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The extreme peaceniks and others expressing less venomous opposition to the Iraq war often begin their arguments with reference to inherent characteristics of war as their central theme. Aside from the obvious death and destruction that accompanies armed conflict, they stress the loss of troops and civilians as their largest concern. But they will never accept the fact that this same expression of opposition has prolonged the war in Iraq by strengthening the determination of the enemy. In other words, opposition prolonging the war shares responsibility for the death toll that the anti-war crowd views with such disdain. How’s that for irony?

Each day that politicians seek political cover on the war in Iraq from these same anti-war critics also causes more loss of life. A prudent and practical human being regardless of ideology would sacrifice their own selfish interest in favor of the valiant contributions by those actually at risk of death. To express the realities of politics is simply more rhetoric and of little consolation to those who shoulder the real burden. If you are not now nor have ever been in Iraq, shut the hell up and get this thing done so those who are can satisfy the demands of both sides of the issue by achieving victory in Iraq and coming home that much sooner.

To a much less dramatic issue but with equal potential for serious injury to the United States is illegal immigration. The reason for addressing it at the same time as the Iraq war is the focus afforded these two issues will distract from attending to other matters until resolved. The sympathy argument for illegals is another ploy that compels politicians to seek political cover rather than face the reality that this is simply an economic or financial issue.

The open borders crowd claims that illegals are merely seeking a better life is really describing a better income. The business community’s scare tactics about economic disaster without illegals is really describing lower costs and higher profits by exploiting artificial wage competition. Trying to solve the world’s problems by eliminating border and immigration control only exacerbates the symtoms.

Not securing the borders or controlling immigration is a national security risk we cannot afford. Allowing amnesty for lawbreakers only encourages its continuation. Not enforcing existing laws is a violation of the oath of office of all or most elected and appointed officials in the executive branch. Both sides of the issue, again, can be satisfied by effective control and management of the flow of people in and out of this country. Conceding to the demands of selfish special interest is not an option. Common sense demands this issue be solved now. The guiding force should be the rule of law not the whim of personal preference.

As a personal note, if you truly believe open borders are a good thing, I suggest this. Leave all your locks unlocked 24/7 from now on. Then let us know how long it takes before you experience something really bad. It is nice to think the best of people but that does not suggest ignoring the worst. They invented security because both exist.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Congressional Democrats Negotiate With Bush Aides on Iraq

Congressional Democrats and President Bush’s aides meet again Thursday to negotiate on funding for the Iraq war.

Senators Work With White House to Craft Immigration Deal

Bipartisan group of senators and White House officials work to craft an immigration agreement.

Rep Sam Farr, Rep Jim Saxton, Senator Richard Lugar and Senator Joseph Biden have come up with an idea giving bipartisan effort a bad name. So maybe bipartisan does not fit the scenario. Three Democrats and a Republican might not meet the strict definition of bipartisan. Without even arguing the lack of merit of the two ‘companion’ bills, after introduction and being sent off to committee the glaring detail in both bills is the money. The House version authorizes $80 million for fiscal 2008 and the Senate version says $80 million PER fiscal year.

For purposes of this post, a reminder that one Billion Dollars is 1000 times larger than one Million Dollars. You say you know that? Then why was Halliburton given a no bid contract for Billions of dollars for reconstruction and Congress will now consider spending only millions of dollars of taxpayer money for what Halliburton was supposed to do? How about we get the money from Halliburton for someone else to do what they did not complete. And maybe you could consider giving all those Iraqis who are hurting a job reconstructing their country with Halliburton’s ill-gotten gains? But this point is entirely moot until the war in Iraq is successfully completed.

One other item in these bills deals with training. If the claim is that abundant resources of a skilled labor pool is available, then why do you need money for training? Is it to train those on the other end for your assumed later departure or to train the highly skilled labor you claim exists for this task?

Too many civilians have died working in a combat zone. The operations in Afghanistan are not complete and get little attention compared to Iraq. Just about everything would be better if new agendas were postponed until the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq were completed to the point that enough stability exists to proceed with reconstruction. Let’s stop the insanity, complete the missions and then tie up all the loose ends. Ok, you could start investigations and hearings on Halliburton et al, while the missions are being completed. Then there is the ‘wuz up’ with all that Iraqi oil that was to fund rebuilding and affording Iraqis some resources? Not to mention the millions or billions in cash missing. How about you address all that before you reinvent a civilian corps that is currently unnecessary?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Trackposted to Perri Nelson’s Website, Leaning Straight Up, and Pursuing Holiness, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Civilian Response Corps Will Help Bring Stability
February 20th, 2007 It’s painfully clear by now that though our military is the best in the world, our ability to rebuild and stabilize countries is not. Helping nations recover from conflict or collapse takes a complex combination of political, diplomatic, development and military efforts, all in the immediate aftermath of crisis.

H.R.1084
Title: To amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, and the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to build operational readiness in civilian agencies, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] (introduced 2/15/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 2/15/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is authorized to be appropriated $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 for personnel, education and training, equipment, and travel costs for purposes of carrying out this Act and the amendments made by this Act.

S.613
Title: A bill to enhance the overseas stabilization and reconstruction capabilities of the United States Government, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Lugar, Richard G. [IN] (introduced 2/15/2007) Cosponsors (1)
Latest Major Action: 2/15/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year, $80,000,000 for personnel, education and training, equipment, and travel costs for purposes of carrying out this Act and the amendments made by this Act (other than the amendment made by section 5).