The Danger We Now Face

The bloodbath in Fallujah is beginning to lull. We are now (re-)entering Mosul. There will undoubtably be more large offensives into cities and areas across Iraq which the US military lost control of over the previous months. These offensives have come on hard and fast, following the US presidential elections – now the president does not have to truly worry about spiraling body counts and popular opinion.

Since we are so embedded in the quagmire that is Iraq, it is tempting to give up, and to finally acquiesce to the war. This is heard in many circles, both right and left of the spectrum. These calls are usually under the banner of “supporting our troops.” The thinking goes, that since we are now in Iraq, we have to “see it out to the end” and try to “make some good come out of it.”

But what good can possibly come from the unprovoked invasion of a sovereign nation?

What good can come from a blatantly offensive move to reinforce global hegemony?

What good can come, when we do not make decisions based on the welfare of the people of Iraq?

Today is the worst possible time to begin supporting the war. Because by saying that we now need to come together, to support the troops, to mindlessly wave flags and chant “U S A” – that is supporting the war.

If you say that you never supported the war, but now that we must see it through to the end, to stay. You are supporting the war. If you say that the war was based on broken promises and false information, but now we must “spread democracy” and “stay the course” – you are supporting the war effort.

If you remain silent now – you are supporting the war.

Now is the most important time to oppose this war, openly and fullheartedly. By acquiescing now, you are giving silent credence to everything that the war is, that it was sold upon.

This war was sold to us on the lies of weapons of mass destruction. The lies of an imminent threat. This war was sold to the American people, as a war of preemption. But we have found that there was nothing to preempt. Iraq was not a threat. Had never been a threat. And had no way of posing a threat in the future.

This war was not about “spreading democracy.” This war was not about helping the people of Iraq. It wasn’t two years ago, and it isn’t now.

This war is not a noble cause.

And by saying that we now need unity, that we need to support the troops unconditionally, is incorrect and highly problematic.

An unjust war does not develop into a just one as time wears on. This was an unjust war, and remains such to this day.