Lessons Learned (Post 9/11) in Iraq
Lesson #1: War’s Expensive
I’m no soldier, and I’m not an economist either, but I do manage my household budget. In my family, we spend the most on what’s important—having a secure roof over our heads and food in our bellies. Though we live in a city that has its fair share of crime, we’ve invested in good relationships with our neighbors. So when we go out of town, we don’t worry too much about crime. We know our neighbors will watch out for us.
Most Americans believe our nation is less secure now than it was before the war in Iraq. Going on the offense isn’t the smartest way to deal with security threats. Money and guns can’t buy trusting relationships with neighbor nations and allies. That requires a different kind of investment altogether. And we simply can’t afford to address international conflict with combat until we consider the real costs of war.
Common sense tells me that the war in Iraq has been far too costly, both in dollars and in human lives. According to the National Priorities Project, we’ve spent over $283 billion on the war. For the same amount, we could have chosen instead to provide health insurance to nearly 170 million children. Talk about priorities.
If that doesn’t bother you so much, perhaps this will: over 2,450 soldiers have paid for this war with their lives. More than 38,000 Iraqi civilians did not live to see a “liberated” Iraq. This war has been far too costly.
Lesson #2: If Our Only Tool is a Hammer, Every Problem Looks Like a Nail
Following 9/11, President Bush promised to fight terrorism with every tool in our tool box. And yet, the Bush Administration continues to recommend that we spend up to seven times more on militarism as on all other forms of security programs combined.
Here’s what’s being shortchanged.
Diplomacy: the preventive medicine that saves us from real problems down the road. With all the relationships between the U.S. and the world that have eroded since 9/11, we have our work cut out for us in repairing friendships and creating new alliances.
Homeland Security: Emergency responders are drastically under-funded. With hurricane season upon us, it’s critical that we empower local firemen and police officers to respond to critical situations and save lives.
International Development: Most Americans don’t know that we are the least generous (as a portion of Gross Domestic Product) among all major donor countries when it comes to fighting HIV/AIDS, poverty, hunger, joblessness, and disease. Meeting people’s basic needs reduces international conflict.
International Cooperation to Prevent the Spread of Nuclear Weapons: The Bush administration has routinely cut funding for nonproliferation, while actively undermining nonproliferation efforts by pushing a nuclear deal with India, a nation that has not yet signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. It’s difficult to convince nations like Iran to abandon their nuclear programs when the Bush administration is proposing the development of a new generation of nuclear weapons right here in the U.S.
Lesson #3: A New World is Possible
53% of our nation’s discretionary budget is designated for military spending. Preventing terrorism and international violence requires funding. Building up our tool box to respond to international conflict demands dollars. Our federal budget priorities are in need of a shift.
The good news is positive legislation has been proposed to bring our security budget back into balance while addressing the root causes of violence and terrorism. SMART Security proposes pursing diplomacy, enhancing international inspections, ceasing the sale of weapons to regimes involved in human rights abuses, offering debt relief to the world’s poorest countries, reducing dependence on foreign oil, and more.
The Common Sense Budget Act (CSBA), a second piece of smart legislation, redirects excessive Pentagon spending toward real security and community investment to ensure that our children have access to quality education and health insurance. By reducing the burgeoning deficit, the CSBA can offer our children the chance to live into the future without the heavy burden of our debt on their backs.
Let me guess. You didn’t even know such common sense legislation existed. Well, it’s time that you heard. It’s time to push past the polarization that has our nation deadlocked on so many pressing issues. The truth is real change requires us. It requires our time and commitment, a good dose of humility in addition to common sense. Change requires that we sometimes admit our mistakes and figure out an exit strategy. It requires that we pay attention to how our money is spent and whether the budget reflects the values to which we aspire. So pay attention, a new world is possible. Common sense says we need a change.
Rev. Amanda Hendler-Voss is the Faith Communities Coordinator of Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND). WAND’s National Field Office is located in Atlanta, GA.