simplybrad

I think I have finally found a book worth reading about the impact of what is happening in Iraq, Night Draws Near: Iraq's People in the Shadow of America's War by Anthony Shadid. I am looking forward to getting MR. Shadid's book at lunch today. For it covers the more important aspects of this problem; the people of Iraq. Gary Kamiya of Salon writes a great review of this book. Most books I have seen so far reek of our "way is the only way" mentality. Face it, we bungled it. There are many reasons for this failure, the latest being from Bush's itchy trigger-finger, our inadequate post invasion plan and our failed understanding of a country as old as time. Failure to learn from past mistakes and history. Frankly I was appalled last night by seeing the cover of a book touting the formula for "Victory in Iraq" in the so-called news. Yes, the Iraqi people might be happy that Saddam is gone but the aftermath is horrendous. I am also ill from the knee-jerk reaction that we must pull out our troops now. Are our nation's leaders all crazy? We can't. We created this mess, we have to right this wrong to the people of Iraq. How to do this? I have not a clue about what needs to be done but being the bully is not the answer. We are part of the world. What works for us (some could argue it is not) does not necessarily work for another country. There is no winner in war and the multi-billion-dollar question I have, how did we get from chasing Osama in Afghanistan to invading Iraq? Oh, and how come we have not yet found Osama?