Editor’s Notes: U.S. military, taxpayers cannot decide Iraq’s future

The war in Iraq has divided this country more than any issue since the Vietnam War.

Distrust of the federal government has plummeted to a low we have not seen since the darkest days of Watergate, when some Americans openly mocked the president and demanded openness in government.

The experience of the past leads me to one logical conclusion about the near future. I’m afraid resistance to President Bush’s troop surge will crystallize into a confrontational peace movement that will bring bloodshed into American streets, sadly reminiscent of the Vietnam era.

Images of protesters being dragged to jail would be worse for American psyche than images of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib. At this critical point in the war against terror, the rhetoric needs to be turned down, not turned up, as we battle an enemy bent on the destruction of America, Israel and freedom of religion.

I bring up my fears after watching a peaceful group of senior citizens on the corner of La Canada and Esperzana in in Green Valley on Saturday. “Make Love, Not War,” read several signs. Their message was clear: Get American troops out of the Middle East now.

I agree with their general premise. I want our brave soldiers and military leaders out of harm’s way, too, as soon as the situation in Iraq shows the first sign of stability.

This is no longer a war about American interests. It has disintegrated into a civil war, with terrorists fighting the forces of freedom. Sadly, we need to be freshening and preparing our troops for a potential clash with Iran.

My opinion conflicts with nearly everyone else’s. You’re either with the president or against him. There’s no middle ground.

The chairman of the Republican Party sent e-mails to thousands of you last week. He implored GOP supporters to flood newspapers with letters to the editor and to call radio talk shows, setting the stage for confrontation with Democrats.

Meanwhile, as hundreds of cars drove by the Green Valley protest, many honked in support. A few shouted derisively. One guy driving by in a golf cart flashed a thumb’s down to the dozens who were socializing and protesting.

As I watched, I thought to myself how desperately I do not want Iraq to be the defining issue of my lifetime. I do not want it to be Bush’s legacy. On the other hand, I do not want to pass off a more dangerous world to my three children.

The Senate passed a resolution late last week, saying Bush’s additional 21,500 soldiers are not in America’s best interests. Defense Secretary Robert Gate said the resolution undercuts U.S. forces in a way that "emboldens the enemy."

The harsh words have put Bush on a collision course with Congress and the peace movement. Vice President Dick Cheney said after Bush’s State of the Union address that the president would go forward with the troop buildup no matter what. Friday, Bush said, "I'm the decision-maker" about sending more U.S troops to the war and challenged critics not to prematurely condemn his buildup.

"I've picked the plan that I think is most likely to succeed," Bush said. "I know there is skepticism and pessimism and that some are condemning a plan before it's even had a chance to work. They have an obligation and a serious responsibility therefore to put up their own plan as to what would work."

Here’s a plan that will work: Give American military commanders the authority to respond with all the force necessary to defeating the enemy. In the meantime, expedite training of the Iraqi police force. Give them, and the American public, a clear timetable on military withdrawal.

If the enemy plans its moves around the U.S. exit strategy, so be it. The Iraqis will have to deal with it themselves with the right ammunition and wisdom.

The American military had its hands tied in Vietnam and accomplished little. It has accomplished plenty in Iraq, including the capture and eventual execution of Saddam Hussein. It has helped set Iraq on a different course that’s violent now but will not be forever.

Here’s what everyone in this emotional debate needs to know: Iraq’s long-term future is in its hands, not in the hands of our military or on the backs of our taxpayers.

Contact Green Valley News editor James Bennett at jbennett@gvnews.com or (520) 547-9770.