by Ann Nurse

Created on: June 27, 2008   Last Updated: November 20, 2010

The conflict in Iraq is not open for debate as to whether surrender or defeat is an option. We have to consider in this equation the FACT that we had no legitimate reason for our presence in Iraq.  Also, because of this predicament, thousands of young American men and women have lost their lives or have been permanently maimed during the course of this unfortunate course of events. Our standing in the world, as a just and honorable people, has been denigrated. We are now seen in an unfavorable light by our neighboring countries. Needless to say, other nations thought we had an ulterior motive for being in Iraq, namely the oil. "Weapons Of Mass Destruction" was supposed to be the passport for our entry. President Bush has never said Saddam Hussein was linked to 9/11, there was evidence that Iraq had ties to Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations before 9/11.  It has become a political football and the middle class American, from which comes most of the enlisted men and women bear the burden and consequences of this war.

We, the general population of the country, have come to believe that we were never told the facts concerning our entry into Iraq nor were we prepared to witness our young men and women massacred in the streets of Iraq and our reasoning for being there changing from, "weapons of mass destruction" to "creating a democracy for people who did not ask to be democratized" to "denouncing the reign of Saddam Hussein" to "Ending Terrorism". Each week, the broadcasters gave us new justification for our unwanted presence in Iraq. How does one surrender to what should have never been? But how can defeat be a stain in the history of our nation? This "engagement" has been in process longer than any other in our history. There are some who want this to last on to the next generation. So are we to take a defeat that could tarnish our status in the world.

If there is a question to consider regarding surrender, should we not consider surrendering our integrity, our morals, our ethics? The whole country questions the legitimacy of our presence in Iraq. It is demoralizing to think we're no closer to the resolution of the fear and threat of terrorism in our country because of our presence in Iraq. Is Iraq the birthplace of terrorism? Seems to me that we are the pawns in a game of control and greed. Now we discover from Scott McClellan's 2008 memoir, What Happened that he accuses Bush of "self-deception" and of maintaining a "permanent campaign approach" to governing rather than making the best choices. McClellan stopped short of saying that Bush was lying purposely about his reasons for invading Iraq. President Bush remains committed to the Iraq War, saying on August 21 that it was "straining the psyche of our country" and would be an issue in the fall congressional elections, but said that the United States would remain in Iraq throughout his presidency.

In conclusion, this conflict in Iraq cannot be conceded to surrender or defeat by the American people.

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