I have never changed my opinion about whether we should gone into (invaded) Iraq, but suppose: just suppose the idiots in the Military hadn’t made at least one huge mistake. What they did was so idiotic, so inane, so stupid, that it perhaps will cost them the whole thing. Remember, when we went in, there was no “insurgency.’ Most were glad to get rid of Saddam, and especially the Shihites. So what did the boobs in the military do? They fired 200,000 troops and sent them home with their guns. Why not transfer them to the new police force? Why leave 200,000 uniformed, armed men without jobs, salaries, and prestige? Uniforms and position give guys a real charge, as in the police. Give a guy a neat uniform, impressive hat, and a few bars, and he’ll be in heaven. The fired soldiers went from prestige to unemployed in an instant. They went from supporting their families, to welfare, or no income at all. From solvency to being beggars. Quite a let-down for men who used to be in positions of authority. Maybe if there had been an instant 200,000, trained, police force, complete with uniforms, guns and social position, things would have been a lot better. Maybe the electricity and water would still be running. Maybe the museum with priceless artifacts wouldn’t have been looted. Was it Rumsfeld’s idea to fire 200,000 soldiers with no severance, and no excuse? Maybe if the 200,000 had been transferred from soldier to police, with no cut in pay, the oil pipes wouldn’t be savaged. Maybe, it wouldn’t be necessary and expensive to train people who had no idea of what to do. Maybe, if we had minded our own business and let Saddam alone, Iraq would still be in one piece. Maybe, if Kuwait hadn’t drilled sideways into iIraq oil fields, Saddam wouldn’t have attacked. Maybe, if April Glaspie hadn’t given Saddam the green light, Saddam wouldn’t have attacked Kuwait in the first place. Maybe, if we would TALK to North Korea, and stop being stubborn, she wouldn’t have loaded her missile. Maybe, maybe, maybe. Maybe, if FDR hadn’t started the welfare system and Social Security, the dollar would still be a lot more valuable. Maybe, if the welfare system hadn’t been started, and continued forever, the cities may still be whole, and a few million now alive who shouldn’t be, wouldn’t have even been born. CLOSED SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.
