During the build up that preceded the US invasion of Iraq I remember a discussion I had with a friend about it. We had gone into Sacramento for the evening to go to a grocery store we liked there and had ended up walking on one of the bike paths that cross the flood control area north of town. It was one of those cool northern California nights. My friend Ted and I rarely agreed wholly on matters of politics but we often enjoyed in-depth discussions on the subject. I'm sure he would agree its fair to say that he falls somewhat to the left on the political spectrum. I on the other hand have hard time knowing where I fall, to the right of Ted to be sure, but to the left of much of my conservative family. My brother jokingly tells me living out here in California is turning me into a liberal. As we walked through the quiet night and the discussion turned to Iraq, I remember saying something like this to Ted. I think we could do a lot of good by giving the government of Iraq a fresh start, but I don't have any confidence that we can pull it off with out making the situation worse than it is. Ted was against the war flat out. He had gone to an anti war rally the weekend before, and invited me to come with him. I remember telling him if I did go I would carry a sign that said WHY? Not that there were no reasons for us to invade Iraq, there was the fact that they were not cooperating with weapons inspectors and those who had been over there as inspectors seemed convince that Saddam was hiding WOMD, he was a threat to his region and had gassed his own citizens. Rather my question was more why now? After September 11th It seemed incontiguous that we should be going after this man who had been a thorn in the worlds side for decades. There was no apparent connection. To this day I don't feel like the real answer to why we did it has been given to the American people. My discussion with Ted that night was the impetus for this letter to president Bush:
Mr. President
The cost of war is paid in blood. The cost of peace is war when evil men lead nations. The American people have been willing to pay that cost over and over as evil men have threatened peace. The "war on terrorism" will be no exception. If war is the last insurance of peace, we will once again stand up to do what must be done. In that same breath I say, if you as our leader fail to do all that can be done outside of war first, all of our spilt blood will be on your hands, and we will not forgive. We will take back the power that we have entrusted with you, and count you among our enemies. The cost of peace is war when evil men lead nations. I pray that thus far this letter serves only to over state the obvious, and that you truly understand the calling that you have, and the trust that our mothers and sisters and friends have in you to spare us war if peace can be had without our blood. Your saber rattling has already achieved much toward mitigating the threat that Saddam Hussein posed to the region and his citizens before September 11. It is increasingly clear that he is scared and becoming desperate to maintain power. Therefore it would seem that the threat of invasion is a far more effective choice than an actual invasion could hope to be at this point. He is scared no doubt, but it would be folly to think that he will not fight with all at his disposal, lashing out at his neighbors and citizens with horrible effect if he is attacked. I fear that at this point the buildup of war has too much momentum and that no amount of reason will be capable of stopping it. Do not allow us to go to war to save face. Let not pride be a factor in the decision to put American lives in harms way. Remember that peace is the only honorable cause for war.
Mark Ashurst
Reading that letter now it seems overly emotional, and yet I wish that Bush had read it at the time and I wish he had not taken our troops across that border. Over 3000 US family would not be morning the loss of their fathers, mothers brothers, and sisters, and untold thousands of Iraqis would still be alive. On the other hand I cannot entertain the thought of an immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq right now as some are asking for. We are there now. The boots of US solders is all that is keeping a power vacuum from ripping that country limb from limb. Having come this far and paid such a high price in US and Iraqi life, how can we leave this hopeful country to the mercy of the strongest factions? Now we have an inescapable moral responsibility to give the peace loving people of Iraq the peace and freedom we have promised them. Ultimately only the people of Iraq will determine whether we succeeded or failed. I hope that in ten years Americans will travel to a free Iraq as tourists and visit the cities of Mosul, Fallujah, Sadr City, Tikrit, and Najaf and that the people who live there will welcome them and thank them for their peace and freedom.
