Tuesday, May 10, 2011

In Revenge of A Quarrel





In Revenge of A Quarrel
by Zebulon Poe Doyle
The War in Iraq is a military campaign that was launched in 2003 by the United States against the sovereign nation of Iraq. From the beginning onward, those for the war have continued to hold a strong belief that a regime-change was beneficial to all. Critics, including this writer, argue that the motivations for war were unjust, as most of the justifications used by the Bush administration were proven wrong over time. In addition to that, the extreme costs of the war, as well as what could have been done with the staggering amounts spent are reasons enough to keep a strong opinion against the war. This writer intends to provide the facts which seemingly brainwashed a large swath of America into thinking that indeed, the war was justified. By highlighting the motivations for war, the immense costs involved, and what could have been done instead, one will see that in the end, the arguments used by the pro-war crowds are actually quite weak.

Those in favor of the war hold the beliefs that the war was fought for a good reason, mostly in the perceived threats that were present at the time. When it was decided that we would invade Iraq, several broadcasts were made by President George W. Bush that highlighted the Iraqis support of terrorism, and their continued work on weapons of mass destruction. Also, with Al-Qaeda being a real threat at the time, any shred of intelligence that pointed to Iraq was used to gain the support of the public; which, because of the wound left on 9/11, was not hard to acquire. Public opinion held that Iraq was an enemy, and they wanted the immediate removal of the terrorist collaborator, Saddam Hussein, immediately. Those for the war will admit that the initial justifications have been proven wrong, but always hold that in the end, they were doing the right thing.

Those against the war are not all pacifists, but are those that are tired of prolonging a war which has few if any current justifications. By highlighting the many facts and judgments used by the Bush administration, the opposition has tried to open America’s eyes to the “truths” of the war; or in other words, the fabricated reports, the black-and-white imagery, and the confessions of terrorists with poor credibility. With examples such as the extreme costs incurred by the United States, as well as the immense losses suffered by Iraq, one can use either or both, to make an easy argument that the war, “simply wasn’t worth it.” The primary goal of many, including this writer, is to awaken the country to the fact that the War in Iraq is perhaps America’s greatest mistake; furthermore, the promotion of peace and goodwill is believed by this group to be the only way to rid the world of terrorism forever.

I. The Motivations for War

If a person or nation wishes to pursue a particular conquest, it is usually done for one of two reasons. Either there is a perceived threat, or something to be gained by engaging in what could be a costly confrontation. Throughout history, there are countless examples of one group finding a reason to wage war with another, usually for land or to please their gods. Today the threats aren’t as apparent as they once were, with small numbers of men and women deciding the fates of so many more. The War in Iraq is an ongoing campaign which was started by a perceived threat which was blown up to suit the vengeful needs of a middle aged Texan man.
  1. a. The Perceived Threat
In February of 2002, in the miniscule quarters given to detainees of America’s “War on Terror,” a man identified as a leading member of Al-Qaeda spoke of how Iraq had been “training Al Qaeda members to use biological and chemical weapons.” Those in charge of his interrogation quickly surmised that his confession was false, but that wasn’t enough to deter President Bush from using his testimony during a speech in Cincinnati eight months later. By using words such as “he has killed or injured 20,000, more than six times the number that died on September 11th,” “some citizens wonder, after 11 years of living with this problem, why do we need to confront it now? And there’s a reason. We’ve experienced the horror of September the 11th”, and “we have learned that Iraq has been providing Al-Qaeda with biological and chemical [weapons],” the President pours salt on an open wound, and uses those feelings to establish a distrust that otherwise didn’t exist after September 11, 2001. (Jehl, 2005, Online; Bush, 2002, Online)

Every speech given by either the president or his staff had tones and dialogue that were meant to incite the fears of the public. When he spoke, he usually directed his words on the many threats offered by Iraq. Most of these were based on biased reports from unreliable sources; yet anything that could be utilized to influence the populace was used. When there were claims that contradicted the president, members of his inner circle made comments which were not laced with facts, but emotional arguments, questioning people’s “loyalties.” Indeed, by playing on the fears of further terrorist attacks from afar, the president was able to use semi-ethical arguments to get a highly emotional response; then, with the support of a frightened America, the war was almost a certainty.

By the beginning of 2003, the names Saddam and Iraq were commonplace, usually laced with all manner of derogatory comments, usually focusing on how his removal was justified by September 11th. Even after the media had proved that the Al-Qaeda threats were fabricated, the administration found other avenues to keep the hatred alive. From the support of Palestinian terrorists to large stockpiles of chemical/biological weaponry, the public was bombarded by many issues which were viewed to “threaten America from afar.” The strongest point which was repeated hundreds of times was Iraq actively seeking Weapons of Mass Destruction, or WMD’s. Anytime a public address was made leading up to the war, the president was not afraid to use this term in excess, which had the effect of keeping the momentum needed to invade. It is doubtful that the war would have been initiated if several “truths” were given the coverage that a speech by Bush would have been given. (Shin Bet, 2003, Online)

The truth or the facts about a given subject have long been a resource that is in constant flux. From Iraq to the United States, those that usually acknowledge the “truth” are those that the message is meant to persuade in the first place. Those in power do what they must to keep the populace squarely attuned to their versions of it[truth], usually dismissing media reports that contradict it as, “biased, unsubstantiated reports.” Despite credible reports and eyewitness accounts, most people still believe the original message handed down from the government as the only “truth” there can be. The idea that the government could lie about the reasons to start a war seems to most people to be something seen in a Hollywood production, but this is no movie, this is reality.
  1. b. The “Truths”
When President Bush took the podium at a gathering of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in October of 2002, he laid down a series of issues that were meant to cultivate the support needed to launch the conquest of Iraq. Within these issues were several statements that were deemed to be unreliable, and some were made up to suit the occasion. Also, at a meeting of the UN, President Bush made the following claim, “The United States has no quarrel with Iraq,” which was true up to a certain point. At the time, most Americans were concerned with Afghanistan and Al-Qaeda, caring little about Iraq, but due to his ability to scare the public with the perception of “imminent” and “widespread” destruction being the results of inaction, a “quarrel” was quickly established. (“Address to United Nations General Assembly”, 2002, Online)

Another truth would be that the public view of the triggers, that being 9/11 and Al-Qaeda, were not needed according to the Bush administration. Beginning only weeks after taking office, the Bush White House began to make plans for a massive sell-off of Iraqi oil. This was to have a devastating effect on OPEC; however, the plan never went ahead due to objections. This indicates that Bush already had every intention of finding a way into Iraq during his presidency; luckily, however grim that might sound, he was given an excellent reason on September the 11th, 2001. Of course, the target was Afghanistan first, but as a variety of reports show, members of Bush’s cabinet were quite open about their views on Iraq. (Palast, 2005, Online)

In 1991, America led a campaign to rid Kuwait of Iraq’s hold on the tiny nation. When Iraq withdrew, America did not pursue the removal of Saddam as at that time it was not in the game plan; however, Bush Sr. did feel as though the job was left unfinished. Enter George W. Bush with an inbred desire to honor his father and finish the job he began. At his Texas ranch, the then president mentioned something, that if given the same light as his other speeches, the war might have never went forward, as it would have been seen as a personal matter. “He’s evil, he even tried to kill my father,” spoke Bush in the informal interview. The comment did make it into a report, but it was never given the spotlight, as it would have painted an unfavorable portrait of Bush as a man just seeking revenge upon someone who seemingly dishonored his father.
(Moran, 2002, Online)

A benefit, according to a variety of sources, means something that promotes well being, or an entitlement given to those that work for it. When defining the benefits of war, there are many avenues to take; however, the best, modern description of this boon is the access to territory and resources that are made available to the victor. Unfortunately, the majority of those that see a real benefit from war are those that supply the materials needed to wage it. With the Iraq war, many, including this writer, have asked the very simple question, “What are we getting in return for the burden this war has placed upon us?” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2011, Online)
  1. c. The Benefits
One hundred forty billion barrels of Iraqi oil, or at today’s consumption level, the United States could run on Iraq’s oil alone for the next eighteen years; however, despite our major contribution to Operation Iraqi Freedom, the oil benefits will mainly be seen by China. With an economy that grew by 8.7 percent in 2009, and another 11.9 percent in 2010, their demand for crude has established them as OPEC’s (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) number one customer. Now, with five contracts for Iraqi oil and a massive infrastructure investment, the fuel to keep China’s economy blossoming past ours is assured. (Salaheddin, 2010, Online; “Iraqi Oil Reserves..”, 2010, Online)

America, as most of the world could foresee, was originally expected to reap the greatest benefits from the war; unfortunately, the actions of three US senators began to meddle with the process, delaying it. This spelled doom for large US acquisitions of oil as the Iraqi government needed income; therefore, they went ahead and sold the largest contracts to China and Russia. The senators seemed to be working in the best interests of America from a security standpoint, for they believed it would possibly reduce anti-American sentiments around the world. It is very likely that many oil executives were disappointed with this outcome, as more than a few stood to rake in huge profits; fortunately, this may have the benefit of improving our image abroad. On the home front, the people view that because of our expenditures, we are somehow seeing the greatest benefit, which would be a logical assumption, but wrong nonetheless. (Smith, 2008, Online)

Some say the greatest benefit was ridding the world of Saddam Hussein, often quoting others in their declarations of him being our worst enemy, or that he meant us great harm. For years, people had concluded that the Iraqi leader was hiding information about a secret alliance with Al-Qaeda. At his trial, Saddam used this final chance to reveal a number of secrets the west had sought to know for years. The question of an Al-Qaeda connection finally had its answer as he spoke of how the terrorist group had several beliefs that were in direct conflict with his own, meaning an alliance was impossible. Then, he highlighted that his defiance of the UN was a ploy to appear strong to his neighbor Iran, a country which Iraq had shared a long history of violence with. Near the end of his testimony, Saddam was asked why he deemed the United States as an enemy, and his reply shocked this researcher. He stated, “We[Iraq] did not consider the United States to be an enemy, we were simply opposed to their policies.” Some argue that he was trying to gain favoritism, but that is not convincing enough, as the man knew he was going to die regardless of the tone of his words. So it stands to reason that he spoke the truth. In summary, one must conclude that the benefits of the war were not worth the extreme costs; which, after learning the truths of the matter, tied to the fabricated threats, do not seem worth it. (Kessler, 2009, Online)

II. The Costs of War

A grievous or ruinous price paid with life and health is a simple definition for a highly charged subject that suffers from a range of very strong emotions from depression to rage. When we arrived in Iraq, we were guided by excitement and vengeance; then, these were eventually replaced by insanity and depression. According to the sources available, defining the cost of war could be simple, or it could be quite complex, depending on the angle from which it is viewed. The tolls paid by America in this now insanely depressing war have been in lives, our shared image abroad, and, of course, the immense amount of money spent to fight it.
  1. a. The Toll Paid by the United States
When this sentence was written, the cost in American lives lost in Iraq stood at four thousand, seven hundred forty-two. So, put another way, it has cost us one thousand, seven hundred forty-six more lives to secure Iraq than was lost in unrelated attacks one September morning. This is a staggering cost for stopping a threat to our very good friends in Iran and Israel. In a rather puzzling speech that President Bush delivered just prior to leaving office he said, “Mission Accomplished.” It stands to reason that Bush was speaking about his vengeance, as he had defeated the man that his father could not; however, if he was referring to the war in general, the fabricated mission had certainly not been accomplished, and to this day, three years later, it still hasn’t ended. (“Operation Iraqi Freedom Casualties”, 2011, Online; Bush, 2003, Online)

In addition to the casualties of war, the United States paid a rather heavy toll in the opinions of people around the world. In interviews with people from Australia, Scotland, Italy, and the United Kingdom, this researcher found that 75% of respondents had a favorable view of the United States after 9/11; however, nearly 90% voiced stern opposition to the American response. A man from Sydney stated, “You always hear about the rich Americans and their grubby hands, right, well at the end of the day, right, most people are sick of America thinking it can do whatever it wants.” The overall impression given by the interviews is that foreigners were saddened and even supportive after the terrorist attacks suffered by America; therefore, most felt that Afghanistan was justifiable, but Iraq was a completely unprovoked war. Our image once had the luster and appeal of gold; but because of our invasion of Iraq, we are as appealing as rusted iron. (Caksta, 2011, Online)

The one cost that can actually be quantified is the total financial toll of just the war in Iraq. According to two experienced economists, one being a Harvard professor, and the other having won a Nobel Prize in his field, the final tally on the war, with all expenses, will exceed $3 trillion. To put this number into perspective, if you started spending $3 million each day since the birth of Jesus, in 2011 you would still need another 728 years to spend every last cent. This amount includes those items usually associated with war like hardware, ammunition, and the payroll of all those participating in operations; unfortunately, no one will know the final cost to life and health once the dust finally settles. So overall, if an image is worth a thousand words, then we have lost trillions of them; also, if a life is indeed priceless, then our loss is infinite; but, if one puts a price on freedom for all of those in Iraq, the final total hardly seems worth it. (Kielburger, 2008, Online; Roberts, 2008, Online)

A tragedy is sometimes thought to be an invention of the theatre, as it deals with human drama, but the situation has existed for all of recordable history. The definition which applies to the current topic is a serious drama highlighting a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force which usually has a disastrous conclusion that elicits pity. To some of those that live in Iraq, liberation came before the calamity, and now they live in a constant state of fear of what the next day could bring. In the grand drama that is the war in Iraq, the tragedy is that few have taken the steps to understand the losses the Iraqi people have suffered. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, 2011, Online)
  1. b. The Iraqi Tragedy
Because of the “truths” laid out by the Bush administration, the military was given a much colder indoctrination on what to expect; thus, their perceptions were that Iraqis were a dangerous, devious enemy that meant us great harm; after eight years, the Iraqi casualties reflect this. According to almost every source, an official comprehensive report on the losses to life suffered by the Iraqi people is not available. To receive a semi-accurate count of violent deaths due to the US-led invasion, the WHO (World Health Organization) conducted a survey and found that the numbers are between 151,000-223,000 Iraqis killed; the startling fact here is that the study was concluded five years ago in 2006. According to the large numbers of sources gathered, the count could truthfully be anywhere from 104,000 all the way up to a possible 793,663, which is a staggering number given by Iraqi health officials. Again, this information was based on reports that are nearly five years old, as there have been no recent attempts to get an exact head count. The now famous line from General Tommy Franks resounds in these facts, “We don’t do head counts.” (“Iraqi Body Count”, 2011, Online; World Health Organization, 2008, Online)

Once, before many sanctions were placed on their country by the UN, Iraq led the Middle East in the development of infrastructure, social services, and healthcare. Then, over the years, the sanctions took their toll; however, things were going far better before the US led invasion further crippled their faltering infrastructure. Before the war, power disruptions were rare, but now there are places that lose power for weeks; also, there are many parts of Baghdad, a giant metropolis with 7 million residents, which see less than four hours of power per day. In addition to this fact is the grim reality that few people in Iraq see access to potable water, which has further led to losses of life due to disease. In a place known for its very harsh climate, the directives now should be focused on increasing the quality of life for the Iraqis, as their suffering has been seemingly unending since the Iran-Iraq war. (Beehner, 2008, Online)

If loosing family members to war, disease, polluted water, and overheating weren’t enough, the Iraqi people face another challenge, trying to find peace in a land ravaged by jihadists. When the war began, there was violence in Iraq’s cities and killings like in any other city in the world; however, after eight years of “peacekeeping,” the streets are anything but peaceful. From bands of foreign insurgents, to Islamic groups hell-bent on establishing themselves as the dominant political party, the chaos seems to be everlasting. The very police in Iraq lead very dangerous lives. To wear the uniform itself is a risk, so many simply don’t wear them, which promotes even more violence through mistaken identity. The future is uncertain, as the internal squabbles within Iraq are likely to take years, if not decades to finally soothe out. Once Iraq begins to profit from their massive oil reserves, some of their problems will begin to work themselves out, but as stated before, some wounds will take a very long time to heal. To those that have suffered at the hands of one tyrant, only to go through hell again after the US invasion, the question arises on both sides, “Was this war really worth it?” (Fuller, 2006, Online)

The worth of a subject, whether it is a car or an action, is usually determined by those with the authority to gauge such things. When it comes to something like a war, one cannot determine the value of it without conducting a survey to gauge the feelings of the public at large; which is something this writer tried to search for, but found that only a handful of people have asked this question. Instead of determining whether the war was worth it by basing it upon what could have been biased reports, this author determined that the best course of action was to create four questions centered on the strongest points within this paper, and then to poll people at random. No person was excluded from participating in this poll, as its purpose was to gather the current feelings of the public, whether that person be a homeless man, or a wealthy mother.
  1. c. Was the War Worth It?
Due to formatting options, the figure is at the top of the paper.
Figure 1- This is based upon the answers of 162 participants of the survey.

As the chart displays, when most were asked if the war was justified, the usual response was, “NO!” Most who responded went on to say that they never felt that it was worth it, as the reasons for going to war kept changing. Some were quite vocal in their distrust of the government, and others made comments centered on Bush’s involvement in the war, often believing that he was getting kickbacks from oil deals. One person polled even went so far to say that Bush should be hanged for destroying the image of the American people. Those that felt as if the war was indeed justified, rarely confirmed that the losses were worth it, and only a handful actually considered all the costs to be worth it.

Of all the many responses given, the only people that seemed to be for the war were those with a past in the military, or those with family members currently on active duty; however, some older veterans of the WWII and Vietnam eras felt as if we had not learned from our mistakes. Of all the questions asked, the largest percentage of those that answered “No” were centered around the $3 trillion final cost of the war, often believing we would not be dealing with a recession had we never invaded Iraq. A few felt as if the questions were biased, stating that they would feel bad about answering “yes”, which clearly spelled out an embarrassment when thinking about the war. Now that we have seen the motivations and losses suffered through this unjustified war, we will now look at what could have been done instead; furthermore, we will see that, by spreading some of the vast American wealth, the original mission of destroying terrorism could have been accomplished.

III. The Road Not Taken

For this section, we take a lighter, but still evidence-based approach to the topic at large; however, the subject matter presented here is an alternative to events that cannot be undone, as none of this has or probably will ever happen. We will explore the possible avenues this country could have taken, if certain variables were to meet along the same lines and produce real results. This does take the war in Iraq into consideration, and shows the possible outcomes with the fortunes spent on this unprovoked, greed induced, and rather costly engagement. Here we will explore how the United States, if given a new demeanor, could have ended extreme poverty worldwide, ensured all poorer countries had the resources to combat AIDS, and even achieve one hundred percent literacy worldwide.
  1. a. What could have ended
With the amounts spent on the war in Iraq, some truly remarkable progress could have been made in a variety of fields. For one, with just $195 billion, a total far less than the estimated $3 trillion final projected cost for the war, the United States could have eliminated hunger worldwide. By buying bulk grains and investing in water purification projects, all those that desire to eat, with clean water to drink, could do so. The millions of children that die each year from malnutrition would be fed. Instead of spending extreme amounts on maintaining a small country so far away, we could spread that wealth, and in doing so, begin to change the almost worldwide view that America is a greedy glutton that cares for no one else. (Kielburger, 2008, Online)

Each year, millions of people in the poorest African nations face not only the stark reality of hunger, but also the reality of the AIDS epidemic. In some countries, the life expectancy due to these afflictions has dropped to less than 40 years, the very same level that America had during the 1800’s. For as little as $15 billion per year, every man, woman, and child at risk could receive immunizations against deadly diseases, as well as basic medical care; in addition, those suffering from AIDS could receive the desperately needed treatments to give them at least a fighting chance. As the “world’s richest country,” the United States should already be funding such efforts; as the millions saved will view us in a new light that will only spread with time. (Kielburger, 2008, Online; Hughs, 2009, Online)

The ability to read, write, and understand is the right of every citizen of the earth. It is no secret that the uneducated are easily manipulated; thus, we should spend the estimated $5 billion per year to promote literacy worldwide. The benefits of this investment would be improved understanding throughout the world, a benefit when trying to explain concepts and ideas. With 100% literacy, those masses that would otherwise be drawn to mindless violence could take another, brighter path. Even if that path is in another country, with a different way of life, the end result is the same. With the power of the written word, and knowledge at their side, their gratitude, while slow to
materialize, would shape the future image of the United States. With such kindness and generosity, the image never achieved, portraying America as a beacon to aspire to for all races, would be established. (Kielburger, 2008, Online)

When one thinks of ways to save the world, how often do those dreams start with gigantic acts of kindness, followed by giant investments in themselves? The answer is never, as the current trend is dominated by acts of violence, followed by futile, misdirected investments, usually said to benefit us all. Few real steps have been taken towards a brighter future, as history has shown; we would rather make war, than to solve real issues that plague our country. Our reliance on polluting, and possibly highly hazardous energy sources, could have been eliminated with a portion of that spent on the Iraq War. In this section, we explore the possible future that could have existed for all of us currently living in the United States; for instance, a possible future without nuclear power. One where every American could simply plug in their car each night and never have to live in squalor is going to be presented, courtesy of the staggering amounts spent on the war in Iraq.
  1. b. A Clean America with a Backbone of Steel
Current events have taught us that even the most advanced countries can have great difficulty in managing nuclear mishaps; so, if we are to be spared a possibly radioactive future, we must begin investing in alternatives in power generation. If the United States were to spend a fifth of what the Iraq War has cost, then nearly 9,000 wind farms could be constructed; therefore, with a power generation equal to 25% of our overall needs, which is 6% more than what is generated by all of the nation’s nuclear power plants, we would never have to worry about possible meltdowns threatening our future. Also, if more were invested, the United States could cut its dependence on coal as the primary fuel driving the nation; furthermore, the construction of so many units will require a substantial, highly trained workforce that would have the task of construction, and then the continued maintenance of the system. This investment, or rather, this vision of a possible future, is wholly dependent on our ability to make these types of grand decisions. (Roberts, 2008, Online)

When living in a country with no dangerous power sources, with governments making bold choices signaling a new approach to the big challenges, our dependence on antiquated technologies such as the combustion engine will face its demise at the hands of the electric car. For years, different futures have been imagined, from one driven by hydrogen fuel cells, to huge amounts of compressed air; however, the only one that is currently practical, albeit limited for long range excursions, is the battery driven electric vehicle. Current models are quite expensive, but with a fraction of what was spent on Iraq, billions could be spent on manufacturing cheaper, longer lasting batteries that could power the vehicle of tomorrow. The government, in their narrow sighted vision, has delayed the introduction of an electrically driven future, which is, as expected, the work of lobbyists working on behalf of the oil companies; for instance, a recent law signed into effect by President Obama bans ultra quiet electric vehicles, labeling them as dangerously quiet; meaning, the already high cost is increased to account for the installation of “noise generators.” If we are to have this electric future, the government needs to focus on what is right, not what benefits the bottom line of others. (Halverson, 2011, Online)

With a wind powered economy, driven by the electricity generated, a new direction for a compassionate America will unfold. Unfortunately, there are those within our own country that lack the basic necessities, live in questionable accommodations, and provide a drain on the rest of country due to a variety of variables. This level, labeled as poverty, includes the dropouts, the drug users, and the former criminals; however, there are many living at or below the poverty level who are well educated, but a victim of the global recession. If the U.S. took what is just a fraction of the Iraq War’s cost to America, and fueled a massive infrastructure endeavor combined with the implementation of green technologies, then thousands of jobs could be created. Then, instead of focusing on the controversial use of background checks to ascertain whether a person is suited for employment, a series of tests could be conducted to determine if a person can be given the chance to redeem themselves with work. This would help a large portion of the population find employment, as factors that limit the employment of a person only hurts the combined whole. With a new job with a caring government, this redeemed soul will go forth to establish a new life, and because of this, the entire country will strengthen, for one less hopeless soul is one less problem to deal with. (Mansfield, 2008, Online)

In the previous sections, we have seen what could have been done with the massive amounts spent on the war in Iraq; now, we will determine if spreading the wealth and investing in ourselves would actually pay off. Here, we will see how conquering poverty, cutting our dependences on foreign energy sources, and promoting education could impact the world. This is purely speculative as attempts have been made to spread wealth, by wealthy donors and charity organizations, but none of those have spent even 1/20th what has been dumped on the Iraq war alone. This section is going to take the amount of $1.5 trillion, which is half of the estimated $3 trillion final cost of the war, and explore what could be done only with that amount, and how it could affect the rest of the world.
  1. c. The 1.5 Trillion Dollar Shopping Spree
  2. Eliminate extreme poverty $195 billion
  3. Universal literacy $5 billion
  4. Immunize every child on earth $2 billion
  5. Fight AIDS aggressively $15 billion
  6. Eliminate nuclear power in US $600 billion
  7. Electric car rebate program $200 billion ($10K incentive for purchase)
  8. 0% Homelessness $50 billion
  9. Establish permanent moon base $250 billion
(Kielburger, 2008, Online; Roberts, 2008, Online; Klamper, 2010, Online)

What this list makes light of is the fact that with just $1.32 trillion, which is less than half the total cost of the Iraq war, we could truly change the world. By reaching out to those in need, instead of ignoring them, we will slowly destroy the reasons people fall into terrorism. It has been said that poverty induces certain groups to seek out anyone that is offering relief from deprivation; thus, with such investments, the number of terrorists that arise from the poorest nations would quickly decline. With their basic necessities met, those that would otherwise fall into a life of violence because of a destitute existence, would begin to follow brighter paths. Having the basic necessities alone will not conquer all of the hatred which turns people towards radical ideals; to accomplish this, they must learn about alternatives to a violent life. (Wessels 70-72)

With the elimination of poverty, the promotion of literacy worldwide will have an impact on people’s perceptions, as an illiterate person is easily persuaded into lifestyles that an educated person would steer clear of, as better opportunities await them. Such a phenomenon is seen here in the United States, when underprivileged youth are given access to higher education through the Pell Grant program. With the option of pursuing an education, many would-be gang members find themselves walking a much different path than some of their peers; the same would work for at-risk youth in other countries where an alternative is joining a terrorist organization. By first dealing with the basic necessities to ensure a healthy existence, and then developing their minds to see the many possibilities life has to offer, a soul that would have turned to terrorism will see the world in a much brighter light; however, their negative views of America will not begin to fade until we cut our dependencies on their resources. (Wessels 70-72)

Earlier, the electric car was looked at, but if we wanted to truly kill the image of American greed then we must depend upon no one else for what is needed to survive; thus, this type of vehicle could hold the keys to this future. To see these grand visions for the future, one must look through a glass made of a few hundred billion (or more) dollar bills; which makes almost anything one looks at seem possible in time; then, one will see that curing cancer, building moon bases, saving social security, and decreasing the need for foreign oil is very possible. Bold moves by powerful leaders are needed to ensure this new future, where we inhabit a country with a new vision for prosperity, of peace; unfortunately, we must all awaken from this dream of what could be, for what is.

IV. The Road Ahead

Now, we must again face reality, that ugly visage that instantly reminds us of our poor choices and the resulting world that is our home. An America without a constant desire to rid the world of tyranny through the use of violence is an almost alien concept to some, as we have demonstrated this element time and again. To evolve as a society will require us to completely change our approach to most situations. The “shoot first and ask questions later” motto must change to one in which we question everything; which, if you pry deep enough, will reveal the broken gears that if remedied, could lead to a peaceful outcome.

From this point onward, our best course of action would be to learn from this mistake, which is described by this writer as “America’s greatest blunder.” To continue on the road we are currently traveling along will only serve to fuel the hatred for the next generation of terrorists. However, if we make small steps towards peaceful resolutions, each new day will continually grow brighter for ourselves and the rest of the world. America’s resolve is not being called into question, but the manner in which we use this strength is what will determine our place in history after this long costly engagement has finally ended.

V. Conclusion

Through this long narrative, one has seen the reasons given for this long war we have been fighting for the better part of eight years now; also, one has seen the extreme costs of the war, which have shown how badly we have been hurt by the decision to dance this waltz of death; then, using what was spent as a guide, one is shown what could have been achieved had we made some truly bold choices. During the process of research, this writer began to see a new vision of this country, and decided that the promotion of peace, in any form, is preferable to the alternative. The War in Iraq is an ongoing effort by the United States government, and on this day, near the end of the narrative, the mastermind behind 9/11 was finally killed. So the question has begun to spread already, “Are we done yet?”

I cannot answer that, and will not try to, as I don’t believe we will ever learn from such mistakes until our entire country begins to see what we have done to our image worldwide. In my travels around the world, I have not ignored the feelings of others and all of those that will truly decide what place we will hold in history. Sure, we can tell a tale, but that is just one story that will be picked apart by historians in the future, and beyond. It stands to reason that America really has never looked into the future to see that perhaps our place will be looked at with almost the same type of feeling given the great tyrants, warlords, and murderers that make up the rich history of the world. However, I always have hope, and perhaps after some read this, a new vision of what could be will arise; for if we are truly the future society who will carry a torch into the next age, lighting the path for all; then I pray we seek peaceful resolutions for our problems. The future is unknown, but this is certain, we have today, with the death of the 9/11 mastermind, gotten our revenge for a quarrel.

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