Why Iraq WAS worth the Cost!

Now that the surge has worked and the United States military and diplomatic efforts are succeeding, the debate should shift toward whether or not it was worth the costs...IT WAS.


Saddam Hussein and his sons are dead. They will kill torture and torment the world no more. Since the invasion of Kuwait the United States foreign policy and military efforts have been forced to focus on Iraq and what this mad man might do. The current government of Iraq cannot muster an attack on Kuwait, Iran, or any of its neighbors. Whatever the Iraqi government becomes after we leave, they will be consumed with internal politics and power for quite some time.

After we defeated Saddam and his ilk, Al Qaeda decided Iraq is the battlefield they would fight us on. They felt that in Iraq, not Afghanistan or the United States, is where they would make their stand. They have lost that gamble. After sacrificing thousands of recruits and the entire Bush presidency to defeat our military, they are routed and headed back to the mountains between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Good. Hide there. We will see you soon. Since 9-11 we have not allowed a sanctuary around the world. This one too will come crashing down on these murderers.

We know that recently yellow cake uranium was removed from Iraq. This will never find its way to terrorist or be used by Saddam to create a bomb. While no link exists between Saddam and Al Qaeda, he did pay the families of suicide bombers in Israel. This was a man who WOULD use terror if it suited him. 9-11 showed dictators that maybe terror was a way you could strike the US. George Bush showed all dictators we can and will take action. As a result Libya volunteered it's nuclear program. The North Korean nuclear problem is also in a better state than pre-Iraq war. Neither was possible without the war.

Today in Iraq we have our largest base in the Middle East. Just miles from the border of Iran the mightiest military in the world makes a home. Children don't act up as much when their parents are near by. The Iranians are full of bluster and media shows. But they are well aware they cannot strike Israel or allow a terrorist attack to be planned on their soil. Either would result in their destruction. While many pundits talk about Iran's new strength, they have also been dealt a defeat in Iraq. Their economy is in shambles and their bad faith negotiations are about to lead to more sanctions. The Iranians are also stuck on internal problems.

The Iraqi people have voted once and just might be on their way to a Democracy. With luck, they may vote again before our elections in November. Do you remember the purple fingers from Iraq and Afghanistan as people cast their first real votes? I do. Today in Iraq there is a free press. Local muscle like Muqtada al-Sadr has been forced to put down their arms in order to maneuver for upcoming elections. Elections. ELECTIONS! Made possible by the war in Iraq.

Finally and least importantly, the Iraqi economy is showing signs of life. Their oil exports are becomings stable and exceeding pre-war levels. In the next ten years they could increase dramatically depending upon development. Markets are open. The people are returning. Unlike Afghanistan, Iraq is an advanced and civilized country. It's people will thrive. We will soon get out of their way. The Iraqi war has changed the Middle East and the world. Over the next ten years, we will see by how much. History will judge. But if the past is our guide, Democracy will be good for Iraq, the Iraqis and the world.

Wars take time. They cost lives. They cost treasure. This war is in an entire region with agents spread around the world. We currently fight it in Iraq, Afghanistan, in the Philippians, in Africa and at home. In Iraq and Afghanistan we have learned much about our enemy. We are winning in both. Our military is more experienced and capable than ever before. The technology for modern and counter-insurgency military operations has been dramatically improved.

For all these benefits we should be grateful. Our soldiers are heroes. Everyone who died should know they did not die in vain. They died with honor. Fighting for freedom. Fighting to keep the world safe. Someday I hope a monument will stand in Iraq honoring them. Not built by us, or requested by the US. Built by Iraqis, honoring their liberation. I salute every soldier and thank them for their service. It was worth it. You country is proud.