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Nov. 24, 2004 Was it the WMD’s or Saddam Hussein? Originally the Bush Administration said they had this great and grave intelligence that led them to believe that Iraq was harboring and developing WMD. Short on time and patience Bush decided to attack based on that now flawed information and without knowing what was contained in the UN weapon’s inspector’s reports. Had he waited instead of rushing into an ill planned war he would have found out that there were no WMD. This small measure of time, diplomacy, and decorum would have saved countless innocent lives and trillions of dollars. So when the information was confirmed to be flawed and the weapon’s inspector’s said there were no WMD, Bush changed his tact and said that he went to war to overthrow an evil dictator, Saddam Hussein. Which was it and why are we still there? According to the latest tallies there are about 15,000 plus civilian Iraqi’s dead since the inception of this ill fated war. (www.iraqbodycount.net) And as of today, November 24, 2004, there are 1,224 US troops killed in Iraq and numerous thousands maimed and scarred for life. (http://casualties.org) When is enough really enough? How many more people do we need to lose for a lie? IS this really the price for freedom? I wonder why the Bush Administration doesn’t give us the truth instead of more excuses? I wonder how they can sleep at night knowing all of the death and destruction for this ill planned war rests squarely on their shoulders? How can they have a Thanksgiving when so many people have their lives on the line for this lie? Wouldn’t it be better to say we want to be change agents and move about this is a more diplomatic fashion? After all the Iraqi people were ready for change, but they would have liked something more on their terms instead of what we are force feeding them. Wouldn’t it have been better to capture Saddam and then work with the Iraqi people to ascertain how they would like to be governed instead of forcing them to embrace democracy? Part of effectuating effective change is to be sure to include the people in the process. Invite them to share their ideas and concerns, help them to get past the uncertainty and anxiety that this process is certain to cause. Successful change mandates thoughtful planning and it appears that the Bush Administration is short on planning and short on execution. Change can be a very good thing, but it is important to get everyone on board and show them how they can and will benefit from this change. Ask them to buy into your strategy and share their ideals for what their future will hold. Set regular and attainable goals that can be measured and show them a timeline for executing and attaining these goals. With this is mind what can the Bush Administration do to help the Iraqi people accept this change and move forward? Paramount in the institution of change is good and consistent leadership. A good leader will exhibit a very high level of emotional intelligence, determination, energy, motivation, and vision. Thus far all attempts from the Bush Administration have fallen way short in many necessary areas of leadership especially with regard to accepting their failures and shortcomings. George Bush needs to take responsibility for his incorrect actions and allow his staff to give him a little constructive criticism and feedback instead of being his puppets because maybe then he could find some viable solutions to his debacle in Iraq. What Iraq needs is not a US appointed figurehead that has proven to be inept and ineffective in his posting. They don’t need more death, in fighting, and destruction. They need to rebuild both their country and their people and learn that they can do for themselves. They need to feel empowered, important, and in control because it is their country and their heritage that is at stake. Suggestions for the Bush Administration would be to allow the people of Iraq to set up a counsel of people that will be instrumental in laying the groundwork for rebuilding Iraq. Allow all nations around the world to participate in this rebuilding process. Move our troops out and back to the US where they belong. Help the Iraqi people to create their own army, police force, and security agency. Let them divide their country into three parts so all religious sects of Iraq are equally represented and can then determine how they want to be governed. I beg of the Bush Administration to show a little empathy for what we have put the people of Iraq through for the past three years and our people in the armed forces who have been diligent in carrying out this ill timed and planned war with a nation that had nothing to do with 9/11. Please stop the killing! Understand that not all people are alike and that not all people want to be like the Americans. We should celebrate their diversity by trying to understand those differences, finding value in those differences, and using those differences to bring them together for a common purpose or shared vision. Our values may not be their values so please stop trying to make them as we are. Allow Iraq to be led and governed by the Iraqi’s and not as an adjunct commonwealth of the United States because that we be cause for true Thanksgiving! Reference: www.iraqibodycount.net http://casualties.org ------------ About the author: Michelle Malsbury was born and raised in Champaign, Illinois. She attended Parkland College and the University of Illinois before graduating from the University of Phoenix with her degree in Business Management. Currently she is working on her master’s degree in Organizational Management while concurrently pursuing her lofty writing ambitions. Ms. Malsbury moved to south Florida in 1983 and resides between the Keys and Apalachicola, allowing her to experience the seasonal fluctuations between the southernmost and nearly northernmost beauty in the state of Florida. Travels have taken her from Europe through the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and across much of the United States. Michelle has been a bartender, real estate agent, flight attendant, beauty contestant, yacht broker, and commodities broker over the years, but writing is her passion. She enjoys outdoor activities like sailing, waterskiing, hiking, bike riding, working out, and fishing as well as reading, music, theatre, playing with her two amusing pets (Abu Chez, her 6 year old Australian Blue Heeler and Zack, her two year old yellow tabby cat) and writing. Michelle is a regular featured author on the web site Useless-Knowledge.com and enjoys exchanging points of view with her comrades there. “Three Years With Adonis” is the first to be published of several books that she has written and will be available early, to mid, 2005. In addition to “Three Years With Adonis”, she has authored four other books and three screenplays while continuing to explore all that life hands her. Email Michelle Malsbury: abuchez@mchsi.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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