McCain MisUnderstanding

When people think about the War on Iraq, the first reason many come to is Oil. Most people believe that the only reason why the U.S is at war is because the U.S is desperate for oil. On Friday, presidential candidate John McCain, made a statement regarding the war on Iraq being connected to oil. McCain stated that the U.S is only interested on the oil in the Middle East. After making this statement he then made another statement saying that the press and the public had misinterpreted what he said. McCain defended himself by declaring his policies if he were in office. McCain states “My friends, I will have an energy policy that we will be talking about, which will eliminate our dependence on oil from the Middle East that will prevent us from having ever to send our young men and women into conflict again in the Middle East”. It is clear to see that one of the main reason of the Iraqi war is because the U.S is so dependant on oil. McCain explained that the U.S had attempted and succeeded from having Saddam Hussein gaining total control of foreign oil. McCain also stated that the United States may be capable of staying in Iraq for as long as no Americans’ are hurt, he stated that if the U.S would have to stay for 100 years, they will stay and fight for those 100 years

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/03/mccain.iraq.ap/index.html#cnnSTCText

Economy far ahead of war as top issue

Last year, the major concern was the Iraqi War. This year its all about the economy that is concerning the American voters in the race for the new presidential candidate. Forty-Nine percent agree on the issue and inflation is the top economic problem in mind. In second place comes in the Iraqi War. Americans are more worried about gas prices then rising food costs.
In my opinion I would blame the United States putting us in a position where prices will keep rising. I think its because of the war, everything has a cause and an effect. Last year the cause of the war, in which was the major issue, was that the President and his office said Iraq was a danger to the world. Where it was developing and supporting terrorist acts and was another mastermind it attempts to bring chaos in the world.

This year I would give the cause for the economy going down is due to the war and the debt we are now in. It’s been five long years of war with its up and downs, before George W. Bush was voted into office and before the war. We had a economic surplus thanks to Bill Clinton he helped our economy to be stable and set for the future. Since Bush came into office, all he has done is to put us in debt and use that surplus we once had to support his war. Since it shows that his war is taking too much time and money our economy is going down. Prices are going higher, TAXES are outrageous.

The government is spending nearly one billion a day to support the war. Its been five years and all its ever done is add up and create enemies. We have a debt in most countries, especially China. Its Bush and his war that is driving us down. Since prices are going up people are losing jobs, then they cant afford goods and services, when they don’t profit no one profits. After a while the value of everything goes down. Leading all the money spent as a lost instead of a profit. This is my opinion but mostly I would highly agree is on that the economy will keep getting worst with the lost a billion a day just to keep this war going.

Ex-detainees returning to fight

In the past five years, a important factor of so many casualties are suicide bombers. Recently Abdullah Saleh al-Ajmi was one of two who participated in a attack in Mosul. Whats ironic of this guy is he was from U.S. custody in Guantanamo Bay in 2005. It was a specific target because it was posted on a jihadist web site that he was a “hero” who completed the Mosul mission. Pentagon officials were aware of al-Ajmi’s release in 2005 and had left Kuwait to Syria. Which was known to be a camp ground for terrorist into Iraq.

Al-Ajmi was detained in Afghanistan as her tried to enter Pakistan. He stated he fought for the taliban and also fought in numbers of battles against the Northen Alliance. He had never been charge for a crime, he was still held in Guantanamo Bay. After documents about him fighting for the Taliban, were never really accurate because he was threaten when he was in U.S. custody. He later asserted he was in the country to study the Quran.

He later was transferred to the custody of Kuwait, where he was held on trial then released.
Al-Ajmi isnt the first detainee to go back into the battlefield. Pentagon officials say there are more then 10 people who were once held by the U.S. that have been killed or captured after the releases. Many of them released, return into the battlefield and commit these attacks.

This just proves how our security is a failure because we held many of these guys and later let them go. Where they go back to fight and strike back, If they knew where they were going, why don’t they take action? It shows how these men can come up with great ideas so they can be misjudged and then be considered harmless. We are being fooled and the best part is we know it and don’t do nothing at all. Just like in our past we held these guys and at the end they were all released, history repeating itself.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/05/07/gitmo.bomber/index.html

Democrats try to add conditions for latest funding. . .

Obviously there has been alot of problems surrounding the war. A majority are against the war and then yet there those who support the war. Now House Democrats are discussing on how to add money and conditions to a war funding despite President Bush overview of his proposal. As a condition for the funding, there should be a timeline for troops to be withdrawal from Iraq. Another proposal is to add more money for many democrats priorities such as a new GI bill for veterans to fund education, and a package of tax credits for renewable energy sources.

A Democratic source saids, the $178 billion measure would include $108 billion the president requested for military spending in '08 and $70 billion to cover war costs in Iraq and Afghanistan throughout early spring '09. Details are in flux, because delegates will meet tuesday night. In quote "what can get 60 votes in the Senate and what the president will not veto. We want to avoid any appearance that we are porking this up." The bill might be passed with a timeline and other domestic items, but senators probably most likely will strip out most of the conditions. The aide also said there is a strong support in the senate in which it has bipartisan support. In another quote about the bipartisan support, "This legislation is wise, it has consensus, it brings us together in a bipartisan way, and we are definitely going to leave no veterans behind". So far its been five years and democrats have tried many attempts to bring back the troops home, but such attempts have been shut down by the president and the republican party.

During a news conference President Bush said he will not accept anything bigger then the "pentagon". He will only accept the $108 billion he asked for. It figures to be another attempt to shut down the democrats, the voting for such bill could be early as in next week.

"No talks until U.S. stops Iraq attacks"

Not only Iraq we have issues with, but also with Iran. Iran is a powerful country in the middle east and we have united with them to come up with a resolution on how to improve the security of Iraq. Recently Iran has stated it will not continue talks with the United States and Iraq until the United States stops its "savage attacks" on the Iraqi civilians. Iran officials said it is unnecessary to meet because they're is no improvement on the security of Iraq until the United States stops. The official who have said these remarks, as U.S. and Iraqi troops have been fighting Shiite militants in Baghdad and in Basra. The Bush Adminstration stated most of the fights have been backed from Iran agents.

U.S. officials and Iran officials have been backfiring on each other because of the heavy fighting. The March meeting was not well coordinated and the U.S. were ready for another session only if Iran changed its behavior and it has belief that Iran is helping Shiite Militia to continue the fighting and attacks. Iran wants the U.S. to stop the attacks on the people, then they will rethink about continuing talks for the fourth session.

So far The United States, Iraq, and Iran have met three times to discuss the issue, and the foreign prime minister of Iraq said he does not foresee the security talks between Iran and the United States resuming for now. There was suppose to be a fourth meeting but Iran officials didn't bother to go and U.S officials said there was no meeting plan or arrange.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/05/05/iran.us/index.html

'09 "FUNDING"

President Bush recently asked Congress for a funding of $70 billion for his war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Such request is causing a dispute between the White House and congressman democrats about such spending for the war. The money is propose to cover expenses until April of '09. Democrats are taking into consideration about making funding contingent on a timeline for withdrawal, also adding domestic spending. The president said such ideas, he will "veto" them and in the past has won many battles against democrats.

With this recent request the total cost of the war including "antiterrorism operations" since Sept 11, 01 would total nearly $875 billion. Bush requesting more the $45 billion to two divisions of combat operations including nearly $4 billion to Afghan security forces, and $2 billion for the Iraqi counterparts. Bush included $3 billion for computer technology to counteract improvised explosives. Also another $3 billion for "classified operations". Bush keeps adding money for the "cost of fuel cost" as even the military are feeling the cost for fuel in which he requested $2.2 billion. How much more money will he keep in his pocket for this is all about making a profit with business? This is just a prediction only up to spring of '09 already its just too much, Bush is just making this economy go lower by each billion going down the drain.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/02/war.funding/index.html?iref=newssearch

"WHY WE FIGHT"

The documentary “Why We Fight” directed by Eugene Jareki reveals the real reason why we are at war. Since World War II the United States was the dominant country in the world. Our military force was powerful and it seemed as if no one were able to stop us according to President Eisenhower when he made his farewell speech “Despite these holocausts, America is today the strongest, the most influential, and most productive nation in the world.” (Dwight D. Eisenhower Farewell Address).

The documentary mostly focuses on the time when President Eisenhower was in office until now in which President Bush is in office. Apparently since the United States was considered to be the strongest power it was our “job” to do whatever it takes to defend our title as it. Today the United States spends more money on defense weapons then anything else, it has been clear that the United States is too concerned with power.

The war isn’t about 9/11, it is about defending the power we have. President Eisenhower had warned us right before he ended his farewell speech to avoid using too much of our “ military industrial complex”, in the film it explains how the President was trying to avoid to overuse of our military but unfortunately it has come to reality that the United States is constantly abusing power. This whole film explains many reasons, but the whole point of this work was to reveal the lies our government tell us for example the reason why we fight.

Veterans Against The War

Most veterans who have come back after serving their time at war in Iraq do not want to go back and are ashamed of what they have done over there. They state they become "monsters" they lose themselves and commanders are corrupt putting bets among each other of their kills. They formed a group called IVAW (Iraq Veterans Against War). Founded in 2004 it calls for:

U.S. to be withdrawed from Iraq.
Full Benefits and healthcare for servicemen and women.
To restructure Iraq of the damages it has suffer, leaving the Iraqi nation to control their own lives and future.

Most soldiers who are against the war say the war is full of lies and deceptions. That the Bush Adminstration planned the attack dating before September 11, 2001. They didn't allow the media into the hospitals in which soldiers were in critical condition nor let them film the caskets of the men and women coming back home. Also the U.S violated international law by attacking without the consent of the U.N. Since this is a illegal war then they have the right to refuse to serve in such war. The war is leaving the soldiers mentally ill turning them into "monsters" and paranoid of any little soundwave, not being able to sleep right etc.

Most soldiers give testimony of what goes on in Iraq they are called " Winter Soldiers". They give proof of what really goes on there and they are ordered to do horrible things.
http://www.ivaw.org/wintersoldier ( You can watch videos of Soldiers given their side of the story)



http://www.ivaw.org/

Our Money

How does the government get the budget for the war? Obviously they take our tax money and invest it in military supply, and support. Economically, society is suffering off this war, and politics gain in this war. Businesses become wealthier because government officials want them to produce their military support. So far the cost is at least $510,000,000 and keeps rising, all of that money comes from us. Instead of the money for the benefit of the country, the government has taken the money and used it to benefit themselves for "oil" making them "neo-cons" wealthy.

Its costing $4,681 per household, each individual $1,721, and $341.4 million per day. Taxpayers for the year of 2007 will pay 173.6 billion for the war and for the same amount we can provide 40,554,560 People with Health Care. We could have used it to provide the board of education with 2,260,370 elementary school teachers. We could have built and renew 142,451,458 Homes. Now you have a reason why we don't have the enough funds for a better society because of a war who is benefiting government officials and businesses. While the people suffer with loss of profit and family.

Its project that it will cost another $100 billion for 2008 if we continue to fight just creating are worldwide debt. Making us a enemy of this world, creating chaos within ourselves. WE LOSE, THEY GAIN. Who can put a stop to this? There is so much things we can use tax dollars but instead they are losing are money. We are digging into our pockets to deep already with our expenses and rising gas prices.

Think about it? Where is our money going? why are we overpaying?
http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home

Soldiers Lives

Recently looking through some articles, I ran into one about are men and women who served our country and gave their life for us. I don't understand how bush can go to sleep at night when young men and women that he doesnt even know who are in a different continent fighting for his cause, and are risking their lives for him. In our opinion can we call him a murderer? Is he hated by families who those have someone serving his/her country or who died for their country.

It suprises me that most deaths of our soldiers are in a range from 18-29. It was sad for me to go through the list of names and see their cause of death, but before looking at that. I checked the age and most young men and women in their early and late 20's are casualties of war. They didn't get the chance to experience life, all of them still had their whole life ahead of them.

How can he live knowing he is making them go over to fight for whatever is his reasons and risking their lives so he can come out the winner of this "war". Our government tells us myths, and we fall for them likes flies especially our youth who are fooled by recruiters when all those ads, commercials, etc say you can be something useful and proud. They trick you into learning excellent careers but when war comes they halt everything and give you a gun and send you away, knowing you might not step back on your soil ever again. Thanks to President Bush's great ideas of this Iraqi War. He is killing our present souls and destroying this country little by little creating hatred inside our borders and around our the world.

(Click below to see all the casualties names from CNN Forces)

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/forces/casualties/index.html

Casualties

http://zfacts.com/metaPage/lib/Iraq-war-hostile-fatalities.gif

Its been five long years of war in Iraq for undisclosed reasons mostly to blame our government for a high number of deaths of our American Soldiers. As the count rises, its nearly up to 4,500 deaths. President Bush is still asking for more support and fleets of soldiers are still being sent back to Iraq and fight. So far there has been no draft for more soldiers, but the numbers are rising each week and soldiers are refusing to go back to war and do not care if they are put in jail for failing to report for duty. If we continue our station in Iraq we will just keep the tolls rising and marching men and women to their deaths. Perhaps within years to come we can actually have a draft and have chaos within our own borders, bringing back the old days of Vietnam. (In late march there is a movie release of a soldier who refuses to go back, basically relating to the war "Stop-Loss" directed by Kimberly Peirce).

http://www.firstshowing.net/img/stoploss-flag.jpg

This chart basically is Iraqi casualties due to violence from a timeline of 5 years. So far the count is 82,725 - 90,251. The deaths of Iraqi's are far greater then American casualties, they basically have their own little war going on do to the invasion of the United States. The toll has been low after 2003 when Iraq took heavy damage of the bombing and destruction. So far it has been many suicidal bombings and torturing civilians.

Why?

The Iraqi War began March 20, 2003. U.S, U.K coalition forces invaded Iraq along with smaller forces from other supporting countries. The "main" reason on why the invasion occurred was, Iraq was developing and posessing weapons of mass destruction that would seriously threaten the world. Also that it supported terrorist, and kept them under the radar in the country. U.N inspectors was invited to Iraq by Saddam Hussein to investigate if it was producing WMD. Inspectors found nothing to influence the war.


Bush's intelligence stated satellites found pictures military possessions underground. After the invasion Bush swore there was something suspicous. After hours of bombing, Baghdad fell into U.S control. Months of searching there was nothing of evidence or existence of any weapons. Saddam Hussien was on the run and troops were looking to find him. On Saturday December 13, Saddam was captured in the cellar of a farmhouse in the town of Adwar. After his capture he was put on trial for his past actions to the Iraqi nation. Under a new Iraqi government who were given power by the U.S, they were going to execute Saddam.

Saddam was executed in December 2006, after his execution U.S forces were still in the country. President Bush was criticized because the war started because to stop a "evil empire". First they didnt find any weapons, then they changed the title to "Iraqi Freedom". Even with that why? are we still in Iraq when, there was no weapons found, and the Saddam reign is over.
Is it to spread democracy around the world but under our shoulders like imperialist? Is it for Iraq's oil in which they are so rich in? Are we being living lies told by our government??