The World Awaits America's Next Move

It is fair and obvious to state that the level of unrest present in the Iraq/Iran/Pakistan/Syria region is the result of the Iraq invasion and subsequent occupation by the United State's military. As everyone knows, the removal of Saddam Hussein has allowed the many warring factions within Iraq the freedom to continue their hatred and killing of each other on religious grounds and a new opportunity for a winner take all victory to be the new dictator in Iraq.

The damage has been done and now we are sitting back wondering and arguing what to do next. Unfortunately, it is very close to a presidential election and the Iraq situation has become a political football and won't be seriously addressed until a new president takes over in January, 2009.

Someone in Congress needs to step up, begin SERIOUS bi-partisan talks to develop a plan addressing what we need to accomplish in Iraq, how long it will take, how many American military personnel are required, when can we reduce our forces, when can we expect to see positive results in our undertaking and an explanation of the plan contents and the reasons for believing why it will work . In so doing, it would show the American people and the world that our government is not an imperialistic one and is genuinely interested in bringing peace and stability to a nation where we have destroyed their way of life and brought severe suffering on its people. It would achieve work and input on a viable plan with bi-partisan buy in and have something in hand, ready for implementation by the new president and her/his administration. It would save lives as well as precious time to implement a workable solution to the worse problem caused by an American president. This time, our political "leaders" should try honesty and truth as it exists, pertaining to the present situation and not fill our ears with political garbage about weapons of mass destruction, fighting the enemy there rather than here and destroying an Al Qaeda stronghold.

Our real intentions for invading Iraq may never be known but our handling of the situation should be immediate and serious and with the full attention of the U.S. government. We owe this to the Iraqi's, the American people and the world.