[NOTE: I started out writing this rant just to get it off my chest, not even to send out. But it turned into something else, and I emailed it to family and friends. The fiance told me to post it here, so I am!]
As we know, the American occupation of Iraq breeds the hostility that leads to anti-American terrorism; our imposed presence in the Middle East only fuels the hatred that led us to the tragedy of 9/11. The jihad that attacked us in 2001 is the same jihad that our government once funded and armed when it advanced our now obviously short-sighted goals. Now we are in the midst of pursuing more short-sighted goals. Just imagine what we could have accomplished if we had chosen a different route...
(Come with me below the fold!)
Imagine if we had spent 50% of the cost of this Iraq war domestically to improve education and health care for Americans, and the other 50% in foreign aid to moderate Mideast nations to improve the quality of life for their citizens — boosting appreciation of and support for western ways. Instead, all meaningful sentiment that existed in the region to move towards secular democracy has been extinguished by our invasion of Iraq, particularly but not solely due to the way in which we have occupied. The use of torture and the defense of torture has eroded our credibility, put our soldiers at greater risk of torture, and further damaged our moral standing and will continue to haunt us for a generation or longer.
The only solution is to admit to ourselves, each other and the world that we should have crafted an entirely different foreign policy strategy towards the Middle East, the goal of which should have been to foster better relations with all, and to pro actively support the moderate governments there. Our military assets should have been deployed to cement progress made in Afghanistan. We must cease combat operations in Iraq immediately, turning security "control" over to the Iraqis — and UN advisory, if possible — and bring our troops home immediately. If Iraq will ultimately decline into outright civil war or is destined for division into three sovereign nations, so be it. Every second longer that we maintain our current direction is another stride away from the path we should be on and does nothing to advance an attainable goal.
Energy independence is national security. If we did not rely on oil so greatly for our economy and for our way of life, we would not find ourselves in this mess. But the powerful interests who benefit from the status quo do not want to see our economy or way of life evolve, even if its for the best, lest their profits decline. I understand the gap that exists there — corporations are entities that themselves do not have feelings; they do not have families or hopes for the future. They do not see themselves as responsible for anything except delivering ever greater profits to their shareholders. Well, it is time that this changed. The definition of a corporate entity must evolve to the point where they are regulated to take more factors into consideration than the bottom line. Because it doesn't matter how wealthy, temporarily comfortable, or "stable" any of us are if we cannot breathe, if we are under water, or if our soldiers will continue to be sent around the world to bleed, in vain, for access to dwindling oil supplies at the expense of future generations.
People tell me that the establishment will never let John Edwards become the President, but I am not listening to them. I made a small donation of $30 this week to help his campaign because I think he's the best candidate to fight for the future now. Of course I would love to see Barack as the nominee. Of course I will support Hillary if she's the nominee. But the GOP is weak and we do not need to go with the establishment candidate to win. We need someone who will articulate in a confident way an inspiring vision of what our nation and our world can be. I hope that you all will support JRE too because I want to feel the way I did in 1992 when it was Bill + Al with their sleeves rolled up on the campaign trail. I want to believe that a couple of energetic, change-minded people will have the ability to set the tone for the country. Lets make it John and Barack. The base will come out for these guys. No more Clinton vs. The Republicans wars; it turns average people off, and I believe that hurts Democrats. I don't care what any polls say now, come the general, Edwards/Obama would beat any combo of this sad GOP field. We own the issues with the American people, we just need some vigor and enthusiasm behind it! Gore and Kerry are more than decent people but they were too cautious. Let's put some bold candidates up there!!! Its time to stop playing it safe and stop playing nice. Its time to kick some ass. That's how we'll win, and that's how we'll really change course.
Thanks for reading my unregulated rant.