THINKING FOR OURSELVES

Continuing Wars and Wisdom

By Shea Howell

Michigan Citizen, Dec. 7-14, 2008

Over the last few months two issues have dominated the media, news briefs and conversations: .political campaigns, from President to school boards, and the crumbling economy. Iraq and Afghanistan receded into the background. As a result, there has been little public discussion of the developments in these wars. And, in the curiously fragmented world of news, virtually no connections are being drawn between the enormous economic burdens of two wars, an expanded global military, and the collapse of the U.S. economy.

The first and most troubling development has been the escalation of violence in both Iraq and Afghanistan. While no where near the levels of a year ago, in Iraq "the number of civilian deaths and improvised explosive devices increased in November, according to New York Times reports. For the last three months civilian deaths have been over 100 people each month, with 148 people reported killed in November, 118 in October and 156 in September. Meanwhile, the number of explosive devices detonated or discovered has averaged over 100 a month.

In Afghanistan violence has escalated to levels matching those in 2001 when U.S. forces overthrew the Taliban. Over 4,000 people have been killed this year alone. It is estimated that nearly a third of these were civilians. Many died from U.S. bombs, dropped in civilian areas in pursuit of militants. With each bomb dropped, the survivors become more anti-American, more willing to support the return of the Taliban.

In both Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. has been slow to recognize that physical force cannot create peace, although the majority of people in both nations have made it clear that it is the U.S. military presence that creates violence. Both President Karzai in Afghanistan and the recent ratification of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). by the Iraqi parliament indicate the desire for firm withdrawal dates of U.S. forces.

After raucous debate, the Iraqi Parliament voted 149 to 35 to ratify the treaty, establishing the framework of U.S. presence in Iraq and its withdrawal by 2011. Though barely achieving a majority in the 275 member body, there are some important elements in this agreement. First, largely due to the efforts of Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani, who continues to wield extraordinary moral power, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was forced to agree to a national referendum on the agreement in July of next year.

The Bush administration refused to release an English language version of the agreement for fear of reaction in the U.S., but there are many elements that are welcome. We have a firm timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops. Although we have every hope that President-Elect Obama will act more swiftly, the commitment to troop withdrawal is an important victory, especially because the document pledges that U.S. forces will leave all cities and towns by next June, seven months from now. The agreement also pledges that the U.S. will not use Iraq as a base to attack its neighbors. Thus Syria and Iran are able to feel somewhat less threatened and more able to enter into dialogue with the new administration.

These wars have been enormous disasters. We have destroyed thousands upon thousands of lives and brought horror and destruction on a daily basis to people who like ourselves want only to live our lives as best we can. As a result, we have fostered hatred, desires for revenge and retribution, and ill-will among people everywhere.