This was my writers' group column for the Spectrum on December 28, 2011
The official end of the war in Iraq is cause for reflection. I vividly recall the rhetoric emanating from the Washington officials and the media in 2003. Visions of weapons of mass destruction and mushroom clouds filled the air feeding our fears and insecurities. Calls to patriotism drowned out voices urging caution and deliberation. The emotional war drums sounded and 72% of the public supported the decision to invade Iraq.
That was then. This is now. The Pew Research Center recently reported that as the war wore on, public interest and awareness steadily declined. In December 2010 just 19% of those polled acknowledged following events in Iraq closely. Although public awareness waned, our all-volunteer service members fought on for eight long years. Multiple tours of duty took their human toll and 44% of returning veterans “have had difficulty readjusting to civilian life, compared with 25% of pre-9/11 veterans.”
What have we learned from this conflict that counted more than 5000 dead and tens of thousands wounded American and coalition troops, more that 100,000 Iraqi deaths and more than a trillion dollars borrowed from future generations?
Was the war worth the cost and was the invasion the right decision? While the nation seems nearly evenly divided on the issue overall, our partisan divide is clear. Seventy two percent of Republicans support the decision to invade compared to 44% of independents and 37% of Democrats.
Will military conquests decide the international power struggles of the 21st century? Or is it just possible that our continuing focus on military power will weaken us further and cause us to lose ground in an increasingly competitive and vibrant world economic environment?
In a recent NY Times opinion piece, “War Really is Going out of Style” Joshua S. Goldstein and Steven Pinker argue persuasively that war no longer pays and that war is in decline. In the 21st century national power and wealth will be dependent on trade and commerce both of which fare poorly during war.
Then Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated unequivocally “any future defense secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should have his head examined.”
But, once again we hear increasing talk of war, echoing 2003, only this time Iran, strengthened by the Iraq war, is the target.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham recently stated that we have to destroy their military and get the people of the country to overthrow the regime if Iran develops a nuclear weapon. Am I alone in thinking this is insane? The fires of nationalism ignited by an attack on Iran by Israel or the United States will not dim for years.
Our recent experience and history confirm that preventive war is not an answer.
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