That picture is from the War Remnants museum in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. I’m sure there are pictures like this in Iraq. We just never see them. Just like we don’t see the consequences of our current actions on future society. What will America be like when our soldiers come home, after what they’ve had to do in our name? Are we ready to take care of our veterans, or are we just going to let them come home unnoticed? Are we ready to marry people who’ve scared detainees with dogs, or worse? Are we ready to pay 500 billion dollars to fund this war, or are we making tax cuts permanent? Are we acting responsibly, or passing the blame to anyone but ourselves?

 

This is not to say that I’m totally against the idea of war. In some cases, it’s necessary. We should have a much bigger presence in Afghanistan, but don’t. This is not to say that I’m against the idea of guns. I’m not. In fact, shooting a shotgun is kindof fun. (As long as you make sure of what’s in your sights, and beyond, Mr. Cheney.) I’ll stand with the NRA on the second amendment if they stand up for the 4th, 5th, 8th, and 14th.

 

But you have to take responsibility for your decisions. And live with breaking a commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.”

 

So what should we do in Iraq? We either get the heck out completely as fast as we can, to conserve our resources to fight in Afghanistan or North Korea, or we build up, reconstitute the draft, and put the might of the US economy towards actually winning the thing. Neither of which the current administration is willing to do.

 

Though they are willing to create a geo-political nightmare that will only exacerbate tensions such that more military action is necessary, and more equipment is ordered by government contractors. If I were in charge, I’d eliminate the ability of corporations that receive federal contracts and their officers from lobbying the government.

 

And I’d only go to war if provoked first. And I’d try not to kill 600,000 people.