On March 19, 2003, Bush unilaterally declared World War III. Three years have passed, almost 2300 U.S. troops are dead, and nearly $300,000,000,000.00 ($300 Billion) is being looted from unborn Americans to fund the daily costs. The long-term economic costs (more grenades; long-term health care) of Operation Iraqi Liberation may reach 3 Trillion, not counting the psychological toll on all Americans. Bush’s recent “National Security Report” declares “America is at war.” A war Bush triggered.
After September 11, 2001, the American people wanted revenge. Bush gladly obliged. The country deserved focused leadership to confront unknown, dangerous and organized threats. The response should have been carefully considered and comprehensive diplomatic and military efforts. Bush nurtured some ill-defined animosity toward Iraq and launched the Crusades for no good reason and many bad ones. By April 1, 2003, Bush should have realized that the U.S. military defeat of the Iraqi Cub Scouts did not prove a point or advance an interest. We were fooled again. By then, the military was mired down and served only to provide a common enemy to unite the three warring factions (Kurds, Sunnis, Shiites) in a campaign to repel the American invaders. The three factions now seem capable of conducting a civil war while driving out the invaders. Bush’s Crusades have drawn attention and resources away from the real threats and undermined America’s military options in other countries and regions. The exeunt from Iraq may require intervention by others, perhaps by an emboldened international coalition challenging the rogue American nation. In the next phase of WW III, the theater may move to Iran. March Madness continues.
