We're getting out of Iraq...I'm serious this time

I am ashamed to say that in addition to climate change, Social Security, and enormous debt, the Iraq War will be a legacy forever associated with my generation and a burden we will continue to bear. All the inhumane and illegal acts associate with the war in Iraq plague the United States' reputation and respect abroad as well as communities and family values at home. So many young people rallied around Obama's election mostly because he wanted to end the war once and for all. Originally, he promised to pull out "all" (most) troops in 12 months (said in November-December). Now that date has been pushed back to "the end of 2011" (BBC News 14 April 2009). The Iraqi government still wants US troops to stay for protection and training, and who could blame them? We're the strongest military in the world. There are currently 140,000 troops in Iraq (thanks to Obama's recent surge) who still have a job to be done because al-Qaeda still poses a threat. It has to make you wonder, who are we really there for? Obama even asked Congress for $83.4 billion more recently to support troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and further combat al-Qaeda and Taliban forces (Al Jazeera 10 April 2009). Obama claims it's necessary for the safety of our troops there and the growing threat spawning in Afghanistan. Why aren't we cutting our losses and leaving while we're still "ahead?" Well, the truth is we're not ahead and we never will be. It's a shame that globalization has sent our desires of prowess and control to even farther reaches of the planet, forgetting about our own families who suffer and fostering less understanding and acceptance than less.

An Iranian-American journalist with dual citizenship, Roxana Saberi, has been accused of espionage by the Iranian government. She was arrested in late January and her trial is currently in progress with a verdict expected in two or three weeks (The Guardian 14 April 2009).

Saberi was accused of passing classified information over to US intelligence. She has been detained in Envin prison, north of Tehran, (famous for holding political prisoners) where her parents have only been able to visit her for 30 minutes (The Guardian 14 April 2009)- BBC News reported only 20 minutes. After reading stories about Arabs detained amidst the 9/11 attacks and sent to the Middle East for interrogation, it disturbs me to think what Saberi must be going through. Even if she is a US citizen, her foreign-national-journalist identity puts her under extra scrutiny. Even if she is "in good health and good spirits," as the Guardian reports, I don't buy it.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, has agreed to continue peace talks with Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of Palestinian territories (BBC News 12 April 2009). Netanyahu has not publicly announced that he decries the creation of a two-state solution, whereby Palestine would become an independent state, yet his political party's platform and is lack of cooperation in peace talks says otherwise. Palestinians demand their own state, but at this point, Netanyahu can only promise "economic peace." Tony Blair even backs him up, saying Netanyahu will build a new Palestine "from the bottom up" (The Guardian 14 April 2009). But Blair points out three major elements that are needed for peace between Israel and Palestine: "a credible political negotiation for a two-state solution, a programme of major change on the West Bank, and an easing of the blockage in Gaza" neither of which are in the cards for Netanyahu.