Date: 08/30/2010
Iraq – An End or an Escalation?
by Ron Paul
Amid much fanfare last week, the last supposed “combat” troops left Iraq as the administration touted the beginning of the end of the Iraq War and a change in the role of the United States in that country. Considering the continued public frustration with the war effort, and with the growing laundry list of broken promises, this was merely another one of the administration’s operations in political maneuvering and semantics in order to convince an increasingly war-weary public that the Iraq War is at last ending. However, military officials confirm that we are committed to intervention in that country for years to come, and our operations have in fact, changed minimally, if really at all.
After eight long draining years, I have to wonder if our government even understands what it is to end a war anymore. The end of a war, to most people, means all the troops come home, out of harm’s way. It means we stop killing people and getting killed. It means we stop sending troops and armed personnel over and draining our treasury for military operations in that foreign land. But much like the infamous “mission accomplished” moment of the last administration, this “end” of the war also means none of those things.
50,000 US troops remain in Iraq, and they are still receiving combat pay. One soldier was killed in Basra just last Sunday, after the supposed end of combat operations, and the same day 5,000 men and women of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood were deployed to Iraq. Their mission will be anything but desk duty. Among other things they will accompany the Iraqi military on dangerous patrols, continue to be involved in the hunt for terrorists, and provide air support for the Iraqi military. They should be receiving combat pay, because they will be serving a combat role!
Of course the number of private contractors – who perform many of the same roles as troops, but for a lot more money – is expected to double. So this is a funny way of ending combat operations in Iraq. We are still meddling in their affairs and we are still putting our men and women in danger, and we are still spending money we don’t have. This looks more like an escalation than a draw-down to me!
The ongoing war in Iraq takes place against a backdrop of economic crisis at home, as fresh numbers indicate that our economic situation is as bad as ever, and getting worse! Our foreign policy is based on an illusion: that we are actually paying for it. What we are doing is borrowing and printing the money to maintain our presence overseas. Americans are seeing the cost of this irresponsible approach as our economic decline continues. Unemployed Americans have been questioning a policy that ships hundreds of billions of dollars overseas while their own communities crumble and their frustration is growing. An end to this type of foreign policy is way overdue.
A return to the traditional American foreign policy of active private engagement and non-interventionism is the only alternative that can restore our moral and fiscal health.
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Hey Guys, I am a Canadian who strongly supports Ron Paul and I would like to make a video about internationals (non-Americans) supporting Dr. Paul. So far I have people from Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Lebanon, India, the UK and Ireland who will contribute clips on their support for Ron Paul. If you are a non-American, please message me to include you in the video. We can’t vote for Ron Paul but we can most definitely help him get elected! Let’s show America that the world stands behind RP!
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Ron Paul’s “stance” on marriage rights in the USA? I think Ron Paul should trash his marriage. I’m sure he can easily flee to another state that supports mariage to ugly bitches. I mean, states do have the right to ban ugly bitches from marying people, right? I had no idea Ron Paul is the Original Teabagger.
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Ron is staunchly against the waging of secret and undeclared wars, manipulation in foreign governments, staged coups, false flag terror operations, and the covert funding of terrorist groups abroad; all are things the CIA delights in. Ron Paul, even from his lowly position as a congressman, probably poses more threat to the CIA Black agenda than anyone else on the planet. He speaks candidly about them and the things they do. Its not unreasonable to think they may kill him.
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Alex Jones asked the big question on his show the other day Who should Ron Paul run with in 2012?
Richard Clarke anyone know if that might really be possible ?
»crosslinked«
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Ron Paul is a true American Patriot. What the hell has happened to this country in these recent years? Obama is fraudulent, he is only there because it calms the public down more but all his policies are the same as GWB (arguably worse in some cases), he is the -deceiver-. Bush was so bluntly bad and obvious that everyone hated him, but now that Obama is in office it feels like total apathy has returned. If there is a God, then please help the USA.
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Stop Wars
End the Fed
LibertyPoet
website
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Stop Wars
End the Fed
LibertyPoet
website
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if I saw any muzlambs denouncing the terrorists, or at least complaining about them murdering in the name of there god, INSTEAD OF VILLIFYING CONSERVATIVES, AND CARTOON MAKERS,…then I MIGHT BELIEVE IT .
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For a nobody, I have done what I can in the fight for freedom since 1989. If you remember, the establishment made Bin Laden the leader of the 19 hijackers on 9-12-01 and the establishment’s reason for the attack was that the extremists hate us due to our freedom. Anyone that suggests that they attacked us due to our interventions in their lands is trashed and labeled un-American. I am happy that some of America is waking up. We have a long way to go. I just hope we have time.
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Nothing but name calling here.
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