Quick Note: This is a paper I had to write for English class. I know it’s a little bit of a rant, but I had just heard of another US soldier dying and this is how I felt at the time. I just want to again state (even though it’s in the paper) that I do care about the Iraqi people (the innocent ones, not the ones killing our soldiers). And I know I’ll get some flames from some people screaming at me that I hate Iraqis and Muslims and Arabs and everything else like that. All I have to say to that is that if you are ignorant enough not to believe what I say and to think that you can read my thoughts, then I really don’t care what you say anyway. Enjoy! Or don’t, as long as you review with good points and not personal attacks.

We Did the Job, Now Let’s Get Out

Operation: Iraqi Freedom, despite its name, was a war to eradicate an imminent threat to the United States.  It was a just cause that was carried out more swiftly, precisely, and humanly than any previous military campaign.  Going into Iraq and dethroning Saddam Hussein was a good thing.  America and Americans are now safer than they were before the War in Iraq.

With that said, why are there still US troops in Iraq?  The American military is better at what it does than any other military in the world, past or present.  However, their job is not to rebuild countries.  Every life that was lost during the combat in Operation: Iraqi Freedom was lamentable.  However, it was a price that needed to be paid in order to ensure the safety of America.  Such actions are what the great men in women in our military sign up for. 

Conversely, every life that has been lost since the end of major combat in Iraq was unnecessary, unreasonable, and unacceptable.  The soldiers in our remarkable armed forces take an oath before they enter the military:

I, (state name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and alliance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me (God).

Nowhere in that oath does it talk about being police officers, bodyguards, or social workers for foreign peoples.  Weapons of Mass Destruction are still a big issue.  If these soldiers were dying looking for the weapons, or looking for Saddam loyalists (which some are, but very few) then I would feel the same way as I did when they died in combat.  It is unfortunate, they are great heroes and it is a pity that they had to die, but they signed up for a life of selfless service, and in doing so they knew that they may be asked to put their lives on the line. 

But that’s not what is happening.  They are dying in the streets of Baghdad trying to restore food and electricity to the Iraqis at the hands of freedom hating primitives.  Well, if the Iraqis would stop shooting our troops, maybe they would have more time to try and return (or maybe more precisely establish) the necessities of living.  Many people say, “Well we destroyed their land, so we have to fix it now. Who will help them if we don’t?”.  Personally, I couldn’t care less who helps them.  Everyone in that country, or any other country, isn’t worth the life of one American soldier.  If the UN wants to send forces to help stabilize Iraq, then that’s great.  The US should contribute money and any diplomatic power within reason to help.  I hope Iraq does become a free and democratic state.  I wish nothing but good things for them.  But I do not wish it at the price of the lives of American soldiers.

To ask a soldier to risk their life for anything other than the protection of America is wrong.  That is not what they signed up to do.  The soldiers involved in Operation: Iraqi Freedom should be proud.  They did their job swiftly, quickly, and precisely, and America is now a safer place because of them. But their job is done.  It is time to bring them home.