Four years of war and occupation of Iraq, yet the public is asking why we are there. Support our troops, bring them back.

BY JOSEPH R. HAIEK

 When our war against Iraq was launched in March of 2003, my position in opposing the war in Iraq was clear in an interview written by Mary McNamara in the Los Angeles Times and published on April 1, 2003, in part stated: " Haiek does not support the war; he thinks it is unnecessary and will do perhaps irreparable harm to the world-standing and soul of the United States. He uses words like "slaughter" and "needless suffering" matter-of-factly. What he fears most, is that America will go down the drain. The last time [during the Gulf war] , every one was with us. Now they are against us. If Americans are not free to roam the world, then they are not free. Why do the Iraqi people have to suffer so much? Hundreds of thousands of children in Iraq have died already because of the sanctions. He believes this war is about controlling oil rather than disarming Saddam Hussein, and he speaks of this as if it were the general consensus. We are fighting a war with Europe in the Middle East , he says. We are trying to redraw the lines that the British drew in 1918. He does worry that, as happened after Sept. 11, patriotic fervor will take destructive turn and make life more difficult for Arab Americans. Which makes his absolutely fearless condemnation of this war even more striking. I am an American, I stand with the Pope and former President Jimmy Carter "

Four years later it seems the American masses are voicing their opposition to our war and occupation of Iraq, including top generals, the press, scholars and government officials who initially supported the war, making President Bush situation on the Iraq war bleaker. Yes, our position today is still opposing the war as we did in 2003. U.S. Senators and congressman must show their loyalty to their constituents. Since most of the American public oppose the war and are seeking ways to stop funding more $$billions to our occupation of Iraq and make it clear to the President advisors , also known as neo-cons, who since the start of our invasion of Iraq has resigned, disappear and few are in jail, that enough is enough and this war is bleeding our troops, the Iraqi people, weakening our treasury and the reputation of America in the world.

We are still hearing from those officials who are determine to continue our occupation of Iraq that we have to" win" and " succeed" and failed to give the American public a clear accountability, strategic direction, timetable of how long our troops must bleed in Iraq and a way out of this dire situation. The American public want to know who to blame and why they were fooled by mistakes and rosy promises of government officials and agencies spinning the real situation in Iraq ... As the mood of the American public has changed since 2003, so does the press. We are reading and watching the news and commentaries in major publications , radio, TV, and international satellites. We are witnessing the press dramatic change of position. It seems that the conglomerate large and powerful media-press sources are starting to recognize the power of the internet, websites and electronic information exchanges that the American public relies on and uses it daily to analyze the current situation of our war in Iraq from all sources and languages.

The human tendency shows us that when a big mistake occurs, the perpetrators are reluctant, at first, to admit their mistake, but to get busy defending their failure, with all their powerful, until they start believing their own lies and deception. This is what is going on now with our officials who are preaching from their high pulpits that our war in Iraq is still productive and must be "won", with extra $billions and many lives, before admitting the mess they created , and that will be too late .

Here is the best opportunity for the Senate and congress to stand firm, with the American public they represent, against those who are still pressing for more troops and funds to continue our occupation of Iraq diminishing our world leadership, credibility and relation with the Muslim world.  It is not enough to continue the litany that our presence in Iraq is a source of stability and democracy. There is no stability, democracy, health nor infrastructure in Iraq and tens of thousands are killed in the process. What we are witnessing is a strong resistance against our occupation added to powerful sectarian division and almost civil war.

We urge President Bush, his advisors and administration to pay attention to congress and the majority of the American people who are demanding an end to this deceitful and bleak war and occupation of Iraq. Pulling our troops from Iraq is not a defeat but a victory of the will of the American people who demand the restoration of our credibility, confidence, peace and world respect. Our troops have sacrificed enough. Bring them home.