by Marcus Brooks

Created on: June 19, 2007   Last Updated: June 14, 2009

When news broke regarding Zaraqawi's demise, the Iraq war seemed to be winding its course. Al Zaraqawi was Al Qaeda's #1 leader and terrorist operative. He killed hundreds with his suicide and homicide bombing attacks. His gunmen kidnapped and murdered Iraqi civilians who sided with the coalition forces. And in one horrific crime, he beheaded an American, civil contractor and published it live on YouTube. But, like most murdering scum, he was killed. His vehicle was destroyed in a calculated, missile attack in Baghdad. He and three others were blown to bits. His mangled body was displayed like an animal trophy done by a taxidermist. The war had finally swayed in our favor. It was to be over with in months.

As those months turn into years, our middle-class vanished in the villages and hamlets of Iraq. American dollars continued to paying rebuilding and infrastructure. Bombings and other attacks continued causing more destruction. The war became a strain to the economy. Gas prices rose to about $3.75 nationwide. Distributors increased their shipping costs for goods. Drivers increased their delivery gratuities for bringing the goods. Consumers paid those prices at gas pumps and grocery stores. Homeowners paid those prices by losing their homes in a debilitating recession.

Immediately after 9/11, the cause to fight global terror was just. American patriotism pushed for an invasion into Afghanistan to kill or capture Osama Bin Laden. Our soldiers had to avenge the blood of 3,500 civilians and military personnel. They had to avenge the victims of a cowardly, but coordinated attack on the social, economic and political fabric of this great nation. People from all walks of life said that we should go to war. Even wrestlers from the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) called for President Bush to go after Bin Laden. One such athlete, John Bradshaw Layerfield said that he wanted Afghanistan turned into a parking lot! Many Americans shared those sentiments. Pleas from so-called "bleeding heart" liberals went on deaf ears.

The Pentagon reported the difficulties of "securing the peace". When the initial war concluded, coalition troops failed to suppress an elusive foe. That foe had assistance from sympathetic population opposed to Western intervention. In addition, a rising, secular war also placed a heavy burden on the coalition forces's manpower. Soldiers got deployed to areas far off the battle grid to protect Sunni civilians from Shiites seeking bloody retribution. It was Hussein's Sunni tribe who persecuted the Shiites, the Kurds and Iraq's Turkish minority during his 30 years of rule. Repressed Shiites used the Iraq war as an avenue to exert their own brand of ethnic cleansing and tribal genocide.

After five years of combat, the Iraq war became a balance sheet of KIAs, "stop-losses", the wounded and the maimed. Not included was the ill treatment veterans received after returning from Iraq. They received subpar medicare from hospitals while recovering from injuries. The soldiers' G.I. bills weren't enough to save the homes they left behind. Many families with troops serving "tours" abroad broke up.

The Pentagon talked about making continued "progress" in Iraq. Military experts talked about progress despite the suicide bombings, assassinations to Iraqi diplomats or the kidnappings and murders of coalition troops and noncombatants. For five years, that progress became as elusive as the enemy.

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