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 Editorials | Opinions | May 2008 
Socialists Strongly Criticize McCain’s Iraq War Timetable
 Stewart A. Alexander - Peace and Freedom Party
| | Stewart A. Alexander - Socialist Party USA Nominee for Vice President, and Candidate for nomination by the Peace and Freedom Party | | |
On March 19, 2008, the U.S. occupation of Iraq entered into the sixth year; now Republican presidential contender, Senator John McCain is saying that “he believes the Iraq War can be won by 2013,” according to the Associated Press. Socialists, nationwide are sharply critical of John McCain’s irresponsible statement to suggest that U.S. forces will remain in Iraq and Afghanistan for another five years. Socialist Party USA and Peace and Freedom Party, both socialist parties, are opposing any further delays or future deadlines that would be required to bring American troops home.
Within the past two months, U.S. casualties in Iraq eclipsed the 4,000 mark, and more than 500 U.S. casualties in Afghanistan. Recent estimates indicate that there are more than 1,209,000 Iraqis casualties due to the war, and there are more than 4,200,000 Iraqi refugees. Recent scientific estimates project that the war will cost more than $3 trillion, and that estimated cost will likely be far too low as the war drags on. Though the cost of the war, in terms of Americans lives, are few by comparison of earlier wars, the Vietnam War, WWI and WWII, and the Korean War, every soldier lost is a lost of life that is shared by family, friends and a nation that is demanding the troops be brought home.
There are many other serious costs that must be considered; many U.S. soldiers will be burden by the cost of the war for years to come. Thousands of soldiers are scared for life; being required to fight extended tours, many troops are suffering mental and emotional trauma; and many soldiers have already revealed that they are not receiving the professional care and financial assistance that should be available from the U.S. government.
Contrary to the claims of the Bush administration and the two corporate parties, the Democrats and Republicans, the war is not to protect American freedoms or our independence, the war is not about Iraqi freedom; the Iraq War is about oil and to stabilize a puppet government in Iraq that will serve the corporate oil interests.
Information available, both before and after the onset of the war, shows that Iraq was no military threat to the United States, it had no weapons of mass destruction and contrary to the claims of the Bush administration, the Iraq government, under Suddam Hussein, had no involvement in the attacks of September 11, 2001. However, in the presence of overwhelming evidence, the Bush administration and the two corporate parties have spent over $500 billion to destroy a sovereign nation.
Senator John McCain is gambling that the road to the White House is to follow in the foot steps of President Bush, promising to fight a senseless and criminal war to advance U.S. imperialism. Unfortunately, millions of working people will be required to make greater sacrifices, at home and abroad, to protect the interests of the corporate ruling class and global capitalists.
For more information, search the Web for Stewart A. Alexander; Independent voters rejecting Democrats and Republicans.
http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/
http://banderasnews.com/0704/eded-countingthecost.htm
http://labs.daylife.com/journalist/stewart_a._alexander
http://StewartAlexanderCares.com
http://www.vote-socialist.org/
http://www.peaceandfreedom.org/home/
http://www.sp-usa.org/
http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/pres08.htm
http://www.politics1.com/p2008.htm |
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