The Iraqis did not do a thing to us

Published 11:54 am Wednesday, November 21, 2007

The Nov. 11 letter, “War is never bright and cheery,” is not only an implausible rant about a “war more important than World War II” against the evil Muslims, it misses an important point in Sarri Gilman’s column.

I’ll make the opposite rant and reiterate that point:

Iraq did not do 9/11.

Iraq did not attack nor threaten the United States.

To knowingly beat up the wrong guy because he’s an easy target just to make youself look brave or tough is the opposite. It is the definition of a coward and a bully.

I’m not talking about the actions of soldiers. Their institutional imperative is clear: obey orders. Though the most powerful, gut-felt responsibility is to their buddies next to them.

It is the misuse of this trust and treasure that top the list of the high crimes and misdemeanors of George Bush. Shamefully complicit are the media cheerleaders and the rest of us good Germans.

Justice and moral clarity demands that we, the people, prosecute those who unleashed this unnecessary, aggressive war.

Once more. Iraq did not do 9/11. Iraq was not a haven for Islamic extremists. Iraq did not threaten us with chemical or nuclear weapons.

But that’s irrelevant to the writer because Iraq is largely Muslim, thus headchoppin’ evil. Kill ‘em over there rather than here because war is hell. Keep killing them because our troops are over there and killing is what troops do because war is hell and if you don’t get it, you’re a self-absorbed, apathetic sissy.

This circular, quagmire-feeding logic must make the neocons drool.

In her column, Sarri Gilman also states a personal commitment to unraveling the complexities of this now fractured region.

We should all share that quest. Maybe even unravel some knots of our own.

Wayne C. Evans