Watching TV tonight (May 27, 2007) I have had some angry and some tearful thoughts about the United States involvement in the War against Iraq. When we first went to war in that area there seemed to be some legitimate reason to be so involved. Iraq under the leadership of Saddam had invaded another small country. Our President, George H.W. Bush, was able to get the backing of many other countries and an all out, well planned, assault took place with the Gulf War soon over - mission truly accomplished.
Our current attack quite apparently was ill conceived and little if any thought was given to the possible outcome of such attack. Some have suggested that the current President was angry at Saddam because his father had possibly been threatened by that regime. The thinking was expressed that Iraq was in the process of going nuclear. It is not clear that this was all made up “out of whole cloth.” Among those on the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS tonight was Gen’l Colin Powell. I have often felt sorry for the part he played before the United Nations with a lot of false information he was fed by Rumsfeld and others.
Most of all what has got me “ticked off” tonight was a story on 60 Minutes about the National Guard troops of Iowa (I lived in that State for four years) who have been in Iraq expecting to be home by now and who are now required to spend another three months on foreign duty because of the Surge. A defence posture that our President now feels will lead to victory. He declares that he wants to spread democracy. My question is what gives him the audacity to believe that he can determine what sort of government people want to live under. For my part, I’d like to live under the kind of government I grew up with in my youth - the 1920’s, the 1930’s, the 1940’s. Not the kind of government that decides whose house might be searched with impunity, or whose name can be put on a “no fly” list because it resembles that of another who is a suspected terrorist.
The other thing that touched my heart tonight was the story of Jim and Sarah Wade as told during the Memorial Concert. Jim’s crew was ordered to turn around and retrace the path they has just come. His Humvee set off an IED which they had passed over safely the first time. He lost an arm and a leg and had severe brain injuries. Fortunately prompt medical care and relocation to Walter Reed was positive. The most positive thing, however was the continual care and protection provided by Sarah. Some sort of clerical error considered him dead and he was cut off the pay roll for a couple of months. Sarah got him well enough that they were finally married in the Court House rather than the wedding she had dreamed of. They were at the Concert this night. I could not help but think of how many other wounded veterans have been inadequately treated both physically and monetarily.
How long, O Lord? How Long?
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3 comments:
Lord, hear our prayer.
You have said it quite well Uncle Curmudge. Our " puritan missionary mindset," as my American History professor was fond of saying, has us running all over the world enforcing democracy where it is not wanted. We should be at home "tending our own garden" (another favorite of said prof) rather than tilling our neighbor's garden when they don't want any help!
Lord have mercy!
And, in the meantime Afghanistan continues to disintegrate into warring zones and sectors. Instead of one failed state, we have two. And, the outlook in Lebanon ain't none too good either.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave . . .
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