<p>If Iraq is the central front in the war on terror AND the war on terror is going well, then one of the following must be true: either things are going well in Irag OR we're succeeding in a war while struggling along its central front. Follow the administration's talking points through to their logcial ends, and it's pretty clear we're in trouble.</p>
<p>We won that war a long time ago. We went in and overthrew Saddam Hussein, broke up the close relationship between Iraq and Al-Qaeda, destroyed the thousands of tons of WMDs, eliminated the nuclear program, took control of the oil pipelines, set up permanent military bases outside of Saudi Arabia, "arranged" for free elections, and had it all paid for by Iraqi oil revenue. All the U.S. is involved in now is "mopping up".</p>
<p>I hope #2 was sarcastic.</p>
<p>Don't forget what a bang-up job we did in Afghanistan!</p>
<p>And the country is now much, much better for women. Formerly, under the dictator, women had to go to the universities dressed in western clothing, and were expected to speak up in class, and even, heavens forbid, read books! They even met potential husbands! Now, they can stay home and cook and clean, and go out with their heads entirely covered, and are entirely chaste.</p>
<p>Yeah, that's what I see on the evening news each night: no women in Iraq. No potential wives. No female fashions. No colors...they're all in chador.</p>
<p>Mini, You need to get a color tv...maybe even cable-tv...satellite?</p>
<p>And just think how much the demand for birth control...and abortion...has gone down.</p>
<p>Next - geriatric services! Sounds like victory to me.</p>
<p>Americans help people every day in Afghanistan and Iraq:</p>
<p>
[quote]
CAMP TAJI, Iraq. Aug. 28, 2006 — Under the blazing Iraqi sun, Iraqi army and U.S. Army soldiers from Multi-National Division – Baghdad fought the Middle East heat to conduct a community health outreach for the people of Hor al Bash.</p>
<p>Soldiers of the 2nd Tank Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division, and 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, with the help of the 414th Civil Affairs Battalion, an Army Reserve unit attached to the 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team (BCT), joined together with six Iraqi medics, with the support of medics from the 1st BCT, to screen patients and provide medical assistance to local residents of the village.</p>
<p>“Our mission was to conduct a medical operation at the Tartawar Primary School and provide local citizens with free pharmaceuticals and screening for the day,” said Capt. William LeFever, civil affairs officer in charge from Company C, 414th Civil Affairs Battalion. “We supplied about $5,000 worth of pharmaceuticals purchased from a local pharmacy.”</p>
<p>The combined effort also provided the soldiers an opportunity to deliver school kits to the Tartawar School as faculty and community members prepare for the upcoming school year, he added. “Today, we provided this school with notebooks, folders, chalk, pens, pencils, water coolers and other supplies valued at more than $2,500,” he added.</p>
<p>While the effort to stabilize Iraq continues, Multi-National Division – Baghdad (MND-B) soldiers provide medical and humanitarian relief to Iraqi citizens throughout the region north of Baghdad. For many Iraqis, this is the first time they have ever been seen by a doctor in their lives. The Iraqi army, along with MND-B soldiers, continue humanitarian efforts in order to help the Iraqi citizens in the area.</p>
<p>“I have been waiting for Coalition Forces to come here to see my children,” said a local Hor al Bash woman at the medical operation. “Two of my four children have had a bad cough lately and there really is no other way for them to be seen by a doctor unless I drive to Baghdad. What they (Iraqi army and MND-B Soldiers) are doing is wonderful."</p>
[/quote]
</a></p>
<p>Americans DO help people in these countries every day, and did so well before the U.S. military was there. I spent a lot of time in the mid-90s raising funds for emergency medical supplies and repair of wastewater treatment facilities in Iraq, even while the U.S. government was killing children. I have no reason to believe that would change now that we have achieved total victory.</p>
<p>"Americans help people every day in Afghanistan and Iraq"</p>
<p>And do remember, of course, that the Iraqis paid for ALL of this aid, from their oil revenues.</p>
<p>They paid for all of this, too:</p>
<p>Glad it didn't come out of the taxpayers' pockets.</p>
<p>Victory is sweet.</p>
<p>I'm confused. If all of this massive war effort is being paid for with Iraqi oil revenues, why are billions of American tax dollars being burned like California brush fuel by Santa Anna winds in this conflict?</p>
<p>Beats me. Maybe its creative accounting, designed to make it appear we can't afford social programs or Katrina rebuilding at home?</p>
<p>$300-$400Billion...it's just a drop in ye ol' deficit bucket.</p>
<p>Let's declare victory and bring our children home.</p>