Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial: "Iraq War Can't Be Won"

[Itsthetruth]

Friday, June 24, 2005

Iraq Occupation: This war can't be won
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD

Those are people such as Hassan Juma Awad and Faleh Abood Umara, two oil worker union leaders from the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Visiting Seattle with the King County Labor Council yesterday, the two men had no doubt about what the United States can do next to help their country recover from the reign of Saddam Hussein, whom Awad refers to as "a criminal, in capital letters."

The occupation, they believe, must end. And withdrawal must be followed by a massive rebuilding of Iraq's infrastructure, with U.S. support.

Whatever elements of truth may exist in the latest PR pitch about foreign fighters in Iraq, U.S. convenience alone can't justify our presence there. As is hard to remember when watching pictures of destruction from Iraq, that land is the home of real people like Awad, Umara, their wives and their children.

Awad and Umara, who had a cousin executed by the deposed dictator, have no doubt that their country can do better at governing and reuniting itself if the United States were to leave immediately. They could be naïve or wrong. But they think that it is the United States that is being misled, again, with the talk of fighting jihadists on their soil. If the United States has good intentions toward Iraq, we must ask ourselves -- and Iraqis -- what the overall effect of occupation is on the Iraqi people.

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The Post-Intelligencer is running a poll on the Iraq war. You can read the entire editorial and participate in the poll at:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/229771_basraed.asp#pollArticle

How do you view the American presence in Iraq?

8.3%
It's not an occupation. We are heroically helping Iraq's government and people

10.7%
U.S. troops are necessary, for as long as needed

18.9%
U.S. troops necessary, but a timetable for withdrawal is essential

59.5%
Saddam Hussein is gone, and it's time to withdraw

2.6%
Not sure or don't care

Total Votes: 1006

[Oreo]

1. Not according to Dick Cheney

He'd say "you're wrong... next question"

[dogday]

2. We are just killing hearts and minds

instead of winning hearts and minds.

[whistle]

3. The Iraq War was never meant to be won.....

...it is in place to generate $370 billion in additional annual federal spending by the Pentagon, dummies!

[Ishoutandscream2]

4. Why does the Seattle Post-Intelligencer hate America?

nt