Washblog

(By Lietta)
Wish it could be more, it is something but enough?
 I'm representing my personal opinion, not that of any organization.  Thank you, Particle Man, for inquiring.  I don't have an easy or quick response, but I appreciate the opportunity to try to articulate - think out loud.
The personal stakes remain very high in our family - my son-in-law is already in training for his second deployment TO IRAQ this year - 2007.  My daughter is not doing so well this go around, and I heard from her yesterday that her husband may be deploying sooner in 2007 than was originally scheduled.

My nephew, who it was thought would not have to redeploy for second tour to Iraq (medical hardship) - heard from him when he was home in WA couple weeks ago that he may also be facing second deployment TO IRAQ - this year, 2007.

We don't know that either are going to survive another combat deployment and live till the 2008 timeline to begin withdrawing troops. So, obviously, I would personally want the Iraq war done and over yesterday.

Many other military families who have loved ones who have already been in 2-3 deployments to Iraq want it over yesterday.  I heard from a military family in WA yesterday who expresses concern and fear that her Marine son, returning Iraq veteran, may be vulnerable to the recent Marine Reserves call up. She fears her son will be called up and have to go again.

I know another military family, a  wife from WA who fears her husband - WA National Guard - will be sent for second combat tour to Iraq. He has received word of that possibility.

Perhaps you saw the Seattle Times media interview,
 'Jared Santos: "I remember when his body came to town' of the two living brothers in Bellingham, WA who were commemorating the death of their brother on the recent 4th anniversary of Iraq war.  The mother, no longer a Blue Star Mother, now a Gold Star Mother, continues to tell of her experience, hoping that other military families will not become Gold Star families.  

These are a few examples among many of the anxieties we face as military families in war time -- subjected to politics that govern the lives of our loved ones in the military.  Many of us don't 'enjoy' politics - we are forced to have to know about politics since in war time, as military families, our lives are impacted and controlled by politicians.  We have a heavy investment in the outcome of political decisions made with regard to this war (as well as other wars previous and future).    

I personally can't afford the luxury of the political chess game - move, counter move, counter-counter move, counter-counter-counter move, etc. etc.  Yet, here is the present reality, and there seems to be few other choices for us as a military family with a heavy stake in the mangement of the Iraq war.  We are subject to the will of politics and political climate when it comes to funding the continuation of the war; and it is my belief we are more directly impacted than others, therefore stake-holders.  We are not on the sidelines watching the tournament unfold, the drama of the game is decidedly more a reality for us as direct stake-holders.

I see a Commander-in-Chief who wasn't kidding when he said this would be a 'long war' and that it would be the next President who would have to deal with Iraq war.  I don't see a wise Commander-in-Chief but an individual who has questionable judgement, yet is persistent in his stubborn positions - irrespective of the cost.  

I see a Congress whom I shall forever fault for giving the President permission to invade Iraq.   Many in Congress were 'old enough' to know better  (having lived through Vietnam war era) and yet did not exercise their better judgment and were (perhaps) stampeded (Sept 11) into giving a yes vote for military invasion into Iraq.  Note; this Administration also well knew the Vietnam war era and well knew how to sell the invasion into Iraq, how to sustain and maintain the occupation of Iraq and how to spin the narrative to foster what they voiced as 'patriotic support' for our men and women in uniform deployed in combat.    

I see an American public willing to be duped; perhaps having to keep their noses to the grindstone - too busy with earning a living.  I see an American public, under-educated in the privileges of civic service in sustaining and maintaing the democracy in which they live.  

I have felt very much betrayed by this Administration, the political process and the American public.  But that was then - and this is  now.  Four years later, going into fifth year.  Initially I had high hopes that if we could have an impact and end the Iraq war in the first year, we could salvage the damage.  Okay, maybe then in the second year....losing hope in the third year, and then the protests grew more substantial with a shift in public acceptance of Iraq war and by the fourth year more of Americans were on board.

Personally, at this time, in the fifth year (deja vue decade long Vietnam war when I was a young military wife) I want Congress to do the best job they can do, preferrable some action that would bring the insanity to an end yesterday.  Is this is the best that Congress can do with Democratic majority?   I honestly don't know.  

It is said they are positioning for the 2008 elections and are comfortable to have more lives expended in Iraq while they get positioned.  You know, I'm not ready to permit myself to quite believe that - which isn't to say it is not possible, but I can't afford to let myself believe that - it is too cynical and without hope. I guess I'm still in need of being naive enough to need the 'hope' that Congress will do the right thing and get our troops home - preferrably now, not 2008.  

It does seem they have a rather nasty President who has a pattern of using signing statements is readily willing to use the power of veto or threaten to use the power of veto. I'm not sure that the exercise of a futile gesture in sending up a bill that won't get the votes is wise, but then, what does Congress have to lose by trying?

We hear that there was enough money already in the works to adequately fund removing the troops from Iraq now - without abandoning any deployed troops.  Was it that this is just not a popular enough concept to be worthy of giving it a try?  We hear there were bills introduced calling for immediate withdrawal that were not even given much of a moments consideration.  Were those not worth a try?  

Yes, I know, I know - why try if it is perceived such bills would fail - not enough votes.  Still, why not try, is the question I ask myself, while conceding that I understand what Congress is saying with the 'not enough votes' mantra.    

I'm not sure I can get through another Iraq deployment for the two in our family without some sense of hope and yet, for the military families I know whose loved ones aren't coming back, reality is sometimes fatal, isn't it?  

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends." Martin Luther King Jr.

by Lietta Ruger on Thu Mar 29, 2007 at 11:37:43 AM PST

(by Noemie)
Lietta, your answer here
is an assessment that is very similar to mine -- except that you say it so much more gracefully than I can.
I have felt very down, very discouraged by this supplemental which provides another $100 billion and many more months.

What has me down is not only this length of time -- betweeen now and March or September of 2008 - nor the fact that Bush vows to veto it.  But there is also the matter that I believe this President is thoroughly untrustworthy and that no law and no agreement will keep him from doing what he wants to do -- either by subterfuge or in the open.  I believe we are on the brink of attacking Iran.  This supplemental gives him more ability to not only continue the current actions, but to expand them.

And even the troop pullouts, if they go as planned (I see that as unlikely) represent only a partial withdrawal.  Many troops will remain under the conditions of the supplemental.  In addition, we have a mercenary army there which is neither subject to military nor civilian law -- and which is nearly as large as our military presence.  What happens with them?  Does Halliburton -- now in a Middle Eastern country beyond our laws too -- do they and the other war profiteers stay there?   I think they do.

Every dollar and every moment we give to continue this war, gives Bush and the war profiteers power to entrench further in that country, steal more of its resources, spark yet greater violence, further manipulate the US media and public employees like the regional Attorney Generals, fix elections, search our library records, listen to our phone conversations, torture people, keep habeus corpus suspended, etc.  And we get closer and closer to a situation where, truly, there will be no return.  We may be there already.  

I don't understand how this Congress can pass any law and expect this President to follow it.  Truly, I feel shattered by this supplemental.

by noemie maxwell on Thu Mar 29, 2007 at 12:07:48 PM PST

(by Particle)
Lietta and Noemie you are not alone.
What I have noticed is near total silence among the Lib Blogs and respectfully, I think this is the result of dreams over what might be possible being shattered by the political realities of thin majorities and an ongoing Bush administration. And no Lietta it most certainly is NOT enough nor is this a time to exhale and feel content. Still, what we have seen over the past two weeks covers more than half the ground between where we were three months ago and where we need to be. Many things are very significant and among them is the fact that the GOP in the Senate chose not to block bringing this bill to a vote they could not win. No war ends on a dime though this one should. With these votes in mind is there any chance Bush will join the British in some sort of retaliation based upon the notion that we cannot stand by while harm is done to our only true allie.
And more to your personal exposure Lietta, you must see that the management of this stinking war is now driven by how few casualties the administration can "afford" politically in a given week. Though this notion is disgusting, you must know that this tolerance is now lower than ever, meaning that fewer of our men and woman are being placed at high risk on a daily basis than was the case just three or four weeks ago.

My own view is that those elected officials who voted for this funding bill should be thanked and without pause asked what they see as the next step and be supported in moving ever forward. It is clear this will not be easy for many to do though failing to exert this friendly pressure would be an excuse for some in the House and Senate to withdraw from the struggle and with narrow majorities this would not help us gain further progress.
Peace to you both.

by Particle Man on Thu Mar 29, 2007 at 01:37:45 PM PST