Peace Is Now On The Horizon

11/24/2005

Paul Munnis

As we look on the horizon of history then peace in Iraq is not so far off. Democrats and Republicans seem to be moving onto the same page as Americans unite in determination to bring home our troops. This is in spite of leadership that is bitter over having failed at their attempts to create an empire in the mid-east.

The two Parties now seem to have agreed on the objective and all that is really going on is a debate over how many weeks off from now the extraction of our troops should be. Some have it for immediate withdrawal, some advocate for 6 months, some believe that a year is more appropriate. All, including the Iraqi temporary government believe the goal is achievable within 12 months. Compared to the question of IF we should bring the troops home the rest is easier as we work to agree upon WHEN to bring them home.

Public opinion will not answer that question. Rather it will be answered by matters of logistics and safety for the troops. There comes a point where the remaining troops are at severe risk and a critical minimum mass is then reached. At that point a mass removal of the remaining troops must occur and it must be a quick withdrawal. That means abandoning much equipment. It is up to the Pentagon to answer the schedule question and to determine quantities of troops to be withdrawn so as to insure no loss of life during the extraction. We are told that the plan is in development and approval right now. We hope it is so.

As a nation we have plenty of time to discuss the Iraqi War, to determine if there was complicity in the invasion of Iraq, and to determine all of the soul searching questions of our conduct in the war plus the behavior of the Bush Administration during the War. Some illegal things were done and surely justice will follow.

We also need to decide what to do about our troops in Afghanistan. Because of the lower death rate this matter is taking a back seat but we do need to answer the question. In particular we need to answer if we will keep a military presence in Afghanistan after the Iraq War ends or whether it will be too dangerous for American troops or if remaining is a strategic blunder.

For this glimmering of hope for peace we thank many people who worked hard to make it possible. We also really believe that staying in Iraq much longer serves no good or stated purpose. If there is a hidden agenda in Iraq it has not surfaced and is not an agreed upon national priority so then how can anyone honor it?

The Iraqi people have had years of misery under Saddam, more years of misery under the U.S. and years of misery and civil war under an interim government. It is now time to let these people seek peace and try to establish a nation for themselves. They deserve peace and we pray that they choose it. It will be much harder to agree to govern themselves than to agree to hate Americans. Hate comes easy while a love of fellow citizens whom you disagree with comes much harder. Iraqi’s are now being challenged to govern their nation and to do it without external interference. We ask God to help them.

We are challenged to rebuild America, to create a new and meaningful social contract between citizens and government that will carry us deep in time and well into the new millennium.  This is a wonderful opportunity for Americans to work together to build the best nation in the world. We are challenged to do so and the work must begin. It must start with a sound foreign policy, a solid economic recovery plan, and a plan for prosperity.