By Bruce Joffe Piedmont, Calif.
For four years, the Bush administration keeps on asking for more time, and a lot more money, to keep its failed war-of-choice going. It is always the same prediction: “In 12 to 18 months, the Iraqis will be able to govern without us.” The truth is that we cannot “win” this war. No “victory” is possible for us in Iraq, only continued shame.
Yet, Sen. John McCain has a point when he says that leaving Iraq in retreat would be a disaster. So, what is the way out of this mess that Bush and Cheney put us in?
We should separate ourselves, our government and our country, from the corrupt leaders who got us into this war through their deception and lies. We should prosecute these officials, who usurped our government, for being the war criminals that they are. Then we can leave Iraq in an orderly manner, with apologies for having confused Saddam Hussein with Osama bin Laden, and find redemption through bringing to justice the people who committed these war crimes in our name.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 14, 2007. Read the original PDF.