I'm not ashamed to admit it. I'm really wondering what we're doing in Iraq. I mean, news media and political messages aside, I know that Saddam Hussein is an evil man. His regime is guilty of atrocities, and I, personally, am glad to see my Kurdish friends here finally relieved that they are able to go back and help their families rebuild. I'm glad that fellow humans are able to have a better chance at a life that is significantly better, and hopefully longer and more fruitful. I'm glad that our nation, and her allies, have civilians and military personnel who have selflessly laid their lives down for the sake of a literal stranger, and for the protection of their own country.

But none of these reasons stops me from asking, "Is this necessary?"

A Disclaimer: This is not a Bush-bashing session, nor a political platform issue for me. This is an issue about morals and motivation behind the goals of the United States.

First of all, we call this a 'War on Terror', as if it were a new concept. Terrorism has been found throughout history, passed through the annals and chronicles, even the Old Testament. Terrorism will never end. Does that mean that the United States will be at perpetual war? Does that mean we'll be helping tribal factions in Africa escape genocide and executions? Does that mean that we'll be protecting the terrorized women of the world? Does that mean we'll be sending Palestinians to Guantanamo Bay? What is this concept? Does our government really think we can go to another country, topple the regime, change two thousand years of thinking and culture, and insist that all of that culture respect and revere the majestic United States of America and those who are threatened by airplane hijackers and bombers?

Rubbish! This is nonsense! We have created more problems than we had originally, and this is not an issue new to the world. Look at the strong-arm of the Israeli government and their inability to suppress the Palestinian extremists. In their overpowering willingness to show resolve and toughness, Israel has made many more enemies. The ideals of history have changed since the days of liberating Europe and the South Pacific. Before we were fighting a war against a very real concept, which was spawned by the majority of a population, which financed a very real physical presence in the forms of armies and navies. Now we are fighting the extremist factor. There is no such thing as a land that can be blockaded, bombed, and extorted of war reparations.

Here's a history lesson. When Germany capitulated in WWI, they were stripped of their navy, armaments, and fortifications. Industrial companies were forced to change their trade to peacetime operations. But Germany expressed the need to keep a professional army to protect themselves from invasion of other European countries, and were allowed to keep a cadre of soldiers. That cadre was the elite, and served to be a huge mistake to Europe when Germany rearmed the country. That cadre trained the nation on how to be effective soldiers, and as history shows us, they were quite successful. Now what happens when we rebuild Iraq, and thousands of dissidents go underground, only to resurface when the U.S. becomes disinterested and considers herself successful? Will we spawn a thousand underfunded Osama Bin-Ladens? Saddam is not needed for a lone man or woman to lay a well-placed bomb. Think of the power a grenade would have in your favorite shopping mall during the Christmas rush.

That leads me to my next point: The United States needs to worry about her internal security before she should go liberating other countries of dictators. We have a huge influx of undocumented aliens flooding the country. It is not well known that a significant number of those aliens crossing through Mexico are from lands such as China, Syria, Columbia, Iran, etc. Nothing in comparison to the Mexican citizens themselves, but the fact remains that people of all nations can infiltrate the U.S., given the willpower and resolve. We also have a problem controlling weapons here in the U.S., thanks to powerful lobbying groups, and again, the weak border system. We understaff our border agents, overwork the FBI, CIA, and NSA, underpay our police, and yet pay out billions and billions of dollars to travel to the other side of the world to fix problems within our own country.

We cannot claim to liberate Iraq because we, as a nation, feel pity for them. Many individuals do have sympathy, but when was the last time our nation truly devoted herself to the impoverished Middle East (other than the protection of the economically-targeted Kuwait)? Why choose the Iraqis, when there are worse atrocities going on in this world, in which our military could do substantial good? Is is purely economical?

By working in the military, I see the absurd paychecks doled out to contractors. In fact, our armed forces are becoming overwhelmingly served by contractors, in the effort to keep costs at a minimum. It is a huge and lucrative business, and a powerful force to be reckoned with. Generally a contractor can get away with a lot, and keep their military monopoly. Does this issue have an effect on our current issue with Iraq? In my mind, without a doubt. Our military needs to have their muscles flexed, or they have bases shut down, contractors lose big business, and politicians don't get reelected. We lose our overseas projected power, and our economy suffers.

My solution, if a person of my humble stature in life may suggest, is to reorganize our military funds into civil affairs. If we can afford to spend billions overseas, why not direct a portion of that to support the issues at home. Terror will never cease, and the U.S. cannot afford to keep alienating the countries of this world that are not on par with our way of thinking. I am thankful that many of the people responsible for needless deaths and suffering of the citizens in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other parts of this world are without power. Sadly, that process took the lives of friends and colleagues of mine, and I cannot dishonor their sacrifice. But if we can keep our people safe at home and abroad together, then truly we have a just cause for celebration. For now, however, I'm forced to question the reasoning behind our involvement in Iraq.

I also carry with me the vivid memory of watching a second jetliner crash into the World Trade Center, live on CNN, as I walked into training that morning. I helped to shut down my base, and while I patrolled endlessly for a few days, I got to think a lot about those who died. I write this article with that memory fresh in my mind, and with the welfare of all of those whom I serve, and serve with.