The war in Iraq continues to drag on and on and on with little hope that an end is in sight. The cost of this war is in excess of $100,000.00 per minute! (Mazzetti, M. and Haverman, J., February 3, 2006, AP) I am not the only one who thinks this is excessive and borderline ridiculous. This past November the people of the United States voted in the mid-term elections for change in direction with regard to this ongoing war in Iraq. This voice for change was heard loud and clear, especially by the republican party which previously held power and now is beholden to the democrats.

Since the beginning of 2007 congress has passed a couple of options that would require accountability on behalf of this Administration and the government of Iraq only to have it dashed with a fast and furious veto from President Bush who is obviously suffering from delusions of grandeur if he thinks this war can possibly be won on military might alone. Generals in the field have concurred this war cannot be won in a military sense despite the new surge. President Bush turns a deaf ear and blind eye to such remarks. Cheney contends and continues to defend their position that this war must continue and can be won by military might.

The entire Vietnam War only cost ½ Trillion Dollars before it was defunded by congress at the insistence of the American public. Kucinich has the best idea here with regard to war funding. Kucinich believes that if congress continues to fund the war it is a signal to the White House that things are going along merrily and this is clearly not the case. To date Kucinich has been one of the most outspoken on this topic and I wholeheartedly agree. America has seen over 3,300 deaths and over 25,000 injured from this war thus far. How many more lives have to be lost or mangled in the Bush Administrations version of democracy for Iraq? How much more money can possibly be spent to force peace to a region that was far better off under the reign of Saddam Hussein?

Deeper into this abyss is what, if any, milestones can be set to see if this funding is achieving the desired or hoped for results? Congress had set forth certain tasks to be achieved or completed and a time certain to withdraw. Previously there has been no concrete plan established by the Bush Administrations and no timetable for possible withdrawal. Instead the Bush Administration's answer is to toss more money and more lives into the mix. If stability was not achieved over the past four or five years at the cost of over $400 Billion dollars and thousands of lives what makes them (the Bush Administration) so certain it can be achieved now? 

I say to this Administration: Get Real! Where is Bush’s fiscal responsibility? Where is Bush’s compassion for the sacrifices of our military personnel and their families? Where is Bush’s responsibility to the American public at large? If we support our troops we will bring them back home and out of harms way -- NOW! I say if Bush wishes to continue his folly in Iraq let him fund it from his own purse instead of from increasing our national debt further and making the United States more and more beholden to China and other world debtors than we are already! I say President Bush if you support our military why are your children not fighting for peace and democracy in Iraq?

If you, like me, are fed up with this Administrations lack of fiscal, public, and military responsibility, then please call or write your local congress people and state representatives to let them know that the people of the United States have spoken and that our voices are united in peace! Stop this war! Stop increasing our national debt! Stop Bush and his delusional Administration from further endangering American lives around the globe and at home by continuing with their failed policy and disingenuous promises! The time to act is NOW!!!

Reference:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com story by Mazzetti, Mark and Haverman, Joel of the AP on February 3, 2006, Cost of War in Iraq

http://costofwar.com link from September 2006

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