March 19, 2010

Do you know what event this date commemorates; 7 long years of war in Iraq. Now there's something to celebrate. The bizarre invasion, the widespread destruction, the tragic, countless deaths (on both sides), the appalling amount of profit experienced and enjoyed by the Halliburtons (the Dick Cheney's) of the world as they snicker at the rest of us apathetic idiots behind their hands.

Over $1.4 Billion of Halliburton billings classified by the Pentagon as unreasonable and unsupportable overcharges. There were more than 180,000 contractors in Iraq in August of 2007 alone.

Do you have any concept of the lives, the culture, the ancient art and artifacts that have been destroyed by this pointless action? The fact that our country's name was even remotely connected with it, let alone directly responsible, is not to be borne.

And what exactly have we gained?

Pros

- Saddam Hussein eventually died, I don't remember why.

Cons

- All of the above in my opening comments, plus,

- Over $713 BILLION of financial loss (I never got to vote to spend my taxes in this way, did you?)

- Over $900 BILLION in total has been approved for spending (they still haven't asked me)

- Over 111,000 (some estimate this may be as high as 600,000) Iraqi civilians killed (mothers, children, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents, etc.

- Over 4,300 US soldiers killed

- Over 31,000 seriously wounded; this excludes serious psychological injuries (we will continue to pay for all of their care and future mental/emotional trauma - over 30% develop this kind of trauma within 3 -4 months of coming home)

- Over 2,255,000 Iraqis have been displaced within Iraq

- Over 2.2 Million are refugees in Syria and Jordan

- Unemployment is over 27% - 60% where the curfew is not in effect

- Only 37% of Iraqi homes are connected to sewer systems

- 70% of Iraqis are without adequate water supplies

- Over 67% of Iraqis feel less secure as a result of occupation

The day we took this unprecedented, unwarranted and insupportable action, we forfeited any claim we had to being considered a positive and influential leader among civilized countries in the modern world.