Homeward Bound

      Are American troops ever coming home?  This is a question that all Americans have asked themselves at one point.  The withdrawal of our troops from Iraq has been a contentious issue since the beginning of the war.  In a survey, 55% of Americans agreed that the war was a mistake and 51% were in favor of having troops withdrawn from their stations.  Public opinion on the war has changed drastically, making the withdrawal of troops highly possible.  In April 2007, Congress passed a bill for Iraq that set a deadline for American troop withdrawal; but President Bush disapproved of this bill shortly after. The president said troops will begin to withdraw until the end of August 2010, and troops left behind will remain in Iraq until December 31, 2011.  December 31, 2011 is an important date because American troops will completely withdraw from Iraq.  This deadline was set under an agreement the Bush administration signed with the Iraq government in 2009. 
     The ending of our war relies heavily on the conduct of the people in Iraq. The faster our troops maintain stability amongst the Iraqi people, the faster they can come home. Troops cannot police Iraqi civilian's behavior frequently until the area is completely safe.  The commitment of U.S. combatant troops in Iraq is declining and our military tactics are changing.  Instead of using brute force, our troops are committed to sustaining peace amongst groups.  Is reducing violence a positive way for American troops to get through to the people of Iraq?  This tactic seems to be working because the Pakistan government supports our troops efforts. 
     There were 142,000 American troops in Iraq, and Obama pledged to have all of these troops withdrawn within a 16 month period; but the deadline has been extended.  The troops that were withdrawn from Iraq have a chance of being redeployed to Afghanistan.  There is also a chance that troops may be redeployed to Iraq if the country becomes unstable.  More violent outbreaks occurred when troops began to withdraw.  Without the force of American troops, the population is in a state of fear. Our troops have been training Iraqi police and army forces so they can defend themselves adequately against militant groups; such as the al-Qaeda.  Their effort has helped Iraq security forces maintain their defense.  Without the U.S. troops in Iraq, the country would be in a worse state than what it is presently. Until our troops are completely withdrawn, they will continue to service the people in Iraq so there may be peace in their future.  There are pros and cons when dealing with the withdrawal of troops. If all troops were to withdraw, chaos may break loose in Iraq.  If a limited amount of troops were to remain in Iraq, problems would decline and a sustained peace may be enacted. A question one can ask themselves is: will the war in Iraq end once all the troops are gone?  American's won't know the outcome of Iraq until our troops are completely withdrawn. All Americans can do now is hope for a better tomorrow.

Robot Planes

     In the commentary article from the The Huffington Post, "Obama's Escalating Robot War in Pakistan is Making a Terror Attack More Likely", the columnist Johann Hari explores the drone plane attacks in the Middle East.  His article begins with a statement that makes the reader imagine their life in another person's position. It prompts the reader to ask the question, what if my life were affected by robot plane bombings?  Our government won't admit that such programs exist.  The idea for this type of attack method is that it's easier to kill a person, than take them prisoner because there are little questions about killings. If we were to take a person prisoner, we would bear the responsibility of that person's life.  The attacks from these robot planes are causing more fatalities among innocent citizens than those of the jihadi.  The bombings from these drone planes pushes the people who practice jihadism to retaliate. The information provided in this article influences a person to believe that we (Americans) are the cause of our war.  David Kilcullen has shown that two percent of the people killed by the robot planes are jihadis. The remaining 98% of the people killed are innocent. The use of these drone planes are a threat to the United States because it angers people in Pakistan causing them to attack, which makes jihadism worse.  The best way to deal with jihadism is to strip them of their best recruiting tools, so they have no way of gaining new followers.  Hari makes it a point to illustrate the secrets the government attempts to conceal from the rest of society. His article explains the tactics used when going through with an attack.  The statistical data and professional reports he receives, provides back up for the main idea of this article: is it okay for America to kill innocent people?  Hari does not appeal to a particular audience, but strives to incorporate people from all over the country.  He wants the U.S. to be informed on this topic, because our country may be attacked one day.  If Americans are more knowledgeable on the robot plane attacks, then we can get involved and try to stop these atrocities.
     I agree with the everything Hari stated in his article.  I don't agree with jihadism, but the jihidis who are retaliating are angered by the death of innocent people.  I believe that the government should be more tactful in avoiding innocent bystanders.  Just because a person resides in a specific area should not make them a target.  Professor John Cole states, "When you bomb people and kill their family...they will be." This statement lead me to believe that we are the main cause of our problems.  If we handled conflicts more gingerly, the war with the Middle East would not be so drastic.

     Hari, Johann.  "Obama's Escalating Robot War in Pakistan is Making a Terror Attack More Likely", The Huffington Post.  15 Oct. 2010

In the End

     Eugene Robinson, a writer for The Washington Post, conveys his opinion about the war in Iraq in the article, "Afghanistan: A war without end, or rationale".  He explains how the government is functioning in the war and how they are doing a poor job of recalling troops. Robinson feels that the continuation of the war is pointless because our problems persist elsewhere.  His main focus can reside in the question of, should Americans remain in the Middle East?  Criticizing the president's strategic plans shows that our American troops may remain in the middle east longer than expected.  Robinson grasps the readers attention by providing statements directly from the president himself and his fellow government officials.  He provides statistical information, as well as how the American people are being affected by our war.  His argument is clear and concise aiming towards the American population as a whole. Since all of us (Americans) are experiencing the same obstacles, Robinson does not aim his commentary towards a specific group.  His argument is not meant to offend anyone, but instead enlighten the reader on how the war is affecting their life.  He does not disregard those who support the war. The main topic of his argument is: do we benefit from the war in the Middle East?  The other point that Robinson is trying to get across is the need for a new strategy. Robinson receives his information through direct quotes, articles, and information written by journalists and government officials themselves.  This makes his argument stronger because he provides facts and not trivial information.  After reading this opinion-related article from The Washingtong Post, one can experience a change of heart towards the war.
     I agree with the information Robinson provided because Americans have not gained any benefits from the war in the Middle East.  The statement that caught my attention in this article is, "You have to recognize also that I don't think you win this war. . . . This is the kind of fight we're in for the rest of our lives and probably our kids' live."  This statement leads one to believe that we will be fighting this war longer than we anticipated.  The fact that our children may be fighting in this war, makes it hard for a person to fully support our governments decisions. I personally do not support the war in Iraq because it's hindering our progression as a united people.  

      Robinson, Eugene. "Afghanistan: A war without end, or rationale", The Washington Post.   1 Oct.2010.    <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/30/AR2010093004684.html>