Published: August 13, 2007 10:26 am      

Enough is enough — let’s pull out

EDMOND — I do not put much stock in the reports of CNN, MSNBC or the network television channels since most of their reporting is slanted to the left. But when I see or hear almost the same information coming out about the ongoing events in Iraq from the FOX News Network and other somewhat conservative media outlets then I am convinced our venture in Iraq needs to come to an immediate halt. And I am not in the minority on this one. Enough is enough!

We, as a country, have invested, or poured down a rat hole, more than $456 billion and for what? The Iraqi government is coming unraveled — Iraqi legislators are fleeing the sinking ship like rats; the Kurds are wanting to form a separate country and control the oil fields and we continue to offer up our sons and daughters as their life vests.

Pull our troops out, save American lives, leave every piece of non-sensitive equipment there and let them do with the equipment as they see fit. This may seem like pretty drastic measures, but no one else has come up with a better idea.

Nothing will change — these people have been fighting and killing their “brothers” for centuries. Why does President Bush and his lame advisers think the United States can change a culture? Enough is enough!

Terrorism? It scares the #$%^ out of me! Why not take care of our own borders and secure the United States before continuing to drain our resources on a lost cause? Or has the leadership of this once great country given up on serving and protecting the people who place them in office? Enough is enough!

Seems the light bulb went on at the Pentagon. It was recommended in 2006 that U.S. personnel would be better served with Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles instead of the upgraded Humvees. So now the Pentagon is asking for a $5.3 billion emergency request for the program. Do these people not listen to the folks on the front lines? I thought their job was to provide our military personnel with the best equipment money can buy? Enough is enough!

Another light bulb came on in our nation’s Capitol — now we are considering selling sophisticated military hardware to Saudia Arabia. If anyone thinks they are our friends, well, think again. What country did the Sept. 11 terrorist have origin and ties with? They sure did not come from China Grove, Texas.

The ruling family of Saudia Arabia is graying and their offspring are more interested in spending their billions of oil money on material things rather than building a country of the people, by the people and for the people. Twenty billion in military spending is pocket change for these guys — do without, throw sand or camel dung to defend your precious oil reserves! Enough is enough!

As a final note — Oklahoma’s portion of this misguided adventure is $6.8 billion and escalating at the rate of $3,111 per minute of every hour of every day. Minnesota had a tragic bridge collapse and reports indicate the bridges of this state are not in much better shape. Why not take a portion of the $6.8 billion and make improvements here? Enough is enough!

Before anyone takes pen in hand and accuses me of being a liberal and a non-supporter of our troops — you would be wrong on both accounts. Just like playing poker, you learn when to “hold ’em and when to fold ’em.”

I believe we should reinvest this money back into the United States and its people and save military lives. What is unpatriotic about that? Enough is enough!



RICK BARNES is publisher of The Edmond Sun.