Ron Paul's Texas Straight Talk 8/30/10: Iraq - An End or an Escalation?

http://paul.house.gov
http://CampaignForLiberty.com

Amid much fanfare last week, the last supposed "combat" troops left Iraq as the administration touted the beginning of the end of the Iraq War and a change in the role of the United States in that country. Considering the continued public frustration with the war effort, and with the growing laundry list of broken promises, this was merely another one of the administration's operations in political maneuvering and semantics in order to convince an increasingly war-weary public that the Iraq War is at last ending. However, military officials confirm that we are committed to intervention in that country for years to come, and our operations have in fact, changed minimally, if really at all.

After eight long draining years, I have to wonder if our government even understands what it is to end a war anymore. The end of a war, to most people, means all the troops come home, out of harm's way. It means we stop killing people and getting killed. It means we stop sending troops and armed personnel over and draining our treasury for military operations in that foreign land. But much like the infamous "mission accomplished" moment of the last administration, this "end" of the war also means none of those things.

50,000 US troops remain in Iraq, and they are still receiving combat pay. One soldier was killed in Basra just last Sunday, after the supposed end of combat operations, and the same day 5,000 men and women of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood were deployed to Iraq. Their mission will be anything but desk duty. Among other things they will accompany the Iraqi military on dangerous patrols, continue to be involved in the hunt for terrorists, and provide air support for the Iraqi military. They should be receiving combat pay, because they will be serving a combat role!

Of course the number of private contractors - who perform many of the same roles as troops, but for a lot more money - is expected to double. So this is a funny way of ending combat operations in Iraq. We are still meddling in their affairs and we are still putting our men and women in danger, and we are still spending money we don't have. This looks more like an escalation than a draw-down to me!

The ongoing war in Iraq takes place against a backdrop of economic crisis at home, as fresh numbers indicate that our economic situation is as bad as ever, and getting worse! Our foreign policy is based on an illusion: that we are actually paying for it. What we are doing is borrowing and printing the money to maintain our presence overseas. Americans are seeing the cost of this irresponsible approach as our economic decline continues. Unemployed Americans have been questioning a policy that ships hundreds of billions of dollars overseas while their own communities crumble and their frustration is growing. An end to this type of foreign policy is way overdue.

A return to the traditional American foreign policy of active private engagement and non-interventionism is the only alternative that can restore our moral and fiscal health.

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[civusamericanus]

The US doesn't end wars, it builds billion dollar castle's in occupied lands and attempts to control and manipulate their governments. Until we close down our mega-embassies and sell them to the governements of those countries, we will continue on our Roman Empirical path.

[auamoti]

thx for posting, as always

[LibertasRAC]

@Voy2378 True. Humans do what they perceive to be in their own self interest. I don't really judge them too harshly though, it's hard to even know what the right thing is in a statist society like this one where criminality is institutionalized, let alone actually do the right thing.

[TheSmokingArgus]

Hi Chris, so good to see your videos in my "Subscription " list, hope all is well.

-Allison Bricker

[Voy2378]

@LibertasRAC

I agree, but you must understand that it's not easy to say screw it and loose all the benefits. Although there are some cases where soldiers did what you think is right.

wiki/Stephen_Funk

[LibertasRAC]

@Voy2378 I understand the point you're trying to make but I think he's right in that by currently serving in the US Military they're ultimately working for an objective that is anti-liberty. Maybe donating to RP is part of their penance.

"Those who, while they disapprove of the character & measures of a government, yield to it their allegiance & support are undoubtedly its most conscientious supporters, & so frequently the most serious obstacles to reform."~Henry David Thoreau

[Voy2378]

@jnthnbush

well in 2008 RP received more money from the soldiers than any other candidate.

[werebear1]

Wise words. If only more people opened up their ears to what Paul says.

[jnthnbush]

all US soldiers should speak up and say the war they participate is wrong, but they wont, and I consider them against peace, freedom, and liberty for the world.