by Robert C. Sage

Created on: March 09, 2008   Last Updated: March 12, 2008

Should America remain in Iraq, if most Iraqis don't trust US and want US to leave? If America is occupying Iraq for the benefit of the Iraqis and they want us to be gone, why should there even be debate about American troops remaining there for anything but a stopgap? If American leaders won't listen to the citizens of a country we invaded, the people who we are supposedly there to help, then to whom will we listen? Ultimately, who should have the right to decide if American or other foreign troops should be occupying another country, if that country never attacked the occupiers? Is it enough to suspect that Saddam might have otherwise attacked America, although he never did and never said he would?

The Bush Doctrine of Pre-emptive Strikes was used to justify this war of choice. This dangerous so-called doctrine could be invoked to support military action against any potential American foe based on hearsay, innuendo or simple paranoia. It requires no hostile action or threat to be used. In effect, it allows America to attack and invade any country of its choosing for any reason or no reason at all. It is enough for American leaders to state that America feels potentially endangered. This opens up the use of American military assets to serve the personal or political interests and concerns of the president, without any repercussions, as long as the action is wrapped in the cloak of national security.

When America finds that it has been deceived and tricked into allowing a president to attack, invade and occupy a foreign land, what should it do? Certainly, America and the world at large, has the right to demand answers to tough questions. Why are there no Congressional hearings on the deceptions and artifices used to start this war and put American troops into harm's way? Why is the Bush Administration not called to task to explain why diplomacy was not used and is still not used instead of war? Why is war no longer the last resort?

These are not academic questions from an ivory tower. They are subjects that could and should be debated in public school civics classes. Every American citizen has the right to receive answers to such basic questions. Every Iraqi should also have the right to call for the UN Security Council or an International Court to deliberate over the legitimacy of the American occupation of his/her country. Apparently, the intimidation factor in controlling "the US Justice Dept." is not insignificant. Along with the ability to affect the public

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