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The real cost of the war in Iraq has is not about dollars and sense, but in the credibility of the United States. The people in Iraq who were counting on us are confused about our commitment. Our division and politics that render us ineffective have rejuvenated the people, who would love to see another World Trade Center event.

Everyone seems to forget, it is Congress who agreed to give the President war powers. This is normal, however, as time moves on people forget why the fighting begun. We tend to forget those unpleasant things, just as a woman can forget the pain in pregnancy enough to want to have a second child.

We argue about why we are there, why it is our responsibility to bring stability to the reason. Things are a lot different than in 1776. The weapons of war were such that the civilians could obtain or make equivalent weapons held by the established government, such that they could defend and revolt if need be.

The world has changed. In an age of automatic weapons, rocket launchers, tanks, and all kinds of amazing things we have invented to annihilate ourselves, the balance of power has shifted. Common citizens cannot defend themselves from oppressive governments. So there in lies the philosophical question of whether or not it is our job to step in.

Imagine if you were in a mall and a man was beating up his wife. Who would not step in to defend the woman, or not run out to get help for her? Why is it so hard for some to extrapolate this out to the nations we try to help? Those who oppose our involvement in other countries, like Iraq, are equivalent of just turning their head in the mall and say "it's a domestic dispute, let them work it out."

No one likes war, and it would be great if we had never gone into Iraq, great if we got out. The problem is, when we commit to do something as a nation, we have little resolve to see it through. This is prevalent throughout our culture. We enter into marriages and walk out on them for trivial reasons. We are so worried about being politically correct and offending this person or that person, we have paralyzed ourselves.

So, here we enter the war. Debating dollars and cents with no sense. People are dying; it is no longer about the economics but about determining where we stand as a nation. Are we going to commit to the completion (whatever that is) or are we going to commit to pull out? Take a stand and stick to it and do it. No one likes to deal with someone who is lukewarm and whimsical. The cost cannot truly be measured in dollars and worth because integrity is priceless. We have lost ours.

Learn more about this author, David Kramer.
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