
resignation won't be enough. Nothing will be, so the questions will begin to swirl for history.
Moving out of Iraq will not happen quickly, because nothing in government does,
least of all the Pentagon. But we must stay on it until it is done. Oh, and
no permanent bases in Iraq.
This Veterans Day finds us once again in Iraq, having lost our bearings, our
purpose and the mission long ago, now even the secretary of defense is gone.
Democrats sought on Friday to put their new political power to use in shaping the debate over Iraq, promising stepped-up Congressional oversight of the war and a resolution demanding a schedule for reducing the number of troops there.
After two days in which both sides pledged bipartisanship in the aftermath of the Democratic victory in the midterm elections, leaders of the new Democratic majority began asserting themselves, seeking to give Congress a greater role in both foreign and domestic policy after years in which, in their view, President Bush was granted too much latitude.
After meeting with Mr. Bush at the White House, Senator Harry Reid, the incoming Senate majority leader, said “the first order of business” when Democrats formally take over in January will be to reinvigorate Congressional scrutiny of the executive branch, with a focus on Iraq.
“Let’s find out what’s going on with the war in Iraq, the different large federal agencies that we have,” said Mr. Reid, Democrat of Nevada. “There simply has been no oversight in recent years.” …
Changing course in Iraq is assured, whether Bush, who is still the commander
in chief, understands that we're about to get out or not. James Baker is likely
to draw him a picture and then force him to see it. Self-interest is a powerful motivator,
especially when you're looking at a failed presidency.
For all the soldiers who ever served, those serving now, as well as those whose
service has been done and rewarded, I say a prayer. The prayer that the next
time our civilian leadership decide to put you in harm's way there will be a
plan in and a plan to get you out. Clear and present danger will once again be our guide.
We will not rest until the war in Iraq is engaged and the reality changed. You lay your lives
down for us. We make this pledge to you.
