I'm listening to a discussion on NPR now about the numbers of security personnel in Iraq now, and the need for them. It's time we asked how many Americans and other foreigners actually need to be in Iraq. I know many USAID and other empoloyees who are supposed to be "rebuilding" Iraq - hospitals, schools, roads, etc. They cheerfully admit that they cant do their jobs because of the war, and that massive amounts of money are being wasted on projects which are simply unsustainable under the present circumstances. How much development aid can a country in civil war actually absorb? Why isnt the media looking into this part of the overall cost of our involvement in Iraq?

Sent by Anne Sheerin | 11:50 AM ET | 09-28-2007

There is today a mercenary army, well-armed and standing on U.S. soil. That army, Blackwater U.S.A., is based in North Carolina and owes its allegiance not to the United States, but to an ideology of money and gain. Many in this mercenary army are foreign nationals, beholden not to the U.S. President commander-in-chief, but to a right-wing ideologue; a profiteer who is ready, able and willing to move his army against the people of this nation for wealth and power as he already has, here and elsewhere around the globe. Thomas Jefferson once wrote ???the freest governments in the world have their army under absolute government [restraint].??? --Thomas Jefferson: Notes Concerning the Right of Removal from Office, 1780. Papers 4:282. Blackwater is a private army and under no such governmental restraint. In fact, it is immune from military or governmental oversight under Paul Bremer???s Order 17. Blackwater is an armed force within the borders of the Untied States, living by its own rules with no Bill of Rights governing or guiding its actions. One of its members drunkenly shot a foreign vice-president???s bodyguard and fled the country, while two others shipped Blackwater weapons to foreign hostiles. On October 10, 2005 the Washington Post reported that Blackwater soldiers ???characterized their work in [post Katrina] New Orleans as ???securing neighborhoods??? and ???confronting criminals.??? They all carried automatic assault weapons and had guns strapped to their legs. Their flak jackets were covered with pouches for extra ammunition.??? Some of the interviewed soldiers claimed ???most Americans, when they see these things, that's enough to scare them.??? With this kind of army to back him, Blackwater???s millionaire leader could secure many such neighborhoods, proselytizing his personal ideals of righteousness and his values of intolerance to those he conquers. For the safety of our nation, Blackwater must be disbanded and removed from our shores.

Sent by John Dirina | 1:58 PM ET | 09-28-2007

Well, the proof is in. The Democrats debated. And they admitted even if they could win, they can't pull the troops out of Iraq.

The war goes on. Regardless of who wins in 2008.

I'm a Vietnam vet who has opposed the Iraq War from the beginning. But the time for protest has come for a time of change of heart. Neither the Republicans nor the Democrats will pull the troops out.

So, it's time to make a decision on my feelings about the War in Iraq. I still don't like the war. But there's not much I, or the Democratic Party, can do to stop the war.

The only other choice is to support the troops over there. It's a waste of time to protest the war. Both Republicans and Democrats are committed.

The time has come where we have to unite to get behind our troops. If there is protest bo be had, protest for better VA benefits for the troops. Make sure the wounded get the best medical attention they deserve. Protest for more funding for VA care for the troops returning home, wounded. Either physically, emotionally or psychologically.

For a guy, me, who has protested the war from the beginning, it looks as though the only honorable position for me to take is to give up the notion that the war is going to end any time soon. There are no viable candidates taking the antiwar stance.

I urge everyone to contact your congressional representative, whatever party you are with, and tell your representative you want to do everything you can to support the troops. Both the troops in Iraq, and the troops coming home who require medical care to the extreme.

Put aside your personal beliefs and put the needs of our troops, and their families, first.

It's not fair to ask our soldiers to wait until 2008 for a decision that has already been confirmed by both the Democrats and the Republicans..

Whichever media outlet you prefer, to the right or to the left, tell them the troops come first.

This email goes to my congressional representative and every other congressional representative I can contact.

fred call

Sent by fred call | 2:05 PM ET | 09-28-2007

Mr.Fred call-
Support the troops on what? I'd go there and tell the troops to get out and that they are dying becuase of the government officials capriccio to continue with an undjustified war.
The troops are just like the abused people who know no better and continue to live like that.
We are digging another whole in Iraq just like in Vietnam. We are an arrogant society that has "interests" in that region and OIL is a big one. We don't give a damn about building a democratic society there.
The only time when we got involved without having any interests- is at the time of the Clinton. He bombed the Serbs and did good.

Sent by Filomena | 4:48 PM ET | 09-28-2007

Thank you for having the courage to open dialogue, Filomena.

I???ve been amazed by how few people want to talk logic. I???ve been grappling with what choice I???m going to make in ???08. To repeat, the Democratic candidates have admitted that if elected, they can???t pull the troops out of Iraq. Not one of the major, front running candidates has a plan to pull out the troops. No double talk, Filomena. There is no plan to pull the troops out of Iraq. None. Not a one. Nada.

I can???t pull the troops out of Iraq. You can???t pull the troops out of Iraq. There is no such genie in the bottle. Far as I know. At least, nowhere in my vicinity.

What is left to argue? That it is an unjustified war? That this person or that person is responsible for 9-11? That the war is about oil? That the war is about religion? That the war can be won? That the war can be lost?

When no one of either party has a plan to pull the troops out of Iraq.

Meanwhile, a soldier is lying in a hospital bed in a VA Hospital somewhere. He, or she, has lost her arms or legs. He, or she, has had a psychological breakdown. You see, Filomena, I am a Vietnam vet. I???ve seen the worse of the worst when it comes to war. What do we tell that soldier in the VA Hospital? That no one of either party has a plan to pull the troops out of Iraq. That doesn???t help that very damaged individual.

Since neither party is committed to pulling the troops out of Iraq, we are morally obligated to help that soldier who is lying in that bed in a VA Hospital. This is not about your feelings, Filomena. This is not about my feelings. This is about that soldier???s feelings. This is the best we civilians can do. We can???t protest the war. Who do we protest to? Neither party will make the commitment to pull the troops out of Iraq.

Again, if you must protest, contact your congressional representative. Not enough funds are being channeled into benefits for our troops. Focus on those political dilemmas that have a solution. Compromise. Do something besides what has been done that has brought no gain of change.

Filomena, if you have another answer, please share it with me. Because I, in all honesty, as much as I???ve been opposed to the war in Iraq, can see no other answer. I will listen. If you have an alternative, tell me.

Yes, we here in America can say, ???What until 2008.??? But it is not fair to say that to soldiers in Iraq, many of whom are there for their third or fourth long tour. Not when both parties have stated they have no plans for pulling out the troops.

If there is no plan to pull them out, we have no recourse but to support them one hundred and fifty percent in any way we can. Republican or Democrat. I???ll listen to any alternative.

Again, thank you?????????.fred call

Sent by fred call | 6:30 PM ET | 09-28-2007

Several years ago I heard that the private contractor forces for security were greater or were to be greater than the number of soldiers we deployed in Iraq.
It cannot fail just as in the case of kids roaming the streets at night that the "color" of those "kids" (all being American, but the private contractors being the uncontrolled groups) cause the opinions of Iraqi citizens to be less than positive. The "they" that characterize ANY American there with a gun is bound to be blurred by the acts of the unreliable, uncontrollable and unregulated contractors.
This serves only to make the job harder for the rest of the forces. How difficult is this to have figured out? Certainly George Bush went to enough drunken fraternity block parties in his time to know that the few color the many. In this case the "color" becomes stained Red with the blood of soldiers and citizens whose only crime was that they were in the way or were mistaken for violent, uncontrolled, undisciplined "Americans" whose color was to signify danger and destruction.

I cannot blame the Iraqi people and government for their outrage and disgust at this travesty.

This is yet another example of Bush administration "Paying back dividends for a war they planned far in advance of 9-11. The administration has now turned these "contractors" loose on the American Citizenry in the Katrina aftermath. It is surprising and yet scary that we have not heard of similar incidents in our own country.
THIS IS A LEGACY OF CONSTITUTIONAL PROPORTIONS.
One has to ask oneself; "Just exactly Who Are the Terrorists in America NOW??"

Sent by Steven Robinson | 8:01 PM ET | 10-01-2007